Roman Day April 2023
Return to School 8th March 2021
Return to school arrangements
Arrangements for return to school Monday 8th March 2021
It is important that you read these, even if you are a key worker, as a few things will be changing. [Collection times and home arrangements, Optional Lateral Flow Tests for parents]
Start of School
You may drop your children off from 8.40 am. Parents are not allowed on the school site.
School begins at:
Diamonds 8.50 am
Year 1 and 2 – 8.55 am
Year 3 and 4 – 8.50 am
Please can the children arrive promptly for the start of lessons.
End of the day
Times are staggered to prevent mixing of parents as you should socially distance.
Diamonds – 3.15 pm
Year 1 / 2 – 3.20 pm
Year 3 / 4 – 3.25 pm
Please do not arrive before your pick up time so that we can try and clear one class before the next is due to leave.
Please wait on the opposite side of the road, not on the same side as the school, as this clogs the area.
If you do happen to be late, please wait until the end to collect your child.
Parking
Please do not park on the main road. There have been complaints from the neighbours regarding cars blocking their exits.
If you are parking in The Star car park, please remind the children they are not to run around the car park or on the grassed areas. Parents should not socialise after school.
Absence
Please can you speak to a member of staff if your child is going to be absent before 9.15 am. We have to report absence accurately and need to know the reason.
Handwashing
We will follow government guidelines and continue with the hand washing procedures that the children have followed since last March.
Lunches
We will be providing hot meals for the Reception, Year 1 and 2 as per the universal free school meals. We will send out the menu for you to see.
Year 3 and 4 are able to order hot meals by informing Miss Mudd at register time.
PE
The children are to come in their PE kits on Monday and Wednesdays.
What to bring to school
The children should bring water bottles, book bags [and lunch boxes].
Reading books
Reading books will be coming home. Please listen to your child read every day and sign the book. It is important that the children are reading at home as well as at school.
Homework
Spellings and tables work will resume again.
Lateral Flow Tests
Staff are all using these tests twice weekly.
Lateral Flow Tests for Parents [This is optional – click on underlined links]
From 1 March 2021, if you’re a member of a household, childcare bubble or support bubble of staff or a pupil you can get a twice-weekly test:
Take a test at a rapid lateral flow test site
You can take a rapid lateral flow test at a local site. Testing at these sites is assisted, which means you will swab yourself under the supervision of a trained operator.
You may need to book an appointment.
Find your nearest rapid lateral flow test site.
Collect test kits
You can collect up to 4 home test kits at a local collection point. Each kit contains 7 tests.
Anyone 18 or over can collect. You can check online if the location is busy before you go.
Find your nearest home test kit collection point.
Order home test kits online
If you cannot get tested at your workplace, or are unable to go to a test site or collect test kits, you can order a home test kit online.
Do not order online if you can get a test through other methods. This frees up home delivery for those who need it most.
Order rapid lateral flow home test kits
Test and Trace
This will still be in place and we do need to know if your child is having to self-isolate.
Remote Learning
Should your child have to self-isolate, we will send out the planning to you.
Letter to Ofsted
We would like to say a huge thank you for the wonderful letter of praise sent to Ofsted from one of our parents. It is such a difficult time for everyone and it is lovely to know that we are helping and giving the best we can for our children:
“Dear Sir / Madam
I wanted to take the opportunity to offer my full appreciation and acknowledgment of the wonderful work my daughter’s school is doing and offering during this current lockdown.
My daughter is in Year 4 at Chalton Lower School Bedfordshire and I cannot fault the access to online learning available and the prompt way in which the school reacted at the very sudden news of schools closing.
In particular my daughter’s class teacher Miss Mudd has gone above and beyond in supporting not only my daughter but also myself during this time. We e-mail work to her daily and she always acknowledges this, she has offered guidance and support on the good days and the occasional days where my child has struggled in motivation. Each week she rings and chats to us both to see how the week is going and asks if there’s any additional help she can offer and for all that I am truly grateful.
As a whole the school is consistently keeping us updated and making us feel supported through these challenging and uncertain times.
Chalton Lower’s dedication to the education and wellbeing of our children is evident in all they do and for this they truly deserve the recognition that this doesn’t go unnoticed..and as a parent I am immensely appreciative of their continued efforts.
Yours faithfully”
Parent Feedback – Remote Learning
We were absolutely thrilled to receive this email from one of our parents regarding our Remote Learning provision which was also sent to Osfted.
“As Gavin Williamson has asked parents to report schools providing poor remote learning to their students, I feel it’s only fair to report excellent support and provision too.
My son attends year 3 at Chalton Lower School in Chalton, LU4 and they have been superb. Excellent support and work provided – including a higher level provision so he’s not bored. His teacher has been in touch several times to check he’s doing well and has all needs addressed – including sending extra work focussing on his passion subjects (Maths and Science).
My daughter attends year 5 at Parkfields Middle School in Toddington, LU5 and her working day through Google Classroom has been nothing short of exemplary. A few changes to her “in school” timetable to streamline online lessons and she has a structured day with all lessons ably catered for. Again, her class teachers and pod teacher are easily contactable – as is her head of year five and staff assisting with IT support. Superb.
I commend them both and feel their efforts have ensured both children did not struggle with the sudden change to online learning (despite the incredibly short notice given to the schools) and they are not missing out on their education as they could so easily be, given the pandemic.”
Should you wish to send feedback to Ofsted, please do so by emailing: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk or by completing the form at: https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/
School situation & Home Schooling @ 5/01/2021
Message from 05/01/2021
Due to recent government guidelines, the School is currently closed and only open to vulnerable children and children of keyworkers.
Just to remind you that you can contact staff by email. They will only look at emails before school and in the evening at some point. They will respond, but please be aware they are teaching the keyworker children in school so it will not be during the day.
Please can you upload a photograph of their literacy work [and phonics for Reception] every day. Staff will respond with comments that are needed. You can also send in anything else you wish for the teachers to see. It might be pictures of them completing their tasks for the Reception.
Please could the children write on the page the Learning Objective [LO] and date. They normally do this.
Staff will phone you during the week – Reception and year 3 / 4 on Thursday afternoon. Year 1 and 2 on a Friday afternoon.
Miss Mudd would like to speak to the children when she calls.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THEY CAN’T DO THE WORK. WE CAN ADJUST IT!
Don’t forget the children can access Oxford Owl for reading books, Purple Mash, Mathletics and Teach your Monster to Read. If you have forgotten passwords, then email you class teacher and they can give them to you.
f.mudd@chaltonlower.co.uk
s.blount@chaltonlower.co.uk
h.woolridge@chaltonlower.co.uk
If you need anything printing out, please let us know.
Liz
Back to School plans for September 2020
Please see the attached letter from Miss Noble which contains information on what to expect for returning to school in September 2020.
Please do not hesitate to contact the school should you have any queries.
Welcoming Children Back to School in September 2020
What to do…….flowchart
What to do if your child or a household member develops coronavirus symptoms, or your child is identified as having been in contact with a confirmed case.
Flowchart
NHS website – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
Re-opening School – Letter from Miss Noble
Chalton Lower School Arrangements for the reopening of school
World Book Day – 5th March 2020
Lambs visit to Chalton Lower School – March 2020
