Merton
Infant School
Aiming High, Achieving Together
Motivation
Excellence
Respect
Teamwork
Opportunities
Never Give Up
Letters for translation
Merton Infant School Newsletter 19th April 2024
Dates for your Diary
Every Friday at 3pm - Book 'n' Biscuit 3.00pm-3.15pm - book by 12pm on Fridays using the link via weekly text on Thursday afternoons
Monday 22nd April - Parent Bingo at 2.00pm in the school hall - see separate E-Mail to book
Tuesday 23rd April - Year R (Owlets & half of Snowy Owls) visit to Chineham library
Friday 26th April - Year R (Little Owls & half of Snowy Owls) visit to Chineham library
Monday 29th April - School Nurse drop-in at 2.00pm - see details below
Friday 3rd May - Non-uniform day in exchange for Year R - Chocolate items, Year 1 - Bottles (un-opened and in date please), Year 2 - Toys
Monday 6th May - Bank Holiday - school closed to staff and children
Tuesday 7th May - Barnardo's School Readiness presentation to September 2024 YR parents
Thursday 16th May - Class photos
Friday 17th May - Year 2 Space Buggy Workshop. 2.00 - 3.00pm. Come and help your child make a space buggy
Friday 17th May - Non-uniform day in exchange for £1.00 donation
Wednesday 22nd May - Whole school trip to The Winchester Science Centre (details to follow)
Friday 24th May - School finishes at 3.15pm for the half term break
Monday 3rd June - School re-opens at 8.45am
Headteacher Highlight
Welcome back to school. We trust that you all had a wonderful holiday.
We have another busy half term ahead, so please continue to check your child's Book Bags and the school website for up-to-date information.
The children have made a positive start to this half term... eager to explore their new topics. We are also looking forward to our whole school trip to The Winchester Science Centre in May which we visit every 3 years.
On Monday 22nd April, we will send the final OFSTED report from our inspection on 12th & 13th March. Please do take the time to read it.
Summer 1 Topics
Year R - Let's Grow
This half term our topic is 'Let's Grow.' We will be learning about plants and minibeasts. We will have the opportunity to do some planting and we will be learning about the life cycle of a butterfly and watching caterpillars turn into butterflies.
Merton Mission: Make a salad using fresh produce. Visit a garden centre and look at different plants.
Please see below for the curriculum newsletter for this half term. A paper copy has also been sent home.
Year 1 - Once Upon a Time
This half term our topic is 'Traditional Tales'. We will be looking at a range of stories such as 'Jack and the Beanstalk'.
Merton Mission: We look forward to seeing how many traditional tales you have read this half term alongside your creative book cover. Please see below our curriculum newsletter for this half term.
Year 2 - Race to Space
Year 2 are excited to be learning all about the race to space and how we landed on the Moon. We'll be looking at astronauts Neil Armstrong and Tim Peake and learning how life has changed from 1969 to the present day. More information can be found about our learning this half term on Year 2 year group page . You will also find videos and songs to support our learning .
To be ready to make our space buggies on 17th May please could we have unwanted small cardboard boxes, egg boxes and anything which could be used for junk modelling. Please could these handed in via the Year 2 classes at drop-off/pick-up. Thank you.
Merton Mission:
Read it: Read about the moon landing.
Make it: Make a junk model rocket ready for blast off!
Do it: Can you go on a material hunt around your home looking for plastic, fabric, metal, wood and glass? Which material is the most common and why?
Celebration Assembly
Well done to the children who achieved one of our Merton Value awards:
Motivation - Freddie
Excellence - Hallie B, Noah, Sreysta, Maisie, Henry W
Respect - Addison
Teamwork - Roman, Landon, Arabella, Macie, Freddie B, Poppy H
Opportunities -
Never Give Up - Callum
Other celebrations - Harper, Zafir, Rocky, Ronela
Well done to the following classes for winning SAM (School Attendance Matters) Bear for having the highest attendance:
- Owlets
Parking
School has received an email from the Local Authority Travel Planning Department as many local residents have made complaints about irresponsible parking around the local community, but especially Romsey Close. Please be respectful and NOT park across driveways or double parking or parking on unsafe corners.
There is a car park at Abbey Road shops which is only a short walk to two entrance points to the school grounds.
Please could we also remind parents about keeping to a sensible speed when driving up Romsey Close, particularly at the start and end of the school day, as there are many children about at these times.
Clubs
We are trialling a new way of allocating clubs this term for Year 1 and 2.
Please ask your child which club they would like to attend and complete the form below. We have provided a first, second and third preference and will do our best to place every child in a club.
By completing the form, you are giving your permission for them to attend the chosen after school club on a Wednesday from 3.15-4.00pm.
Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. We will send a text to confirm your child's place and the start date.
Please book using the following link by Tuesday 23rd April at 12.00pm latest:
Information about Choir and Library club will be sent separately.
Musician of the half term
'It's now or never'.... The King of Rock 'n' Roll. The children will be learning about the life of Elvis Presley. See how many songs you know!
Language of the half term
The children will be learning Bulgarian this half term and finding key facts about the European country.
School Nurse Drop in
Our next health advice drop-in clinic with the Community Nursery Nurses, Michelle and Chelsea, is on Monday 29th April at 2pm.
Parents are welcome to drop-in to discuss any concerns they may have about healthy lifestyles, fussy eating, behaviour, low level emotional health and advice and sign posting for toileting and sleep issues.
There is no need to book, just come on the day to talk with Chelsea or Mrs Durbajlo about any concerns you have.
We look forward to continuing to work with all parents and carers to support the children.
Governor News
Merton Pre-School is now under the leadership and management of the school's Governing Body. Therefore, we will have training on 1st May on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to ensure that we fully understand the statutory requirements for 2-4 year olds.
Library News
We are welcoming Spring to the school library.
The children have been welcoming the new season of SPRING. We have discussed the changes we can see around us and are reading new information books as well as stories about spring.
The children love learning about the life cycle of butterflies as well as writing poems about new life and changes in spring.
16th April 2024
Dear Parent/Carer,
NSPCC’s Speak out. Stay safe. programme
I am pleased to inform you that we are participating in the NSPCC’s Speak out. Stay safe. Programme this term. Speak out. Stay safe. is a programme for children aged 5-11 which aims to help children understand abuse in all its forms and to recognise the signs of abuse. Children are taught to speak out if they are worried, either to a safe adult or Childline.
This child friendly programme is aligned with the curriculum and consists of age appropriate virtual assemblies and supporting classroom based activities which we have reviewed, alongside NSPCC volunteer led face to face workshops for children aged 6-7 and 9-11. The content is delivered in an engaging and interactive way with the help of the NSPCC mascot Buddy. If you would like to know more about the Speak out. Stay safe. programme visit www.nspcc.org.uk/speakout.
Additional NSPCC resources for families to help keep children safe
The NSPCC have shared some important information below on wider NSPCC resources and support to help keep children safe.
Parent/Carer support Take a look at information, support, advice and activities from NSPCC for parent and carers. www.nspcc.org.uk/parents Activities to extend learning at home Take part in games and activities at home to help children learn about speaking out and staying safe. www.nspcc.org.uk/activities
Online Safety Hub For information on a range of different online safety topics including gaming, social media, sharing images, parental controls and more. www.nspcc.org.uk/onlinesafety Childline – under 12’s Childline have an accessible website with advice, support, games and activities. Children can change the language, enlarge text and also listen to the content. www.childline.org.uk/buddy (5-7) www.childline.org.uk/kids (7-11)
Talk PANTS with your children
Talk PANTS is a simple conversation to help keep children safe from sexual abuse. From P through to S, each letter of PANTS provides simple but important messages. Download the free resources at www.nspcc.org.uk/pants.
I hope you find this information about the NSPCC and the Speak out. Stay safe. programme helpful. Please do contact me if you have any further questions.
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
15th April 2024
Dear Parents/Carers,
Family Bingo Fundraising Afternoon
We will be hosting a Family Bingo Fundraising Afternoon on Monday 22nd April 2024 from 2.15pm - 3.15pm in the school hall. All money raised will go towards equipment to enhance your child’s learning. Tickets will cost £5.00 per board, which includes one hot refreshment and one soft drink per child. Additional drinks can be purchased throughout the afternoon. We have some amazing prizes for matching a full house of bingo including cash, a manicure voucher, electrical items, cupcakes and many more. It is an event not to be missed!
If you have any new or unused gifts you would like to donate this would be greatly appreciated. Siblings are welcome to attend this event but we cannot accommodate pushchairs/prams inside the school hall. These will need to be left in the porch area.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Larissa James Mrs Laura Relf
Head teacher Year 2 Teacher – Maths and EAL Lead
"…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Family Bingo Afternoon - Monday 22nd April 2024 - 2.15pm-3.15pm
Please return slip and £5.00 by 3.15pm on Friday 19th April 2024 to the school office to secure your place.
Child/children’s name:…………………………………………………………………………………………
Class ……………………………………………………..
Number attending: Adults:...................................................Children ........................................................
I enclose £5.00 I have paid online Scopay ref: ………………………
Allergies……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Merton Infant School Newsletter 27th March 2024
Dates for your Diary
Every Friday at 3pm - Book 'n' Biscuit 3.00pm-3.15pm - book by 12pm on Fridays using the link via weekly text on Thursday afternoons
Thursday 28th March - Easter Raffle being drawn and the Easter Egg Hunt
Thursday 28th March - Break Up at 3.15pm
Monday 15th April - School opens at 8.45am
Friday 19th April - Non-uniform day in exchange for: Year R - Toys, Year 1 - Chocolate items, Year 2 - Bottles (un-opened and in date please)
Monday 22nd April - Parent Bingo (details to follow)
Tuesday 23rd April - Year R (Owlets & half of Snowy Owls) visit to Chineham library
Friday 26th April - Year R (Little Owls & half of Snowy Owls) visit to Chineham library
Monday 29th April - School Nurse drop-in at 2pm
Friday 3rd May - Non-uniform day in exchange for Year R - chocolate items, Year 1 - Bottles (un-opened and in date please), Year 2 - Toys
Monday 6th May - Bank Holiday - school closed to staff and children
Thursday 16th May - Class photos
Friday 17th May - Non-uniform day in exchange for £1.00 donation
Tuesday 21st May - Whole school trip to The Winchester Science Centre (details to follow)
Friday 24th May - School finishes at 3.15pm for the half term break
Monday 3rd June - School re opens at 8.45am
Headteacher Highlight
What a way to end the term...an OFSTED inspection! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your support and best wishes . The children, as always, were magical and truly reflected our MERTON values. And the Staff...hard working and dedicated as always... a truly fantastic TEAM. We look forward to sending the final report to you soon.
Our Y1 children were amazing in their Easter Assembly to parents including the Mayor and Mayoress of Basingstoke last week. They were so proud of themselves.
We had Pupil Progress Meetings on Friday 22nd March, the children are making fantastic progress and the vast majority are on track to meet their year group expectations by the end of the year.
Please practice reading during the holidays....reading is the gateway to their exciting adventures in life!
We are delighted with the children's attendance this term, 94%, which is in line with Government expectations. We hope this will continue next term, especially since the 'bug' season will be over!
Have a wonderful and safe Easter holiday enjoying special time as a family.
Safety Theme Day
On Friday 22nd March, we held our termly Safety Theme Day. We discussed the NSPCC PANTS Rule, e-Safety, road safety and Clever Never Goes.
Staff have reported that many children said that they play games on devices at home which are not age appropriate e.g. Roblox. Please ensure you have the right parental controls on devices at home. There is advice for parents on the website on the Safeguarding page.
Spring 2 Topics
Year R - On The Farm
Year R had the perfect landing to their topic with the arrival of 10 eggs. They watched as the eggs incubated and then began to hatch. They learnt the importance of being quiet and calm around the newly hatched chicks and how to make sure they were kept clean, fed and watered. What a great experience for them!
What worked well
•Visiting Wellington Country park enabled children to observe human and physical features in a different environment and compare to Popley
•Using their Phonic knowledge to label animals
•Creating a farm using junk modelling and giving reasons for what they have included and why
•Knowing the names of animals’ offspring
•Collecting data about their favourite farm animals and creating block graphs
•Understanding where food comes from
•Learning old fashioned songs e.g. Old MacDonald had a farm
•Understanding symbols of new life in RE
Even better if
•Visit to a working farm
Year 1 - Fire Fire!
What worked well
•Referring to their Everyday Heroes topic in YR to introduce the Fire Service
•Visit from the Fire Service to explain their job
•Using the narrative approach to write a recount of the Great Fire of London (GFoL)
•Creating and filming their fire poems with iPads
•Exploring the GFoL history artefact box to stimulate discussions and forming opinions
•Using a timeline to show the chronology of the GFoL
•Creating own fire pictures with paint and collage
•Using step-by-step instructions to draw Tudor houses adding sketching details for specific features e.g. cross hatching for straw roof
Even better If
•Making Tudor houses and setting them alight to demonstrate the quick spread of a fire
Year 2 - Titanic
What worked well:
•The children enjoyed being historical detectives developing their enquiry skills using our Merton Value of "Respect" to explore the artefacts to question what the items was and for whom
•Creating Titanic passenger status and debating equality and inclusion
•Exploring Titanic paintings by Ken Marschall and following step-by-step drawing instructions
•Recognising the journey of the Titanic and how events happened
•Merton Mission of creating Titanic models
•Putting events in chronological order
Even better if:
•Visit to SeaCity Museum in Southampton
Celebration Assembly
Well done to the children who achieved one of our Merton Value awards:
Motivation - Fouzia, Kartik, Talia, Robin, Immy T, Goodnews, Joshua
Excellence - Scarlett, Olivia M, Clara, Ryan, Harriet H
Respect - Tommy, Taliah
Teamwork - Darci-Rose,
Opportunities -
Never Give Up - Zac, Harrison, Matipa, Winter
Other celebrations - Charlie, Karol, Ciara, George D, Vlad
Well done to the following classes for winning SAM (School Attendance Matters) Bear for having the highest attendance:
- Little Owls
- Barn Owls
Language of the half term
The children have loved learning words in the language Shona and finding key facts about Zimbabwe.
1.5 million people live in Harare which is the capital city.
14.8 million people live in Zimbabwe.
School Nurse Drop in
Our next health advice drop-in clinic with the Community Nursery Nurses, Michelle and Chelsea, is on Monday 29th April at 2pm.
Parents are welcome to drop-in to discuss any concerns they may have about healthy lifestyles, fussy eating, behaviour, low level emotional health and advice and sign posting for toileting and sleep issues.
There is no need to book, just come on the day to talk with Chelsea or Mrs Durbajlo about any concerns you have.
We look forward to continuing to work with all parents and carers to support the children.
Governor News
Governor Monitoring Day - 18th March
There are 3 Governor monitoring days each school year, one each term. Monitoring days are a chance for Governors to see the school in action throughout the school day, when they have the opportunity to talk to staff and children about the learning taking place. These days are a valuable insight into how the school community works, the different subjects being taught and how well the children engage with their learning. It is always a pleasure to visit the school and share the wealth of positive experiences that the staff provide for all the children and to see how much they enjoy being part of the Merton family.
We are still looking for Governors to join our Board. Please do not hesitate to contact me, Gaye Dove, Chair of Governors via the school office if you would like to find out more about the role.
Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter
Kind regards
Gaye Dove, Chair of Governors
Library News
Merton Pre-School Visits
Once a week the children from Merton Pre-School visit our school library. Groups of 10 children come with two members of staff and have the opportunity to explore our wonderful library as well as sharing a story from our wide selection of books.
This is a great way for the children to familiarise themselves with our school and help with their transition to Year R in September.
Special Relatives Visit in the library
Year R relatives came for a reading session to explore our range of books. Our library is the perfect place to enjoy a book in a calm and relaxing atmosphere and develop a love of reading for pleasure.
A very special visit from the Mayor and Mayoress
On Tuesday 19th March we were delighted to have a visit from the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor David Leeks and his wife, the Mayoress to watch the Year 1 Easter assembly. They also met some of our Year 2 children which included our Pupil Librarians. They enjoyed a lovely 'question and answer' session, talking about their favourite authors, the library and the Popley area.
15th March 2024
Dear Parent/Carer
On Friday 22nd March we will be discussing the NSPCC’s Underwear Rule in our PDL lessons.
During these discussions we will aim to teach our pupils the following important safety skills
without giving explicit information or telling scary stories. We will be teaching our pupils the
NSPCC’s Underwear Rule, using the ‘PANTS’ acrostic, which is like a green cross code
for staying safe from sexual abuse.
PANTS stands for:
• Privates are private
• Always remember your body belongs to you
• No means no
• Talk about secrets that upset you
• Speak up, someone can help
The lessons will introduce a range of ideas, all delivered in a way that’s fully age-appropriate.
These include:
• “appropriate” and “inappropriate” touching
• your child’s right to say no to things that make them feel upset or uncomfortable
• naming parts of the body
• who your child can turn to if they ever feel upset or worried.
If you would like to know more about the NSPCC’s campaign and see how you can help keep your children safe in partnership with your child’s school, more information can be found at
nspcc.org.uk/underwearrule
If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Thank you for your continuing support
Larissa James
Headteacher
11th March 2024
Dear Parents/Carers
Easter Egg Hunt
Merton Infant School will be holding an Easter Egg Hunt on Thursday 28th March 2024.
Every child who takes part will receive a small egg with the winner receiving a larger prize.
If you would like your child to participate we are asking for a £1.00 contribution to go towards the cost and fundraising. We hope you will allow your child to join in the Easter Egg Hunt.
This event will be available online, via your child’s scopay account or alternatively, you can pay with cash by returning the attached permission slip and posting in the grey post box situated in the Infant School reception. We would ask that all replies, whether via the post box or online, are received by Monday 25th March in order that we can purchase the eggs. If your child has any allergies please inform the school office.
Thank you for your continuing support!
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headeacher
"……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Easter Egg Hunt on Thursday 28th March 2024
I would like my child to take part in the Easter Egg Hunt.
|
|
I enclose £1.00 I have paid online Scopay ref number ……………………..
Child’s name ……………………………………………………………………………….
Child’s class ………………………………………………………………………………..
(Please write your child’s full name and class)
Reply slips and money are to be placed in an envelope marked ‘Easter Egg Hunt’ and put in the grey post box situated in the Infant School reception.
Any change needed will be sent home at a later date.
Merton Infant School Newsletter 8th March 2024
Dates for your Diary
Every Friday - Book 'n' Biscuit 3.00pm-3.15pm - book using the link via weekly text on Thursday afternoons
Tuesday 19th March - 2.00pm Easter assembly - Year 1 parents only
Wednesday 20th March - Fire Service visit to Yr 1 & Yr R
Monday 25th March - Easter disco - details below
Tuesday 26th March - School Nurse drop-in session at 2.00pm
Thursday 28th March - Easter egg hunt and raffle - details below
Thursday 28th March - Break Up at 3.15pm
Monday 15th April - School opens at 8.45am
Please be aware that all Year 1 & Year 2 clubs, including the Library Club will all finish the week commencing Monday 18th March.
Information about new clubs will be sent out after the Easter break.
Headteacher Highlight
We are officially half way though this academic year! The children are working very hard and enjoying their new topics. It was lovely to see so many parents at our new parent / child reading time on Friday afternoon. We hope to see more families join every Friday at 3.00pm in the school hall. Our Librarian, Miss Hankova, will always be there if you have any queries about supporting your child with Reading.
Sadly, we said 'Goodbye' to Mrs Miller who has been supporting Y2 this year. We wish her all the very best as she starts a new teaching position at Hook Infant School.
Spring 2 Topics
Year R - On The Farm
Year R had a wonderful time on their trip to Wellington Country Park last Friday. They walked the Dinosaur trail and got to meet lots of friendly farm animals, including and alpacas, noisy chickens and goats. They loved exploring the terrifying dinosaurs as well as balancing whilst crossing the rope bridges.
Year 1 - Fire Fire!
Year 1 have been busy working on their Great Fire of London timeline learning lots of facts as part of their history learning. They have also written fire themed poems and created paintings of Tudor houses. They are looking forward to sequencing and retelling the disaster in history as well as having the Fire Service visiting on the 20th March.
Year 2 - Titanic
Eagle and Wise Owls had a fantastic visit to Chineham library last week. They heard from the head librarian who explained how the library operated and got to see some of the 'behind the scenes' day to day running of it. The children were amazing role models and represented Merton Infant School with flying colours.
Celebration Assembly
Well done to the children who achieved one of our Merton Value awards:
Motivation - Nikodem, Albie B, Lizanne, Elsie, Karol, Mujtaba, Devanand, Ella, Kobi, Louie, Benjamyn
Excellence - Ancho, Eva, Micah, Layla, Ronnie, Hunter, Hannah, Lucas, Tommy, Tre, Mia, Logan F, Osinachi, Zaki, Joshua, Lulu, Jacob L, Mujtaba, Taqi, Toby P, Micah, Freya, Jaxon W, Excel, Eliza, Olivia V, Theo, Niamh, Freddie B
Respect - Roman, Chiugo
Teamwork - George P, Oliver H, Macie, Norwynn, Stefan, Jewel, Olivia C, Olivia E, Isabelle, Arthur, Ella Niamh, Devanand, Ariyanna, George P, Adelina, Carter
Opportunities - Oliver, Maxim, Darci-Rose, Ronnie, Macie, Logan P
Never Give Up - Lexie, Joey, Emilly, Kyah, Olivia E
Other celebrations - Aarush, Scarlett R, Liana, Harriet G, Leo S, Zac, Sreysta, Yusra, Ziad, Tayla, Darci-Rose, Noel, Norwynn, Lucas
Well done to the following classes for winning SAM (School Attendance Matters) Bear for having the highest attendance:
- Owlets - three times!
- Barn Owls
- Wise Owls
Musician of the half term
The children are learning songs by Aretha Franklin and her love of Soul music. The children are enjoying learning key facts about her life.
Language of the half term
Our Language of the half term is Shona which is spoken in Zimbabwe.
The children are learning to answer the register in Shona as well as saying Hello, Please and Thank you.
Why not have a go yourself......
Hello – mhoroi
Goodbye – sarai mushe
Please - ndapota
Thank you - mazvitaMr. - bamukuru
Miss/Mrs – amaiGreen – girinhi
Red – tsvuku
Yellow – yero
Packed lunch – chikafu kubva kumba
School Nurse Drop in
Our next health advice drop-in clinic with the Community Nursery Nurse, Chelsea, is on Wednesday 26th March at 2pm.
