Latest News | Cherry Oak School

Letter To Parents 4th September 2020

Fri 04 Sep 2020 Amy Findlay Head of School

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you and your family are well and that you enjoyed some time with loved ones during the summer break. I am writing today to welcome you back for the academic year 2020/2021 and give you some updates on our return to school for all pupils on Monday 8th September. The start of the new academic year is always a mix of excitement and nerves and I know how much we are all feeling that this year.

I am really pleased with how supportive so many of you have been with the staggered start we have put in place this week. This has allowed us to give the children a really focused transition day and ensure that we can appropriately risk assess the pupils. All of the staff have been very positive about how well the children have responded to this. It has allowed us to now be ready for a safe return to full school next week.

The key areas of information are as follows:

Organisation of the school day

Pupils will arrive on transport as usual. All pupils will be collected one at a time from the buses and there will be a one way system in place for escorting pupils into school.

Parents and children who do not use will need to access the school via the pedestrian entrance as usual. You will need to wait for a member of school staff to come to the gate to collect your child. I respectfully ask that parents do not congregate together in groups and that 2 metre social distancing is adhered to at all times. Drop off and pick up times are staggered to limit the number of people on the school site and therefore ensure the safety of children, parents and staff. Please keep to your allocated time slot as much as possible. If you miss your time slot then we may have to ask you to wait until all other children are in school.

Staggered drop off times:

8.55 am Pupils in Maple, Sycamore and Willow

9.00 am Pupils in Rowan

9.05 am Pupils in Daisies and Elm

9.10 am Pupils in Clover

9.15 am Pupils in Acorns and Bluebells

Staggered pick up times:

2.55 pm Pupils in Maple, Rowan, Sycamore and Willow

3.00 pm Pupils in Clover, Daisies and Elm

3.05 pm Pupils in Acorns and Bluebells

We will be reviewing this system and will inform you if we need to make further changes. Please assume these times continue to be in place unless we inform you otherwise.

Although we are one school bubble, we are also trying to where possible, keep children in their own classroom. We will not be having children together in communal areas. We are minimising the passing of pupils in the corridor and stairs. However, we do not have the space to set up a one way system in the main school building

Safe access to toilets will be supervised by school staff.

The government has advised that children should wear school uniform as normal. However, we will continue to take an individual approach to uniform to reflect the needs of your child. Please do not send your child with their PE kit until further notice.

Regular cleaning of school toilets and class equipment and furniture will be ongoing throughout the day, including lunchtime.

Additional items from home, such as toys, are not permitted. The exception to this is where your child has a sensory or behaviour need and you have discussed with us the items that will need to come into school.

Visitors, including parents and carers will not be allowed in school unless they have been invited. Any parents or carers who do enter the main school building must wear a face covering.

Lunch and playtime

We are still able to provide pupils’ usual lunches but there may be times when the menu is altered.

Lunch will be eaten in the classrooms, children will then have time to play outside with other children. This will be done on a strict rota so that we only have a maximum of 3 classes (no more than 36 children) in a playground at one time

All children will be able to play outside every day and will need a suitable coat for all weathers.

We will not be accepting cash into school, payment for lunches must continue to be made via ParentPay.

Our curriculum and environment

The curriculum in all classes has been organised to support all children to catch up with missed learning. It is also heavily focused on supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing and to help rebuild friendships and relationships.

We will continue to deliver the curriculum in full, including all subjects. However, we will not be putting pupils under any undue pressure to meet targets.

The classrooms remain the calm and soothing environment they were before with relaxed lighting and neutral colours. There is less furniture but this gives children more space to move around.

All classes continue to be set up in the right way for the needs of the children. For example, some children will not be expected to sit at desks. They will have access to the learning environment as normal with increased washing of hands and equipment.

Staff are provided with PPE to be used when social distancing is not possible, for example when personal care takes place.

Current guidance is that primary school aged children should not wear face coverings.

A return to remote learning

I am sure you have seen in the media the government’s commitment to keeping primary schools open. However, I want to reassure you that if we find ourselves in a situation where school cannot provide learning in school then we will revert to the successful systems that we had in the summer term.

