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

• CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: 5pm 16th March

  Mon 16 Mar 2020

   

  Following the Prime-minister’s press conference this evening. The following guidance has now been given:

   

  If your child has an underlying health condition, it is absolutely parental choice if you choose to implement the social distancing guidance, please follow the pupil absence reporting systems in the morning.

   

  In addition, if one person in the family has any Coronavirus-like symptoms, such as a cough or high temperature, the entire household must self isolate for 14 days from tomorrow. 

   

  Please report any pupil absences in the usual manner tomorrow morning.

   

  Mrs Howlett will write to everyone again tomorrow with any further updates in detail.

• Coronavirus update 16.03.2020

  Mon 16 Mar 2020

   

  The current situation regarding the Coronavirus is changing daily and we have today updated our risk assessments following updated advice received over the weekend.

   

  Therefore, following my letter to you all on Friday, the following events and activities have been either postponed or cancelled so that we can limit the spread of infection and to ensure that we are in control of all hygiene measures:

  • Newtown Community Bookshop – closed until further notice
  • All scheduled trips – postponed until further notice
  • Parents’ Evening - postponed (please see information below regarding telephone appointments)
  • Family Collective Worship – Cancelled until further notice
  • Year 4 sleepover - on hold until further notice
  • Stay and Play – Cancelled until further notice
  • Easter Church Service and all Easter events – cancelled
  • School Disco – Postponed until summer term
  • Rock Steady Concert – Cancelled (Lessons will go ahead as normal at present)
  • Share the Miracle – On hold - if you have already donated, these Easter eggs will distributed to those as planned)
  • Yoga – Cancelled, we cannot guarantee the hygiene of the mats and equipment
  • Karate – Cancelled until further notice – Karate will be contacting all parents

   

  At the moment all after school clubs will continue as planned (except for Mr. Bagley’s football and this is due to Mr. Bagley’s paternity leave; all affected families have been contacted).

   

  Parents’ Evening: Although parents’ evening has been postponed, if you would like to discuss something urgent with your child’s class teacher, the school office would be happy to arrange a telephone appointment for you. Please contact the school office to arrange this.

   

  Pupil Absence: Due to an increased number of pupil absences this morning, please can I draw your attention to the letter that was sent home on Friday with regard what to do if your child presents symptoms or is unwell. In the case of a pupil absence, there are websites you can access so that your child can access home learning whilst they are not in school. Please visit our website www.newtownceprimary.co.uk/home-learning-resources/

   

  I will of course update you with any further news or developments as soon as I can. Thank you for your continued support.

  Mrs Howlett, Headteacher

• Coronavirus update 13.03.2020

  Fri 13 Mar 2020

   

  As I’m sure you will appreciate, we are currently dealing with a complex and rapidly changing situation. My first priority will always be the health and safety of the pupils and staff in our school. Now more than ever, this remains our primary focus.

   

  We will do all we can to remain and stay open.

   

  Already in school we have:

  • Updated our Emergency Covid-19 Action Plan
  • Updated all risk assessments
  • Planning work for all children should the school close
  • Increase handwashing of all pupils, staff and visitors:
    • On arrival
    • Before break time
    • Before lunch
    • Before leaving school
  • Amended our absence policy (see below)
  • Withdraw the use of communal water coolers, please ensure your child has a FULL, water bottle provided from home, on arrival to school. This can be replenished by adults at certain points throughout the day.  
  • Increased our cleaning routines throughout the day

   

  This is an entirely unprecedented situation and we are following official advice from the government and the NHS. This advice is being added to on a daily basis and we are monitoring and responding to that as it is published. This official advice will underpin all the actions we take.

   

  Whilst I appreciate that there will be a wide range of different views about how we should be responding and what action should be taken, I hope you will appreciate that I am duty bound to follow the official advice from government.

   

  Therefore in addition to the above action, from today the following will apply in order for the school to mitigate against the virus spreading within our school:

   

  Absence and Illnesses in children

  • If pupils have a persistent cough or high temperature, they should remain at home for 7 calendar days       
  • If pupils arrive and have either a persistent cough or high temperature, we will contact families to collect their child and must remain home for a period of 7 calendar days
  • If a pupil has an unexplained absence, school will immediately contact the family to ascertain the reason for absence

   

  Suspected symptoms with a family member

  • If a family member of a pupil has suspected symptoms, the child can still attend school
  • Please ensure your child washing his/her hands before leaving the home
  • School will continue to heavily monitor your child

   

  Confirmed case with a family member

  • If a family member has a confirmed case of the Coronavirus, the pupil living with that family member must remain home for 14 days.
  • Please telephone the school to confirm this and we will ensure the necessary actions are taken in school to prevent further infection.

   

  Confirmed case with a pupil  

  • Parents to immediately notify the school
  • Public Health England Protection Team will contact the school to discuss with the Headteacher what action to take (This will also happen in the event of a staff member being a confirmed case)

   

  Family members travelling back from affected countries

  • The list of countries is changing all the time. Please refer to the following website for advice: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas-with-implications-for-returning-travellers-or-visitors-arriving-in-the-uk

   

  Staff shortage planning

  • We have plans in place to remain open and have plans in place to stay open should staff have symptoms and need to stay at home for the 7 calendar day period.