Parents are welcome to drop-in to discuss any concerns they may have about Healthy lifestyles, Fussy eating, behaviour, low level emotional health and advice and sign posting for toileting and sleep issues.
There is no need to book, just come along on the day to talk with Chelsea or Mrs Durbajlo about any concerns you have.
We look forward to continuing to work with our parents and carers to support the children.
Governor News
On Monday 18th March we will carry out our termly Monitoring Visit. Please feel free to share your opinions of the school with us - strengths and development points.
We are still looking for Governors to join our Board. Please do not hesitate to contact me, Gaye Dove, Chair of Governors via the school office if you would like to find out more about the role.
Easter Disco - letter has gone home
Easter Raffle - letter has gone home
Easter Egg Hunt - letter going home 11th March 2024
Library News
Hampshire Picture Book Awards 2024
Merton Infant School have taken part in evaluating four shortlisted books and selecting an award winner. Prior to voting for their favourite book the children reflected on how democracy within our school and the world work and linked this to our British values. All Y1 children were privileged to be taking part in this prestigious award. They worked hard with four shortlisted stories all week and they voted for their winner! The children are eager to find out if their favourite author and illustrator were chosen.
Merton's Tree of Life
At Merton we have embraced the changing season of Spring through working together to create a 'Merton Tree of Life'. Every child within the school came to the library and embodied our Merton value of "Teamwork". They did this by making pink and green handprints to represent the leaves and blossom. The children had lots of fun and they achieved the finished masterpiece. Whilst doing this, the children were able to discuss the changing seasons and understand what happens in the Spring. We did this through shared reading and looking at facts in books from our library.
World Book Day
The children (and staff) had great fun celebrating World Book Day this year. Check out our photos. Thank you to our parents and carers for helping the children with their fabulous T-Shirts and costumes.
The children will also be bringing home their new book from our book swapping activity today.
6th March 2024
Dear Parents/carers
Easter Disco – Monday 25th March 2024
We will be holding an Easter disco on Monday 25th March 2024. The disco will be held in two parts (however, depending on numbers we may be able to accommodate the whole school in one event. WE WILL NOTIFY PARENTS NEARER THE TIME). We have decided this year to not have an Easter Bonnet competition due to the costs involved in making/buying them.
Year 1 & 2 3.15pm - 4.00pm (children to bring their party clothes into school to change in to and should be collected from their classroom doors after the disco).
Year R 4.00pm - 4.45pm (children to be dropped off and collected from their classroom doors).
The cost for the disco is £3.00 per child and includes a drink, lollipop and biscuit. If your child would like to attend please complete and return the form below also indicating if your child has any allergies. This event will also be available online via your child’s scopay account.
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Easter Disco – Monday 25th March 2024
I give permission for my child to attend the Easter Disco
Child’s name …………………………………………………… Class …………………………..
I enclose £3.00 I have paid online Scopay ref: ………………………
Allergies………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Signed ……………………………………………….. Name………………………………………
Merton Infant School Newsletter 22nd February 2024
Dates for your Diary
Tuesday 27th February - Y2 Eagle Owls visit to Chineham Library at 1.00pm
Friday 1st March - YR trip to Wellington Country Park
Friday 1st March - Y2 Wise Owls visit to Chineham Library at 1.00pm
Friday 1st March - Book 'n' Biscuit at 3.00pm in the school hall
Thursday 7th March - World Book Day (please see details below)
Friday 8th March - Special Relative Visit at 9.00 -10.25am
Monday 18th March - Governor Monitoring Day
Tuesday 19th March - Y1 Easter Assembly to Parents 2.00pm
Wednesday 20th March - Fire Service visit to Y1 and YR
Friday 22nd March - Safety Theme Day
Monday 25th March - Easter Disco: Y1/2 : 3.15 - 4.00pm / YR: 4.00 - 4.45pm
Tuesday 26th March - School Nurse drop in 9.00am -10.00am
Thursday 28th March - Easter Egg hunt & Raffle
Thursday 28th March - Break Up at 3.15pm
Monday 15th April - School re opens at 8.45am
Headteacher Highlight
Welcome back. We hope that you had a lovely half term with family and friends.
For our INSET day on Monday staff were inspired by the Local Authority PE Advisor who supported our knowledge and understanding of effective teaching and learning in Dance. She reminded us of the importance of physical exercise. Sadly, only 47% of primary age children complete the recommended 60 minutes per day of physical exercise. Hopefully with the warmer weather coming, this will inspire you and your children to get out in the fresh air - walking, running, riding bikes or scooters etc.
We have another busy half term and we look forward to seeing you all at our various events.
Thank you to all parents who completed our Parent Questionnaire at Parents Evening in the last week. Your opinions were extremely positive and testimony to our school Vision Statement of 'Aiming High, Achieving Together'. We will send the full results separately to this newsletter.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
School Car Park
Following a review of the school car park with the junior school, the car park will only be available for parents with a Blue Badge and who have a permanent, substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking to drop off / collect children between 8.40 - 8.55am and 3.10 - 3.25pm. Each school will take a copy of the Blue Badge. Parents must use the gate buzzer for their individual school. Please do not tailgate other car users. Please can we remind parents that the school disabled bays are primarily for school staff and not visitors.
If there are no spaces available we would ask that you exit the car park and find an alternative space in Romsey Close. Also, if you have an able bodied passenger in the car, we would expect you to park off site and send them to drop off / collect your child.
We appreciate your support in this matter to ensure the safety of all people on school site.
These changes will take effect from Monday 26th February 2024.
Spring 2 Topics
Each year group will send out their Curriculum Newsletters this week detailing what the children will learn this half term and suggest ways you can support at home. The topics are:
YR: On the Farm
Y1: Fire! Fire!
Y2: The Titanic
Book 'n' Biscuit
We are trialling a change to our Parent/Child reading times from Friday morning to Friday afternoon at 3.00pm. We hope this time is more convenient for parents rather than rushing off to work in the mornings. It will start on Friday 1st March in the school hall. Parents can enter via the school office and will meet their child(ren) in the school hall who will have all their belongings. At 3.15pm, parents will leave via the hall door. We ask parents to tell their class teacher in the morning whether they will be joining in the afternoon.
As we know...READING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL.
Clubs
The last Year 1 Library Club will be on Tuesday 19th March. The last Year 2 Library Club will be on Thursday 21st March. All other clubs will finish on Wednesday 20th March for this term.
New clubs will start after we come back for the summer term. Details to follow.
Musician of the half term
The children are learning songs by Aretha Franklin and her love of Soul music. She was chosen to support our School Value of Respect.
Language of the half term
This half term, the children will be learning all about Zimbabwe and the language Shona. These are words they will be practising in school:
Hello – mhoro
Goodbye – sara mushe
Please - ndapota
Thank you - mazuita
Mr. - bamukuru
Miss/Mrs – amai
Green – girinhi
Red – tsvuku
Yellow – yero
Packed lunch – chikafu kubva kumba
We would love to hear that the children have been practising at home too!
School Nurse Drop in
Our next health advice drop-in clinic with Community Nursery Nurses Michelle and Chelsea is on Tuesday 26th March from 9.00am - 10.00am.
Parents are welcome to drop-in to discuss any concerns they may have about healthy lifestyles, fussy eating, behaviour, low level emotional health and advice and sign posting for toileting and sleep issues.
There is no need to book, just come along on the day to talk about any questions or concerns you have.
We look forward to continuing to work with our parents and carers to support the children.
World Book Day
World Book Day is on Thursday 7th March this year and we have planned lots of fun and engaging reading activities.
We are inviting the children to decorate a T-Shirt in the theme of their favourite book to wear that day with their usual school uniform.
We will also be doing a whole-school book swap. Please can children bring in a book they no longer read and they will have the opportunity to choose a new one to bring home that day.
We hope the children have a fabulous day celebrating reading as we know.... READING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL!
Thank you for your support.
Library News
Miss Hankova is delighted to announce that she has appointed 2 Pupil Librarians, Darci-Rose and Ziad. They will have the opportunity to learn how a library is run and how to look after it.
Breakfast and After School Clubs
Merton Infant School offers wrap around care in the form of a Breakfast and After School Club. These clubs are run by Merton staff and are held in the school hall Monday - Friday, term time only.
The clubs are open to children attending both the infant and junior schools.
The Breakfast Club opens at 8.00am and the children go to their classes at 8.45am. The junior children are walked to their school by a member of staff. Breakfast is available up to 8.30am.
The current cost is £3.00 per child per session (this is due to rise to £4.00 from April 2024).
The After School Club is run from 3.15pm - 5.45pm. Children are able to do a variety of activities and also have snack time. The cost is currently £8.00 per child per session (£9.00 from April 2024), for pre booked slots. It is also available on an 'ad-hoc' basis which is charged at £10.00 (£11.00 from April 2024).
Registration forms for both of these clubs are available from the infant school office.
Merton Infant School Newsletter 24th January 2024
Dates for your Diary
Wednesday 24th January - clubs start
Friday 26th January - Special Relative Visit at 2.15pm
29th January - 2nd February - National Storytelling Week
30th January - 6th February - Book Fair (details to follow)
Friday 2nd February - Local Authority Advisor visit to school
Monday 5th February - Parents' Evening at 3.30 - 6.00pm (details sent separately)
Wednesday 7th February - Parents' Evening at 4.00 - 6.30pm (details sent separately)
Friday 9th February - Break Up at 3.15pm
Monday 19th February - INSET: School closed to children
Tuesday 20th February - School opens at 8.45am
Wednesday 21st February - School Nurse drop in 9.00am-10.00am
Friday 1st March - Year R trip to Wellington Country Park
Headteacher Highlight
Welcome to our second newsletter of this half term. This newsletter will share what the children have been learning and details of upcoming events in school.
On 16th January, we were visited by the LA Science Advisor, who commended our Science curriculum. She observed lessons and completed work sampling and spoke to children in each year group. Well done Mrs Epstein, Science Curriculum Manager.
Spring 1 Topics
Year R
Year R have been learning about how materials change as part of their science learning by making porridge and making some marmalade on toast for Paddington!
Year 1
Year 1 have been making paper mache balloons in DT and have been working hard on their number ordering and creating patterns as part of their maths learning.
Year 2
Year 2 have been learning about healthy eating in science, making paper aeroplanes and learning how to make algorithms in Computing
Library
The children have been learning about winter. They have enjoyed applying their knowledge learnt from information books about seasons to make winter themed pictures.
School Book Fair
Our School Book Fair will run from 30th January - 5th February at 3.15pm-3.45pm each day. There are lots of lovely books for sale at very reasonable prices. As we know...READING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL
Thank you for your support.
Attendance
On 10 January we held our first party this academic year with SAM Bear for all the children who had 100% attendance in the Autumn Term. There were 37 children in total who achieved 100% attendance and they had a great time at the party. Well done to them all!
We are currently seeing a lot of illness amongst the children. Unfortunately there are a lot of winter viruses around and we have had cases of chickenpox as well as lots of respiratory illnesses. Please try to send your child into school as much as possible so that they can make good progress with their learning. If they have a slight cough or cold they should be fine to come to school, as long as they feel well and don’t have a temperature. Please check the “NHS Healthier Together” advice on the school’s website for advice and guidance on whether or not to send your child to school if they are unwell, at the following link:-
https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/parentscarers/worried-your-child-unwell/child-unwell-ok-go-nurseryschool
Other guidance regarding attendance can also be found on the school’s website by clicking ‘Parents’ then selecting ‘Attendance’.
Celebration Assembly
Well done to the children who achieved one of our Merton Value awards:
Motivation - Aubree, Elsie, Zion, Olivia E, Ancho, Nufais, Jax, Imogen
Excellence - Mihai, Zafir, Maisie, Noel, Kasper, Dana, Benjamin, Zion, Albie H
Respect
Teamwork - Noah, Logan R, Kyah, Jack, Joshua, Mia
Opportunities - Sreysta
Never Give Up - Aarush, Jaxon W
Staff - Mrs Corr, Mrs Gregory
Mrs Bird - Jaxson C, Addison, Charlie, Damon, Poppy, Erik
Miss Hankova (library) - Ezra, Amelia, Jaxon W
Other celebrations - Ronnie (finishing keywords)
Attendance - SAM bear - Snowy Owls, Eagle O
Musician of the half term
The children are learning songs by Bob Dylan and his love of Folk music.
Language of the half term
The children learnt all about South Africa and the language of Afrikaans at a special assembly on 11th January with Logan P and his mum.
The children have been learning other words in Afrikaans too!
Counting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW6WjkJTGUg
Three Little Pigs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1tZuFX7Vqo
Wheels on the Bus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z694ZLclp48
School Nurse Drop in
Our next health advice drop-in clinic with Community Nursery Nurses Michelle and Chelsea is on Wednesday 21st February from 9.00am - 10.00am.
Parents are welcome to drop-in to discuss any concerns they may have about healthy lifestyles, fussy eating, behaviour, low level emotional health and advice and sign posting for toileting and sleep issues.
There is no need to book, just come along on the day to talk about any questions or concerns you have.
We look forward to continuing to work with our parents and carers to support the children.
Breakfast and After School Clubs
Merton Infant School offers wrap around care in the form of a Breakfast and After School Club. These clubs are run by Merton staff and are held in the school hall Monday - Friday.
The clubs are open to children attending both the infant and junior schools.
The Breakfast Club opens at 8.00am and the children go to their classes at 8.45am. The junior children are walked to their school by a member of staff. Breakfast is available up to 8.30am.
The current cost is £3.00 per child per session.
The After School Club is run from 3.15pm - 5.45pm. Children are able to do a variety of activities and also have snack time. The cost is currently £8.00 per child per session, for pre booked slots. It is also available on an 'ad-hoc' basis which is charged at £10.00.
Registration forms for both of these clubs are available from the infant school office.
Lunchtime Staff
We welcome new staff at lunchtimes: Mrs Cordery, Mrs Harris, Mrs Winkworth and Mrs Barnard. Please be advised that if parents have any concerns about lunchtime, in the first instance speak to your class teacher, Mrs James or Mrs Durbajlo.
We are looking for an additional lunchtime supervisor, please see the office for an application form.
World Book Day
World Book Day is on Thursday 7th March this year and we have planned lots of fun and engaging reading activities.
We are inviting the children to decorate a T-Shirt in the theme of their favourite book to wear that day with their usual school uniform.
We will also be doing a whole-school book swap. Please can children bring in a book they no longer read and they will have the opportunity to choose a new one to bring home that day.
We hope the children have a fabulous day celebrating reading because we know that, READING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL!
Thank you for your support.
Merton Infant School Newsletter 10th January 2024
Dates for your Diary
Wednesday 10th January - SAM's 100% attendance party 2.45pm-3.00pm
Wednesday 17th January - School Nurse drop-in session at 9.00am-10.00am
Monday 22nd January - Movie Night for Year 1 and 2 at 3.15pm - 5.00pm
Friday 26th January - Special Relative Visit at 2.15pm
29th January - 2nd February - National Storytelling Week
30th January - 6th February - Book Fair (details to follow)
Friday 2nd February - Local Authority Advisor visit to school
Monday 5th February - Parents' Evening at 3.30 - 6.00pm (details to follow)
Wednesday 7th February - Parents' Evening at 4.00 - 6.30pm (details to follow)
Friday 9th February - Break Up at 3.15pm
Monday 19th February - INSET: School closed to children
Tuesday 20th February - School opens at 8.45am
Headteacher Highlight
Welcome back. We hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday and Best Wishes for 2024. Thank you for all your Christmas cards, gifts and cakes for the staff. They were much appreciated. It has been lovely listening to all the children's news.
The children have settled well and excited with the launch of their new topics. We have another busy half term so please continue to check your child’s book bag and the school website for any information.
Spring 1 Topics
Year R - Paddington Bear
We will compare Peru with London and explore geographical and human features. We will read a range of Paddington Bear books. We will learn how to draw and paint bears and add detail. We will continue to practise our letter formation and use our phonic sounds to spell adjectives to describe bears e.g. sharp claws, soft fur.
Year 1 - We're on the move!
Our trip on Friday to Brooklands Motor Museum has inspired our interest in exploring a range of transport past and present. We will learn about key historical figures who made a difference to a range of transport over time e.g. Henry Ford, Amelia Earhart.
Year 2 - The Lady with the Lamp
We will be exploring the life of Florence Nightingale and how she improved hospitals.
Celebration Assembly
Well done to the children who achieved one of our Merton Value awards:
Motivation - Maxwell, Ava
Excellence - Dotty, Logan P, Summer
Respect
Opportunities - Norwynn
Never Give Up - Adelina
Musician of the half term
The children will be learning songs by Bob Dylan and his love of Folk music.
Language of the half term
Our Language of the half term is South African. The children will be learning all about South Africa and the language of Afrikaans at a special assembly on 11th January.
The children will be learning to answer the register in Afrikaans as well as saying Hello, Please and Thank you.
Why not have a go yourself......
Hello – hallo
Goodbye – totsiens
Please – asseblief
Thank you – dankie
Mr. – mnr
Miss/Mrs – mev
Green – groen
Red – rooi
Dinner- middagete
School Council - Trip to the Council Chambers
On Monday 8th January, the School Council visited the Council Chambers in Basingstoke. They had an amazing visit and asked the Mayor and Mayoress some inquisitive questions. Their behaviour was exemplary and they were rewarded with the Mayor's badge. They saw the Mayor's robe and room where meetings are held and decisions are made.
School Nurse Drop in
Our first health advice drop-in clinic with the Community Nursery Nurse, Michelle Rebbeck, is next Wednesday 17th January from 9am-10am.
Parents are welcome to drop-in to discuss any concerns they may have about Healthy lifestyles, Fussy eating, behaviour, low level emotional health and advice and sign posting for toileting and sleep issues.
There is no need to book, just come along on the day to talk with Michelle or Mrs Durbajlo about any concerns you have.
We look forward to continuing to work with our parents and carers to support the children.
Year 1 and 2 Movie Night
We are holding a movie night for children in Years 1 and 2 on Monday 22nd January 2024 to raise money for equipment to use in the outside learning environments around the school.
A letter will be coming home today with details of how to book a place.
Contact Details
If any of your contact details have changed since registering your child at school e.g. telephone number, address, E-Mail address and emergency contacts please speak to the school office to update your details.
All schools are required to have a policy to outline how pupil and parent/carer information is held and used by schools. The policy is available for parents/carers to read on our website. Please see follow the link below:
Pupil and Parents Privacy Notice - March 2023.pdf
School Year September 2023 - July 2024
Merton Infant School Newsletter 15th December 2023
Dates for your Diary
Friday 15th December - Break up. No after school club - all children to be collected at 3.15pm
Tuesday 2nd January 2024 - School re-opens at 8.45am
Friday 5th January 2024 - Year 1 trip to Brooklands Motor Museum
Tuesday 8th January 2024 - School Council visit to Mayor's Chambers in Basingstoke
Friday 12th January 2024 - SAM's 100% attendance party 2.30pm-3.00pm
Wednesday 17th January 2024 - School Nurse drop-in session at 9.00am-10.00am
Monday 22nd January 2024 - Movie Night for Year 1 and 2
Friday 26th January 2024 - Special Relative Visit at 2.15pm
29th January 2024 - 2nd February - National Storytelling Week
30th January - 6th February - Book Fair (details to follow)
Friday 2nd February 2024 - Local Authority Advisor visit to school
Monday 5th February 2024 - Parents' Evening at 3.30 - 6.00pm
Wednesday 7th February 2024 - Parents' Evening at 4.00 - 6.30pm
Headteacher Highlight
This has been another successful half term. I have met all staff for Pupil Progress meetings and am delighted with the children's excellent progress from their starting points in September. As you can see from their Christmas plays they each performed with confidence and enthusiasm, definitely demonstrating our MERTON values.
Thank you all for your generosity in our Christmas fundraising events, we have raised £2863.68. We intend to purchase additional Chromebooks to support our Computing Curriculum including more play resources to support the children's physical development at playtimes.
On behalf of all the staff and Governors, we wish you all a safe and Happy Christmas (Crăciun fericit!) and Best Wishes for 2024. We look forward to working with you next year!
Autumn 2 Topics
Year R - Everyday Heroes & Christmas
What worked well
•Understanding that many jobs are heroes
•Having visitors to talk about their jobs to develop their aspirations when they grow up
•Daily creative art tasks for continuous provision to enhance their creativity and fine / gross motor skills
•Role-play areas were created within a child’s experience e.g. the home which enhanced their imaginative play and speaking and listening skills
•Having resources to support understanding of specific jobs, e.g. fire equipment, first aid kit
•Recognising different uses of technology in society e.g. stop watch, iPad, till, scanner
•Sequencing the nativity story – learning lines, songs or actions for the Christmas play
•Developing their phonic sounds and beginning to blend to read simple Vowel-Consonant (VC) or CVC words
•Developing their number recognition and counting skills
Even better if
•Visiting a place of work
Year 1 - Amazing Animals
What worked well
• Exploring different animal patterns using a variety of media
• Following step-by-step drawings of animals
- Using noun phrases to describe animals and writing fact files
- Visit from Zoolab and seeing / holding unusual animals e.g. snakes, stick insect
- Recognising the importance of conservation and saving animals at risk of being extinct
- Understanding which animals survive in different climates
- Programming Beebots around a plan of a zoo
Even better If
•Adopting an animal with the World Wildlife Fund
Year 2 - Let's Explore - Frozen Planet
What worked well:
•Understanding why specific animals are suited to different habitats
•Debating the effects of climate change on the environment and how we can protect the world
•Step by step drawing of a penguin and tiger using pencils to shade different effects
•Colour mixing to create Antarctica landscapes
•Recapping the oceans and continents in the world
•Overlearning human and physical features and making comparisons of different landscapes
Even better if:
•We could adopt a penguin
Celebration Assembly
Well done to the children who achieved one of our Merton Value awards:
Freddie B Kiera Excel Winter Tre Ronnie Carter P Ryan Stanley Dana Sebastian
Harper Logan P Courage Kobi Jewel Macey Stefan Harriet H Mia
Governor Gossip
We visited school on Monday 20th November for our termly monitoring visit. We visited all classrooms, spoke to children and staff. We checked the school's Safeguarding procedures and reviewed Attendance. We have all written monitoring reports about Leadership & Management, Quality of Education which includes references about the Curriculum , Assessment and Teaching & Learning. These reports demonstrates our knowledge and understanding of the school's strengths and development points.
