Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Safeguarding Concerns

  Tue 31 Mar 2020

   

  In this COVID-19 period, if you have any safeguarding concerns about any child at Newtown C of E Primary School, please telephone the school office on 02392 584048 and ask to speak to the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead). Alternatively, please email the school: adminoffice@newtown.hants.sch.uk and start your email with the phrase: For the attention of the DSL.

• Home Learning Update - 31/03/2020

  Tue 31 Mar 2020

   

  Dear Parents and Carers

   

  Thank you for your patience and support in helping your child complete their first packs of learning. Due to various families self-isolating at different times, some families completed this learning quicker than others, as they had longer at home than others.

   

  From Thursday, copies of the next home learning projects/packs will be placed on our website and will be available to collect from the school gates, if you require a printed pack. This second pack of home learning will be an Easter project.

   

  If you would like a printed pack, please ensure you call the school office in advance and we will organise this for you. Packs will be placed outside of the school reception, on the benches, for you to collect. Due to social distancing, please keep 2 metres apart from others and where possible please arrive alone to collect any packs.

   

  However, where possible you must continue to remain at home and download the home learning from the website.

   

  Thank you

• UPDATED KEYWORKER INFORMATION-20/03/2020

  Fri 20 Mar 2020

  
  The government information on critical workers was sent out late last night.  This morning Mrs Howlett will be working first with parents who are critical workers.  
   

  Please be mindful that we have limited staffing and that if your child can stay safely at home they should. 

   

  This is the information that has been given:

  
  As a country, we all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

   

  That is why the government has given clear guidance on self-isolation, household isolation and social distancing.

  And the most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.

   

  That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.

   

  It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.

   

  Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.

   

  Vulnerable children include children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.

   

  We know that schools will also want to support other children facing social difficulties and we will support head teachers to do so.

   

  Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined below. Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.

   

  Please, therefore, follow these key principles:

  • If at is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
  • If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
  • Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
  • Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.
  • Residential special schools, boarding schools and special settings continue to care for children wherever possible.
  • If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision:

   

  Health and social care

  This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.

   

  Education and childcare
  This includes nursery and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach.

   

  Key public services
  This includes those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting.

   

  Local and national government
  This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies.

   

  Food and other necessary goods
  This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines).

   

  Public safety and national security
  This includes police and support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic), fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas.

   

  Transport
  This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.

   

  Utilities, communication and financial services
  This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors.

   

  If workers think they fall within the critical categories above they should confirm with their employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.

   

  We are grateful for the work of teachers and workers in educational settings for continuing to provide for the children of the other critical workers of our country. It is an essential part of our national effort to combat this disease. 
   

  Please bring proof of employment and be able to discuss working hours in case places are limited. 

   

  Mrs Howlett will send further information shortly. Please see link below:

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

• UPDATE: KEY WORKERS

  Thu 19 Mar 2020

   

  I know for a number of you, you have been waiting the list of key workers. This is guidance, as there has been nothing from the Government yet, and is likely to change.

   

  School will close at the end of Friday 20th March and pupils will then not attend school until the advice from the Government changes.

   

  For any concerns, please see me in the morning or leave a telephone message. All decisions will be subject to the Headteacher's discretion.

   

  We will need to see proof of employment and both parents MUST qualify as a key worker.

   

  We can be flexible to a certain extent but will need to be able to finalise numbers of children tomorrow to ensure the safety of the children. We will need to confirm final numbers by 3:30pm tomorrow.

   

  We are working with schools across Gosport to ensure a consistent message for all parents.

   

  While our school will be closed for general pupils, all schools across the Country are being asked to run an emergency service for the children of key workers in essential services so that they are able to continue to work. At the moment we have not received the definitive list of key workers from the Government but in Hampshire it is likely to look like this:

   

  • Health Care Staff

  • Social Care Staff

  • Education Staff

  • Military Personnel

  • Emergency Services

  • Council Workers needed for essential work

  • Drivers delivering essential goods

   

  There is no expectation that children have of these key workers have to attend school. If you fall into this group and wish to make other arrangements, then you are welcome to do so.

   

  The Government is also asking that we continue to provide education and support for children who have an Education & Health Care Plan (EHCP), children who have a social worker assigned to the family, those families receiving Early Help, and children receiving support from the Primary Behaviour Service. Please note for some children with an EHCP, they should be self isolating or social distancing for medical reasons.

   

  Again there is no requirement that children in these groups have to come to school, but they will be welcome should parents or carers choose this option.

   

  Kindest regards

  Mrs E Howlett

  Headteacher

• Pay It Forward

  Thu 19 Mar 2020

   

  The Pay it Forward project will be available TODAY from 2:45pm. We will be limiting 5 items per person. This may take place in the hall due to the wet weather. Please bring a carrier bag with you. Many thanks

   

  Please continue to donate, we hope to continue to offer weekly Pay It Forward opportunities to all our families throughout this crisis.

