The best start in life for all our children.
CARTERHATCH INFANT SCHOOL
Issue 1: 10th September 2021
Office email: office@carterhatch-inf.enfield.sch.uk Website: https://www.carterhatchinfants.com/
Welcome Back:
We hope that you enjoyed the summer holidays despite the lack of sun!
The children have been busy learning new routines and have settled really well. It is a real pleasure to see them happy and engaged in their learning. We have welcomed many new families to our school and hope they enjoy a long and happy association with us.
As mentioned in our July newsletter we have new staff to welcome. We are extremely lucky to welcome back Jacqui who worked here as a teacher from 2013 to 2017. We are really looking forward to her joining the Reception Team and know she will bring with her a vast amount of knowledge, skills and wonderful ideas to help our school continue to evolve. We would also like to welcome four new Learning Assistants. We hope that Nichola, Mehtab, Aysel and Elif will enjoy being part of our Carterhatch Family and look forward to the skills and qualities they bring with them. Following new Government guidance received in August, it a national priority that education and childcare settings should now operate as normally as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have included some key changes in this letter.
No Year Group Staggered Start/Finish to the School Day
All children arrive in school between 8.45 to 8.55. You child needs to be in class and ready to learn by 8.55. If they arrive after this time they will be marked as late. We appreciate that the juniors now start at 8.35 and there is a ten minute time difference but we are not in a position, for all sorts of reasons, where we can change our current times. Nursery children will need to be dropped off in the nursery building in Autumn Close between 8.30 and 9.00.
At the end of the day – Children to be collected from 3.10 to 3.20. You will be marked late if you collect your child after 3.20. Year two collect their children from the year two outside area. Reception and year one collect their children from allocated doors in the playground. There are signs on doors and staff to direct you if you are unsure. Nursery will be collected from the nursery building in Autumn Close at 11.30 and 3.30.
Breakfast and After School Club
Breakfast and After School Clubs will commence as usual. Please contact the office if you would like to request a place by sending an email to office@carterhatch-inf.enfield.sch.uk
No more bubbles - It is no longer necessary to keep children in consistent groups (‘bubbles’). However, we have decided to keep year group bubbles and review this at the end of this half-term. If there is a school or local outbreak, there is a possibility that bubbles may be reintroduced for a temporary period, to reduce mixing between groups/classes.
Face Covering - Parents and staff are no longer required to wear face coverings outside the school building. However, if you are having close contact with staff inside the building you will be asked to wear a face covering. We will review this at the end of this half-term.
One Way System - The one way system will remain in place as the gates leading into the main playground are so narrow and do not accommodate two way traffic of people entering and exiting the school. It will become even busier over the next few weeks when reception children start school. Please use the back of the school to exit the premises unless you have to visit the school office. Year 2 parents exit via the car park.
Medication - If you have any medication that needs to be returned to school, please bring this to the school office. Please do not put medication in your child’s bag or hand to members of staff. The office need to make a note of the medication and forms may need to be completed.
Contact Tracing - Schools will no longer be expected to undertake contact tracing. This is now being carried out by NHS Test and Trace.
Self-isolation - Staff or children must not come into school if they have Covid Symptoms.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should arrange to have a PCR test as soon as possible. You can arrange this online (Get a free PCR test to check if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or by phone by calling 119.
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result should stay at home and self-isolate immediately. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
Self-isolation period starts immediately from when your symptoms started, or, if you do not have any symptoms, from when your test was taken. Your isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms), and the next 10 full days.
Sending Children Home - If anyone develops COVID-19 symptoms at school, however mild, they will be sent home. They will be taken to a room to self-isolate until collected. Please therefore ensure that all your emergency contact details are up to date.
Close contacts - Individuals DO NOT have to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and any of the following apply:
Makaton, Sign of the Week: This week - https://makaton.org/TMC/News_Stories/SOTW/SOTW_Letter_A.aspx |
This means that all primary aged children should come to school as normal unless they themselves have Covid symptoms or a positive test result - Instead, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test. We would encourage all individuals to take a PCR test if advised to do so. We hope you have found this information helpful. However, if there is any additional information you need, please feel free to email or call the office. There are also staff around at the start and end of the day that may be able to help or point you in the right direction. We look forward to the year ahead and fingers crossed it will be more of a settled year for us all. Reminders: |
Leave During Term Time:
We are not permitted to authorise holidays during Term Time. Please refer to our Attendance Policy for further information on authorised and unauthorised absences. https://www.carterhatchinfants.com/school-information-and-policies/. If you do decide to request a leave of absence please put your request in writing to Adrienne Barrell, Co Headteacher.
Updating information:
We would like to remind you that if you have moved address or changed telephone number please ensure that you update your information in the school office.
If you are moving your child to a new school, please complete a brief exit form which can be obtained from the school office. This will allow us to ensure the new school receives any relevant information about your child’s progress and will aid their transition.