We are always looking for people to join our Governing Body. If you are interested, please see Mrs James or Co-Chair, Gaye Dove, for further information. It is such a rewarding role and an opportunity to improve life at school for your children.
We are also very pleased to welcome 2 new members to our governing body.
Gaye Dove and Sajish Tom
I was lucky enough to be invited to join Merton’s Winter Warmer in November and what a delight it was. The staff had turned the school hall into a cosy log cabin, complete with a glittering Christmas tree, fairy lights, crackling log fire and heaps of snugly cushions.
There was hot chocolate with marshmallows and cookies on offer, soft toys to cuddle and a story to share with the school library service, who also supplied lots of new books for the library. After story time there were 'Make and Take' activities and a chance to explore the school library which had been cleverly and creatively transformed into the woodland home of the three bears.
My thanks go to all the staff at Merton for putting on such a lovely activity for parents and children to enjoy. Wishing a very Happy Christmas to the Merton school community.
Gaye Dove - Co-Chair of Governors.
Coffee Morning
Our coffee morning held on Thursday 30th November was a great success so we will be hosting half termly health advice clinics as a drop-in with the Community Nursery Nurse, Michelle Rebbeck.
Our next one is booked for Wednesday 17th January at 9.00am.
Parents are welcome to come along to discuss any concerns they may have about Healthy lifestyles, Fussy eating, behaviour, low level emotional health and advice and sign posting for toileting and sleep issues.
There is no need to book, just come along on the day to talk with Michelle or Mrs Durbajlo about any concerns you have.
We look forward to continuing to work with our parents and carers to support the children.
It's Christmas!
There have been lots of fun Christmas activities taking place this half term including:
- A Christmas Pantomime
- A whole school Christingle assembly
- Christmas performances
- Carols in the hall
- Christmas lunch
- A special visitor...ho ho ho!
The Lunchtime Supervisors couldn’t believe their eyes when they walked into the hall last week and saw that not one, but two elves on the shelves had made an appearance and were up to all sorts of mischief. We have taken some photos to share what they have been up to. The cheeky little elves are called Jingle and Bells!
Newsletter - 23rd November 2023
Dates for your Diary
Friday 24th November - non uniform day - donations - Year R - Toys - new, Year 1 - Bottles (in date and un-opened, alcoholic or non-alcoholic), Year 2 - Chocolate
Monday 27th November - INSET day - school closed to children
Thursday 30th November - 9.00am-10.00am - SEND coffee morning - please see relevant section below
Thursday 30th November - Year R to come dressed as an Everyday Hero
Friday 1st December - non uniform day - donations of cakes for the Christmas Fayre
Friday 1st December - 3.00pm Christmas Fayre
Monday 11th December - Christmas Play at 2.00pm
Tuesday 12th December - Christmas Play at 5.00pm (adult only performance 18+)
Wednesday 13th December - Christmas Play at 9.30am (adult only performance 18+)
Thursday 14th December - Carols in the hall at 3.30pm
Friday 15th December - Christmas Jumper Day, Christmas lunch and a special visitor to each class
Friday 15th December - Break Up at 3.15pm
Tuesday 2nd January 2024 - school re-opens at 8.45am
Friday 5th January 2024 - Year 1 trip to Brooklands Motor Museum
Friday 26th January - Special Relative Day at 2.15pm - details on our website
Headteacher Highlight
School is very busy with a wonderful buzz of learning in all year groups. It was lovely to see a group of Y1 and Y2 children represent our school at the Multi-Skills Festival at Queen Mary's College on Thursday 16th November. They had a great experience.
We were visited by our Local Authority Lead Learning Partner on Friday 10th November who commended the children's excellent progress and quality of work in their books. Thank you all for supporting your child at home. Do not forget to explore our new on-line home learning platform Purple Mash https://www.purplemash.com/sch/merton-infant-school#/portal/merton-infant-school/child. Your child has a log-in password in their Home-School Reading book.
Children have been learning about Anti-Bullying during the national Anti-Bullying Week (13th-17th November) and know what to do if they feel uncomfortable about anything, including on-line.
We would like to wish our children and their families a very Merry Christmas - Crăciun fericit!
Odd Socks Day
The children wore odd socks to school to show that it’s okay to be different and to stand up against bullying and discrimination. They enjoyed designing their own odd socks and listening to the story of Elmer the elephant and why everyone is different and everyone is unique.
I’m special I’m me!
I understand that being different makes us special.
Remembrance
The children enjoyed making poppies in school to remember those who died in the war. We held a special assembly and a two minute silence to show respect for those who have lost their lives.
Multi-Sports Festival
Miss Bohan and Miss Cowdrey took some of our Year 1 and Year 2 children to a multi-sports festival at Queen Mary's College last week. They had a fabulous time and worked really hard showing their MERTON values whilst representing our school. We are very proud of them.
Children in Need
We raised £130 for Children in Need last Friday as part of our spotty non-uniform day.
Thank you for your contributions.
Diwali
Autumn 2 Topics
Year R - Everyday Heroes
Year R have enjoyed meeting a number of 'Everyday Heroes' so far this half term. They have met a nurse, carer, librarian, soldier, football referee, train driver and postman. They will also be able to come to school dressed as a 'hero' on Thursday 30th November.
Year R Road Safety
Year R learnt about road safety. We walked to the shops and looked at the different road safety signs on our way. We remembered to stop, look and listen before crossing the road.
Year 1 - Amazing Animals
Year 1 have enjoyed learning all about different animals and have been creating their own fact files as well as sorting animals into different groups. They have also been learning all about where different animals live incorporating their geography learning.
Year 2 - Let's Explore - Frozen Planet
The children have been learning about lifecycles and food chains in science as well as completing lots of practical maths activities.
Celebration Assembly
Well done to the most recent recipients of our Merton value awards:
Motivation - Ancho, Nala, Olivia C, Eva, Matipa and Violet
Excellence - Kartik, Jewel, Poppy P, George D, George P, Amelie, Ronnie, Jack and Macie
Respect - Leniyah
Opportunities - Sreystaand Lulu
Keyword achievements - Maisie, Poppy H, Lizanne and Aarush
Never Give Up - Addison, Henry W, Jewel and Harriet
Winter Warmer
At Merton, we love Reading for Pleasure!
We were delighted to be joined by lots of our families for our first reading event of this academic year, our Winter Warmer, which was a great success!
The children enjoyed a range of activities including a presentation from Vicki at Hampshire's School Library Service, phonic games, making headbands, visiting the Three Bears house as part of our interactive Goldilocks story experience and reading by a Year 1 and Year 2 star reader.
A big thank you to Miss Hankova and all of the staff for their hard work setting up and running the event.
And as we all know...........'Reading is the most Important skill'
SEND Coffee Morning
We are hosting our first tea/coffee and biscuits event next Thursday 30th November from 9.00am-10.00am.
This event is primarily for parents of children with special educational needs, however, all parents are welcome to come along and discuss any concerns they may have about their child.
The session will be an opportunity to meet with Mrs Durbajlo (Deputy Headteacher and SENCo) and a representative from Barnardo’s (Hampshire and IOW Support for Neurodiverse Families) with a particular focus on Autism, as well as other parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
We will also be joined by Michelle from the School Nursing Team who will be able to answer any questions you may have about sleep, behaviour, toileting etc.
Please complete the attached form using the link below to advise if you are able to come along to ensure we provide enough refreshments.
Christmas 2023
The preparations are in full swing for our Christmas Fayre on Friday 1st December which will be held in the school hall at 3.00pm. Details of the Christmas raffle are below. The raffle will be drawn in celebration assembly on 8th December with prize winners notified shortly afterwards
We have some fabulous raffle prizes already and would warmly welcome any further donations.
We have two more non-uniform days in lieu of a donation for the Christmas Fayre:
Friday 24th November
Year R - Toys - new
Year 1 - Bottles (in date and un-opened, alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Year 2 - Chocolate
Friday 1st December
Donations for the cake stall for the Christmas Fayre in the afternoon.
Newsletter - 7th November 2023
Welcome back. We trust that you all had a lovely half term. This is usually the busiest half term especially with Christmas fast approaching. Please continue to check your child’s book bag and the school website for relevant information.
Winter weather reminder
With the coming changes in the weather, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately, remembering waterproof coat and sensible shoes. On really wet days if children wear wellie boots, please make sure to pack a school pair of shoes for them to change into.
Halloween Disco
On the 31st October, many children had a 'wail' of a time at the Halloween Disco. The costumes were amazing this year and the judges had a very hard time picking a winner from each year group.
A HUGE well done to our winners, who were:
Year R - Lungile - Ghost
Year 1 - Scarlett - Spooky Black Cat
Year 2 - Violet - Cruella Deville
New Starters - September 2024
If your child will be 4 years old between 1st September 2023 and 31st August 2024 then they will be starting school in September 2024.
The online admissions portal has now gone live ready for applications www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. The deadline for applications is Friday 15th January 2024.
We have the following tours still available to book on to:
7th November 2.00pm-3.00pm
9th November 9.30am-10.30am
Children moving up to Year 3
REMINDER: All Year 2 parents, except those of children with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), will need to apply for a Junior School place in Year 3 for September 2024. The application online portal is now open www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. The deadline is Friday 15th January 2024.
Parking
Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child or staff at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.
Attendance
Great news, attendance across the school is currently 95.7%, which is on track of our 96% target. We have been particularly impressed with YR's attendance this year!
We would like to thank parents for ensuring their child's regular attendance. Good attendance not only enables children to make more progress with their learning, it also helps children with their mental health and well being, as well as developing their social skills and friendship groups.
We hope that the good attendance level will continue and would ask that parents continue to support the school and their child's learning by keeping absences to a minimum. Please remember to call the school and leave a message on our absence line if your child is absent for any reason. If the school is unable to ascertain a reason for a child's absence staff may do a welfare home visit.
The more your child attends school - the more they will learn!
The class with the highest attendance each week has been visited by SAM Bear. So far he has visited:
- Owlets
- Barn Owls
- Tawny Owls
- Wise Owls
- Eagle Owls
The class with the highest attendance at the end of each term will win a class treat. Children who achieve 98%+ attendance at the end of each term will also be invited to take part in SAM Bear's party, which will be held in the hall during the school day (dates to be determined).
Autumn 2 Topics
Year R - Everyday Heroes
Year R will be learning about 'Everyday Heroes' and will be visited by some heroes in our community. They will also be able to come to school dressed as a 'hero' on Thursday 30th November.
Year 1 - Amazing Animals
Amazing animals is a great topic to explore the world around us and become scientists, geographers, explorers and animal lovers!
Year 2 - Let's Explore - Frozen Planet
The children will be looking at the contrasting climates of the Poles against the climate of countries around the Equator. We will be exploring the food cycles and life cycles of different animals and ourselves.
Poppy Appeal
Our red poppy is a symbol of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. Poppies are worn as a symbol of support for the Armed Forces community. This is very important during the current situation in our world.
Poppies and related items are now on sale in school. If you wish to make a purchase either call into the school office or send your child in with some money as our School Council will be visiting the classes on a daily basis.
Prices are shown on the attached pictures.
Thank you
The Year 2 children have made poppies to display at Tesco's in Chineham. We hope you enjoy seeing the window display when shopping.
Reading Books
Help!......We are missing some books.
If you have any school reading scheme books or library books at home, please can you either return via your child's book bag or place in the box in reception.
Zoolab visit
On the 1st November, Zoolab and their little box of creatures visited the school to see the children in Years 1 and 2.
Zoolab presenters offer a unique 'hands on' experience for the children and you can tell by the looks of wonder on their faces how excited they were by this opportunity.
The children were able to hold a stick insect, stroke a gerbil, touch a snake, hold a Giant African land snail and get up close and personal with a large hairy spider!!!
The Zoolab staff thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Merton Infant School and were impressed by the questions asked by our children
Language of the half term - Romanian
The children will be learning Romanian which was launched with a special assembly last week supported by Stefan and his Dad from Wise Owls.
The children have been answering the register in Romanian as well as saying Hello, Please and Thank you.
Why not have a go yourself......
Hello – bună
Good morning – buna dimineaţa
Good afternoon – bună ziua
Goodbye – la revedere
Please – vă rog
Thank you - vă mulţumesc
Mr. – Domnul
Miss/Mrs – D-na
Green – verde
Red – roșu
Celebration Assembly
Well done to the recipients of our Merton value awards:
Motivation - Mridul, Oliver, Jacob, Eric, Damon and Freddie
Excellence - Tommy, Vlad, Toby, Liana, Lulu and Logan
Respect - Isabella
Teamwork - Holly and Courage
Opportunities
Never Give Up - Carter
Anti Bullying Day
On Monday 13th November, as part of our safeguarding curriculum, we are hosting an anti-bullying day. The theme is "make a noise about bullying". Each class will now have a poster on display to encourage them to "make a noise" and not keep it to themselves.
We are asking the children to come to school wearing odd socks as it it is an opportunity to encourage people to express themselves and celebrate their individuality and what makes us all unique. The children will be designing their own odd socks during the day and learning all about the Elmer story to reinforce that it is good to be unique and that we are all different.
Library Matters
At Merton, we love Reading for Pleasure! Our reading corners in the classrooms and shared areas are always full of books. The children like to sit down and get lost in the world of stories or information books. They love using their imagination or discovering new facts.
And as we all know...........'Reading is the most Important skill'
Winter Warmer Event
On Monday 20th November, we will be hosting a Winter Warmer Event for children and parents from 3.30 - 5.00pm.
There will be a range of exciting reading activities for the children including a visit from the School Library Service (SLS) and an immersive story experience. There will be stories and phonics activities to continue developing the children's love of reading.
Refreshments will also be available for a donation.
Spaces will be limited so if you wish to come along with your child please follow the link below to register your interest.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYaLsG2olouxM9KopRkBpDSJA88oXIxBi-IRLAcIe-Np4BhQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0
SEND Coffee Morning
The session will be an opportunity to meet with Mrs Durbajlo, Deputy Headteacher/SENCO and a representative from Barnardo’s (Hampshire and IOW Support for Neuro-diverse Families), as well as other parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities. This will also give you an opportunity to ask any other questions you may have.
Please complete the attached form using the link below to advise if you are able to come along to ensure we provide enough refreshments.
Christmas 2023
'It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas..' Therefore we have added the dates of the Christmas Performances below. Letters will be coming out later in November giving details of how to purchase your tickets.
We will also be hosting a Christmas Fayre on Friday 1st December which will be held in the school hall at 3.15pm.
We have scheduled 3 non uniform days:
Thursday 9th November in exchange for:
Year R - Bottles (in date and un-opened)
Year 1 - Chocolate items
Year 2 - Toys - new
Friday 24th November
Year R - Toys - new
Year 1 - Bottles (in date and un-opened)
Year 2 - Chocolate
Friday 1st December
Donations for the cake stall for the Christmas Fayre in the afternoon.
We will also be holding a Christmas Raffle and would welcome any donations to make up prizes - Thank you.
Can you help out this Christmas? Please have a look at these messages from Spotlight UK
Governor's Corner
We are very pleased to welcome Mrs Rachel Hill as a new member of our Governing Body.
Rachel first joined Merton Infant School as an LSA in 2012. In 2013, she began her teacher training, some of which was completed at Merton under the watchful eye of Mrs James. After building on her experience in other schools, Rachel returned to Merton to teach Reception in 2016 and remained as part of the team until 2023. During her time as a teacher at the school, Rachel taught pupils from YR to Y2, as well as being Literacy and PE Curriculum Manager and a Staff Governor.
After going on maternity leave in June 2022, Rachel decided to take some time out of her teaching career to spend more time with her daughter. Having spent the last 10 years building relationships with the staff, pupils and their families, leaving the school was not an easy decision to make, so when the opportunity to support the school as a co-opted governor came up, she didn’t need any persuading.
Rachel is keen to help make a difference to the lives of the children that pass through the school and will use her experience and passion for education to ensure Merton continues to thrive.
Vacancies
We are currently looking for afternoon Cleaners to join our team. The hours are 3.30pm - 6.00pm Monday - Friday (term time), as well as additional cleaning in the holidays.
We also have a vacancy for a Lunchtime Supervisor. The hours will either be 11.30 - 1.00pm or 11.45 - 1.15pm Monday - Friday, term time only.
If you are interested please contact the school office on 01256 324507 or pop into reception for an application form.
Dates for your Diary
Monday 13th November - Anti-Bullying Day - please wear odd socks - please see relevant section above
Friday 17th November - Children in Need - wear something spotty in exchange for a £1.00 donation to the charity
Monday 20th November - Winter Warmer at 3.30 - 4.30pm - please see relevant section above
Monday 27th November - INSET day - school closed to children
Thursday 30th November - SEND coffee morning - please see relevant section above
Thursday 30th November - Year R to come dressed as an Everyday Hero
Monday 11th December - Christmas Play at 2.00pm
Tuesday 12th December - Christmas Play at 5.00pm (adult only performance 18+)
Wednesday 13th December - Christmas Play at 9.30am (adult only performance 18+)
Thursday 14th December - Carols in the hall at 3.30pm
Friday 15th December - Christmas Jumper Day, Christmas lunch and a special visitor to each class
Friday 15th December - Break Up at 3.15pm
Tuesday 2nd January 2024 - school re-opens at 8.45am
Friday 5th January 2024 - Year 1 trip to Brooklands Motor Museum
Friday 26th January - Special Relative Day at 2.15pm - details on our website
Welcome to our second newsletter of this year. It has been a very busy start to the new school year with lots of exciting learning opportunities for the children including the election of our school council. This newsletter will share what the children have been learning with you this half term.
We wish our children and their families a restful and safe half term.
Autumn topics
Year R have enjoyed applying their learning about healthy lifestyles into their play.
They have also been embracing our motto, "reading is the most important skill"!
Year 1 have been learning about materials as part of their Science curriculum. They enjoyed being Scientists with their lab coats exploring what different materials things around the school are made from.
Year 1 enjoyed a visit to Chineham library to explore all different types of book including fiction, non-fiction and audiobooks.
Year 2 have enjoyed exploring the school and outside areas finding the hot and cold spots to decide where it would be best for a sloth to live.
Using their rainforest knowledge they wrote fact files.
SAM (School Attendance Matters) Bear
The more your child attends school - the more they will learn!
The class with the highest attendance each week has been visited by SAM Bear. So far he has visited:
- Owlets
- Barn Owls
- Tawny Owls
- Wise Owls
Musician of the Half Term
The staff and children have really embraced learning all about Dolly Parton this half term and singing her songs.
Genre: Country Music
American country singer-songwriter: Dolly Parton
Born: 1946
New Year R starters - September 2024
If your child will be 4 years old between 1st September 2023 and 31st August 2024 then they will be starting school in September 2024.
From 1st November 2023 you can apply online at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. The deadline for applications is Friday 15th January 2024.
Parent Viewings
We are holding school viewings on the dates listed in the poster below. Spaces will be limited per viewing, so please ensure you call to reserve your place. If you have any queries, please contact the school office on 01256 324507 or via email at adminoffice@merton-inf.hants.sch.uk
School Council
After a robust election process we are delighted to introduce our Year 2 School Council representatives who are pictured below.
They have already begun planning a range of activities to improve our school including some charity fundraising events.
Young Interpreters
We have trained our new Year 1 Young Interpreters whose job in school is to support children with English as an Additional Language. We look forward to seeing them develop into their new role alongside our experienced Year 2 team.
Special Relative Day
We were delighted to see so many family members at our special relative day on 6th October. The refreshment sale was very successful so this will be continued at the next event on 26th January at 2.15pm.
Parents also enjoyed visiting our school library to see how it supports the children's reading skills.
Dates for your Diary
20th October - Break Up at 3.15pm
30th October - Back to School at 8.45am
31st October - Halloween Disco - letter sent home
20th November - Winter Warmer at 3.30-4.30pm
27th November - INSET day - school closed to children
11th December - Christmas Play at 2pm
12th December - Christmas Play at 9.30am
13th December - Christmas Play at 5pm
14th December - Carols in the hall at 3.30pm
15th December - Christmas Jumper Day, Christmas lunch and a special visitor to classes
15th December - Break Up at 3.15pm
26th January - Special Relative Day at 2.15pm
14th September 2023
Heateachers Welcome
Welcome back to our existing parents and a very warm welcome to our new YR children and families. We hope that you all had a lovely summer holiday and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine.
The children look very smart in their school uniforms and have settled into their classes, following routines and expectations very well.
We have a very busy term ahead so please ensure you check and empty your child’s book bag daily and view the school website for newsletters or other important information.
Autumn Topics
Year R - Healthy Me
The children will be learning about the importance of a healthy lifestyle which includes a balanced diet, regular exercise and plenty of sleep
Year 1 - Out and About
The children will be learning about Popley and Basingstoke including the four countries in the UK. Some of the learning will be outside looking at geographical features, exploring maps and comparing Basingstoke to London.
Year 2 - Let's Explore - The Rainforest
Year 2 will become Global Detectives and Scientists as they learn all about the issues surrounding the rainforests of the world. They will learn about the plants and animals that live in the rainforests and their habitats.
SAM (School Attendance Matters) Bear
The more your child attends school - the more they will learn!
The class with the highest attendance will be visited by SAM Bear in our Celebration Assembly on Fridays.
Please avoid holidays during term time and keep any appointments during school hours to a minimum. If your child has an appointment in the middle of the morning, please send them into school at 8.45am so that they can get their attendance mark and avoid disruption to their learning as much as possible. We expect children to return to school following any appointment, unless the appointment finishes close to the end of the school day. Likewise, if your child has an appointment in the afternoon, we expect them to be in school for the morning session.
If your child is absent due to illness, please let the school office know by 8.30am. You may leave a message on the school's absence line (option 2).
If your child has vomiting and / or diarrhoea, school advises to be clear for 24 hours before returning to school. Please see link below for absence from school due to other illnesses:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
We would also ask that you try to ensure that your child arrives at school on time. Children often become upset and find it difficult to settle in class when they are late for school.
