All our latest news can be found in our weekly newsletter.

• Starting back at school 1st September 2020

  Thu 27 Aug 2020

  Dear Parents/Carers,

   

  I hope that all of our families have enjoyed a relaxing summer break.  As we come towards the end of the summer holiday we are preparing to open our school to all pupils on Tuesday 1^st September and I would like to take this opportunity to update everyone on the current government guidelines and to remind parents of the specific arrangements for each class when we return next term.  I also hope to answer the questions asked by parents during the holidays.   The more detailed information sent at the end of last term is at the end of this letter as a reminder – please do take the time to read it prior to the start of term.

  The latest guidance states that all children should return to school in September.  During the holidays, our premises and cleaning teams have worked hard to ensure that our school is clean and that clear systems are in place for movement around the site.  Where possible, teachers have organised classrooms so that all children face the front of the room and soft furnishings have been removed.   There are sanitisers throughout the school and hand washing will continue to be of paramount importance throughout the day.   We would ask that no additional bags or belongings are brought into school other than the list provided in this letter.  Bathrooms, tables and all other hard surfaces will be cleaned throughout the day to keep the spread of germs to a minimum and lunch will continue to eaten in class bubbles, outside if the weather permits.

  You will be aware that the need for quarantine following travel abroad has increased recently and families must follow these guidelines if affected.  If your family does need to quarantine please let the school office know.  This list is under constant review so please do keep an eye on the news if you are intending to travel or have just returned from a holiday abroad.

  We have been asked about the wearing of face masks in school, the government guidance states that face masks should not be worn in school by children or staff.

  We will not routinely be taking children’s temperature as they come into school but, if they are showing symptoms, we may check if they have a temperature.  Parents will be contacted immediately if children show any signs of being unwell.  Please ensure that the contact details we hold for you are up to date. Please do not send you child to school if they have a cough, fever or any other signs of COVID.  Testing will not be routinely offered to schools at this point but there are a number of testing stations locally and all families should be able to access a test quickly if needed.

  Our risk assessment and behaviour management policy are on the website and I would urge parents to read them before the start of term.  The risk assessment is regularly updated to recognise the latest government guidance.  We must, however, recognise that changes can happen very quickly so please look out for Facebook, Parent mail or website alerts if the situation changes before Tuesday 1^st September.  

  If you have any queries or concerns please contact office@edithweston.rutland.sch.uk and we will respond before

  the start of term.

  Please enjoy the last few days of the break and I look forward to seeing everyone next week.

  Yours sincerely,

  Mrs L Martin

  Head of School

   

  What to bring to school

  • Lunch box if they are bringing their own packed lunch
  • Named water bottle
  • Hats and sun cream as lots of learning will take place outside. (It is helpful if sun cream is applied before children come to school as we are unable to assist with this)
  • Book bags
  • Swimming kit
  • No toys or trading cards may be brought in from home.
  • Children should not bring additional bags to school 

  School uniform

  Children should wear their normal school uniform.  We would ask that children have school shoes with a pair of trainers or plimsolls for PE as most PE will take place outside.  In order to minimise bags and changing in school, children should wear their PE kit to school on the days they do PE. 

  PE days:

  Wednesdays – Little Ospreys (Pre-School) and Doves (R/Year 1)

  Thursdays – Owls (Y4/5/6)

  Fridays – Kestrels (Y2/3)

  Swimming lessons will begin from week 2 of next term (w/c 7th September). We will send out details of the swimming timetable at the beginning of next term. As per Mrs Milner’s letter a little while ago, we will be introducing a charge for swimming lessons from September. This will be £2 per child, per week. This enables us to ensure the pool is well-maintained and that we are able to provide fully trained aquatic rescuers and swimming teachers for each session. Payments will be made via ParentPay.

  One-way system

  To try to minimise traffic on the school path into school, please use the pedestrian entrance and use the path when coming onto the school grounds and head to the specified entrance point for your child (details below). Once you have left your child at the entrance, please leave the path using the yellow gate nearest to you and walk back down to the exit on the car park side of the blue fence, exiting through the vehicle entrance gates. Staff will all have arrived in school so this will be safe. Parents/carers should not use the school car park please to ensure pedestrian safety.