   

  Reducing contact point activities

  • We have taken the decision to limit all planned trips and activities for the foreseeable future, this will include:
    • Newtown Community Bookshop will be closed
    • All scheduled trips will be postponed including the Year 3 Search trip planed for the end of March
    • Parents’ Evening will be postponed
    • All Family Collective Worship will be postponed
    • All non-essential training for staff will be cancelled
    • The year 4 sleepover will be on hold until further notice
  • Please note that the school office will be busy during this unprecedented period. Please can all parents limit phone calls and messages to the school unless absolutely urgent and necessary.
  • Please ensure all changes to pick up and collection arrangements are planned for in advance and please limit the amount of last minute notifications to the school office regarding changes to arrangements

   

  I am aware that you may have additional questions, worries or thoughts regarding the current situation. Please can I reassure all parents and carers once again that I am doing all I can to ensure the school remains open. However, I am duty bound to follow all official advice from the Government, Department for Education and Public Health England.

   

  I will of course continue to keep you updated with any further developments as and when they happen. Please refer to the NHS website for all Coronavirus queries: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

   

• Corona-virus Update to Parents

  Wed 11 Mar 2020

   

  Coronavirus Update   
   
  I wanted to write to let you know the proactive steps that we are taking as a result of the current Coronavirus situation.  I am sure you will appreciate that this information is correct at the time of writing but that the situation is changing rapidly.  

   

  What are we doing? We are:

  1. Monitoring the situation very carefully and following all advice and guidance from the government and health associations with regard to maintaining the health, safety and welfare of pupils, staff and their families as paramount;

  2. Limiting travel by staff where appropriate - training for example;

  3. Ensuring, as always, cleaning is of the highest standard in our facilities and providing additional hand sanitization in classrooms and meeting rooms;

  4. Stopping shaking hands at the start of meetings with parents/carers and with visitors to the school when they arrive;

  5. Increasing signage around key areas with regard to the importance of handwashing and not touching your face;

  6. Responding as appropriate with regard to trips and visits that we have planned for pupils in accordance with guidance from Public Health England and the Department for Education;

  7. Going to turn off all water coolers.  Pupils need to bring a full, preferably reusable water bottle with them to school each day.  Should they require it to be refilled, they can ask a member of staff to fill it up before break or lunch time; the water will come from a tap with drinking water accessible only to staff;

  8. Preparing online learning resources for pupils to access should the school be directed to close;

  9. Proactively talking to pupils about their role in reducing the spread of the infection through their own personal hygiene routines and reassuring them that the school is following all guidance required to ensure their health and welfare.  

   

  What we would like you to do:

  1. Continue to ensure that your child/children attend(s) school as usual;

  2. Talk with your child about the importance of effective handwashing with soap and hot water for 20 seconds or more and not touching their face.  Relentlessly remind them of ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’.  Remind them that soap is the key along with hot water.  Many of them presume that a small blob of antibacterial sanitizer gel is better than soap, it is not, the virus is not bacterial it is viral.  

  3. Reassure your child that everyone is doing everything they can to reduce the spread of the infection and that the NHS is a wonderful healthcare system who will provide fantastic care for those in need; 
  4. In the event that your child develops symptoms, specifically a high temperature/fever with a sore throat and/or coughing; or they have close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Coronavirus, please do not bring them/let them come to school.  Please call 111, where you will be advised what steps to take. Please let the school know by calling the school office 02392584048 after you have spoken to 111. 
   
  Please be aware that there is a Department for Education coronavirus helpline available to answer questions about Covid-19 relating to education and children’s social care: 
  Phone: 0800 046 8687

  Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk

  Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)  

   

  Please can I ask that you check your contact details are up to date, including a mobile telephone number. This is extremely important as most emergency communications will be sent to you via text through the parent mail system. Please also refer to the school website and your emails for all communications.  

   

  I will of course keep you informed of any further proactive steps that we decide to take along with any requirements that we are directed to follow and the impact these may have on our school community.   
   
  Mrs E Howlett, Headteacher 

• Newtown helps plant 1000 trees in 1000 days!

  Wed 04 Mar 2020

   

  Newtown C of E Primary School has helped to kick start Gosport Borough Council's initiative of planting 1000 trees in 100 days. 

   

  The Leader of Gosport Borough Council, Cllr Mark Hook, has called for 1000 trees to be planted in 1000 days to help tackle climate change and make local neighbourhoods greener. Following a successful grant application to the Woodland Trust, Newtown C of E Primary School received 185 trees to be planted on the school site to enhance their outdoor learning provision and to provide a Forest School for the children to learn about the environment and to encourage wildlife. 

   

  Cllr Kathy Jones, Mayor of Gosport, visited Newtown C of E Primary School today to visit the trees and the Forest School area that is being developed by the school for the children and local community to enjoy for many years to come. 

   

  In addition, the Mayor was also shown an area of the school site that the school would like to redevelop into a pond area to further enhance the children's learning and understanding through science and natural history. The school would like to know of any local business who could help by donating resources and/or time to build a pond for the local community. If you can please get in touch via the school on 02392 584048. 

   

  Emma Howlett, Headteacher said "Trees and the growth of our Forest School are a vital part of our local landscape. Through our curriculum, we teach our children to have an increasing awareness of the importance of wildlife and the need to protect our planet. Being part of Gosport Borough Council's 1000 trees in 1000 days initiative is something that we wanted to get involved in to support our local community whilst promoting the importance of protecting our local environment".