Belongings
Please ensure you label all school uniform including hats, gloves, coats, shoes, PE kits, lunch boxes and water bottles. We are always amazed at the amount of lost property we donate to charity shops so please check the lost property box in the office reception area regularly. Children often have the same items and become anxious when they lose something.
Reading is the most important skill!
Miss Hankova is our School Librarian. She will give regular updates about activities you can do at home to support your child learning to read. Each class will visit the library every week to select books of their choice. Please share them with your child. Each year group will also visit Chineham Library using Basingstoke Community Transport. This term will be Year 1.
We are also starting our reading mornings again this Friday. Please come into your child's class from 8.30am-8.45am to enjoy spending time reading with your child.
Musician of the Half Term
We celebrate a musician and genre of music per half term. This term we will be listening to:
Genre: Country Music
American country singer-songwriter: Dolly Parton
Born: 1946
Language of the Half Term – Malayalam
The children will be learning Malayalam (Indian dialect) this half term.
They will be answering the register in Malayalam as well as saying Hello, Please and Thank you.
We hope you enjoy the song they have been learning and a huge നന്ദി to Jewel who has helped them to learn it.
New Year R starters -September 2024
If your child will be 4 years old between 1st September 2023 and 31st August 2024 then they will be starting school in September 2024.
From 1st November 2023 you can apply online at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. The deadline for applications is Friday 15th January 2024.
Parent Viewings
We are holding school viewings on the dates listed in the poster below. Spaces will be limited per viewing, so please ensure you call to reserve your place. If you have any queries, please contact the school office on 01256 324507 or via email at adminoffice@merton-inf.hants.sch.uk
Parking
Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child or staff at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.
Supply Cover
Each teacher is given a responsibility of a curriculum area. They will have non-contact days where they will monitor their subject across the school e.g. conducting lesson observations, talking to children, reviewing planning per year group, planning and conducting training for staff, analysing data etc. Mrs Miller and / or Mrs Silk will cover the class on these occasions.
Money
We ask that payments are put in your child’s zipped wallet and handed to their class teacher with a note indicating the amount and reason for the money or placed in the grey box in reception for additional events throughout the school year (if requested on the letter). The office staff are unable to take money across the front desk. Any change will be returned at the end of the day, but wherever possible, please try to send in the exact amount. However, we would prefer that Breakfast club, After School Club and school trips are paid online.
Online Learning Resources
Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child's language skills. Explore our simple activities and play ideas and find out about babies and toddlers' amazing early development.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people
Year 1 and 2 Film Night
We will be holding our first film night after school for Year 1 and 2 on Monday 2nd October. A letter will be coming home on Monday with the details for parents to sign their children up.
Dates for your Diary
21st September - EAL (English as an Additional Language) Coffee Morning at 9.00am
26th September - Tawny Owls visit to Chineham Library at 1.00pm
27th September - Individual Photographs
29th September - Barn Owls visit to Chineham Library at 1.00pm
29th September - Y2 School Council Elections
2nd October - Y1 & Y2 Movie Night at 3.15 - 5.00pm
6th October - Special Relative Day at 9.00am
9th October - Parents' Evening at 3.30 - 6.00pm
17th October - Flu Vaccine
17th October - Parents' Evening at 4.00 - 6.30pm
20th October - Break Up at 3.15pm
30th October - Back to School at 8.45am
School Year September 2022 - July 2023
20th June 2023
Dear Parents / Carers,
We have planned our sports day on Monday 17th July at 9.15am – 11.30am on the school field. The children will participate in a carousel of athletic activities on the bottom field, followed by competitive races on the running track on the top field.
Due to Local Authority Health & Safety advice and guidelines your child will not be able to participate in sports day if they are wearing earrings. Please ensure earrings are removed and long hair is tied back.
Each class has been assigned a colour to wear so you can identify your child easily. Please can you provide your child with the correct colour t-shirt for their class. Please ensure your child arrives at school already dressed in their PE kit (coloured t-shirt, shorts and suitable trainers or plimsolls) and a named water bottle in order to participate in the activities. Named sun hats and the application of suncream before school is also essential.
Listed below are the colours of the teams:
Year R: Owlets - Green Snowy Owls - Red
Year 1: Barn Owls - Purple Tawny Owls - Blue
Year 2: Wise Owls - Pink Eagle Owls – White Hawk Owls – Yellow
If the weather prevents sports day taking place on Monday 17th July, the reserve date is Tuesday 18th July.
Thank you for your continuing support and we look forward to seeing you all soon.
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Sports Event – Monday 17th July 2023
We will be holding an adults’ race for parents at the end of the morning. If you wish to take part, please return this form in your child’s zipped wallet by the morning of Friday 14th July 2023.
Child’s Name……………………………………………… Class…………………………………
I, ………………………………………………….. wish to take part in the adults’ race.
19th June 2023
Dear Parents/Carers
Summer Movie Night – The Emperor’s New Groove
We are holding a Movie Night for children on Monday 3rd July to raise money for equipment to use in the outside learning environments around the school.
For £3.00 the children will have a full cinema experience in the school hall with popcorn and drinks. The evening will begin at 3.15pm (the children will be taken straight to the hall from their class) and must be collected at 5.00pm from their classroom doors.
The number of children who can attend is being limited to the first 150 replies received with the money. Please post your slips/money in the grey post box in the main reception area. This event will not be available online due to the restricted numbers.
Any replies handed in via the classroom will not be accepted.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely
Mrs L James
Headteacher
"………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Summer Movie Night
I give permission for my child ……………………………………….. Class ………………………………………
To attend the Summer Movie Night on Monday 3rd July 3.15 - 5.00pm.
I enclose £3.00 for the event.
My child can have:
Popcorn
Squash Any dietary requirements ………………………………………………………………..
Signed ………………………………………………………………………….. Date ………………………………
Newsletter 9 – 14th June 2023
Dear Parents/Carers,
Local Authority Moderation Visit
Well done to our Y2 team who were visited last week by the Local Authority (LA) Assessment Team to verify our teacher assessments in Reading , Writing and Maths. The moderators reported that all teachers showed a clear understanding of the DfE standards for Key Stage 1 in all areas. All judgements were agreed across the board and there was strong evidence in books. We look forward to sharing the children's outcomes in their end of year annual reports. The children have worked incredibly hard this year and should be proud of themselves.
Safeguarding Theme Day
We have planned activites on Monday 19th June to reinforce our message about the NSPCC PANTS Rule and on-line Safety. Please check the school website for relevant advice you can follow at home. The lunchtime supervisors report that a few children are re-enacting games about Fortnite. This is rated T for Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board due to the violent content. It is recommended for ages 13 and older. Please ensure you use parental controls on any digital devices at home.
Class Photos
Children will have their class photo taken on Friday 23rd June so please ensure that they look clean and tidy.
Transition Day
We are starting to prepare the children for their next year group. All current year groups will be split up for the next academic year and, on occasions, staff will be trialling new classes throughout this half term to check we have the right balance i.e. gender, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), English as an Additional Language (EAL), Ethnic Minority (EM) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Y2 have also joined the junior playtime from this week. The official day when the children will meet their teacher and LSA will be Thursday 29th June. Parents and children will receive a Social Story of the child’s new staff on that day.
Mrs Relf, who will be returning from Maternity Leave, is not available on this day so she will meet her Y2 class on Friday 7th July.
Attendance
Attendance is currently 93.2%, which is a slight improvement on last term, although this is still below the Government’s current expectation of 95%. This term we are finding that there are an increasing number of parents taking their children out of school for holidays. Any holidays taken during term time will not beauthorised unless there are exceptional circumstances, although the length of time authorised is likely to be limited. This means that if you take your child on holiday without authorisation for 5 or more days it will invoke a penalty notice, which entails a fine of £60 per parent per child. This can double to £120 if it is not paid within 21 days. We have already had to issue 6 families with penalty notices this academic year. Besides invoking penalty notices for parents, holidays are also disruptive to your child’s learning and dvelopment. Please try to refrain from taking your child out of school during term time.
If your child is absent for any reason you should call the school office before 9.30am to explain the reason. You can leave a message on the school’s answer machine. If your child is unwell we need to have a clear explanation of what the illness is, so that it can be logged on their attendance record. If your child has a lot of time off for illness we may ask to see medical proof for the absences, such as a prescription, medication label or hospital letter advising that your child is unfit to attend school. We are finding that some parents do not contact the school to explain their child’s absence. If we are unable to ascertain a reason for your child’s absence we may have to do a home visit, as part of the school’s safeguarding obligations.
Warmer Weather
It looks like the sun is finally here! Please ensure your child wears a sunhat, has a water bottle and has sun cream applied before coming to school every day. Manufacturers now make sunscreen that will last all day.
Summer Fayre
We are planning a fayre with the junior school on Saturday 15th July at 11.00 – 1.00pm. Further details will follow.
Sports Event
We are planning to hold our Sports Day on Monday 17th July from 9.15 – 10.30am, weather permitting. This will consist of a round robin carousel of activities on the top field followed by a selection of competitive races on the running track on the bottom field opposite the junior school. If we have to cancel due to the weather, we have planned a reserve date for 18th July at the same time.
Inset Days
We have confirmed next year’s INSET days, when school will be closed for staff training. We have planned some of the days to be at the beginning or the end of holidays to make it easier for parents to book long weekends away or holidays. Please see below:
Friday 1st September - Mental Health / Mindfulness
Monday 27th November - First Aid
Monday 19th February - Dance
Monday 24th June - Data Analysis
Monday 15th July - Curriculum Planning
Volunteers
We are looking for any volunteers who would be able to support the school for reading and on school trips. A DBS check would need to be completed. Please see the school office for further information.
Key Dates:
16th June - Y2 trip to Windsor Castle
23rd June - Class Photos
26th June - Sponsored Workout
28th June - Governor Monitoring Day
29th June - Transition Day
3rd July - Movie Night – details to follow
6th July - 9.00 – 10.25am Special Relative Visit
7th July - YR Beach Day (in school)
10th July - INSET Day: Curriculum Planning
14th July - Annual Reports to Parents
2.30 - Y1 Art Gallery to Parents
15th July -11.00 - 1.00pm Summer Fayre
17th July - Let’s Get Active Theme Week
9.15 -10.30am Sports Day
18th July - Second Reserve 9.15 - 10.30am Sports Day
20th July - 9.30 - 10.30am Y2 Leavers’ Assembly
21st July - Break Up
Thank you for your continuing support.
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 8 – 16th May 2023
Dear Parents/Carers,
We are Gold….again!
On 4th May, we were visited by EMTAS (Ethnic Minority and Traveller Acheivement Service) to re-validate our Gold EAL Excellence Award. I am absolutely thrilled to share that we have achived GOLD for the second time. This award demonstrates our strong commitment to support pupils for whom English is an Additional Language. We are the only school in Basingstoke to have achieved this prestigious accolade for the second time. A HUGE Well Done to Mrs Durbajlo, Inclusion Manager, who led and managed this award. The certificate is valid for two years.
Right Honourable Dame Maria Miller Member of Parliament (MP) for Basingstoke & Deane
We had the pleasure of Dame Miller visiting our school on Friday 12th May. She spoke with our School Council who were very confident. She also praised the work that we do in school to promote inclusion and diversity. She was impressed that we teach our children about important people from a variety of cultures, both past and present linked to different subjects e.g the artist, Romero Britto from Brazil, the British-Jamaican nurse and businesswoman Mary Seacole, the athlete and activist Jesse Owens, the Scottish inventor and vet John Dunlop. She also presented Mrs Durbajlo with our Gold EAL Excellence Award Certificate in our Celebration Assembly. She particularly enjoyed hearing Wise Owls sing our Italian song.
Special Relative Visit
We have had to change the timing of our next Special Relative Visit from the afternoon to 9.30 – 10.30am on Friday 26th May. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Refurbishment
All Y1 and Y2 classrooms are having new flooring fitted during the half term and new chairs will arrive in June. YR classrooms were completed during the Easter holidays.
Summer Fayre
We are planning a fayre with the Junior School on Saturday 15th July at 11.00 – 1.00pm. Further details will follow.
Volunteers
We are looking for any volunteers who would be able to support the school for reading and on school trips. A DBS check would need to be completed. Please see the school office for further information.
Change of Menu
We have a change of menu for Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th May. Wednesday 17th May RED Option: Sliced Pork with Yorkshire pudding GREEN Option: Quorn and Leek pastry crown JACKET POTATO with tuna mayo. Thursday 18th May RED Option: Bubble Salmon GREEN Option: Pizza JACKET POTATO with cheese.
Key Dates:
19th May - Dress down day for £1.00 to help raise funds for our School Fayre activities
22nd May - Y2 Space Buggy workshop for parents
26th May – Italian Theme Day – children can wear Red, White & Green (School polo shirt is ok for white!)
9.30-10.30am – Special Relative Visit
Break Up at 3.15pm
5th June – INSET: School Closed
6th June – School starts at 8.45am
Thank you for your continuing support.
Larissa James
Headteacher
28th April 2023
Dear parents/carers
Ref: Coronation Celebration - Friday 5th May 2023
On Friday 5th May Merton Infant School will be celebrating the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III. We would like our children to enjoy a fun-filled day learning all about the traditions of the royal coronations and celebrating the life of King Charles.
We hope that the sun will shine to enable our children to eat their ‘Coronation Picnic Lunch’ outside and do some celebratory activities outdoors.
Dress Code
Children can choose to wear red, white and blue clothing instead of their school uniform. Please bring £1.00 in on the day to raise money for King Charles’ charity ‘The Princes Trust Foundation’. If they do not wish to wear red, white and blue clothing then they should wear their school uniform.
Your experiences/memories
If you or a member of your family has celebratory artefacts from the Queen’s coronation in 1953 or if you have special royal historic pieces and your child wishes to bring them into school to share, we would very much appreciate this.
Furthermore, if you have someone in your family who was in London for the Queen’s coronation or has maybe met or seen King Charles at a public event and wishes to share their experience and memories from the day, please contact the school or visit our office to see how they can get involved as the children would love to hear a first-hand account. Your experiences and/or historic royal artefacts would really help to bring our learning of history to life!
We are also creating collages of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III; if you have any small pictures from magazines or newspapers or stamps, please give them to your class teacher.
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 7 - 20th April 2023
Dear Parents/Carers,
We trust that you all had an enjoyable Easter holiday. The children have settled back to routines and expectations very well and are enjoying their new topics. Please continue to check your child’s book bag and the school website for any information.
Half term topics
Year group Curriculum newsletters will also come out this week detailing the topic for this half term and suggesting ways you can support your child’s learning at home. Please can we ask that you read with your child little and often to develop their decoding/blending skills and comprehension.
Telephone Pupil Progress Consultations
Similar to the phone consultations in December, we are offering parents the opportunity to have another update with your child’s class teacher next week to discsuss their current acheivements and ways you can support at home. An email and text has been sent for you to make your booking. Please ensure that you have provided the best number for the teacher to contact you.
Staffing
We welcome Mrs Scotford-Smith in YR as Learning Support Assistant.
Strike Days
The Department of Education (DfE) has confirmed 2 further days of teacher strikes: Thursday 27th April and Tuesday 2nd May. There will be a change to the children who can attend school on these forthcoming dates. A reminder text will be sent on Monday 24th April. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Clubs
Due to the Bank Holidays and strike days, we will not be holding any After School Activity Clubs this half term apart from the Football Club on Thursdays which is managed by our external company, Stow Sports. We are planning new clubs to start on Wednesday 7th June. Details will follow.
King’s Coronation
We are planning a theme day on Friday 5th May to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. We would like the children to wear red, white and blue on this day. We are hosting a street party for lunch and details will follow about our picnic bag lunch options. If any parent/grandparent has any memorabilia about King Charles and/or Queen Elizabeth, we would like to share them with the children. Please speak to your child’s class teacher if you can help.
Italian Theme Day
Our Language of this Half-term is Italian. We are planning a range of activities to celebrate this country on Friday 26th May. Children can wear red, white and green clothes to school on this day.
Special Relative Day
Our previous events have been very well attended and the children throroughly enjoy showing off their work to their relatives. We are hosting our next event on Friday 26th May at 2.15 - 3.15pm.
Sickness Absence
We are changing our school policy on sickness and diarrhoea. If your child has sickness and/or diarrhoea, they now need to be clear for 24 hours since the last bout rather than 48 hours before returning to school.
Volunteers
We are looking for any volunteers who would be able to support the school with reading and school trips. A DBS check would need to be completed. Please see the school office for further information.
Key Dates:
24th April - School Council visit to Houses of Parliament
24th April - YR Telephone Pupil Progress Consultations
25th April - Y1 Telephone Pupil Progress Consultations
26th April - Y2 Telephone Pupil Progress Consultations
1st May - School Closed Bank Holiday
5th May - King’s Coronation Theme Day
8th May - School Closed Bank Holiday
22nd May - Y2 Space Buggy workshop with parents (details to follow)
26th May - Italian Theme Day
2.15pm - Special Relative Visit
Break Up at 3.15pm for half term
5th June - INSET: School Closed
6th June - School starts at 8.45am
Thank you for your continuing support.
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 6 – 28th March 2023
Dear Parents/Carers,
What a busy half term we have had! It was lovely to see so many relatives on Special Relative Day last Friday. The children were so excited to share their work with their relative. We look forward to seeing more relatives on Friday 26th May at 2.15pm and Thursday 6th July at 9.00am.
Staffing
We are delighted to announce the birth of Miss Fellhauer’s second child, a baby boy called Miles, born 10th March weighing 7lbs 8oz. Congratulations to the whole family.
Mrs Eglin, Wise Owls class teacher, is expecting her second child in September. Therefore, if your child has an illness which could be detrimental to her ie: chicken pox, scarlet fever etc, could you please notify the school office immediately.
We would also like to congratulate Mrs. Wisken, our Deputy Headteacher, who had been seconded to Southwood Infant School in Farnborough, on being appointed as the school’s permanent Headteacher after Easter. The Governors are preparing an advert for a new Deputy Headteacher for our school.
Pupil Progress Meetings
We have met with each year group recently to evaluate each child’s progress. We are very pleased to see that each child has made excellent progress from their starting points. Their work ethic has developed well and lesson observations, informal learning walks and exercise books demonstrate that all children are excited and engaged in their learning. Children take pride in their books and respond to ‘Green to Grow’ feedback to improve their work. Please set aside some time to read with your child each day, especially during the Easter holidays. Their progress would accelerate even more with your support.
Parent Support
We have added The Incredible Years parenting support to our school website.
‘The Incredible Year® is a series of interlocking, evidence-based programs for parents, children and teachers supported by over 30 years of research. The goal is to prevent and treat young children’s behaviour problems and promote their social, emotional and academic competence. The programs are used worldwide in schools and mental health centres, and have been shown to work across all cultures and socio-economic groups’.
There is a wealth of information including how to support challenging behaviours at home, supporting children with ADHD or Autism. Please take the time to explore their website….it might just give you the ‘lightbulb’ moment.
Belongings
Please check the lost property box in the office porch which is full with many unnamed items. Please ensure you label all your child’s items.
INSET Days – School year 2023 – 2024
Friday 1st September 2023
Monday 27th November 2023
Monday 19th February 2024
Monday 24th June 2024
Monday 15th July 2024
Governors
The school’s Governing Body is looking for additional members. We meet five times per year and also participate in three Governor Monitoring Days in school per year. It is a very rewarding role in developing our school priority areas. Please see the school office for an application form.
We wish you all a Happy Easter. Thank you for your continuing support.
Key Dates
29th March - 9.00am Easter Assembly for Y1 parents
31st March - Easter Egg Hunt and Raffle
Break Up
17th April - School starts at 8.45am
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 5 – 28th February 2023
Dear Parents/Carers,
We hope that you enjoyed the half term holiday. Please read your year group Curriuculum newsletter to see how you can support your child at home. Remember to practise reading little and often; it makes a HUGE difference to your child’s progress.
World Book Day
This national annual event takes place on Thursday 2nd March. You will have already received a £1 book voucher to buy a book for your child. As this is a planned teacher strike day, please read with your child whether they are attending school or not on this day. If your child is attending school, we are not asking them to dress-up as a book character due to the current financial difficulties.
Staffing
We formally welcome Mrs Dalton who is covering Miss Fellhauer in YR Snowy Owls class as she starts her maternity leave. We also welcome Mrs Miller who will work Mondays - Wednesdays, predominantly in Y2, but may also cover other teachers attending courses.
Volunteers
We are always looking for any volunteers who would be able to support the school for reading and on school trips. A DBS check would need to be completed. Please see the school office for further information.
Langauge of the Month
Children will be taught about Brazil and the Portuguese language. Our launch assembly will take place this week.
Attendance
Our current attendance remains disappointingly low, at 92%, which is below the current national average of 93.5%. A lot of absence is due to illness, sometimes mild illness - if your child has a temperature but is otherwise well, please consider giving them Calpol and sending them into school. If children are having a significant amount of time off due to illness the school may choose to unauthorise the absences unless parents can provide medical evidence. Please also try to refrain from requesting leave of absence during term time as it can disrupt children’s learning and progress and the absence will not be authorised unless it is considered to be an exceptional circumstance.
We are currently seeing patterns of absence with some children and their siblings and where we have concerns about a child’s attendance we may call parents in for a meeting to discuss ways of improving their attendance. If, after putting in place support measures, there is no improvement in a child’s attendance, the school may refer the parents to the Attendance Intervention Team, who could take legal action. Please support your child to make progress and achieve their potential by sending them to school as much as possible.
Key Dates:
3rd March - YR trip to Wellington Country Park
10th March - Local Authority (LA) Health & Safety Audit
13th March - British Science Week Theme Day
14th March - Governor Monitoring Day
20th March - Zoolab visit to Y1
24th March - Special Relative Day
27th March - Easter Disco
31st March - Break Up at 3.15pm
Easter Egg Hunt & Raffle
17th April - School starts at 8.45am
Thank you for your continuing support.
Larissa James
Headteacher
23rd January 2023
Dear Parents/Carers,
Advance warning: Teacher Strike
I am sure you are aware of the recent announcement about the forthcoming teacher strikes. The dates planned are Wednesday 1st February, Thursday 2nd March, Wednesday 15th March and Thursday 16th March.
The Department for Education expects schools to ‘take all reasonable steps to keep the school open for as many pupils as possible’.