    Drop off and pick up

   

  Bubble Group	Entry time and drop off point	Exit Time and collection point
  Little Ospreys Pre-School	9.00am Little Osprey’s Fire Door at the front of school	12pm, 1pm or 3:15pm Little Osprey’s Fire Door at the front of school
  Doves (Reception and Year 1)	8.50am Doves wooden gate to their outside area at rear of school	3.15 Doves wooden gate to their outside area at rear of school
  Kestrels (Year 2 and Year 3)	8.40am Kestrels Fire Door at the rear of school	3.15 from main entrance – please queue outside the front of school on the ramp
  Owls (Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6)	8:45am Little Ospreys Fire Door at the front of school	3:20pm Little Ospreys Fire Door at the front of school

  Please leave your child at the entrance to school in a morning; do not come into the school building. If you need to talk to your child’s class teacher, please call or email the office to make a telephone appointment.  You may only enter the school building if you have a pre-arranged appointment.

  Breakfast Club

  From 1st September, we will be running our Red Kites breakfast club. This will run from 7:30am until 8:50am each day. Please note that there is a small price increase and this will now cost £3.50 per session, which can be paid via ParentPay. There are a maximum of 10 spaces and spaces must be booked in advance via office@edithweston.rutland.sch.uk. Breakfast club will have to run slightly differently from September, as children from different class bubbles will not be able to mix. Each class bubble group will use a separate table in the school hall. Activities will be table based and children will not be able to move between tables. Children should use the main office entrance to come into school for breakfast club. If your child will use Red Kites Breakfast Club, please talk to them about the changes in how it will run so that they understand what they will need to do so we can maintain all pupil safety.

  After school clubs

  We will not be running any after school clubs in Term 1. This is to ensure that bubbles of children do not mix. We will continue to review the guidance and as soon as we are sure it is safe to do so, after school clubs will resume. Please ensure that you make arrangements for your child/children to be collected at the finish times specified for each class group.

  Structure of the day

  On the first morning, each ‘bubble’ will create a new class contract when staff will discuss the rules that we need to follow in our classrooms and around school, with a particular focus on the ‘keeping safe’ aspect of our school rules. We will provide children with the resources and seating arrangements needed to encourage social distancing, as far as possible, and lessons will need to be organised differently, without opportunities for group work so that staff and children are able to keep a safe distance from each other.

  The day will be structured in a very similar way to how it was prior to closure, so that children will be used to the routines – children from Year 1 upwards will access Literacy and Maths lessons during the morning and afternoon sessions will be based around each class topic for the term. A curriculum letter will be sent to you at the beginning of next term so you are able to discuss and support learning at home.

  Assemblies

  Unfortunately, we will not be able to bring all children together for an assembly each morning and we are not allowed to sing in groups for the time being. Last term, we successfully trialled assemblies using Microsoft Teams to link the classes for an assembly each day and this will continue in September.

  Break times/lunch times

  Each class will have ‘break time’ and ‘lunch time’ but these times will look a little different to normal as we are not able to bring the children together to mix outside of their ‘bubbles’. There will be staggered times for morning break and these sessions will be supervised by ‘bubble staff’. Fruit will be available for all children in EYFS and KS1 but please send a healthy snack for children in KS2 – this should be a piece of fruit or a cereal bar. We would ask that children do not have items such as packets of crisps or biscuits as part of their morning snack please.

  At lunch time, children will eat inside their classroom or outside if the weather permits. For Term 1 we will continue to provide packed lunches for the children in Key Stage 1 and for those children eligible for free school lunches. If your child in Key Stage 2 is not eligible for a free school meal, you may still order a ‘packed lunch’ in the usual way. 

  Children will be encouraged to wash their hands at the beginning and end of break times and before eating.

  Staying safe

  Each class and key stage bubble will work together to produce a set of rules at the beginning of the first day.  They will include how and when to wash hands, how to cough and sneeze safely and how to keep a sensible distance.  Please do talk to your children about the importance of following instructions. We also trust that you are following the government’s social distancing guidelines outside of school.