   

   

  

• KEY WORKER REQUEST

  Thu 19 Mar 2020

   

  We are still awaiting the key worker list, however if you work in the NHS, a school, the police, or work as a supermarket delivery driver please contact the school to discuss if you would like your child to attend school from Monday. This cannot be confirmed at this time and we will also be asking your partner's occupation to keep numbers to a minimum. Please do not respond to this message but contact the school office on 02392 584048.

• CORONAVIRUS – SCHOOL CLOSURE NOW IN FORCE FROM MONDAY 23rd MARCH

  Thu 19 Mar 2020

   

  Dear Parents and Carers

   

  I have been instructed by the UK Government to close Newtown C of Primary School. The school will not be open from Monday 23^rd March and pupils should not come to school until further notice is given, except for children of key workers and vulnerable children.

   

  I understand that for some members of the Newtown C of E Primary School family this will be unwelcomed news, particularly as it will have an impact on your day-to-day living. For others, you will be wondering whether your profession meets the government criteria of ‘key worker’. Whilst there are many definitions of key workers on the internet, I will await more detailed communication from Hampshire County Council and/or the Government, and as soon as I am aware of this, I will contact you. My best advice to families is to seek alternative childcare, but to avoid leaving children with older relatives.

   

  So, to reiterate:

  • Newtown C of E Primary School will not be open to all children from Monday until further notice
  • Newtown C of E Primary School will only be open for those classified as vulnerable and to the children of key workers until further notice. We will be in touch with you if this applies to your child.

   

  I will keep in regular contact with you and will let you know when the school is reopening by contacting all parents.

   

  Your child’s learning is important to us, so during the closure we will continue to support pupils:

   

  What we will continue to do:

  • Ensure all pupils can access home/online learning via our website https://www.newtownceprimary.co.uk/home-learning-resources/ which are regularly updated and available to download. The home learning resources can also be found on our website by visiting the CHILDREN’S section and by clicking on Home Learning Resources.
  • New learning will be added to the website in your year group folders after Friday 3^rd April and weekly after that
  • Monitor the adminoffice@newtown.hants.sch.uk email address. Please use this address to email your child’s class teacher or the school at any-time during the school closure. Please mark each email for the attention of the member of staff you wish to contact.
  • Constantly update you with any notices via Parentmail, via our website and via social media.
  • Write to you all weekly
  • Try to ensure there are arrangements in place for families in need to access meals for their children. (We are in constant liaison with HC3S - Hampshire Catering Team, Foodshare and further information regarding food vouchers will be communicated shortly)

   

  What we will not continue to do, during the closure:

  • Provide any school trips, events or activities
  • Provide after-school club
  • Provide extra-curricular clubs
  • Facilitate parent meetings
  • Provide breakfast club (TBC)

   

  We appreciate the closure will have an impact on you and your family and it is far from an ideal scenario, however I am being directed by Public Health England, the Department for Education and the Government. I will keep in touch with any updates as the situation develops.

   

  In terms of year 6 SATs, the government has cancelled school exams in May and we are awaiting further details. Once again, I will communicate any updates to you as I receive formal notification. In terms of breakfast club and the arrangements for those children of key workers and vulnerable children, I will contact each of you tomorrow to formalise arrangements for Monday, however I imagine that the school will be open from 8am so that all children attending school on Monday can receive breakfast and be ready for the start of their day. 

   

  Please do not hesitate to get in touch, if you have any concerns, questions or queries by emailing adminoffice@newtown.hants.sch.uk This email address will be checked daily. Please continue to use the NHS website www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ if you or a member of your family feels ill and you want to know what to do next.

   

  I do hope in this unprecedented time that you feel the school has taken every measure to keep you well informed. On behalf of myself, the Governors and Senior Leadership Team, please ensure you keep your family safe and we look forward to welcoming you back on our return.

   

  I have been overwhelmed by your continued appreciation of our ongoing communication during these challenging times. It is a privilege to be Headteacher of a school that has the continued support and love of the parents and wider community. 

   

  Mrs. E Howlett

  Headteacher

• UPDATE - CORONAVIRUS: INITIAL SCHOOL CLOSURE STATEMENT

  Wed 18 Mar 2020

   

  Following the statements from the Prime-minister and Education Secretary this evening, Newtown C of E Primary School will be closing at 3pm on Friday 20th March until further notice.
  
  All families need to prepare for this school closure.
  
  Further details will be sent to you tomorrow once we have received further guidance. I have, as yet, received no further guidance at this stage.
  
  This is far from an ideal situation with limited information and I will be in touch with all Parents and Carers tomorrow (Thursday).
  
  Mrs Howlett

  Headteacher 

• Home Learning

  Tue 17 Mar 2020

   

  Those families that are now self-isolating and/or using social distancing measures, please visit https://www.newtownceprimary.co.uk/home-learning-resources/ to access the home learning for your children.