Whilst I am able to ask staff in advance if they intend to strike, staff are not compelled to inform me about their intentions, which may not be until the morning of the strike action.
I am currently working on a contingency plan and evaluating all risk assessments with the Governing Body to ensure the effective health and safety of staff and pupils on these days while following the DfE and LA guidance.
I am, therefore, giving you advance notice that SOME classes MAY be closed or we will be restricting attendance to prioritise children of critical workers and vulnerable children.
Staff are unable at this present time to give you any further information, therefore please avoid questioning them and respect their decision. When I have confirmed plans I will inform you as soon as I can.
Yours Sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 4 - 5th January 2023
Dear Parents/Carers,
Happy New Year. We trust that you all had an enjoyable and safe festive holiday. Thank you for all your Christmas cards, gifts and cakes for the staff. They were much appreciated. Please continue to check your child’s book bag and the school website for any information.
Half term topics
Year group Curriculum newsletters will also come out this week detailing the topic for this half term and suggesting ways you can support your child’s learning at home. Please can we ask that you read with your child little and often to develop their blending skills and comprehension.
Staffing
We are looking to recruit a cleaner and an experienced Learning Support Assistant. Please see the school office for further information and an application form.
Miss Fellhauer will be leaving on Friday 10th February to start her maternity leave. We have advertised for her replacement and will inform parents of Snowy Owls as soon as possible.
Volunteers
We are looking for any volunteers who would be able to support the school for reading and on school trips. A DBS check would need to be completed. Please see the school office for further information.
Fundraising
Last term, we raised £1400 from the Christmas calendars and performance tickets. We also raised £360 on the Autumn term movie night. This will be used to upgrade our computing resources. We are planning additional activities for this term, so watch this space!
Key Dates:
13th Janaury - Y1 trip to Brooklands Transport Museum
23rd January - Leadership and Learning Progress Review visit by the Local Authority (LA) Advisor
26th January - LA Geography Advisor visit
30th January - LA Maths Advisor visit
31st January - Parents’ Evening at 4.00 - 6.30pm
31st January - Travelling Books in school
1st February - Movie Night - details to follow
6th February - Parents’ Evening at 3.30 – 6.00pm
10th February - Mental Health Theme Day
Break Up at 3.15pm
20th February - INSET Day: School Closed
21st February - School starts at 8.45am
Thank you for your continuing support.
Larissa James
Headteacher
14th November 2022
Dear Parents/Carers
Christmas Movie Night – Arthur Christmas
We are holding a Christmas Movie Night for children on Thursday 1st December to raise money for equipment to use in the outside learning environments around the school.
For £3.00 the children will have a full cinema experience in the school hall with popcorn and drinks. The evening will begin at 3.15pm (the children will be taken straight to the hall from their class) and must be collected at 5.00pm from their classroom doors.
The number of children who can attend is being limited to the first 150 replies received with the money. Please post your slips/money in the grey post box in the main reception area. This event will not be available online due to the restricted numbers.
Any replies handed in via the classroom will not be accepted.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely
Mrs L James
Headteacher
"………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Christmas Movie Night – Arthur Christmas
I give permission for my child ……………………………………….. Class ………………………………………
To attend the Christmas Movie Night on Thursday 1st December 3.15 - 5.00pm.
I enclose £3.00 for the event. Yes
My child can have:
Popcorn YES/NO Squash YES/NO
Any dietary requirements ………………………………………………………………..
Signed ………………………………………………………………………….. Date ………………………………
Newsletter 3 – 2nd November 2022
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back. We trust that you all had a lovely half term. This is usually the busiest half term especially with Christmas fast approaching. Please continue to check your child’s book bag and the school website for relevant information.
Special Relative Day
It was lovely to see so many relatives on our first Special Relative Day last half term. The children were so excited sharing their books, work and classroom. We look forward to hosting the next one on 24th March 2023.
Applying for a Junior School Place/YR Place for September 2023
Y2 parents will now be able to apply for a Y3 place at junior school next September. Parents should apply online at: http://www.hants.gov.uk/admissions If you have difficulty applying online please come to the school office and ask for a paper form. The closing date for applications is Sunday 15 January 2023. It is important that you apply by the closing date otherwise you may have difficulty securing a junior school place as all on-time applications will be considered before any late applications.
Similarly, if you have a child who will be turning 4 years old by 31 August 2023 and is due to start school in YR next September, you must apply (preferably online) by the closing date of 15 January 2023.
Attendance
Attendance for the last half term was 93.3%. Government expectation is that attendance should be 96% or above. A lot of absences were due to illness, particularly chickenpox, which has appeared early this academic year (the peak time is usually between Christmas and Easter). YR in particular have had a lot of illness, which is to be expected as YR children are building up their immunity when starting school. On that note, It is important to send your child to school as much as possible so that they can build up their immunity to illnesses. If your child has a temperature we would advise that you give them Calpol and if they are otherwise well send them into school.
However, there have been an increasing number of requests for leave of absence during term time. The DFE regulations stipulate that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless it is for a rare, significant or unavoidable situation. We would ask parents to refrain from booking holidays during term time as these will not be authorised, unless they are due to exceptional circumstances. If your child accrues 10 or more sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence within a 10 week period you may be issued with a penalty notice, which entails a fine of £60 per parent per child, or parents may be referred to the local authority’s attendance legal panel, who may take legal action. Good attendance at school is important because statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and absence below 96%. Regular attenders make better progress both socially and academically. Absence for any reason disadvantages a child by creating gaps in their learning and can affect their friendship groups, making them unsettled when they are in school.
School regularly monitors attendance and absences may be unauthorised if the school is unable to ascertain the reasons for absence or is not satisfied with the reasons given. If the school is concerned about your child’s attendance you may be called in to school to discuss the concerns and any support that may be needed. Please support the school in improving attendance and enabling your child to achieve their full potential.
Local Authority Visits
In our relentless aim to monitor and improve the quality of education in school, we have commissioned two local authority advisors to visit this half term. One will be auditing our Safeguarding practices and procedures on Friday 4th November and the other will review our teaching and learning of English on Monday 7th November. Both advisors will talk to the children, staff and Governors including a review of documentation.
Safeguarding Week
The National Anti-Bullying Week is the week of 14th - 18th November. We will explore many themes that week e.g. e-Safety, Anti-Bullying, NSPCC PANTS rule, Road Safety and the safe use of medicines. Please visit our website and access the Safeguarding page to view links to support you and your child’s knowledge and understanding about keeping safe.
Governors
The school’s Governing Body is looking for additional members. We are particularly looking for people with experience of finance, IT and human resources. We meet three times per year and our Resources Committee meets every half term for an hour. We also participate in three Governor Monitoring Days per year. It is a very rewarding role in developing our school priority areas. Please see the school office for an application form.
Smoking
Please could we remind parents who smoke not to block the entrances/exits to the school at the beginning and end of the school day, as it is unpleasant for non-smoking families to walk through.
Staffing
We currently have a vacancy for two cleaners. The hours are 3.30 - 6.00pm Monday to Friday and additional cleaning in the school holidays. If you are interested please contact the office for an application form.
Key Dates
3rd November - Halloween Disco (YR & Y1 3.30 - 4.15pm Y2 4.15 - 5.00pm)
4th November - Safeguarding Audit
7th November - English Advisor Visit
14th - 18th November - Safeguarding week
18th November - Children in Need Dress-Up for £1.00 (children to wear something spotty)
22nd November - Governor Monitoring Day
24th November - Family Photos (separate letter coming out)
28th November - INSET: school closed
1st December - Christmas Movie Night (details to follow)
2nd December - Christingle Assembly at St. Bede’s Church at 10.30am
5th December - Christmas Panto
7th December - Clubs finish (Art, Board Games, Choir and Gardening Club)
8th December - 9.30am YR Christmas Play
9th December - 2.00pm YR Christmas Play
12th December - Christmas Lunch and Christmas Jumper Day
13th December - 2.00pm Y1&2 Christmas Play
14th December - 9.30am Y1&2 Christmas Play
15th December - 5.00pm Y1&2 Christmas Play
16th December - Break Up at 3.15pm & Father Christmas Visit
3rd January - School starts at 8.45am (this is a Tuesday)
Yours Sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
11th October 2022
Dear Parents/carers
Halloween Disco – Thursday 3rd November 2022
We will be holding a Halloween Disco on Thursday 3rd November 2022. The children are invited to dress up for the disco and prizes will be awarded for the best Halloween costume. Winners from each year group will be picked at the end of the disco. The disco will be held in two parts (however, depending on numbers we may be able to accommodate the whole school in one event. WE WILL NOTIFY PARENTS NEARER THE TIME).
Year R & 1 3.30pm - 4.15pm (children to bring their party clothes into school to change in to and should be collected from their classroom doors after the disco).
Year 2 4.15pm - 5.00pm (children to be dropped off and collected from their classroom doors).
The cost for the disco is £3.00 per child and includes a drink, lollipop and biscuit.
If your child would like to attend please complete and return the form below also indicating if your child has any allergies. This event can be paid by cash or via the online payment system.
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
"…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Halloween Disco – Thursday 3rd November 2022
I give permission for my child to attend the Halloween Disco
Child’s name …………………………………………………… Class …………………………..
I enclose £3.00 I have paid online
Allergies………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Signed ……………………………………………….. Name…………………………………..
Newsletter 2 – 10th October 2022
Dear Parents/Carers,
Time is flying by! We are now in our sixth full week back to school. All the children are working very hard and are now settled in routines and understand staff’s high expectations. We look forward to sharing their progress with you at Parents’ Evening over the next couple of weeks.
Special Relative Day
We invite your child to bring a special relative to school on Thursday 20th October at 9.30 - 10.25am to view the classroom and share their books, work and curriculum provision. Sadly, due to health and safety reasons, we would not be able to accommodate younger siblings. We have planned several of these days throughout the year.
Belongings
The lost property box in the office porch is already full with many unnamed items. Please ensure you label all your child’s items.
Parking
Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. Residents are naturally irate when some parents are inconsiderate and park in front of their driveways. If the road becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child or staff at risk should we need to call them at any time. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.
Theme Week
During the last week of this half term we are planning our Art Attack Theme Week. We will focus on key artists per year group and link to our celebration of the Hindu Diwali festival as part of our RE Curriculum and British Values of ‘Tolerance of those with Different Faiths and Beliefs’. We welcome any of our parents who will celebrate Diwali to share their festival with the children. Please see your class teacher if you can spare any time that week.
Governors
The school’s Governing Body is looking for additional members. We are particularly looking for people with experience of finance, IT and human resources. We meet three times per year and our Resources Committee meets every half term for an hour. We also participate in three Governor Monitoring Days per year. It is a very rewarding role in developing our school priority areas. Please see the school office for an application form.
Staffing
We are delighted to announce that Miss Fellhauer is expecting her second baby in March. We will organise her cover for the remainder of the year in due course. Please inform the school office if your child has chicken pox or any other illness which could affect pregnant women.
We are looking to recruit a cleaner to work everyday from 3.30 - 6.00pm, plus deep cleaning in some of the holidays. Please see the school office for more information and an application form.
Key Dates
11th October - Parents’ Evening @ 3.30 - 6.00pm
17th October - Parents’ Evening @ 4.00 - 6.30pm
17 - 20th October - Art Attack Theme Week
20th October - Special Relative Visit @ 9.30 - 10.25am
20th October - ‘Dress Down Day’ for a £1.50 donation
21st October - INSET: school closed
24th - 28th October - half term - school closed
31st October - School starts at 8.45am
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 1 – 12th September 2022
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back to our existing parents and a very warm welcome to our new YR children and families. We hope that you all had a lovely summer holiday and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine.
The children look very smart in their school uniforms and have settled into their classes, following routines and expectations very well.
We have a very busy term ahead so please ensure you check and empty your child’s book bag daily and view the school website for newsletters or other important information.
State Funeral
Following the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II, the state funeral has been confirmed to take place on Monday 19th September. School will be closed as this will be a bank holiday. God Save The King!
Belongings
Please ensure you label all school uniform including hats, gloves, coats, shoes, PE kits, lunch boxes and water bottles. We are always amazed at the amount of lost property we donate to charity shops so please check the lost property box in the office reception area regularly. Children often have the same items and become anxious when they lose something.
Year Group Welcome Meetings
We will upload the Y1 and Y2 Welcome presentations to the school website in the Parents folder for you to view by the end of next week. This is an opportunity to learn about the curriculum and year group expectations and will enable you to fully support your child’s learning. The Yr 2 Welcome Meeting is on Thursday 15th September at 2.30pm.
Curriculum Newsletters
Each year group will send out information next week about this half term’s topics including suggestions about how you can support your child’s learning at home. Each child will bring home their pink Home-School Reading books as a means of communication and where all log-in details can be found for our on-line Leanring Platforms e.g. Google Classroom, Rocket Phonics, Spelling Shed. Children will also bring home a library book each week for you to read to your child. Parents will be charged for the replacement of any lost/damaged library books.
Attendance
There was a bit of a bumpy start to the term with regards to attendance, with a high number of absences over the first couple of days. A lot of this was due to families returning late from holidays or visiting family abroad. Our attendance is currently at 94%. The Government’s expectation is that attendance should be 96% or above so that children stand the best chance of achieving their potential.
Please support your child’s learning and development by refraining from taking them out of school during term time and by keeping any appointments during school hours to a minimum, wherever possible. If your child has an appointment in the middle of the morning please send them into school first thing so that they can get their attendance mark and keep any disruption to their learning to a minimum. We expect children to return to school following any appointments, unless the appointment finishes close to the end of the school day. Likewise, if your child has an appointment in the afternoon, we expect them to be in school for the morning session.
We would also ask that you try to ensure that your child arrives at school on time. We have had some children arriving late for school because the parent was late finishing their night shift at work. If you know that you are going to be late home from work please try to make alternative arrangements for bringing your child to school. Children often become upset and find it difficult to settle in class when they are late for school. We hope that parents will support the school in our efforts to improve attendance this year.
Parking
Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child or staff at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.
Money
All money must be put in your child’s zipped wallet and handed to your child’s class teacher with a note indicating the amount and reason for the money. The office staff are unable to take money across the front desk. Any change will be returned at the end of the day, but wherever possible, please try to send in the exact amount. However, we would prefer that Breakfast club, After School Club and school trips are paid online.
Theme Week
To enrich our school curriculum, we plan specific theme weeks throughout the year with a particular subject focus. During the last week of this half term we are planning our Art Attack Theme Week. We will focus on key artists per year group and link to our celebration of the Hindu Diwali festival as part of our RE Curriculum and British Values of ‘Tolerance of those with Different Faiths and Beliefs’.
Curriculum Manager Role
Each teacher is given a responsibility of curriculum areas. They will have non-contact days where they will monitor their subject e.g. conducting lesson observations in each class, talking to children, reviewing planning per year group, planning and conducting training for staff, analysing data etc. Mrs Silk will cover the classes on these occasions.
Key Dates
15th September - Y2 Welcome Meeting at 2.30pm
19th September - Bank holiday for state funeral
23rd September - Y2 School Council elections
28th September - Individual Photos
3rd October - Movie Night @ 3.30 - 5.00pm (details to follow)
5th October - Flu vaccine for all children
11th October - Parents’ Evening @ 3.30 - 6.00pm
17th October - Parents’ Evening @ 4.00 - 6.30pm
17th - 20th October - Art Attack Theme Week
20th October - Special Relative Visit @ 9.30 - 10.30am (details to follow)
20th October - School closes for half term holiday
21st October - INSET: school closed
31st October - School re-opens at 8.45am
Yours Sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
School Year September 2021 - July 2022
Newsletter 9 – 21st July 2022
Dear Parents/Carers,
We are finally here… what a year! We have been delighted with the children’s progress and outcomes this year. They have worked their socks off, working doubly hard to cover gaps in learning caused by COVID over the past 2 years. They are ready for their next year group. A HUGE ‘THANK YOU’ to our fantastic staff who have nurtured and supported your children.
Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author, and former Children’s Laureate, said: “So often and for so many of us, it is a teacher who changed our lives, was at our side through hard and difficult times, who lifted us up when we were down, helped us find our voice, gave us confidence when we needed it most, set us on a path that we have followed ever since.”
Thank you for all your support. Parental engagement is crucial to building your child’s confidence and skills.
Staffing
Sadly, we say goodbye to Miss Stagg, who will be starting a teaching degree in September. Mrs Gough is also moving to a school in Wokingham. We thank them for their incredible hard work and wish them all the best in their future plans.
We welcome Miss Dean, a teacher in Year 2 and Miss Bohan who will be joining Year 1. We also welcome two LSAs, Mrs Corr and Miss Pardy who will be joining Year R and Year 2 respectively. They have already settled in well with the team.
Mrs Wisken, our Deputy Head, has been seconded to an infant school in Farnborough. She will start there in November, when her maternity leave ends.
Mrs Relf has started her maternity leave and we await ‘Baby 2’ in September. Mrs Hill is also enjoying her maternity leave with baby Lucy.
INSET days for 2022-2023
We have confirmed next year’s INSET days. We have planned additional days at the beginning or the end of holidays to make it easier for parents to book long weekends away or holidays. Dates are:
Friday 21st October - Computing
Monday 28th November - Art
Monday 20th February - PE
Monday 5th June - Curriculum Planning
Monday 10th July - Pupil Progress
School Holidays
As we start the summer holidays, please keep an eye out for any vandals accessing the school site and contact the police. We would really appreciate your support in keeping our school grounds safe.
REMINDER: School re-opens for Years 1 and 2 at 8.45am on Thursday 1st September 2022.
I would like to wish you and your families a happy, relaxing and enjoyable summer break and we look forward to welcoming you back in September. For those of you moving on, please take our love, respect and best wishes for the next chapter of your life.
Stay Safe.
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 8 – 9th June 2022
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back. We hope that you all had a lovely half term holiday. Please continue to regularly check your child’s book bag and the school website for up-to-date information.
Clubs
We were hoping to re-start a range of free after school clubs this term, however, due to staffing issues we have decided to postpone them until the new academic year. Football club will continue on Thursdays with our external coach. The last session will take place on 14th July.
Primary age Covid vaccinations
We have put another letter on the school website from the Local Authority advising parents that children aged 5 to 15 can now receive a Covid vaccination. A paper copy of the letter is also going out to parents. If you are booking a vaccination for your child please try to make this outside school hours where possible.
Parent Questionnaire
We value your opinions therefore please complete and return your questionnaires to school by Monday 20th June.
Merton Adventure Land
We are adding new playground equipment to the pirate ship area from 15th June. Please keep to the designated pathways to ensure your family’s safety.
Transition
We are starting to prepare the children for their next year group. Current YR and Y1 will be split up for the next academic year, and on occasions, staff will be trialling new classes throughout this half term to check we have the right balance i.e. gender, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), English as an Additional Language (EAL), Ethnic Minority (EM) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. There will be a couple of changes for the current Y2 for their Y3 classes. Y2 will also join the junior playtime from 7th July on Thursdays and Fridays. The official day when the children will meet their teacher and LSA will be Friday 1st July. Parents and children will receive a Social Story of your child’s new staff on that day.
INSET days for 2022-2023
We have confirmed next year’s INSET days, when school will be closed for staff training. We have planned some of the days to be at the beginning or the end of holidays to make it easier for parents to book long weekends away or holidays. Please see below and add these dates to your calendar:
Friday 21st October 2022
Monday 28th November 2022
Monday 20th February 2023
Monday 5th June 2023
Monday 10th July 2023
Attendance
We are continuing to monitor attendance regularly, which was 94.2% at the end of last half term. Although Covid cases have had an impact on attendance, there has been little change in the overall attendance figure since September 2021. The Government’s expectation is that attendance should be 96% or above and we will continue striving to achieve this figure.
If your child has a headache, a cold or a temperature, please consider giving them Calpol and sending them into school if they are otherwise well enough. Likewise, if they feel unwell in the morning but improve by lunchtime, please send them back to school for the afternoon session at 1.00pm, when they will be able to have an attendance mark for the afternoon (there are two attendance sessions per day).
Whilst illness is the main reason for absences, we are seeing an increasing number of parents taking their children out of school for holidays or to visit family abroad. It has been well documented that children’s learning has been significantly affected by the Covid pandemic. We would therefore ask that you try to refrain from taking your child out of school during term time as this has a further impact on their learning. Holidays during term time will not normally be authorised, unless there are exceptional circumstances. If your child is of compulsory school age and they have 10 or more sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence during a 10 week period parents may be issued with a penalty notice, which entails a fine of £60 per parent per child. If parents continue to take their child out of school for holidays we may have to refer them to the Attendance Legal Panel, who may take legal action, resulting in court proceedings. If you do need to take your child out of school for any reason you must fill out a leave of absence request form prior to the absence.
We have noted that children are often absent either just prior to or following weekends and school holidays. The school will look at patterns of absence and if there is a pattern or your child’s attendance falls below 90% you could receive a warning letter and you may be called into school to discuss concerns with your child’s attendance and any support needed. It is important for your child to attend school as much as possible in order to achieve their full potential. Studies have shown that when children are frequently absent from school it can adversely affect their learning and their friendship groups, making them less settled at school. Please support the school in improving attendance and achieving the best outcomes for your children.
Second Hand Uniform
We have a small supply of second hand uniform available (jumpers, cardigans, polo shirts, trousers, dresses, skirts, PE tops and shorts) for parents to purchase at a cost of £2 per item. If you wish to buy any of these items please email the school at adminoffice@merton-inf.hants.sch.uk stating the size you require. Please note that jumpers and cardigans come in sizes 24cm, 26cm, 28cm and 30cm and polo shirts, dresses, skirts and trousers are in ages 4, 5, 6 or 7 years. We will then check stock and notify you if it is available and when you may collect it from the school office.
Free Reading Books
Outside the main reception we have some boxes of reading scheme books available which are free for any parents who wish to take them.
Warm Weather
As the weather is now becoming warmer, please ensure that you send your child into school with a named water bottle, sun hat and sun cream applied, as children’s skin can burn easily. Staff are unable to apply sun cream.
Packed Lunches
Please can we remind parents to thoroughly check the ingredients on packed lunch items especially cereal
bars etc as these often contain nuts or traces of nuts. We would also ask that grapes are cut lengthwise in
order to avoid a choking hazard.