  Symptoms of Coronavirus

  We will continue to review all government guidelines and keep you informed of any changes to our provision as they are needed. Please ensure that the latest government guidance is followed and if children develop symptoms of coronavirus, all members of the family should stay at home for 14 days. Children can return to school sooner if they have been tested and receive a negative test result – please see https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-an-antigen-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/ for the latest information on how to book a test. In the event of a positive Covid test result, all parents/carers will be informed and we will adhere to the latest guidance to ensure the safety of our school community.

• End of term arrangements

  Tue 14 Jul 2020

                                                                                                              Tuesday 14^th July 2020

  Dear Parents/Carers,

  We are coming towards the end of what has been quite an unexpected and truly remarkable academic year. One I’m sure we will all remember well, but hope will not be repeated in the future.

  A short while ago, Mrs Milner wrote to you to advise that Term 6 will end on Friday 17^th July for pupils currently in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6. All other year groups would be invited back into school for the last three days from Monday 20^th to Wednesday 22^nd of July. We have been watching local developments carefully in Leicestershire, as well as reviewing the daily updates from Rutland County Council and of course latest guidance from the Government and we feel confident that we can continue to be Covid secure as we say good-bye to some of the children so that we can welcome back those who have been learning at home, prior to the summer holidays.

  From Monday 20^th July, only children in Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be able to come into school. Where possible, these children will work in their new class groups up to a maximum of 15 children per bubble; normal class sizes resume from September. Children will work in their new classrooms, with their new teachers – again, where possible.

  Children who will be in Nursery or Reception in September should have received separate information about transition meetings and stay and play sessions, which will run from Monday 20^th to Wednesday 22^nd July but please see the section in this letter confirming arrangements, if you are unsure.

  If you are a key worker and parent/carer of a child in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 or Year 6 and you require childcare from Monday 20^th to Wednesday 22^nd July, please contact the school office to request a place in a key worker bubble. Please note, if class bubble groups are full, we will open a key worker bubble which will be a mixed age group of children from across the school.

  Please note that, following Government Guidance, children can not change bubbles part way through the week. This means that if you have a child currently in Nursery who requires child care for the last three days of term, they will be in the Key Worker Bubble and so will not be able to join their peers on the transition morning if your child is due to join Reception in September.

  All safety measures we currently have in place will remain. Breakfast clubs and after school clubs will not operate during the last three days.  Children will not need PE kit but should wear a relaxed version of the school uniform - school t-shirt with tracksuit bottoms and trainers. The children should bring in a packed lunch, or they can request a school meal: a cold pre-made packed lunch each day. Children will eat with their bubble group either in the classroom, or outside weather permitting. Children will also need a named water bottle and if good weather, a named sun hat. Please bring a change of shoes for the woodland area and ensure sun-cream is pre-applied before school.

   

  One-way system

  To try to minimise traffic on the school path into school, please use the pedestrian entrance and use the path when coming onto the school grounds and head to the specified entrance point for your child (details below). Once you have left your child at the entrance, please leave the path using the yellow gate nearest to you and walk back down to the exit on the car park side of the blue fence, exiting through the vehicle entrance gates. Staff will all have arrived in school so this will be safe. Parents/carers should not use the school car park please to ensure pedestrian safety.

   

  Drop off and collection arrangements

  Each class will use a separate entrance and exit to help maintain social distancing. Entrance doors will be open from 8:30am. Details of entrance points and collection times are below.

  Please note, if your child accesses school on a reduced timetable, this is for information only and your child will continue to attend school at the agreed times.

  Current Little Ospreys – children will be invited in to the Pre-School or Reception classroom on a set date/time for meetings and stay and play sessions in Little Ospreys Pre-School. You should have received separate information detailing these visits.

  Children due to start Reception in September – you should have been contacted with regard to a meeting with Mrs Johnson on Monday, 20^th July. All children starting Reception in September will be able to come into school on Tuesday 21^st July for the day, from 8:45am until 2:45pm. The children will be based in the Reception ‘Stars’ classroom. Children will be collected from the wooden gate to the outdoor area on the playground. Please queue, 2 metres apart, until a member of staff opens the gate to welcome you. Please leave your child with the member of staff at the gate. This will minimise adults congregating in the classroom. All children in due to start in Reception will need to be collected promptly at 2:45pm as part of a staggered finish time. This should enable us to avoid congestion and groups gathering at collection time.

