Return to School

It has been absolutely fantastic to have our Key stage 2 pupils back in class, this week!  It has been lovely to see them itching to get in, and not wanting to leave.  I would like to thank the children for being so well behaved, considerate and enthusiastic.  In a difficult situation, with new processes and procedures to get used to, they have responded brilliantly.  I would also like to extend this thank you to our parents and carers, who have followed the timetables and processes rigidly, and again, helped to make the school week run as smoothly as possible!

We cannot wait to welcome our Foundation Phase pupils back, from Monday.  We hope that they enjoy, as much as our older children!

With regards to week 3 (week beginning 13.07.20), we are busy evaluating our processes and will be looking to share a definite plan with you all, this week.

Blended Learning

This week, we have begun to put our adapted ‘blended learning’ measures in place.  Many of our classes have been involved in live sessions, on Microsoft Teams, and each class should now be receiving weekly videos / presentations / tutorials to help with home learning (via J2E), and to supplement the Cwests that are already being uploaded.

As we move through the coming weeks, we will continue to refine these processes and look to share more and more with our children. 

It is by no means compulsory, but if you do want your child to be involved in the Teams sessions, the following consent form must be completed.  We have sent a personal message, via Class Dojo, to all those families who we have not yet had a response: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Ug4_TzS3ZEGUCRtgHRR5k5OU8z2vx7ZBmyGr8Gr9zEFUMldBUFg0TzYxU1ZTUUFaV0dHRElUOVpWTC4u

We have also created a tutorial video, to help with setting up Teams.  This can be found by following this link - https://spark.adobe.com/video/t8hnDQOFEmjZm

As always, if you are having any difficulties, or have any concerns, please do contact your child’s class teacher, or contact me directly.

Emergency Childcare Hub (ECH)

We continue to operate the ECH daily, between the hours of 8.30am and 3.30pm.  We will continue to do so, up until the end of term – which is Friday July 17^th.

I am sorry but we have not yet had any guidance, from the local authority, to indicate what will happen to the childcare after this date.  Collectively, schools are pushing the local authority for urgent guidance.  As soon as we have more information, I will be sure to share it with families immediately.

September

Understandably, we have had many emails from parents, over the past few weeks, enquiring as to the arrangements for schooling in September.  I am afraid that, as with the ECH, we are still awaiting any guidance from Welsh government.  Announcements have been made by other countries in the UK, so we are hoping that decisions will be made, and shared with us, soon.

As a school, we have begun to plan for different scenarios and will be ready to push ahead, with what is appropriate, as soon as we know the parameters of our return.  Until then, I can only apologise for the delay in information, and thank you for your continued patience.

Please rest assured, as soon as we know more, this will be shared with all.

Newsletters / Information

Just a quick reminder that all our school newsletters and information can be found on our school website. 

Should you have misplaced an email, or would like to check what has been sent out – all correspondence can be found by following this link: https://www.mayalsprimary.co.uk/stream/news/full/1/-/

We also share information through Class Dojo and through our school Twitter feed: @MayalsSchool.

Year 6 Leavers and Nursery Check in

During the last week of school (week beginning 13.07.20), we are hoping to arrange opportunities for our Year 6 pupils to have one last ‘socially distant’ get together, as well as an opportunity for Nursery pupils to check in with their class teachers, before the Summer break.

Could all Year 6 and Nursery parents please keep a close eye on their emails and Class Dojo accounts, over the next week, as plans will be shared via these means.

School Uniform

We have been asked, by the local authority, to share the following message with all families entitled to free school meals:

School uniform grant applications can be made from 13 July for children currently entitled to free school meals going into Reception and Years 3, 7 and 10.  Eligible parents/carers will be contacted closer to this date with details on how they can apply.  Further information on the grant can be found here https://www.swansea.gov.uk/schooluniformgrant