Key Dates - Please make sure you add these dates to your calendar.
8th June - Y2 start swimming
14th June - Travelling Book Fair
15th June - Governor Monitoring Day
17th June - e-Safety Theme Day
24th June - Y2 trip to Windsor Castle
1st July - Transition Day – children to meet new teacher/LSA
4th July - INSET: Phonics training for staff
15th July - Y1 Art Gallery to parents at 2.30pm in the hall
15th July - Children’s Annual Report to parents
18th July - Y2 Leavers’ Assembly at 2.00pm
19th July - Sports Day at 9.30am on the school field
21st July - Break Up at 3.15pm
1st September - School re-opens for Y1 and Y2 children
6th September - YR Transition Meeting (9.30am to 10.45am)
7th September - YR children start school (8.45am to 12.00pm)
8th September - YR children stay for morning and lunch (8.45 am to 1.00pm)
9th September - YR children stay all day
Yours Sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 7 – 26th April 2022
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back. We hope that you all had a lovely Easter holiday and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Although this is the shortest half term, 5 weeks, it is still very busy so please regularly check your child’s bookbag and the school website for up-to-date information.
Staffing
Sadly, we shall be saying goodbye to Mrs Darby, Y1 Learning Support Assistant, on Friday 6th May. She is pursuing a new role at AWE. Miss Bennett, got married before the Easter holiday, and is now Mrs Relf. She will be returning from maternity leave on Tuesday 3rd May. Mrs Relf will cover various classes until May half term and then will cover Wise Owls for the remainder of the year when Mrs Hill starts her maternity leave. Mrs Relf, however, will be starting maternity leave again in September as she is expecting her second baby.
Statutory Testing
Following the cancellation of Statutory Testing for the past 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools will resume statutory testing this year. Y2 will complete two reading papers and two maths papers in May. The children will not know when they will take these tests and they will be delivered as normal daily practice. The results of these tests will support teacher assessments for the end of the year which will show whether your child is Working Towards Age Related Expectations (ARE), has met ARE or is above at Greater Depth Standard (GDS). Parents will be notified of these assessments in their child’s Annual Report in July.
Y1 will complete the statutory Phonics Screening Check during the week of 6th - 10th June. Please ensure your child attends school during this time.
Reading
Staff report that children’s fluency is developing well since the introduction of children being given one book to read per week. This enables them to practise text and retain key words without the need to blend each word. Please continue to practise reading at home little and often. You can also access Bug Club at home if you want to practise books of a similar level to the one provided. Please remember that doors are open on Fridays at 8.30am for you to read with your child.
Clubs
We are planning to start a range of free After School Clubs this term. A separate letter outlining details will be sent shortly.
Boxes
As part of the Y2 DT curriculum this half term, the children will be designing and making space buggies. Please can you donate any boxes, clean yoghurt pots, toilet and kitchen rolls. There will be a parent workshop to help the children make their buggies at 1.00pm on Friday 20th May. Due to health and safety reasons, only one parent per child can be accommodated and no siblings.
Primary age Covid vaccinations
Before half term, the Government advised schools to inform parents that children aged 5 to 15 can now receive a Covid vaccination. The NHS website states: Children aged 5 to 15 can:
- book their vaccination appointments online for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy
- find a walk-in vaccination site to get vaccinated without needing an appointment
- wait to be contacted by a local NHS service such as their GP surgery to arrange their appointments
Schools have not been asked to organise these vaccinations. If you are booking a vaccination for your child please try to make this outside school hours where possible.
After School Club
For those children who attend our After School Club this will not be open on the last day of the summer term, Thursday 21st July 2022 and going forward will not be held on the last day of each full term ie: the day school breaks up for the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays.
Bags to School
Please donate any clothes, bedding or towels ready to be collected on Thursday 28th April and leave at the car park blue gates. School will receive funding for the collection based on weight and this will be used to purchase additional IT equipment.
Movie Night
We are hosting a Movie Night on 11th May at 3.30 - 5.00pm for all year groups. We have 150 places and these will be organsied on a first come first served basis. The ticket price is £3.00 and will include a drink and snack. A separate letter will come out shortly.
Easter Bonnet Disco
Please note change of time
The disco will now be all year groups together straight after school. Children should attend school in school uniform and bring their party clothes in a separate bag for them to change into at 3.15pm. Children should be collected from their classroom doors at 4.15pm.
EAL/SEND Parent Questionnaire
Thank you for your comments. Please refer to the school website for further curriculum support for your child eg: cued articulation, phonics, maths strategies etc. You can also speak to your child’s class teacher for any other support that you require.
Key Dates
27th April - 3.15 - 4.15pm Easter Disco
28th April - Bags to School
2nd May - Bank Holiday: School Closed
11th May - 3.30 - 5.00pm Movie Night
20th May - 1.00pm Y2 DT Parent Workshop
23rd May - Queen’s Jubilee Theme Week
25th May - Queen’s Jubilee Dress-Up day and Street Party
26th May - Break Up at 3.15pm
27th May - School closed - INSET Day: Safeguarding and Reading
6th June - School starts at 8.45am
6th June - Class photos
Yours Sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
14th March 2022
Dear Parents/Carers
Easter Raffle 2022
Our annual Easter raffle will take place on Friday 8th April 2022 during assembly. To help raise funds raffle tickets will go on sale from today, at a cost of £1.00 per strip.
Please ask your family and friends if they would like to buy some raffle tickets too. Please indicate on the slip below how many strips of raffle tickets you would like and send in with the correct payment in a named, sealed envelope and place in the grey post box in the main reception. Please DO NOT hand in to your child’s class teacher. Alternatively raffle tickets will be available to purchase online via your Scopay account in which case you do not need to return the slip below.
We would be very grateful if you are able to donate an Easter Egg or an Easter related item for the raffle. Any donations can be handed in at the school office.
Many thanks for your continuing support!
Yours sincerely
Larissa James
Headteacher
".....................................................................................................................................................................
Easter Raffle
Please can I have ……… strips of raffle tickets. I enclose £…………to cover the cost (£1.00 per strip).
Name ……………………………………………………………(for raffle ticket)
Contact number ………………………………………………..
Child’s Name ……………………………………………………
Class ……………………………………………………............
(Please write child’s full name and class)
o o O o o
10th March 2022
Dear Parents/Carers
School Trip
At Merton Infant School we try to provide as many learning opportunities for the children as we possibly can and school trips are a large part of this provision. They provide the perfect launch or landing for the topics that the children are studying during the year and are an invaluable experience for the children too.
We are only able to run these trips for them with the voluntary contributions that parents/carers make and, unfortunately, all trips currently operate at a loss.
We appreciate that the cost of living is rising and this, in turn, has a knock on effect on the price of coach hire and admission to the various venues that we visit. With this in mind, we will be introducing a ‘pre-payment’ card whereby you can pay small amounts towards the cost of trips as and when you are able to, and you will be able to see what balance is due after each payment.
We will endeavour to notify parents of upcoming trips as soon as we have booked them giving you plenty of time to make payments if you so wish.
Unfortunately we may be unable to keep providing these experiences for your children unless we receive enough voluntary contributions to cover the cost of the trips.
If you are interested in our pre-payment scheme please contact the school office or email adminoffice@merton-inf.hants.sch.uk
Many thanks for your continuing support.
Yours sincerely
Larissa James
Headteacher
o o O o o
10th March 2022
Dear Parents / Carers,
There have been two recent incidents around the school’s perimeter fencing this week. These have been reported to the police.
Please can you be extra vigilant in your child’s safety in the local area. If you notice anyone acting suspiciously, please report to school and / or contact the police.
Thank you for your support in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James Kayleigh Reading Laura Randall
Headteacher Headteacher Pre-School Manager
o o O o o
7th March 2022
Dear Parents/Carers
Easter Egg Hunt
Merton Infant School will be holding an Easter Egg Hunt on Friday 8th April 2022.
Every child who takes part will receive a small egg with the winner receiving a larger prize.
If you would like your child to participate we are asking for a £1.00 contribution to go towards the cost and fundraising. We hope you will allow your child to join in the Easter Egg Hunt.
Please can we have all reply slips and money in by Thursday 31st March 2022, so that we can purchase the eggs. Please place slip and money in a sealed envelope marked with “Easter Egg Hunt”, and place it in the grey post box situated in the Infant School reception.
Thank you for your continuing support!
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headeacher
"……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Easter Egg Hunt on Friday 8th April 2022
I would like my child to take part in the Easter Egg Hunt.
I enclose £1.00
Child’s name ……………………………………………………………………………….
Child’s class ………………………………………………………………………………..
(Please write your child’s full name and class)
Allergies ……………………………………………………………………………………
Reply slips and money are to be placed in an envelope marked ‘Easter Egg Hunt’ and put in the grey post box situated in the Infant School reception.
Any change needed will be sent home at a later date.
o o O o o
Newsletter 6 - 2nd March 2022
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back. We trust that you all had an enjoyable and safe half term holiday. Please ensure you regularly check your child’s bookbag or the school website for relevant information.
Covid-19
New Schools operational guidance was published during half term by the Department for Education (DfE) stating:
‘Our priority is to support you to deliver face-to-face, high-quality education to all pupils. The evidence is clear that being out of education causes significant harm to educational attainment, life chances and mental and physical health.’
Our school Risk Assessment has been updated to reflect the following control measures:
- Staff no longer need to test twice a week
- Face coverings are no longer advised for pupils, staff and visitors in classrooms or communal areas. However, if there is a local outbreak then schools may resume wearing them as part of the contingency plan.
- We will continue with:
- regular cleaning of the toilets and work surfaces during the school day
- thorough deep cleaning at the end of the school day
- regular washing of hands using soap and water throughout the school day
- providing anti-bacterial gel in each classroom
- keeping occupied areas well ventilated
- There is no longer a legal requirement for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) infection to self-isolate, however if you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive test result, the public health advice is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
If parents test positive and are unable to get their child into school, we will authorise the first 2 days but the Government expects schools to strongly advise parents to seek alternative ways of getting their child into school e.g. by asking a relative or friend to bring children to school.
Staffing
We welcome Mrs Bird, our new trainee ELSA, to school. Our previous ELSA, Miss Nielsen, is currently in Southampton hospital having had a bone marrow and stem cell transplant as part of her treatment for leukemia. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Half term topics
Year group Curriculum newsletters will also come out this week detailing the topic for this half term and suggesting ways you can support your child’s learning at home.
Google Classroom
In the event of a local lockdown, non-attendance or during self-isolation periods, we will continue to post work on the Google Classroom Learning Platform to ensure children have access to their learning. Thank you to all parents and carers who have already logged on. If you have any difficulty in accessing Google Classroom with the given user name and password (which are in your child’s pink Home-School reading book), please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher or the school office for support. We must stress this is non-negotiable. The Government has asked schools to ensure appropriate remote teaching and learning takes place if children are not attending school.
Language of the Month
Children will be taught about the Ndebele dialect spoken in Zimbabwe. Our launch assembly will take place next week.
Key Dates:
3rd March - World Book Day: dress-up as a book character
4th March - YR trip to Wellington Country Park
22nd March - Local Authority Advisor visit
1st April - School Council Trip to the Houses of Parliament
4th April - Y1 trip to Marwell Zoo
6th April - Whole School Easter Assembly to be held in the school hall
8th April - Break up at 3.15pm for the Easter holiday
Easter Egg Hunt and Raffle
25th April - School starts at 8.45am
27th April - Easter Bonnet Disco - letter to follow
28th April - Bag2school collection
Best Wishes
Larissa James
Headteacher
o o O o o
6th January 2022
Dear Parents/Carers
Newsletter 5 - 6th January 2022
Happy New Year. We trust that you all had an enjoyable and safe festive holiday.
Covid Positive Cases
The current DfE guidance states:
‘Since Wednesday 22 December, the 10 day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 has been reduced to 7 days in most circumstances, unless you cannot test for any reason.
Individuals may now take LFD tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to your education or childcare setting from day 7. Anyone who is unable to take an LFD test will need to complete the full 10 day self-isolation period.’
In order to reduce the risk of transmission, in school we will continue with:
· regular cleaning of the toilets and work surfaces during the school day
· thorough deep cleaning at the end of the school day
· regular washing of hands using soap and water throughout the school day
· providing anti-bacterial gel in each classroom
· limiting unnecessary visitors to the school
· staff wearing face masks when moving around school
· asking visitors to wear face masks in the school
· staff testing twice a week
If parents test positive and are unable to get their child into school, we will authorise the first 2 days of absence but the Government expects schools to strongly advise parents to seek alternative ways of getting their child into school e.g. asking relatives or friends.
Staffing
I am delighted to announce that Mrs Wisken, Deputy Headteacher, safely delivered her second baby daughter, Sienna Elizabeth, weighing 8lb 5oz, on 27th December. Both are doing well and settling into routines as a family of four.
Half term topics
Year group Curriculum newsletters will come out this week detailing the topic for this half term and suggesting ways you can support your child’s learning at home.
Google Classroom
In the event of a local lockdown, non-attendance or during self-isolation periods, we will continue to post work on the Google Classroom Learning Platform to ensure children have access to their learning. Thank you to all parents and carers who have already logged on. If you have any difficulty in accessing this with the given user name and password which are in your child’s pink Home-School reading book please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher or the school office for support. We must stress this is non-negotiable. The Government has asked schools to ensure that appropriate remote teaching and learning takes place if children are not attending school. Please also encourage your child to access Bug Club and Mathletics.
Fundraising
Last term we raised £1,513:00 from the Christmas Art packs and performance tickets. This will be used to upgrade our Computing resources. We are planning additional activities for this term, so watch this space!
Attendance/Punctuality
If your child is absent you must call the office on the first day of absence, giving the reason. If the school is unable to ascertain a reason for the absence it will be recorded as unauthorised. If your child accrues 5 days or more of unauthorised absence this could incur a penalty notice or you may be referred to the Attendance Legal Panel, who may take legal action. If we are unable to ascertain the whereabouts of a child this becomes a safeguarding concern and school staff may visit the child’s home to check on the welfare of the child.
Please also try to ensure that your child arrives on time for school. Being late for school impacts on a child’s learning and can make it difficult for them to settle into class. If a child continues to be late it may be recorded as an unauthorised absence on their attendance record.
Applying for Y3 and YR Places for September 2022
The online application facility for applying for a Y3 junior school place is now open – all Y2 parents need to apply at: www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/admissions. If you are unable to apply online paper forms are available from the school office. The closing date for applications is midnight on Saturday, 15th January 2022. If you do not apply by the deadline there is no guarantee that you will be allocated a place at your preferred school.
For any parents who have a child who will be celebrating their 4th birthday between 1st September 2021 and 31st August 2022 you will now be able to apply online for a school place for September 2022 at the above link. Paper forms will be available from the school office for anyone who is unable to apply online. The closing date for applications is Saturday, 15th January 2022. Please view our Year R virtual tour for prospective parents on our school website at www.mertoninfants.com
Vacancies
We currently have vacancies for school cleaners. The hours are 3.30 - 6.00pm, 5 days a week. If you are interested please contact the office for an application form.
Key Dates:
25th January - Local Authority (LA) Advisor visit re: Special Educational Needs Provision
7th February - Parents’ Evening at 3.30 – 6.00pm
15th February - Y1 Fire Service visit
15th February - Parents’ Evening at 4.00 – 6.30pm
18th February - Break Up at 3.15pm
Thank you for your continuing support, patience and understanding.
Larissa James
Headteacher
o o O o o
6th December 2021
Dear Parents/Carers
Newsletter 4 - 6th December 2021
We are definitely on the countdown to Christmas. The children are working so hard on learning their Christmas play lines, songs and actions. So fingers crossed they will go ahead!! Please remember the recent guidance that we sent about attending the play.
School will continue to work with health protection teams in the case of a local outbreak. If there is a substantial increase in the number of positive cases in school or if central government offers this area an enhanced response package, a director of public health might advise a setting to temporarily reintroduce some control measures.
Any decision to recommend the reintroduction of ‘bubbles’ will not be taken lightly and will need to take account of the detrimental impact they can have on the delivery of education.
Parent Support
Staff are still concerned by the lack of parental support for your child’s learning. Please encourage your child to access Mathletics, EdShed, Google Classroom and Bug Club on a regular basis to practise key skills taught in school. This is our homework expectation and not just for those who may be self-isolating. This will maximise their progress and enable them to access wider opportunities in later life.
Staffing
I am delighted to announce that Mrs Hill will be expecting a baby in June 2022. I am sure that you will join us in congratulating the happy couple. We are awaiting the safe arrival of Mrs Wisken’s second baby later this month.
Schools have been given additional funding to support the impact of Covid-19 on children’s learning. We have therefore employed a teacher, Mrs Silk, to give additional tutor support to some Y2 children on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Reading
After Christmas, we will be opening up our classroom doors at 8.30am on Wednesdays for parents to come and read with their child. It will not be a time to discuss anything with the adults as they will be preparing for the day.
Belongings
Please ensure you label all school uniform including hats, gloves, coats, shoes, PE kits, lunch boxes and water bottles. We are always amazed at the amount of lost property we donate to charity shops so please check the lost property box in the office porch regularly. Children often have the same items and become anxious when they lose something.
Attendance/Punctuality
If your child is absent you must call the office on the first day of absence, giving the reason. If the school is unable to ascertain a reason for the absence it will be recorded as unauthorised. This could incur a penalty notice or you may be referred to the Attendance Legal Panel, who may take legal action. We are also seeing an increasing number of children arriving late for school. This impacts on their learning and can make it difficult for them to settle into class. Please try to ensure that your child arrives on time for school. If the number of late sessions continues they may be recorded as an unauthorised absence on your child’s attendance record.
Key Dates
7th December - YR Christmas Play at 2.00pm (siblings welcome)
8th December - Nasal Flu vaccine (for those who have given consent)
9th December - YR Christmas Play at 9.30am (adults only)
10th December - Y2 Art Gallery to parents at 2.30pm in the school hall
13th December - Y1 & 2 Christmas Play at 2.00pm (siblings welcome)
14th December - Y1 & 2 Christmas Play at 2.00pm (adults only)
14th December - Christmas jumper day and Christmas lunch
15th December - Christingle Assembly
16th December - Y1 & 2 Christmas Play at 9.30am (adults only)
17th December - Break Up at 3.15pm and Special Visitor!
4th January - School starts at 8.45am
Thank you for your continuing support, patience and understanding.
Larissa James
Headteacher
o o O o o
Newsletter 3 – 3rd November 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back to what is usually our busiest half term. We hope that you had a lovely holiday. Please continue to check and empty your child’s book bag daily and view the school website for newsletters or other important information.
Covid-19 guidance
Last half term, we saw very few staff or child postives case of COVID-19. We continued with our stringent control measures as advised by Public Health England and the Department for Education. The school’s Risk Assessment will continue to be reviewed fortnightly with staff and Governors.
We intend to invite parents to our weekly Celebration assemblies on Friday mornings starting this Friday. We will ask parents to wear a face mask, use anti-bacterial hand sanitiser and sign in at the office on entry to the school.
Please can we remind you that if your child displays any initial classic symptoms of Covid-19 (e.g. high temperature / persistent cough / loss of taste or smell) or if they display cold-like symptoms (as it is now acknowledged that these could be symptoms in younger children), we will advise that children should self-isolate and get a PCR test. If they test negative and feel well enough they can return to school. If they test positive they should self-isolate for 10 days from when they first had symptoms.
In line with current guidance, school will not contact parents if there is a confirmed positive case in school. Parents will be notified by NHS Test and Trace directly if their child is considered as a close contact and advised to self-isolate. School does not have to close any class if there is a confirmed case or close contacts identified, due to the age of our children.
School will continue to work with health protection teams in the case of a local outbreak. If there is a substantial increase in the number of positive cases in school or if central government offers this area an enhanced response package, a director of public health might advise a setting to temporarily reintroduce some control measures.
Any decision to recommend the reintroduction of ‘bubbles’ will not be taken lightly and will need to take account of the detrimental impact they can have on the delivery of education.
Parent Support
Thank you for attending the recent Parents’ Evening. However, following our Pupil Progress Meeting on the INSET Day at the end of the half term, staff are concerned by the lack of parental support and it appears that many have not viewed our Y1 and Y2 Welcome presentations on the school website in the Parents folder. This is an opportunity to learn about the curriculum and year group expectations and will enable you to fully support your child’s learning. Each year group will send out information this week about this half term’s topics including suggestions about how you can support your child’s learning at home. Please ensure you encourage your child to access Mathletics, Spelling Shed and Bug Club on a regular basis. This is our Homework expectation and not just for those who may be self-isolating.
Race for Life
Your generosity is fantastic. We have raised £900 so far. The children were ecstatic when we told them in assembly this week. But we would love to reach £1000. Please dig deep and ask friends and family to donate too. Go Team Merton!
Poppies
We are now selling them in school for a minimum donation of 50p We will be holding a 2 minute silence on Thursday 11th November at 11.00am. Please talk to your children about the significance of this tradition.
Christmas
Sadly, due to COVID-19, we were unable to deliver our usual extravagant whole school Christmas performance last year. We believe the opportunity to stand on a stage and perform their lines, songs and actions really develops children’s confidence, speaking, listening and drama skills, including their attention span, which have been affected so much due to the national lockdowns. Therefore, we are planning to host a school play during the last two weeks of this half term. We are just confirming details about audience size and COVID-19 control measures before we explain further details. However, should there be a rise in positive cases then we may have to cancel at the last minute.
After School Club vacancy
We are looking to recruit an After School Club assistant to work term time only between 3.15 – 6.00pm daily. Please see the school office for an application form.
Bag2school
On November 12th Bag2school will be visiting to collect any donations you may have – so empty out those wardrobes and drawers and place items in a black plastic sack and leave by the blue double gates at the top of the car park. Donations should be left first thing in the morning when you drop your child off. Please see https://bag2school.com/what-we-collect to check eligible items.