Symptoms of Covid-19.

If your child is displaying a symptom of COVID-19, then we will contact you immediately to ask you to come and collect your child. While we wait for you to arrive, your child will be taken to a safe, ventilated room in school with a member of staff. The member of staff will wear PPE and all areas that your child has been in contact with will be thoroughly cleaned. We will give you the most up to date information about testing and requirements for self-isolating. Currently the information is as follows:

Your child and all family member that your child lives with will need to be tested and self-isolate. You can arrange a test by either phoning 119 or online at nhs.co.uk/coronavirus.

Your child must self-isolate for 10 days or until they have a negative test result.

Your family members that live with your child must self-isolate for 14 days or until your child has a negative test result. If your child receives a negative test result then all family members can stop self-isolating unless they have developed symptoms themselves. If they develop symptoms then they must follow advice to be tested and self-isolate.

We will inform public health of your child’s symptoms and the advice we have given you. You must inform us of the outcome of any tests and development of symptoms of COVID-19 and we will share this information with public health.

Your child will not be able to return to school until the appropriate self-isolation has been completed or a negative test result has been received.

Unfortunately there has been some ‘fake news’ circulating about schools and testing. Schools can only advise parents to get their child tested. School do not have the right to test children or take a child for a test.

It is crucial that we have up to date contact information for you. It has always been the case that we need to have a way of contacting you in an emergency and now it is essential that we can contact you immediately if your child develops a symptom of COVID-19.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please contact me at school. I know this is still a difficult time and we as a school want to continue to support you.

Amy Findlay

Head of School

Update on COVID-19 Situation in Birmingham from Ian Ward, leader of BCC

Wed 19 Aug 2020 Ian Ward

Leader statement on current COVID-19 situation - 19 August 2020

You may have heard in the news over the last couple of days that – Birmingham’s infection rate is now increasing. We’re not yet in the position other UK cities have been (in no small part thanks to your vigilance and hard work). But government is watching very closely over coming days, in case it looks like we’ll need to go back into lockdown.

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, has urged everyone to pull together to ensure the city tackles the threat posed by rising coronavirus case numbers, and you may like to take a look at the message that he has written that’s just been published on the council website here.

We will continue to communicate key messages to you as this situation changes and develops to keep you fully informed. In the meantime – the basics such as regular hand washing, wearing face coverings inside public places, and keeping 2m away from others continue to have the biggest impact – and keep up the excellent work I know you are all doing to comply with the current requirements. Please also share the messages widely with your staff, parents, friends, and family as an ongoing reminder.

Update Friday 17th July

Fri 17 Jul 2020 Amy Findlay Head of School

Dear Parents/Carers

I write to you on our last day of term with a real mix of emotions. In my correspondence with you over the last few months, I have talked a lot about the strange and unprecedented times we have found ourselves in. The threat of COVID-19 has not gone away and there will continue to be difficult times ahead but as we ‘finish for the holidays’, we can reflect on all we have dealt with over the last few months.

I know there is a lot of sadness and resentment about the time and opportunities our children have lost. I am upset for all of our year 6 pupils and their families that they do not get to have the send-off they deserve as they leave Cherry Oak School. But we must be positive and appreciate all we have achieved together and what a wonderful community we have. I couldn’t be prouder of our families and staff and how we have all worked together to ensure that our children have stayed safe.

Thank you for working with and supporting us during this difficult time. We have managed to stay in contact with you all in various ways and many positive relationships have developed. Thank you for all the lovely messages, cards and gifts you have sent to the staff. Your kind words and recognition of the staff means everything.

None of us will be having the summer that we planned but I really do hope you all manage to have some nice quality family time together.

Staff will be back at school for training on Tuesday 1st September so please keep an eye on the website for updates before we start to welcome children back over that week. It is essential that children only come to school on their allocated day in the first week but we are really looking forward to seeing all of the children.

Stay safe, best wishes.

Amy Findlay

Head of School

A Message From Clare Mills Chair Of Governors

Fri 17 Jul 2020 Clare Mills Chair Of Governors

Dear Pupils, Staff and Families,

I'm sure that you will all agree that it has been a very strange year for all of us.