   

  Initially, we have placed enough work in these year group folders for two weeks. More will be added as soon as possible.

   

  If you cannot access the website, we have very limited resource packs that can be collected from the school office from tomorrow; however please can we stress that we have only a very few hard copy packs available due to limited paper stocks in a time when we have been told that supplies of resources are low for all schools from our suppliers.

   

  Please visit our website via the link below or via www.newtownceprimary.co.uk and click on the Children section and then on the Home Learning Resource section.

   

  For all pupil absences, please report these in the usual way in the morning and refer to the letters that have been sent home today and in the past few days.

   

• Coronavirus Update 17.03.2020

  Tue 17 Mar 2020

   

  Coronavirus Update – 17^th March 2020

   

  As you are probably aware, the government’s guidance on the coronavirus has changed from the ‘contain’ phase to one of delaying the spread of the virus. We are getting in touch to let you know what we are doing in light of this, and what we expect from all of you, to help make sure our school community keeps safe and calm.

   

  We would like to reassure you that at Newtown C of E Primary School we are taking all of the necessary steps to protect our community and are continuing to follow official guidance from the Government and the Department for Education.

   

  What is the current situation?

  • The school remains open – this is reviewed daily, dependent on staffing.
  • All school events and activities have been either cancelled or postponed (please see earlier correspondence)
  • If you, your child or anyone you live with has these symptoms, you must follow guidance to stay at home:
    • A new, continuous cough and/or
    • A high temperature
  • We are also advising all those children who are at increased risk of severe illness from the coronavirus to be particularly stringent in following the social distancing measures for up to 12 weeks. This is parental choice. This group includes:
    • Chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
    • Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
    • Chronic kidney disease
    • Chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
    • Chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
    • Diabetes
    • Problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
    • A weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
    • Being seriously overweight (a BMI of 40 or above)
    • People who have received an organ transplant and remain on ongoing immunosuppression medication
    • People with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radiotherapy
    • People with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia who are at any stage of treatment
    • People with severe chest conditions such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma (requiring hospital admissions or courses of steroid tablets)
    • People with severe diseases of body systems, such as severe kidney disease (dialysis)

   

  • If your child is unwell, is self-isolating, or is following social distancing, report this as you would normally by telephoning the school absence line 02392 584048
  • We will keep you up to date with any changes to the current situation

   

  What we are doing to protect and support pupils and staff

  • If a pupil feels ill or is displaying symptoms on the school premises we will telephone parents to collect their children
  • We are increasing our cleaning procedures throughout the day
  • Pupils and staff are hand-washing on arrival to school, before break, before lunch and before they leave.
  • Cancellation or postponement of all school events and activities, including year 5 swimming and all other actions stated in previous correspondence.
  • Allowing staff and parents to do what they think is right to protect their families and children.
  • Authorising all health absences regarding the Coronavirus and government advice.

   

  What we need you to do

  • If you have recently changed your contact details, please inform the school office as soon as possible via the school office 02392 584048.
  • Report all pupil absences in the usual way.
  • Talk to your children about the coronavirus. It is an anxious time and we should make sure children feel supported. BBC Newsround has regular updates for younger children and YoungMinds has practical steps older children can take to help with anxiety.
  • Come and collect your child straight away, if we ask you to (we’ll contact you if they become ill with either a temperature or a new, continuous cough)
  • Check that you and your child has access to the school website www.newtownceprimary.co.uk from home. This is where all home learning will be posted in year group folders for all to access. Once on the website visit the Children section and click on the Home Learning Resources pages.

   

  What happens if the school has to close?

  We will only close if we’re either officially advised to do so or if we do not have enough staff to safely open and run the school.

  In either case, we will:

  • Alert parents to the school closure, such via Parentmail, the website and Facebook
  • Communicate to you daily and will let you know when the school will be reopened
  • Monitor the school adminoffice@newtown.hants.sch.uk email account and respond to all messages and queries from parents.

   

  If you have any questions

  Please consult the:

  • Senior Leadership Team via the school office if you have any questions about our response to this issue
  • NHS, if you want to know more about the symptoms of coronavirus. If you think you or your child may have the symptoms, use NHS 111 online if at all possible before calling 111
  • Department for Education’s coronavirus helpline: 0800 046 8687, if you have any questions about the government’s response to coronavirus in relation to schools
  • Government’s travel advice, if you want to know whether any upcoming trip or holiday you’re taking abroad should go ahead

   

  It is a tricky time and we know you are worried about the impact this might have on our community. It is important we keep each other safe and talk about these events to help with any anxiety.

   

  Following the daily briefing by Mr. Johnson, Prime Minister tonight, I will update all parents if this has any further implications for Newtown C of E Primary School.

   

  Thank you for your continued support.