Key Dates
4th November – Halloween Disco – 3.30 – 4.30pm for YR & Y2, 4.45 – 5.45pm for Y1
12th November – Children in Need – wear something spotty for a donation
12th November – Bag2school
18th November – Family Photo session 4.30 – 7.00pm
24th November – Governor Monitoring Day in school
29th November – INSET day: Pupil Progress & Maths
30th November – Local Authority English Advisor visit to monitor progress in Reading & Writing
6th December – Christmas Panto
7th December – Y2 Art Gallery to parents
8th December – Flu Vaccine to all children
14th December – Christmas lunch & Christmas jumper day
15th December – Christingle Assembly
17th December – Father Christmas visit and Christmas Raffle
Break Up at 3.15pm
4th January 2022 – School starts at 8.45am
Yours Sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
o o O o o
Newsletter 2 – 11th October 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
So far the term is going well. The children are beginning to understand school routines and expectations and showing good work ethic. Staff have been busy assessing the children and identifying their gaps in learning due to non-attendance at pre-school or school due to the Covid-19 lockdowns. Our assemblies have focussed on our school values and our behaviour rules:
|
Parents Evening
We look forward to meeting all parents/carers either tomorrow or Monday 18th October for Parents Evening which will take place in the school hall. This will be an opportunity for teachers to discuss your child’s strengths and development areas including ways that you can support your child at home. In the interests of COVID-19 safety control measures, please can we remind you that only one parent should attend this meeting and avoid bringing your child and siblings where possible. Wearing a face mask would also be preferable.
Mental Health Awareness Day
Friday 15th October is Mental Health Awareness Day. This will be a non-uniform day and we would like the children to wear bright colours and donate £1 to CAHMS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services). We have invested in a new scheme called Trick Box which will support children’s well-being and mindfulness.
Theme Week
Next week will be our Let’s Explore curriculum enrichment week. Each day will take a different subject focus:
Monday - Safeguarding: school safety, e-Safety, Clever Never Goes and the NSPCC’s PANTS rule
Tuesday - History
Wednesday - Art & DT
Thursday - PE; please ensure your child comes into school wearing their PE kits.
Friday - INSET day (school closed)
Covid-19 guidance
Please can we remind you that if your child displays any initial classic symptoms of Covid-19 (e.g. high temperature / persistent cough (coughing multiple times within an hour or 3 or more coughing episodes within 24 hrs) / loss of taste or smell) or if they display cold-like symptoms (as it is now acknowledged that these could be symptoms in younger children), we will advise that children should self-isolate and get a PCR test. If they test negative and feel well enough they can return to school. If they test positive they should self-isolate for 10 days from when they first had symptoms.
Parking
Please may we remind parents to be courteous and considerate to local residents when dropping off and collecting children from school. We have had a couple of complaints from residents about driveways and garages being blocked due to parents’ inconsiderate parking.
After-School Club
This will take place in Hawk Owls classroom at the back of the school on the following days:
Tuesday 12th, Monday 18th, Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th October.
Parent helpers
If you would like to become a parent helper and volunteer on school events/trips please contact the school office who will be able to give you further information. All helpers will need to complete a DBS check before volunteering.
Key Dates
12th October - Parents’ Evening
15th October - Non uniform day for Mental health Awareness (£1.00 donation)
18th October - Parents’ Evening
18th - 21st October - Let’s Explore Theme Week
19th October - Y2 trip to Sea City Museum
19th October - Y1 Movie Night
20th October - Y2 Movie Night
21st October - Race for Life event - children to wear PE kits to school
22nd October - INSET: school closed
1st November - School starts at 8.45am
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
o o O o o
Newsletter 1 - 3rd September 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back to our existing parents and a very warm welcome to our new YR children and families. We hope that you had a lovely summer holiday.
The children look very smart in their school uniforms and have settled into their classes very well.
We have a very busy term ahead so please ensure you check and empty your child’s book bag daily and view the school website for newsletters or other important information.
Covid-19 guidance
As COVID-19 becomes a virus that we learn to live with, there is now an imperative to reduce the disruption to children and young people’s education - particularly given that the direct clinical risks to children are extremely low.
School has worked very hard to ensure that we adhere to the recent guidance published by Public Health England and the Department for Education. The school’s Risk Assessment will be reviewed fortnightly with staff and Governors.
We will no longer operate as year group ‘bubbles’. Full school assemblies will resume. We intend inviting parents to our weekly Celebration assemblies on Friday mornings but are being cautious for the first few weeks of this half term to evaluate the impact of families mixing during the summer holidays. Year groups can mix at playtimes and lunchtimes outside.
If your child displays any initial classic symptoms of Covid-19 (e.g. high temperature / persistent cough / loss of taste or smell) of if they display cold-like symptoms (as it is now acknowledged that these could be symptoms in younger children), we will advise that children should self-isolate and get a PCR test. If they test negative and feel well enough they can return to school. If they test positive they should self-isolate for 10 days from when they first had symptoms.
In line with current guidance, school will not contact parents if there is a confirmed positive case in school. Parents will be notified by NHS Test and Trace directly if their child is considered as a close contact and advised to self-isolate. School does not have to close any class if there is a confirmed case or close contacts identified, due to the age of our children.
School will continue to work with health protection teams in the case of a local outbreak. If there is a substantial increase in the number of positive cases in school or if central government offers this area an enhanced response package, a director of public health might advise a setting to temporarily reintroduce some control measures.
Any decision to recommend the reintroduction of ‘bubbles’ will not be taken lightly and will need to take account of the detrimental impact they can have on the delivery of education.
Staff will continue to test twice a week and cleaning practices will continue as before the holidays. Chilcren will still be required to sanitise their hands during the day to try and minimise any cross contamination.
Year Group Welcome Meetings
We will upload the Y1 and Y2 Welcome presentations to the school website in the Parents folder for you to watch by the end of next week. This is an opportunity to learn about the curriculum and year group expectations and will enable you to fully support your child’s learning.
Staffing
We welcome two new members of staff this year. Mrs T Gough in year R who will be teaching Snowy Owls class and Mrs M Eglin in year 1 who will be teaching Barn Owls class.
Curriculum Newsletters
Each year group will send out information this week about this half term’s topics including suggestions about how you can support your child’s learning at home. Each child will bring home their pink Home-School Reading books as a means of communication and where all log-in details can be found for Google classroom, Mathletics, Spelling Shed and Bug Club. Children will also bring home a library book each week.
Parking
Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.
Belongings
Please ensure you label all school uniform including hats, gloves, coats, shoes, PE kits,book bags, lunch boxes and water bottles. We are always amazed at the amount of lost property we donate to charity shops so please check the lost property box in the office porch regularly. Children often have the same items and become anxious when they lose something
Money
All money must be put in your child’s zipped wallet and handed to your child’s class teacher with a note indicating the amount and reason for the money. The office staff are unable to take money across the front desk. Any change will be returned at the end of the day, but wherever possible, please try to send in the exact amount. However, we would prefer that Breakfast club, After School Club and school trips are paid online.
After-School Club
This will now take place in the school hall. Parents can collect from the hall door on the opposite side of the school building.
Theme Week
To enrich our school curriculum, we plan specific theme weeks throughout the year with a particular subject focus. During the last week of half term we are planning our Let’s Explore Theme Week when each day will consist of a different subject. Monday will be about Safeguarding i.e. Clever Never Goes, e-Safety, NSPCC Pants Rule. Tuesday will be History focussed. Wednesday will explore Art / DT. Thursday will be PE; please ensure your child comes into school wearing their PE kits.
Key Dates
7th September - YR Transition Morning (9.30-10.45am)
8th September - YR children start school 8.45am - 12 noon)
9th September - YR children stay for morning and lunch
10th September - YR children to stay all day
29th September - Individual school photos
12th October - Parents’ Evening for Y1 & 2 (times to follow)
18th October - Parents’ Evening for Y1 & 2 (times to follow)
18th - 21st October - Let’s Explore Theme Week
19th October - Y2 trip to Sea City Museum
22nd October - INSET: school closed
25th - 29th October - school closed for half term
1st November - School starts at 8.45am
Yours Sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
School Year September 2020 - July 2021
Newsletter 19 – 21st July 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
This was not the end of year that we had hoped for… closing the whole of Year 1 and Year 2 due to confirmed Covid-19 positive cases. However, as the Local Authority said, we have done very well not to have closed the year group ‘bubbles’ earlier during this year and caused disruption to your child’s education. We managed to provide a robust curriculum to enable them to make sufficient progress to be able to access their new year group.
We send our very best wishes to our Y2 children as they move on to junior schools. They are an absolutely fantastic cohort who have demonstrated our MERTON values at all times. We know that they will continue to excel in the juniors and will be greatly missed.
Remote Learning
Y1 and Y2 children can access activities this week on google classroom. However, we are very much aware that many of you have started your summer holidays earlier!
COVID-19
If your child tests positive within a couple of days (48 hrs) of the end of term, please email the school and NOT leave a message on the school answerphone. This also applies if your child tests positive in the days leading up to our return on 2nd September. You will need to follow the NHS test and trace guidance.
Staffing
I am delighted to announce that Miss Bennett has safely delivered a beautiful baby girl called Esme Olivia on Friday 16th July, weighing 9lb 8oz!
End of Year Reports
Thank you for your positive comments about your child’s annual report. If you would like to speak to your child’s class teacher about their report, then please book a telephone consultation during this week. Staff have conducted transition meetings so that they are well prepared to support the children in their new year groups.
Funeral
Mrs Merritt, our Learning Support Assistant, will be laid to rest on Friday 30th July. Please take the time to light a candle in her memory and keep her family in your thoughts. It has been an incredibly sad time for all those who knew her. She was an amazing lady who put others before herself. In her memory our wellbeing garden will be called ‘The Venetia Garden’ and we will plan a grand opening in September.
INSET days for 2021-2022
We have confirmed next year’s INSET days. Some of these have been planned to be at the beginning or the end of holidays to make it easier for parents to book long weekends away or holidays in light of the past year’s circumstances. Please see below:
Friday 22nd October 2021
Monday 29th November 2021
Monday 28th February 2022
Friday 27th May 2022
Monday 4th July 2022
School Holidays
As we start the summer holidays, please keep an eye open for any vandals accessing the school site and contact the police. We would really appreciate your support in keeping our school grounds safe.
Opening times from 2nd September 2021
We hope that we can resume normal opening and finishing times in the new academic year i.e. 8.45am - 3.15pm. Children will enter / exit via their external classroom doors. This may be reviewed nearer the time depending on whether there are any national or local restrictions in place at the end of the holidays.
It has been a challenging year for various reasons but thank you for your continuing support, patience and understanding. We are Team Merton.
Stay safe and take care. Happy Holidays and enjoy the sun.
Larissa James
Headteacher
6 July 2021
TO ALL YR PARENTS OF CLOSE CONTACTS OF COVID-19
Advice for Child to Self-Isolate for 10 Days
Dear Parent or Carer, We have been made aware that we have a confirmed positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) at Merton Infant School. We have followed the national guidance and, following a risk assessment with Public Health England (PHE) advisers, have identified that your YR child has been in close contact with the individual who has had a positive test result for coronavirus (COVID-19). In line with the national guidance, your child must stay at home and self-isolate until 23.59 hours on Friday, 9 July 2021. We expect to see your child return to school on Monday, 12 July 2021 at 8.45am. If your child is well at the end of their period of self-isolation then they can return to their usual activities and attend school as normal. Other members of your household can continue normal activities, provided your child does not develop symptoms within the self-isolation period. For more information, please see the guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-orconfirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person
Getting a PCR test for a close contact of a case? It is now also possible for close contacts to have a PCR test even where they do not have symptoms through Get a free PCR test to check if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or by calling 119. In some areas you may be encouraged to do this by your local authority or local health protection team. Please note: if your child has a negative PCR test result this does not alter the self-isolation period as a contact. Close contacts should continue to self-isolate for 10 full days, as they could still become infectious and pass the infection onto others. Please make sure you read the full text message from NHS Test and Trace when receiving a negative result. This makes clear that you do not need to self-isolate unless ‘you've been told to self-isolate because you've been in close contact with someone who tested positive’ Negative test result for coronavirus (COVID-19) - NHS (www.nhs.uk). What to do if your child develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID 19) Having been identified as a close contact, if your child then develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a new, continuous cough, or a high temperature, or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia). Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for a PCR test - this is the type of test that is normally available and can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 10 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’. The household isolation period includes the day the first person in your household’s symptoms started (or the day their test was taken if they did not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days. This means that if, for example, your 10 day isolation period starts on the 15th of the month, your isolation period ends at 23:59 hrs on the 25th and you can return to your normal routine. Household members should not go to work, school or public areas, and exercise should be taken within the home. If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online. Household members staying at home for 10 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community. If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period. If that is not possible, anyone with symptoms should try and stay as far away as possible from vulnerable members of your household. For more information, please read PHE’s ‘Stay at Home’ guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-homeguidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.
How to stop coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with coronavirus (COVID-19):
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- wash your hands as soon as you get home
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
There will be work on Google Classroom for your child to do. Further Information Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Yours sincerely
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 17 – 21st June 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
End of Year events
Following Boris Johnson’s announcement last week about the delay in lifting restrictions, the Department for Education (DfE) has advised schools to be cautious in planning the usual end of year events. Therefore, we have made the difficult decision that we will not be inviting parents in for Sports Day on Thursday 22nd July. We will take photos of the children and post them on the school website instead and children will do sports day during their normal PE lessons in the last week of term. This will allow time for all the PE equipment to be sanitised in between the different sessions.
We will also not have our Y2 Leavers’ Assembly. We have discussed possibly live streaming it but there were safeguarding concerns involved. We are planning a free McDonald lunch and party on the field for the children instead.
Sorry for any inconvenience caused but we need to keep our school community safe and ensure that we do not all have to self-isolate for the first two weeks of the summer holiday with an outbreak of COVID-19 cases.
Transition Day
The children will meet their new teacher and Learning Support Assistant (LSA) for September on Friday 2nd July in the afternoon. Due to the COVID-19 control measures that we currently implement, the children will remain in their year group bubbles in their current classrooms and the staff will move around instead. Current YR and Y1 classes will be split for their new classes. Current Y2 classes will remain the same. We will ensure the adults wear face visors and use hand sanitiser on entry to the classroom. That day we will send home a social story detailing the names of the staff members including photos of their new classroom. There are also photos and a virtual tour of the school on our website so that you can share them with your children during the holidays. We are currently planning for Y2 to visit the junior school on the same day but awaiting guidance from the Local Authority to ensure that we meet health and safety guidance.
EAL Gold Award
I am delighted to announce that the school has achieved this prestigious award for our outstanding provision to support children who have English as an additional language (EAL). 28% of the children in our school are EAL children, speaking 33 different languages across the year groups. The school was judged against specific criteria evaluating Leadership & Management, Pedagogy & Practice, Data, Assessment and Progress, Teaching and Learning, Parent & Community Engagement. We are the 3rd school in the country, the 2nd Infant school in Hampshire and the 1st school in Basingstoke to achieve this high accolade. A HUGE WELL DONE to Mrs Durbajlo, our Inclusion Manager and Miss Fellhauer, our Geography Curriculum Manager who co-ordinated this project.
Staffing
I am delighted to announce that Mrs Wisken is expecting her second baby which is due in December. Miss Bennett is still awaiting the birth of her first baby. Any day now!!
End of Year Reports
Your child’s annual report will be sent home on Friday 16th July. This will detail your child’s achievement and progress this year including suggestions about how you can help them at home over the summer holidays in preparation for their new school year. If you would like to speak to your child’s class teacher about their report, then please book a telephone consultation during the final week of term.
Term Dates and INSET days for 2021-2022
We have confirmed next year’s INSET days. We have planned some of these days to be at the beginning or the end of holidays to make it easier for parents to book long weekends away or holidays in light of the past year’s circumstances. Please see below:
Friday 22nd October 2021
Monday 29th November 2021
Monday 28th February 2022
Friday 27th May 2022
Monday 4th July 2022
Your child will also be coming home with a calendar for the term dates and inset days for 2021-2022.
Key Dates
2nd July - Transition Day - children meet their new teacher
5th July – INSET day - school closed for staff training
6th July - YR trip to Wellington Park
14th July - Open Box Theatre visit Y1 & Y2
16th July - End of Year Reports to Parents
23rd July - Break Up for summer
2nd September - School re-opens for Years 1 & 2
Thank you for you continuing support. Stay safe and take care.
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 16 – 9th June 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back. We trust that you had a lovely holiday and enjoyed some sunshine. We have another busy half term, so please check your child’s book bag and the school website regularly for information.
We have noticed that since we advised that you no longer need to wear face masks on the school site, parents are not adhering to the staggered start and finish times. The DfE still advise schools to put this control measure in place to prevent the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Please continue to socially distance and avoid large gatherings and leave the school site as soon as possible.
When entering the office, we still require you to wear a face mask (unless you are exempt) and only one parent will be allowed in at a time.
Y2 Leavers Assembly
We have provisionally planned this event for Wednesday 21st July. Depending on the latest guidelines for large gatherings at that time, we plan to host two assemblies - at 9.10am and 2.00pm to enable one parent per child to attend either time. It will be on a first come first served basis. We will notify parents of our confirmed plans nearer the time.
Sports Day
We are planning this event for Thursday 22nd July. Depending on guidelines at that time, YR will be 9.10 – 10.10am, Y1 will be 10.45 – 11.45am and Y2 will be 2.00 – 3.00pm.
We appreciate that this is not ideal this year, especially if you have siblings in different year groups but it will ensure that we continue with our effective control measures to avoid the transmission of COVID-19 and not mix our year group bubbles.
The two events above may change but we wanted to communicate the dates as early as possible in order that you can plan your work commitments.
Staffing
We welcome Mrs Clayton in Y2 Eagle Owls full time this half term as Miss Bennett has officially started her maternity leave this week. We will let you know of the baby’s birth as soon as we know.
INSET days for 2021-2022
We have confirmed next year’s INSET days, when school will be closed for staff training. We have planned some of the days to be at the beginning or the end of holidays to make it easier for parents to book long weekends away or holidays, in light of the past year’s circumstances. Please see below:
Friday 22nd October 2021
Monday 29th November 2021
Monday 28th February 2022
Friday 27th May 2022
Monday 4th July 2022
Warm Weather
As the weather is now becoming warmer please ensure that you send your child into school with a named water bottle, sun hat and sun cream applied, as children’s skin can burn easily.
Key Dates
2nd July – Transition Day – children meet their new teacher
5th July – INSET – school closed for staff training
6th July – YR trip to Wellington Park
14th July - Open Box Theatre visit Y1 & Y2
16TH July – End of Year Reports to Parents
21st July – Y2 Leavers Assembly
22nd July – Sports Day
23rd July – Break Up for Summer holidays
2nd September – School re-opens for Y1 and Y2 children
7th September – YR Transition Meeting (9.30am to 10.45am)
8th September – YR children start school (8.45am to 12.00pm)
9th September – YR children stay for morning and lunch (8.45 am to 1.00pm)
10th September – YR children stay all day
Please note that the term dates for the next academic year can be found on our website, under ‘Parents’, ‘School Holiday and Term Dates’.
Thank you for you continuing support. Stay safe and take care.
Yours sincerely
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 15 – 19th May 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
Following yesterday’s start of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, current DfE guidance states that parents/carers are no longer required to wear face masks outside on school grounds. However, you may still do so if you prefer. When entering the office, we still request you to wear a face mask and only one parent will be allowed in at a time.
Please continue to socially distance and leave the school site as soon as possible. Staggered start and finish times will continue. This will be reviewed after half term.
We are still making decisions for end of year events, for example, Y2 Leavers Assembly and Sports Day and will ensure that we communicate as early as possible in order that you can plan your work commitments.
Covid-19
The school continues to follow the current Government guidelines for Covid-19. If your child or a member of your household has one or more of the coronavirus symptoms (i.e. a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or loss/change in sense of smell or taste) the whole household will need to self-isolate until that person has had a negative covid test result. If anyone has any of these symptoms they will need to take a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. PCR tests are the most reliable tests but results may take a while as they have to be processed in a laboratory.
Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests are simple and quicker to use, but not as accurate as PCR tests. They are mainly used for people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19 and are used to regularly test staff working in care homes, the NHS and schools (i.e. for the purpose of the rapid asymptomatic testing programme). The Department for Education (DfE) and Public Health England (PHE) have stated that lateral flow tests should not be used on children under the age of 12. Therefore any child attending our school who has coronavirus symptoms should have a PCR test booked for them.
Attendance
Whilst our overall attendance since all children returned fully to school on 8 March has been very good, there are still some children whose attendance and/or punctuality is a cause for concern. As a reminder, the Government’s expectation is that attendance should be 96% or above. Any child whose attendance is 90% or below is classed as persistent absence.
If your child has a cold or other minor ailment please consider giving them Calpol in the morning and send them into school, unless they are very unwell. We can also administer Calpol in school if a parent has filled out the consent form.
There have been occasions when parents have kept their child off school due to having an unsettled night. If your child has had a disturbed night please send them into school as soon as they awake – we cannot authorise a whole day off school for a disturbed night. If your child is persistently absent or late we will arrange a meeting with you to discuss ways of improving their attendance/punctuality and to offer any support you may need. However, if your child continues to be persistently absent or arrive late, the school may record the sessions as unauthorised absence. When no valid reason is given for your child’s absence this will also be recorded as unauthorised. If a child accrues 10 or more sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence within a 10 week period parents may be issued with a penalty notice or may be referred to the Attendance Legal Panel (ALP), who may take legal action.
Please can I remind you to try, wherever possible, to arrange any medical or dentist appointments outside of school hours. If your child has an appointment in the morning for 10.00am or later, please try to bring them into school first so that they can get an attendance mark for the morning session and return them to school after the appointment so that they can get a mark for the afternoon. If you do not return your child to school the absence may be recorded as unauthorised, unless a valid reason is given. Likewise, if they have an appointment in the afternoon please send them to school in the morning, otherwise the morning session may be recorded as unauthorised. We ask that parents please provide evidence (either a letter, text or appointment card) for any medical appointments during the day. Also, if you know that your child is going to be late in please contact the office to let them know if you wish to order a dinner for them (orders have to be placed before 9.30am).
When children are absent or late for school it can have an adverse impact on their learning and friendship groups, making them less settled at school. We want your child to achieve their potential – children make the most progress when they attend school regularly and on time.
Fundraising
Thank you for your generous contribution to the Merton Workout. You raised an amazing £1871.85. The Film Nights have also raised approximately £460.00. The money will be spent on resources for our well-being garden and replenishing guided reading books.
Bags for Schools is planned for 8th June. Please donate any towels, bedding, clothes etc. The more we collect, the more money we will receive!