  Current Reception children will be invited into school on Wednesday 21^st July for the last day of term. This will be a transition day for the children so that they can begin to think about what school will be like when they become Year 1 children in September. The children will be based in the Reception ‘Stars’ classroom. Children will be collected from the wooden gate to the outdoor area on the playground. Please queue, 2 metres apart, until a member of staff opens the gate to welcome you. Please leave your child with the member of staff at the gate. This will minimise adults congregating in the classroom. All children currently in Reception will need to be collected promptly at 2:45pm as part of a staggered finish time. This should enable us to avoid congestion and groups gathering at collection time.

  Current Year 2 children will be with Mrs Smith in the Woodpecker’s classroom. Children will enter the classroom by the fire door (usually used for pick up at the end of the day). Please queue, 2 metres apart, by this door until it is opened and ensure you leave your child at the door. Please do not come into school. This will minimise adults congregating in the cloakrooms and classroom area and allow us to maintain social distancing for staff and children. All children currently in Year 2 will need to be collected promptly at 3:10pm as part of a staggered finish time. This should enable us to avoid congestion and groups gathering at collection time.

  Current Year 3, 4 and 5 children will be with Miss Chard in the Wren’s classroom. If more than 15 children attend, a second bubble will open in the adjoining classroom (currently Lark’s classroom). Children should enter and exit school via the fire door near Little Ospreys entrance at the front of school (to the right of the office entrance). The door will open at 8:30am and children can arrive from this time. Please queue, 2 metres apart, by this door until it is opened and ensure you leave your child at the door. Please do not come into school. This will minimise adults congregating in the corridors and office area and allow us to maintain social distancing for staff and children. All Year 3, 4 and 5 children will need to be collected promptly at 3:15pm as part of a staggered finish time. This should enable us to avoid congestion and groups gathering at collection time.

  Any children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 or Year 6 who have booked a space in our Key Worker childcare bubble will need to enter school via the office entrance and will wait in the hall with an adult from their bubble. Children will then be taken to the spare Key Stage 1 classroom once all children have arrived. The door will open at 8:30am and children can arrive from this time. Please queue, 2 metres apart, by this door until it is opened and ensure you leave your child at the door. Please do not come into school. This will minimise adults congregating in the corridors and office area and allow us to maintain social distancing for staff and children. All Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children will need to be collected promptly at 3:25pm as part of a staggered finish time. This should enable us to avoid congestion and groups gathering at collection time.

  Many of the children will have been away from school for quite some time now and we appreciate that you may have some concerns surrounding their return. Please do contact the school office if you have any queries or to confirm that you require a space if you have not already been in contact with someone from school. At the end of this week, we will be sending home a letter which will give information about the full school return in September. We will continue to follow all guidance and local updates to ensure that we can keep the children, families and our staff as safe as possible.

   

  Many thanks for your continued support,

   

  Mrs Martin

   

  Head of School

• Key Workers

  Fri 20 Mar 2020

  Dear Parents,

   

  This morning the government has issued its list of critical key workers, identifying the parents who are still eligible to access childcare provision at school. Please do check the government's advice for full details.

   

  In order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus the very clear message from the government is that if a child can be cared for at home they should be.  Schools will remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend

   

  Many parents working in the critical sectors may still be able to ensure their child stays at home.

   

  For vulnerable children, your child's social worker will work with you to assess the best option for your child.

   

  If you qualify for child care support under the government stipulations and are unable to provide care at home - please send your details to slt@brookehillacademytrust.education

   We will prioritise families with two key workers in the first instance.    We aim to offer normal school hours in each of our schools to allow you to continue to provide the vital services we all rely on.  We will confirm before and after school provision later this morning.

   

  Thank you for your understanding and patience at this challenging time.

   

  Although schools are closing today for the majority of our pupils, we will be in regular contact with all of our families and our websites will be updated with any new information we have.

   

  Thank you for your continued support.

   

  Yours sincerely,

   

  Mrs S Milner

  On behalf of Trustees at Brooke Hill Academy Trust

• Recycle with Michael

  Tue 04 Jun 2019

  Huge thanks to all of you that have donated your unwanted clothing and shoes to our Recycle with Michael. 

  With you doing so, they have collected a huge 180kg of clothing and shoes, and this has raised £20.25 towards the school.

  Well done, and thank you.

