Livingstone Primary & Nursery School WK4 JAN 2022

Friday 28^th January

Changes to COVID Restrictions

Following the Prime Minister’s recent announcement, the Schools’ Covid 19 Operational Guidance has been updated and the Government are now advising that face coverings are no longer required in classrooms (from 20th January) or communal areas from 27th January.

However, in Barnet, cases of COVID-19 are still high and we are seeing ongoing transmission of COVID within our educational settings. In order to continue to protect the public health within our school communities, we are still being advised that educational settings which have 2 or more cases of COVID-19 consider temporarily reinstating face coverings for adults in communal areas.

As we currently have a small number of cases in our school, we will follow these recommendations until advised otherwise. However, compliance with these recommendations will be entirely at the discretion of each individual.

Class Prarent Representatives:

Megan Atkinson - Nursery

Laura Blackaller - Reception

Ellen Patmore - Year 1

Melissa Gosling - Year 2

Kate Orr - Year 3

Lina Cavozzi - Year 4

Shelly Farmer - Year 4 and Kingfisher 2

Paula Falco - Year 5

Nina Kornhauser - Year 6

Welcome to Megan Atkinson who is the new representative of Nursery.

Please use our parent reps if you need information about the class or would like to give feedback. Our reps can provide quick answers to questions when it is not possible to speak directly with a member of staff. For example, when wellies should come into school or what to expect when there is a class trip. Class reps are happy hear parental feedback, so if your child/ren have enjoyed a particular lesson or activity or if these could be improved, its good to hear.

Please be mindful, questions or concerns about individual pupils should always go via the classroom staff or school office and though it is not always possible to speak to member of the school team immediately, an appointment can be made with anyone in the school, including the SENDCos - Mrs Ferdenzi and Ms Nicholson, Deputy Head Teacher - Mr Madle and Headteacher - Mrs Phelan.

Minutes of Meeting:

Q and A

Q: Can Movie Night be on a Friday in future?

A: There are advantage and disadvantages to every night of the week.

Movie Night was requested by the School Council and the Friday option will be considered if another one is held later in the year.

Q: Can breakfast club start earlier and can other clubs such as Martial Arts be added to the choice, as parents would be happy to pay the extra cost?

A. Mrs Kelly will investigate the possibility of adding other clubs. A letter will go out asking who would be interested if additional clubs become a possibility. However there will be additional costs to each of these possible additions, which may mean they are not viable.

Q: Some parents have requested more formal homework and others more booster type homework.

A: We feel that we have the right balance between the two approaches and will continue with the current system. There are lots of homework resources that can be accessed online via the VLE, so parents who want more can use our online resources and those who feel that there is too much homework have the choice of not doing the Brain Boosters. One thing that we must insist on is reading everyday for all ages.

Q: Why are pupils having to pay for workshops in school?

A:The school have had to cancel many trips because of the pandemic, so for some topics, we have opted for experts to come into school instead. These can be expensive, so we make sure that part of the cost is covered by the school and if anyone finds it difficult to pay, more financial help is available.

Q: 'Read With Me' has been welcomed back but parents would like an afternoon slot on another day for working parents.

A: This will be put to the class teachers for consideration. The afternoons are much shorter , so if there is enough time on the timetable, another session may be added - though not every week.

Q: Year 6 would like to visit the Harry Potter exhibition and have a sleepover as they missed both in Year 4.

A: It is extremely hard to get tickets for Harry Potter and also very expensive, so this trip will not be re- scheduled for Year 6, especially as trips are planned to go to PGL and Chessington Theme Park which are also costly. Also, PGL is like having four sleepovers, so should make up for the cancellation in Year 4 .

Q: Will work be provided for pupils isolating?

A: If your child is isolating and not ill, the class teacher will send work to do when the parent/carer have contacted the school to say their child is isolating. If your child is ill, they will not be expected to work.

Comments:

Parents/carers with more than one child have asked for more detail and clarity in the texts, as it is not always clear which class the message is for. We are restricted in how many characters are in each text message so the messages can be very short.

Some parents/carers were confused about the performance of the choir at the Christmas Fair and would have liked more information about the event.

Request for Camp Night to be re-instated this Summer. If all COVID restrictions are lifted and the PTA are happy to organise the event - Camp Night will return!

A Year 5 parent praised the school for its excellent home learning package over their childrens' isolation. Thank you Ms Smith and Mr Thomas.

Learn how to support your children to develop positive attitudes towards maths.

As you may be aware, the school is working with the charity National Numeracy to encourage families to do maths together.

We know that maths can sometimes seem daunting, but engaging positively with children’s learning can make a big difference to both children’s and parents’ confidence with numbers.

Therefore, we are inviting all parents to a unique workshop run by National Numeracy which will be held at the school on Monday 21st February 2022 at 9:00 am in the Dining Hall.

The workshop is not a maths lesson, nor does it teach any maths, but is focused on fostering positive attitudes towards numeracy and tips for ensuring your children develop these too.

The session will cover the importance of maths in the real world, being positive about maths and how to boost your own number skills.

We would be delighted to welcome you to the session.

If you have to help your child/ren to put on their shoes and tie up their laces every morning, please consider what they are wearing on their feet when they come to school.

Please make sure shoes can be put on and taken off independently and if you think they are ready to wear laced shoes, please make sure that you spend time teaching them to do this on their own.

This is especially important with shoes for our Kingfisher pupils as it makes them very dependent on the supporting adults when putting on and taking off their shoes.