I have felt for all of the families coming to terms with home schooling and for many of you also trying to work from home at the same time.

I feel sad for those in Year 6 leaving us without the usual celebrations and transition visits but I know that everyone will have done their best to make sure that this special time has been marked for you. I want to wish you all the best for your future, I know you will do well as you have had a great start at Cherry Oak.

I have seen from the wonderful videos, made by the staff and by our fantastic families, that you have all appreciated each other for the extra efforts made during this challenging year.

I would like to add my thanks to everyone at the school for going over and above to ensure that our amazing children did not miss out too much and for making sure that everyone had the support they needed during these difficult times.

Have a good break everyone and I look forward to the new academic year which, I know will bring challenges but as ever we will meet them with the same determination and enthusiasm as we have met the Pandemic.

Much love to you all,

Clare Mills

Chair of Governors.

Update for parents 10th July 2020

Fri 10 Jul 2020 Amy Findlay Head of School

To Parents/carers

Firstly, I would like to thank you all and acknowledge your amazing efforts over the past 3.5 months since the government announced that schools were to shut down to help control the spread of the Coronavirus. It has been a difficult period of time with so many unknowns, frequently changing information, needing to stay at home, so many shops and services closed, some schools and respite facilities closed and the constant worry about the health of yourselves and those you love.

You have all done a truly amazing job of supporting your families and continuing their education by implementing the learning activities sent out from school.

I am writing to share essential information with you on future plans.

Summer holidays

Cherry Oak School will be closed during the summer holiday. Quite a bit of building and maintenance work that was to have been completed at Easter has had to be postponed until the Summer holiday so the school is ready for the start of the new school year. Teachers will cease making their weekly calls to you at this time and will not be able to respond to emails. Our timetable of virtual learning and resource deliveries will finish. The last day of term will be Friday 17th July 2020

If you need advice from other professionals during this time please refer to the contacts details on our website:

https://www.cherryoak.bham.sch.uk/keeping-in-touch/

Plans for September

The government has announced that all schools will re-open to all pupils in September. We have been advised by the Department for Education, that primary pupils do not need to socially distance. All schools have been advised to operate ‘bubbles’ in their setting. Due to the small size of Cherry Oak School, we have decided that we will be operating as one school bubble. Due to a number of factors, including movement of staff, mixing on transport and unpredictable movement of pupils we would not be able to guarantee that smaller bubbles would be maintained.

Within our school bubble we will be putting arrangements in place to minimise large gatherings and where possible encourage social distancing. We will be avoiding the use of communal spaces, playgrounds will be used on a rota basis, and we will be limiting the number of visitors in school. We will have to adapt to a, hopefully temporary, way of working and will continue to make the most of technology available, for example through virtual assemblies.

We need to focus on children being in school initially and will have to restrict our usual enrichment offer. We will continue to follow government advice and work with community venues to determine when it is safe and appropriate for our children to access spaces and activities outside of school.

We have made the decision to postpone our planned training day on Wednesday 2nd September so that we can start to welcome some pupils back on this date.

Following a review of our risk assessment, we have planned to welcome all children back to school in a staggered approach. This will mean that all children will attend school for one day on either Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd or Friday 4th September. All the staff feel very positive about this approach. By having a third of pupils in each day we will be able to give each child the focused individual attention that they will need. In September there will be many pupils who have not been in school for nearly 6 months. Although a number of children have been accessing school during lockdown, they have not been following their usual routine and things have looked very difficult. We are going to need time to allow all children to respond to being back in school and update their individual risk assessments. By taking this nurturing approach, we are confident that all children will be able to fully return to school as normal from Monday 7th September, unless government advice changes.

You will receive a letter informing you which day your child will be attending school in that first week of September.