First Day Calling:
In the past parents have brought to our attention, a news story concerning an incident in another school where emergency contacts were not called when children were absent from school. We want to reassure parents that our policy is for you to make contact with us on the first day of absence by phone or text. If your child is absent and we haven’t heard from you, our attendance officer, will phone or text you. If we haven’t heard from you we may call your emergency contact to ensure that everyone, including parents are safe. If we still haven’t made contact with the family we may visit your home.. Our next step would be to call the police. This highlights why it is important that you call us to inform us of what is happening when your child is unable to come to school.
Bikes and Scooters – at risk of being stolen:
We have noticed that several bikes and scooters have not been secured to the fencing in our entrance. The school cannot be held accountable for any bikes or scooters left in school. Our gates are open at certain times, particularly at the beginning and end of the school day. If you want to lessen the chance of losing your child’s bike or scooter please purchase and use a bike lock/chain.
Year Two:
We are so very excited to see the children back in school! We hope they have an enjoyable Autumn Term. The expectation for reading in year two is that it is carried out daily for ten to fifteen minutes with an adult. This really can make a difference to their fluency and we think you will get much pleasure from this special shared time. The children will build up reading skills by reading new words, discussing what has been read and comparing texts with other books they have read which are similar in some way. We have included hot tips for reading with your child at the back of the Home/School Reading Diary that your child will receive. Please sign, date and comment in this document and ensure it is brought to school daily as we strive to hear children read regularly in
Year Two. Books are changed weekly and for some children twice a week. You may wish to join a local library where children are able to choose their own books, which will strongly promote reading for pleasure.
Year Two Team
Year One:
Children in Year One are really beginning to settle into their new indoor and outdoor environments. They have been exploring new areas and resources. It is so nice to see them creating positive relationships with new staff and our chickens too - Lucy, Lily, Lucky and Sunshine!
“I love Year One!” – Hiva
“The chickens lay lots of eggs,” – Shafici
Reading Reminder
Reading books are now being sent home – Their book day will be stated on the front of the white diary. We would really appreciate a comment from you after they have read.
Please ensure that your child brings their book bag into school each day.
Foundation Stage - Nursery and Reception:
We welcome our children and new families to Reception and Nursery. We look forward to getting to know you and learning with your children as they move through the school. Please remember to send your children in with spare clothes, Nursery children will bring them every day and hang them on a peg, Reception keep their spare clothes in a tray. Children will need a named water bottle (due to allergies, juice, milk and snacks are not permitted.) Please provide your child with a book bag (£7.00 from the school office) so that they get used to bringing them daily. We will be sending books home for you to read with your child once they have settled.
NSPCC:
School supports the NSPCC and teaches children how to keep themselves safe. For further information please visit, https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/pants-underwear-rule/
Complaints and Concerns:
If you are worried or concerned about anything that is happening for your child it is always best to speak to your child’s class teacher first, they can usually help you and will do everything possible to sort your issue out. If you feel that your problem still hasn’t been addressed, then feel free to speak to a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Sarah Clements and Adrienne Barrell – Co Headteachers
Sonia Furneaux - Assistant Headteacher
Sharon Rowsell - Business Manager
We try to make sure that a member of the senior leadership team is available in the playground at the start and end of the day. If you would like to speak to one of the Co Headteachers at any time please ask in the school office. They will often be able to meet with you straight away, otherwise we can organise an appointment for you as quickly as possible. If you feel that speaking to members of staff, including the Headteacher has not solved your issue and you would like to make a complaint, please refer to the school website. The Complaints Procedure can be found in either the Parents or Policy section. http://www.carterhatchinfants.com
Parent and Carer Courses:
Please visit our website for information on courses for parents and carers - https://www.carterhatchinfants.com/courses-for-parents-and-carers/
The WEA are currently offering
Child and Adolescent Well-being
Preparing for a Level 3 qualification to work in a support role in a school.
A message from our community police officer, PC Simon:
Parking outside of school - It appears some drivers are not adhering to road safety rules and therefore putting other road users as well as members of the public safety at risk. This message is to remind all of us that together anyone can report a vehicle if it is violating any parking restrictions.
A vehicle is parked illegally if it is:
Parked on or next to a dropped curb
Double parked (more than 50cm from the curb)
In a bus stop or bus lane
In a disabled parking space without a Blue Badge
In a pay and display parking space without displaying a valid parking ticket (except bank holidays)
In a residents or business parking space without a valid permit
On school entrance markings
On the pavement or verge (except in a legal pavement parking space)
On waiting restriction lines (yellow lines)
Parked overnight (heavy goods vehicles over 5 tons)
If you do not follow parking restrictions, you may receive a Penalty Charge Notice and your vehicle may be removed.
You can report any parking violations by contacting Parking Services on 020 8379 6406, Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 3.00. Or call 020 3856 0036 outside of these hours.
Shana Tova:
Jewish New Year was on the 6th September this year. The traditional way to wish someone a “Happy New Year” in Hebrew is by saying “Shana Tova”. No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah, and many attend synagogue during the two days. Women and girls light candles on each evening of Rosh Hashanah, and recite blessings.
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