Dear Parents and Carers,
Following the government announcement that schools would not be returning until at least the 8th March and some recent feedback I have been given, I am sending out a short survey regarding our remote learning offer that I would be grateful if you could complete. To access the survey, please visit https://www.teignmouthprimary.co.uk/forms/remote-learning-feedback-form/. This will help us to know what is working well and how we can help support pupils and yourselves further at home. We are also putting together some support sheets for working remotely for both parents and pupils which will be sent out shortly.
I think the biggest challenge parents are facing is around getting pupils to complete their learning. Please be kind to yourselves and do whatever you can. Some of you like to get it all done, for others this is too much. I know there are worries for parents about pupils falling behind but please rest assured that we are working on robust plans to look at where children are in their learning on return, and have systems in place to help identify the gaps and to help pupils make accelerated progress to account for lost learning time. The amazing efforts you are putting in at home to juggle your ‘normal life’ and your children’s education is hugely appreciated by us all, as we work together to slow the spread of the virus and keep each other safe.
We have around 34% of our usual school population attending over the week who are key worker and vulnerable pupils. This number is relatively low in comparison with other schools. Thank you for helping to keep our numbers low and the pupils at home where you possibly can. We miss our school community and have enjoyed seeing their learning on Seesaw. We are trying to get classes together for a live session each week to help keep the class community going to see each other’s faces.
Teachers have been contacting you at least fortnightly to maintain contact with pupils in their class and to see how they are getting on with their remote learning. We are still responsible for the learning and safeguarding of the pupils during this time, so if you miss our call, please do phone us back. If you have not heard from us, please phone the school to check your contact details with us are correct. We are also tracking engagement on Seesaw so do please continue to upload their wonderful work where you can. We love to see it.
I am pleased to report that staff testing has started and all cases so far have come back as negative. This is a really positive step in helping to stop the spread of asymptomatic cases. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our staffing team here who work tirelessly to support the pupils we have in school and those working remotely. It is a hard balancing act at the moment, but as always their resilience and dedication shine through to go the extra mile for pupils.
I am also able to inform you that we have received Free School Meal voucher codes from Devon County Council for those of you who are entitled. We will be sending these to you via email this week, along with instructions on how to use them. We are expecting the National Voucher Scheme to continue after half term, so will keep you informed once we receive more information.
Thank you for your continued support. If you wish to contact me to discuss any of this further, please do so via e-mail on annabelle.thomas@teignmouthschool.co.uk
Keep going everyone. You are doing an amazing job and hopefully the end is in sight.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Annabelle Thomas
Head of School