We have now been informed that social distancing will no longer be required on school transport from September. If your child previously accessed school transport then they will continue to do so. If you do not wish your child to access school transport and wish to transport them yourselves, then mileage payments will be available. To apply, please email travelassist@birmingham.gov.uk

When the children return in September, we will be delivering a ‘recovery curriculum’. We will be focusing on transitioning all pupils back to school, with an emphasis on supporting their mental health and wellbeing. We will also be assessing pupils to determine their knowledge and skill levels after a 5 month break from full education. Our approach to this will reflect the needs of our pupils and respect that our children rely on routine and structure and will need to feel confident that are returning to normality but without any unnecessary pressure. Details of this approach will be shared on our website.

All of this planning is subject to government guidance as it changes in response to the pandemic.

For as long as it is recommended, staff will continue to have access to personal protective equipment (PPE) for situations where they need to work in close proximity to pupils, for example in personal care.

Leavers

We have 24 year 6 pupils who will be leaving us at the end of this term to start the next step of their education journey. We have been working closely with their secondary schools to ensure a smooth transition and wish them all well.

A small number of staff members are leaving at the end of this school year. We thank them all for their service to the children and families of Cherry Oak School and wish them well for the future.

They are: Imelda Lowe (retiring)

Susan Giles (retiring)

Elizabeth Bradley-Adams (promotion at another Special School)

Final deliveries

Next week staff will be coming out to do our final deliveries of the term. If your child is currently accessing a place in school, this will come home with them.

We will be delivering a final resource pack with activities we hope you will enjoy using with your child over the summer. We will also be including a few treats/gifts.

The deliveries will also include some essential paperwork that you would normally receive at this time of year. This will include your child’s school report, information advising you of your child’s class for next year and the dates your child will be returning to school.

I hope that I will see you all virtually on my last assembly of term. This will take place on Friday 17th July at 2.30 pm and can be accessed by zoom (ID and password will be sent out via the app). In the meantime, I would like to wish you all a healthy and happy summer and will look forward to seeing returning pupils in September.

Warm Regards

Amy Findlay

Head of School

Steve McCabe MP Working Alongside Cherry Oak Staff To Deliver Smiles To Our Pupils

Sat 04 Jul 2020 Amy Findlay Head of School

Cherry Oak School - Update 3rd July 2020

Fri 03 Jul 2020 Amy Findlay Head of School

Dear parents and carers

I hope you are all keeping well. Things have been busy in school and with our virtual learning. Over the last few weeks we have had an increase of pupils coming to school and more lessons being delivered and accessed online. We have met the requests of all parents for their child to return to school on at least a part time basis. Things are very different in school and pupils are being taught in bubbles but they are coping well with all of the changes.

We now have 2 weeks left of term and the last day of term will be Friday 17th July. School will be closed during the summer holidays and we will not be able to offer any form of childcare or education. We will be following usual term time working and so all online learning will stop for the holidays and teachers will be making their last contact this term during the week beginning 13th July.

Updated guidance has been issued from The Department of Education yesterday about the return of pupils in September. We will be exploring that guidance and following further guidance from the local authority to ensure we have a safe plan for the return of pupils in September. I will be updating you when this is confirmed.

I regret to inform year 6 parents that we are not going to be able to have our usual leavers assembly this year. We have explored many options of how we could make this possible but have come to the conclusion that we can not safely risk assess under current guidance. All year 6 leavers will receive a leavers CD with their Cherry Oak highlights, that usually would be shared at the leavers assembly, and we hope you will be able to take time at home to share these with your child. My final online 'proud assembly' of the year will be a special focus on year 6 pupils. All pupils and families are invited to join but I particularly hope that all year 6 families will be able to join us. This will take place online at 2.30 pm on Friday 17th July on zoom. Login details will be sent out in the usual weekly zoom timetable that week.

If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your child's class teacher during your weekly contact or please contact me directly at school.

Best wishes

Amy

Cherry Oak's Physical Zone Extended - Trim Trail

Thu 25 Jun 2020 Jo Gavin

A new physical activity area has been added to our Outdoor Learning area. The Trim Trail was carefully selected and designed by Jo Gavin with help from the school council and Jacqui Hanna-Jones our Behaviour & Sensory Lead. Pentagon play installed the equipment.