• The Rutland Show 02/06/19

  Mon 03 Jun 2019

  We had a great time at at the Rutland Show yesterday, albeit a very blustery day.

  We met some lovely people who designed their own plant pot and planted some seeds and also made some badges!

  

• Key Stage Inspired Writers

  Tue 05 Mar 2019 Mrs Pettman

  On Monday 4th March, we enjoyed hosting a MAT wide KS1 writers event here at Edith Weston Academy. Based around the theme of 'The Magic Box' poem by Kit Wright, we found inspiration around school for special things we would put in our own box.

  We started in the hall with the appearance of a magical box complete with mysterious smoke! Inside we found a range of special items belonging to Mrs Shepherd and things that she liked including things such as a special cushion made by her son and the smell of hot cross buns! We thought about what we would add to our boxes. 

  We visited the Forest School and used our senses to find magic in the natural world around us. We created a special box and described it using a range of vocabulary as well as mathematical terms. We also started to write verses of poetry about what we would put in our box; we were very clear that these should be senses, feelings and emotions rather than items we can touch!

  At the end of the day, we were very tired from all our work but we have so much inspiration for our poems for the rest of the week. We will be sharing them soon. 

   

  

• Yr56 Edith Weston and Brooke Hill Academy collaboration

  Mon 07 Jan 2019 Mrs Pettman

  Edith Weston and Brooke Hill Academy children have produced some fantastic cross curricular work today linking Literacy, Science and ICT. They worked as a team to produce I movies illustrating the key events so far in space history. Using QR code reader, scan the code below to watch an example.

  

• The book fair is coming!

  Thu 29 Nov 2018 P Rawlings

  The book fair is coming! We are very excited for the arrival of the book fair on Tuesday 11th December, it will be here until 18th December and it will be open every day after school from 3.30pm unitl 4pm in the library. Come and have a look! 

  

• Term 1 and 2 update

  Sat 10 Nov 2018 Mrs Pettman

  Welcome to our school. I'm hoping that this update will give you a quick flavour of all the amazing things we get up to at our school. We work very hard and are very proud of everything we achieve. In the past few months we have:

  • Introduced the Daily Mile to school to help improve pupil's wellbeing, health and concentration. They love it!
  • Visited Twycross Zoo as part of the Yr34 project, watched 'Stickman' at Stamford Corn Exchange and visited Casterton College to see their Arts Extravaganza
  • Yr5 have been to PGL.
  • Held a Mini Soldiers day & coffee afternoon with help from St Georges Barracks to raise money for Macmillan Cancer support
  • Supported Oakham food bank through our Harvest collection and assembly
  • Invited parents to attend our Reading café and assembly
  • Attended a massive variety of different sporting events: basketball, track cycling, table tennis, sports hall athletics, Brownlee triathlon, cross country, multi-sports.... I'm sure our Sports coach, Mr Eldred, will tell me that I've missed loads out!
  • Worked with our friends across the MAT to build our Kit Car as part of our Gifted and Talented programme.
  • Held 2 open days to show off our wonderful school.

  This is just a small amount of what we do each week on top of providing an exciting and broad curriculum.

  • Reception and EYFS have made pumpkin soup and a scarecrow; visited the forest area; watched the Stickman; made diva pots to celebrate divali plus loads more.
  • KS1 have watched the Stickman; held a STEM week to explore science and technology; visited Oakham library to see Emily Sandall read her book
  • Yr34  and Yr56 went wild at the zoo; represented the school at a wide variety of sports events; joined South Witham Academy for their Viking day; have participated in bikeability; had brass music lessons or recorder lessons...

   

  Look through a selection of our photos to see more.

  

• Shine Assembly and KS2 PE

  Tue 05 Jun 2018

  This Friday (8th June) parents are invited to join us for our SHINE assembly at 2:30pm as we show off our new PE and sports kit and new lunchtime sports equipment. The money for both of these items has been kindly donated by the patrons of The Wheatsheaf quiz team and a local ice cream business.

   

  Also this week, Finding Fitness will be starting class PE sessions for KS2 children so please ensure that your child has shorts, a t-shirt and trainers in school on Thursday. Unfortunately, due to continued low numbers we will not be offering a parents fitness session on Thursday’s in term 6.