Trim Trails provide children with a variety of physical challenges to develop balance, climbing confidence, upper and lower body strength, core stability, coordination and gross motor skills.

Cherry Oak's Trim Trail consists of the following equipment:

Clatter Bridge

A slatted timber deck bridge that sways under foot as it is crossed. The handrails over balance as your children improve their stability control and footwork with the moving deck. The flat-top beams at each end of the bridge deck provide a sturdy start and finish point and assist in developing confidence before taking on the bridge!

Double-Sided Timber Climbing Wall

A traversing climbing wall constructed from timber with over 50 colourful climbing holds. The challenge develops both upper and lower body strength, flexibility, core stability, gross motor skills, and gripping the climbing holds improves hand strength contributing to fine motor skills. Features assorted colour climbing holds so the climbing challenge can be varied.

Log Weaver

A balance beam with vertical logs either side, to create a twisting, balancing challenge as the posts are negotiated like a slalom. Great for core stability and speed challenges as you slalom quicker to the other side.

Swing Log Traverse

Suspended log steps make up this adventurous traversing challenge. The swinging logs - unstable under foot - will challenge your children’s balance, core stability, and lower body strength as you struggle to keep your feet from slipping away and your legs from spreading apart. A physically demanding challenge, this is perfect for physical development and improving strength, gross motor skills and coordination.

Trapeze Swing Traverse with Step Up Logs

An overhead crossing challenge featuring trapeze holds suspended from a timber beam, this challenges your children’s upper body strength, grip and coordination to the fullest. Not only a strength task, this challenge teaches your children about momentum and its development of hand strength will assist in developing fine motor skills.

Update - Friday 12th June 2020

Fri 12 Jun 2020 Amy Findlay Head of School

Dear Parents/carers

I hope that you are all well. I am writing to update you on the provision that we are offering in school. From next week we are having more pupils in school and are meeting all requests from parents. We will continue to offer the necessary days in school for pupils whose parents are working and for our most vulnerable pupils. We have now extended that offer to part time places for all pupils whose parents would like them to access some education in school. There are very limited places on transport and some pupils that normally have a place on transport will now not be able to access transport.

If you have previously not requested your child to access a place in school but would like to review this please discuss this with your child's class teacher or contact me directly. We want to be able to offer something to everyone who wants to access school but can only do this if it is carefully managed and safe. There are no more places available on transport and we need to have adequate time to safely plan the return of each individual pupil so please be patient with us if you now wish to request a place in school.

Many thanks

Amy

Update - Friday 22nd May 2020

Fri 22 May 2020 Amy Findlay Head of School

Dear Parents/Carers

I hope this message finds you all well and safe. We have had another busy week in school and with our virtual learning. The zoom timetable is well established and it is fantastic to see how many families are accessing these sessions. There are no sessions timetabled for next week due to half term holiday but look out for information regarding the timetable for the week beginning Monday 1st June 2020. Many staff have continued to work hard in school providing childcare to children of key workers and our most vulnerable pupils. There has been a lot of effort from all staff to ensure children have access to a range of activities and resources to support with home learning. We have now visited all families again this week with another activity pack. The staff delivering these packs have loved seeing you all and are very appreciative of the positive responses.

I have now contacted all families that will be accessing a childcare place during the week beginning Monday 1st June 2020. We are still not in a position to 're-open' to all pupils who would like to come to school. We will continue to offer childcare to children of key workers and our most vulnerable pupils. I appreciate that some parents may be disappointed that they would like their child to return to school and do not meet our continued criteria. . I will be contacting those parents in June to discuss how we can safely have their child back in school at a later date in the summer term. The safety of all our pupils and staff is our main priority and we will continually risk assess the situation.

To support with health and safety, all pupils and staff are required to come in clean clothes every day. We continue to request that no one visits the school site. Any child who needs to be dropped off or collected other than by ATG transport can only be done by prior agreement.

School will be completely closed next week and all staff have been directed to take a well earned break. This means that school staff will not be contacting families for one week.

I know it is difficult to view next week as half term holiday but I hope you can enjoy some positive time with your families.

Take care everyone.

Amy