INSET days for 2021-2022
We have confirmed next year’s INSET days. We have planned additional days at the beginning or the end of holidays to make it easier for parents to book long weekends away or holidays in light of the past year’s circumstances. Please see below:
Friday 22nd October 2021
Monday 29th November 2021
Monday 28th February 2022
Friday 27th May 2022
Monday 4th July 2022
Key Dates
19th May –Y1 Film Night, 3.30pm to 5.00pm (children will go straight from their class at the end of the day)
20th May –Y2 Film Night, 3.30pm to 5.00pm (children will go straight from their class at the end of the day)
27th May – Website Photoshoot
28th May – INSET – School closed
31st May to 4th June – Half term holiday
7th June – School re-opens at 8.45am
7th June – Class photos
8th June – Bags for School
5th July – INSET – School closed
6th July – YR trip to Wellington Country Park (details to follow)
Thank you for you continuing support.
Stay safe and take care.
Yours sincerely
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 14 - 23rd April 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back. We trust that you all had a lovely holiday and managed to get out visiting friends and family!
At least the weather has been good for us!
The children have settled back to school routines very quickly and are enthusiastic about their new topics. You should have now received copies of your child’s year group newsletter which outlines the learning taking place this half term including ways that you can support at home.
Following our assessments of your child before Easter, there are some learning gaps, therefore, the more that you can practise key skills at home the more progress they will make. Little and often!
Staffing
We welcome back Mrs Clayton who is job sharing in Eagle Owls whilst Miss Bennett delivers remote learning at home due to current COVID-19 guidance for pregnant staff.
We also welcome Miss Chestney-Stagg, Learning Support Assistant, in Eagle Owls.
Easter Raffle
Many thanks to everyone who purchased tickets for our Easter Raffle. We had some amazing prizes this year and a total of £472.00 was raised for the school. Well done to all our winners.
Car parking
This is an ongoing problem but please avoid parking in Romsey Close if at all possible. We have seen an increase in the number of parents who are parking at the top of the close, directly opposite another parked car ,resulting in a complete blocking of the road. This not only then causes further congestion but it is also a safety concern as emergency vehicles would not be able to get through should the school need to call them.
Key Dates
30th April - Merton Sponsored Workout
3rd May - Bank Holiday: School closed
17th May - YR Film Night (further details to follow)
19th May - Y1 Film Night (further details to follow)
20th May - Y2 Film Night (further details to follow)
27th May - Website Photoshoot
28th May - INSET Day - School closed
Thank you for you continuing support.
Stay safe and take care.
Larissa James
Headteacher
31st March 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
Easter holidays
The Department for Education (DfE) have asked all schools to remind parents to be extra vigilant over the Easter holidays and ask:
- if a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, the school is asked to assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school.
If your child develops COVID-19 symptoms from Thursday 1st April, please arrange for them to be tested immediately with a PCR test. If a positive test is received between Friday 2nd to Wednesday 7th April, then please inform the school via the school email address above.
Please indicate the date of the positive test result, your child’s last day in school, and any siblings in a different year group.
We will then contact Public Health England (PHE) to ascertain who will need to self-isolate. We will notify via email all the parents of children whom PHE consider have been in close contact with the positive case and will need to self-isolate for 10 days.
A positive test after 7th April does not need to be reported to the school as it is outside of the contact and trace period recommended by PHE. However, if your child will be absent from the 1st day back (19th April) due to COVID-19 reasons, please inform the school on the 19th April.
- Where a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms more than 48 hours since being in school, the school should not be contacted. Parents and carers should follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace.
Parents’ Evening
Thank you for your engagement with Google Meet. Obviously face-to-face meetings would have been better but it worked and we were able to report on your child’s progress. If you did not meet your child’s class teacher, please re-schedule for after Easter.
On behalf of the children, staff and Governors, we wish you all a very Happy Easter.
Thank you for you continuing support.
Stay safe and take care.
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 12 - 8th March 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
|
|
It was so lovely welcoming all the children back to school this morning. They have settled in well and not forgotten our Merton Values including behaviour expectations. Staff are assessing those who were remote learning to evaluate any gaps in knowledge and understanding in order to amend curriculum plans where necessary.
Thank you for supporting our new one-way system for Y1 children. Please can you line up on the black lines in the shared area (as you did before) and not along the Y1 fence as this will limit access on that pathway. We will continue to monitor this during the week.
Our priority is to ensure that everyone is safe and that we avoid mixing bubbles as much as possible to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Please remember the staggered start and finish times to avoid any congestion along any pathways on the school site and maintain 2 metre social distancing.
There will be two groups operating:
Group 1: 8.45 - 3.15pm for children with a junior sibling, vulnerable children and children of key workers
Group 2: 8.55 - 3.05pm for children with a sibling in the infant school and those without any siblings
INSET Days
Both infant and junior schools had booked Monday 15th March as an INSET day. This will still go ahead as both schools have already booked external agency training. Other INSET days are also booked for Friday 28th May and Monday 5th July.
Easter
We will be hosting our Easter Bonnet parade on Friday 26th March for a donation of £1.00 per child. We look forward to seeing all your creative ideas. We are also planning an Easter Egg hunt and raffle on Thursday 1st April.
PE
PE will be on the following days:-
Year R Little Owls - Monday and Thursday
Snowy Owls - Tuesday and Thursday
Owlets - Wednesday and Thursday
Year 1 Monday and Wednesday
Year 2 Tuesday and Friday
Due to the the current PE kit debate, to ensure consistency across both schools, all infant children should come dressed in jogging bottoms and school tops ie: logo polo shirt/sweatshirt/cardigan on their allocated days. We apologise for any confusion caused.
School grounds
We have been busy during the last 9 weeks renovating parts of the school site. We have added new equipment to our Merton Adventure Land next to the pirate ship. We have also designed a Wellbeing garden in the internal courtyard to support our work on Mental Health. There will be a playhouse, water features and flowers pots etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dates for your diary
Monday 15th March - INSET Day
Wednesday 24th March - Parents’ evening consultations via Google Classrooms 3.45 - 6.15pm
Friday 26th March - Easter Bonnet Parade - details to follow
Monday 29th March - Parents’ evening consultations via Google Classrooms 3.45 - 6.15pm
Thursday 1st April - Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Raffle - further details to follow
Thursday 1st April - Break up at 3.15pm for Easter holiday
Monday 19th April - School re opens at 8.45am
Thank you for your continuing support, patience and understanding.
Stay safe and take care.
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 11 - 26th February 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday evening, we are so pleased to read that ‘returning to face-to-face education in schools and colleges is a national priority’, and we are excited at the prospect of welcoming all children back to school on Monday 8th March.
We are currently looking at the lastest guidance provided by Public Health England (PHE) and the Department for Education (DfE) to see what adaptations need to be made to our practices and procedures in school including across the school site. Our priority is to ensure that everyone is safe and that we avoid mixing bubbles as much as possible to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
The school’s Risk Assessment will be reviewed weekly with staff and Governors. We will continue to operate staggered start and finish times as we did in the autumn term. There will be two groups operating:
Group 1: 8.45 - 3.15pm for children with a junior sibling, vulnerable children and children of key workers
Group 2: 8.55 - 3.05pm for children who do not have any infant or junior school siblings or who have a sibling who attends the infant school only
In order to avoid big gatherings and swift movement around the school site, we will continue to ask that you:
- arrive as near to the staggered times above as possible
- continue to wear face masks whilst on school site
- ensure that only one parent drops off or collects
- keep to the 2 metre social distancing rule
- leave the school site as quickly as possible
- make an appointment to speak to a member of staff, if needed
Unfortunately, we are unable to permit parents and siblings to use the toilet facilities at any time.
We will operate as year group bubbles, therefore classes will be able to mix and share areas and equipment. We will still encourage social distancing, however, please remember the children are young and therefore cannot guarantee the 2 metre rule.
Children will enter / exit via their external classroom doors. Children will use anti-bacterial gel on their hands on arrival and continually wash them throughout the day.
Attendance
From 8th March school will be compulsory and the Government has advised schools to exercise their usual rules on attendance. This will include the option to issue sanctions, including fixed penalty notices. Parents must complete a Leave of Absence form before any absences or holidays in term time are booked. However, in line with current policy, it will be unauthorised unless it is deemed to be an exceptional circumstance. Please remember to inform the school straightaway if your child is going to be late or absent for any reason – if the school is unable to ascertain the reason for any absence it will be unauthorised.
Break and Lunchtimes
These will be staggered times to ensure that year group bubbles do not mix. Lunch will be served in the school hall and hot dinners will continue. The pirate ship and spider web will be sprayed with disinfectant at the end of each day. Please do not allow your child to use it before and after school as this will affect the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Each year group bubble will have its own box of play equipment which will also be sprayed at the end of each day.
Clubs
Breakfast and After School clubs will also resume from Monday 8th March. We will accommodate infant and junior children as one bubble but keep them socially distanced in their allocated room. Other clubs managed by staff will not take place this half term. In the meantime, please continue to engage with Google Classroom activities and encourage your child to do their very best.
Parents’ Evening
We will be holding consultations via Google Classrooms from 3.45 - 6.15pm on Wednesday 24th and Monday 29th March. A text message containing a link to book your appointment will be sent out on Wednesday 3rd March.
INSET
Both infant and junior schools had booked Monday 15th March as an INSET day. This will still go ahead as both schools have already booked external agency training. Other INSET days are also booked for Friday 28th May and Monday 5th July.
Staff testing
Staff will continue coronavirus testing twice per week.
Thank you for you continuing support, patience and understanding.
Stay safe and take care.
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 10 - 11th February 2021
Dear Parent / Carer,
We have nearly made it! This has been a very challenging half term for us all adjusting to new ways of working. Our remote learners have shown incredible resilience and engaged with their learning very well. The uploads to Google Classroom have been tremendous. Thank you parents for all your support. The children who are attending school are also working incredibly hard and coping well with the new ways of learning.
Half Term Holiday
The Department of Education (DfE) have asked all schools to remind parents to be extra vigilant over the half term holiday (15 – 22 February) and ask:
- that if a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, the school should assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school.
If your child develops COVID symptoms from Friday 12th February, please arrange for them to be tested immediately. If a positive test is received between Saturday 13th to Sunday 21st February, then please inform the school straightaway via the school email address above. Please indicate the date of the positive test result, the date when symptoms first began, your child’s last day in school, and any siblings in a different year group.
If the symptoms developed within 48 hours of your child being in school, we will then contact Public Health England (PHE) to ascertain who will need to self-isolate. We will notify, via email, all the parents of children whom PHE consider to have been in close contact with the positive case and who will need to self-isolate for 10 days.
Even if your child tests positive after 17 February (which is outside of the contact and trace period recommended by PHE for informing schools) we will still need you to contact us to inform us of the reason why your child will not be attending school or accessing remote learning when school re-opens on 22 February. Parents and carers should also still follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace.
Parents Evening
We shall be using Google Classroom to conduct our Parents’ Evenings on Wednesay 24th March 3.45 - 6.15pm and Monday 29th March at 3.45 - 6.15pm. Please book your appointment time via the link that will be sent to you by text message. This will be an opportunity to review your child’s progress, whether they are currently in school or learning remotely.
Key Dates:
12th February - School closes at 3.15 for half term
22nd February - School re-opens at 8.45am
4th March - World Book Day
12th March - Mothers’ Day Gift Wrap (details to follow)
15th March - INSET Day
24th March - Parents’ Evening
26th March - Easter Bonnet Parade (details to follow)
29th March - Parents’ Evening
1st April - Easter Egg Hunt
Break up at 3.15pm for Easter holiday
Please keep in touch and stay safe. Remember the T in MERTON…Teamwork!
Take care,
Larissa James
Headteacher
Child Protection Policy: Addendum in response to school closure due to Covid-19 outbreak
Context From 5 th January 2021 parents /carers were asked to keep their children at home, wherever possible. Schools and all childcare providers were asked to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable, and children whose parents are critical to the COVID-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home. This addendum of Merton Infant School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection policies contains details of our individual safeguarding arrangements in the following areas:
1. Context
2. Vulnerable children
3. Attendance monitoring
4. Designated Safeguarding Lead
5. Reporting a concern
6. Safeguarding Training and induction
7. Safer recruitment/volunteers and movement of staff
8. Online safety in schools and colleges
9. Children and online safety away from school and college
10. Supporting children not in school
11. Supporting children in school
12. Peer on Peer Abuse
Key contacts Date approved: January 2021 Headteacher: Larissa James Signed: L.J.James Date: 5 th January 2021 To be used for the period of school closure due to Covid-19 outbreak and to be reviewed and amended as necessary. Role Name Contact number Email Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Larissa James 01256 324507 c/o adminoffice@mertoninf.hants.sch.uk Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Zoe Wisken Sophie Durbajlo Paula Bennett 01256 324507 c/o adminoffice@mertoninf.hants.sch.uk Headteacher Larissa James 01256 324507 c/o adminoffice@mertoninf.hants.sch.uk Chair of Governors Mrs Emily Mean 01256 324507 c/o adminoffice@mertoninf.hants.sch.uk
Vulnerable children
Vulnerable children include those who have a social worker and those children and young people up to the age of 25 with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP).
Those who have a social worker include children who have a Child Protection Plan or a Child in Need Plan, those who are looked after by the Local Authority as well as those supported by the Early Help Hub. A child may also be deemed to be vulnerable if they have been assessed as being in need or otherwise meet the definition in section 17 of the Children Act 1989. Those with an EHCP will be risk-assessed in consultation with the Local Authority and parents, to decide whether they need to continue to be offered a school or college place in order to meet their needs, or whether they can safely have their needs met at home. This could include, if necessary, carers, therapists or clinicians visiting the home to provide any essential services. Many children and young people with EHCPs can safely remain at home. The Designated Safeguarding Lead and deputies know who our most vulnerable children are. They have the flexibility to offer a place to those on the edge of receiving children’s social care support. Merton Infant School will continue to work with and to support children’s social workers to help protect vulnerable children. This includes working with and supporting children’s social workers and the local authority virtual school head (VSH) for looked-after and previously looked-after children. There is an expectation that vulnerable children who have a social worker will attend an education setting, so long as they do not have underlying health conditions that put them at risk. In circumstances where a parent does not want to bring their child to an education setting, and their child is considered vulnerable, the social worker and Merton Infant School will explore the reasons for this directly with the parent/s. Where parents are concerned about the risk of the child contracting COVID19, Merton Infant School or the social worker will talk through these anxieties with the parent/carer following the advice set out by Public Health England. Attendance monitoring Merton Infant School will continue to report daily attendance to the Department for Education (DfE) as per current guidance. Merton Infant School will follow up on any pupil that they were expecting to attend, who does not. Merton Infant School will also follow up with any parent/carer who has arranged care for their child(ren) and the child(ren) subsequently do not attend. Merton Infant School will, when communicating with parents/carer, confirm emergency contact numbers are correct and ask for any additional emergency contact numbers where they are available. In all circumstances where a vulnerable child does not take up their place at school, or discontinues, Merton Infant School will notify their social worker. Merton Infant School has a responsibility to complete a weekly return to the Local Authority to report who, of these vulnerable children, have attended school provision that week. If they have not attended, the school understand their safeguarding responsibility and will have decided how to appropriately make contact with these children and families. At any one time, there will be a trained DSL (or deputy) available. If they are not on school site, then they will be available to be contacted via phone. All of Merton Infant School staff and volunteers have access to a trained DSL (or deputy). The DSL will continue to engage with social workers, and attend all multi-agency meetings, which can be done remotely. Reporting a concern Where staff have a concern about a child, they should continue to follow the process outlined in the school Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies, this includes making an update via CPOMS, which can be done remotely. In the unlikely event that a member of staff cannot access their CPOMS from home, they should 3 email or phone the DSL (or Deputies). This will ensure that the concern is received. Staff are reminded of the need to report any concern immediately and without delay. Where staff are concerned about an adult working with children in the school, they should report their concern to the Headteacher by phone and follow this up in an email. Concerns around the Headteacher should be directed to the Chair of Governors: Mrs Emily Mean. For the period that COVID-19 measures are in place, a DSL (or deputy) who has been trained will continue to be classed as a trained DSL (or deputy) even if they miss their refresher training. All existing school staff have had safeguarding training and have read part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (2020). The DSL should communicate with staff any new local arrangements, so they know what to do if they are worried about a child. Where new staff are recruited, or new volunteers, enter Merton Infant School, they will continue to be provided with a safeguarding induction. If staff are deployed from another education or children’s workforce setting to our school, Merton Infant School will take into account the DfE supplementary guidance on safeguarding children during the COVID-19 pandemic and will accept portability as long as the current employer confirms in writing that: - • the individual has been subject to an enhanced DBS and children’s barred list check • there are no known concerns about the individual’s suitability to work with children • there is no ongoing disciplinary investigation relating to that individual Upon arrival, they will be given a copy of the receiving setting’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies, confirmation of local processes and confirmation of DSL arrangements. Safer recruitment/volunteers and movement of staff It remains essential that people who are unsuitable are not allowed to enter the children’s workforce or gain access to children. When recruiting new staff, Merton Infant School will continue to follow the relevant safer recruitment processes for their setting, including, as appropriate, relevant sections in part 3 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (2020 KCSIE). In response to COVID-19, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has made changes to its guidance on standard and enhanced DBS ID checking to minimise the need for face-to-face contact. Where Merton Infant School are utilising volunteers, we will continue to follow the checking and risk assessment process as set out in paragraphs 167 to 172 of KCSIE 2020. Under no circumstances will a volunteer who has not been checked be left unsupervised or allowed to work in regulated activity. Merton Infant School will continue to follow the legal duty to refer to the DBS anyone who has harmed or poses a risk of harm to a child or vulnerable adult. Full details can be found at paragraph 163 of KCSIE 2020. Merton Infant School will continue to consider and make referrals to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) as per paragraph 166 of KCSIE 2020 and the TRA’s ‘Teacher misconduct’ advice for making a referral. During the COVID-19 period, all referrals should be made by emailing Misconduct.Teacher@education.gov.uk Whilst acknowledging the challenge of the current national emergency, it is essential from a safeguarding perspective that any school is aware, on any given day, which staff/volunteers will be in the school or college, and that appropriate checks have been carried out, especially for anyone engaging in regulated activity. As such, Merton Infant School will continue to keep the single central record (SCR) up to date as outlined in paragraphs 148 to 156 in KCSIE 2020. On-line safety in schools Merton Infant School will continue to provide a safe environment, including on-line. This includes the use of an online filtering system. Where students are using computers in school, appropriate supervision will be in place. Remote 4 Children and on-line safety away from school It is important that all staff who interact with children continue to look out for signs that a child may be at risk. Any such concerns should be dealt with as per the Child Protection Policy and, where appropriate, referrals should still be made to the Children’s Services Department and, if required, the police. Remote Learners will also be supported in ensuring that all children are safe working on digital devices at home. Advice is available for parents/carers on the school website. Remote Learning – Recorded and Live Lessons/Sessions Please read this in conjunction with the Remote Learning Strategy. Below are the key points within that policy that relate to the safeguarding of children, staff and parents/carers. It is important that the ethos, code of conduct and our relationship and behaviour policies are adhered to even when children are working from home online with teachers and LSAs. Staff and children are to wear suitable clothing, as should anyone else in the household. Computers/devices should be used in appropriate ‘daytime’ areas for example, not in a bedroom. Live lessons/sessions will be recorded. This will be so they can be reviewed if any issues arise and also to support children who were not able to make the live lesson/session. Recordings that are to be used for children who missed the live lessons/sessions will only be available on the Google Classroom platform for one week. Language must be professional and appropriate, including any family members in the background Google Classroom is the only platform teachers will use Supporting children not in school Merton Infant School is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children. Where the DSL has identified a child to be on the edge of social care support, or who would normally receive pastoral-type support in school, they should ensure that a robust communication plan is in place for that child. Details of this plan must be recorded on CPOMS, as should a record of contact made. The communication plans can include; remote contact, phone contact, door-step visits (at a distance of at least 2 metres). Other individualised contact methods should be considered and recorded. Merton Infant School and its DSLs will work closely with all stakeholders to maximise the effectiveness of any communication plan. This plan must be reviewed regularly (at least once a fortnight) and where concerns arise, the DSL will consider any referrals as appropriate. The school will share safeguarding messages on its website and social media pages. Merton Infant School recognises that school is a protective factor for children, and the current circumstances, can affect the mental health of pupils and their parents/carers. Staff at Merton Infant School need to be aware of this in setting expectations of pupils’ work where they are at home. Merton Infant School will ensure that where we care for children of critical workers and vulnerable children on site, we ensure appropriate support is in place for them. This will be bespoke to each child and recorded on CPOMS. Home Visits Home visits may be required where no contact can be made for a particular child or where we have deep concerns for their welfare. The necessity of these visits should be established by the DSLs through the monitoring of vulnerable children calls, CPOMS, Google Classroom engagement and emails. When visiting the DSL will carry a template letter of authorisations to valid essential travel in case they are stopped by the police. Visits should be dynamically risk assessed to ensure the safety of the staff member making the visit. 5 Supporting children in school Merton Infant School is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children. Merton Infant School will continue to be a safe space for all children to attend and flourish. The Headteacher will ensure that appropriate staff are on-site and staff to pupil ratio numbers are appropriate, to maximise safety. Merton Infant School will refer to the Government guidance for education and childcare settings on how to implement social distancing and continue to follow the advice from Public Health England on handwashing and other control measures to limit the risk of spread of COVID19. Merton Infant School will ensure that where we care for children of critical workers and vulnerable children onsite, we ensure appropriate support is in place for them. This will be bespoke to each child and recorded on CPOMS. Where Merton Infant School has concerns about the impact of staff absence – such as our DSL (or Deputies) or first aiders – immediate plans are put in place to ensure the safety of all. Peer on Peer Abuse Merton Infant School recognises that during the closure a revised process may be required for managing any report of such abuse and supporting victims. Where a school receives a report of peer on peer abuse, they will follow the principles as set out in part 5 of KCSIE 2020 and of those outlined within the Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies. Merton Infant school will listen and work with the children, parents/carers and any multiagency partner required to ensure the safety and security of that child. Concerns and actions must be recorded on CPOMS and appropriate referrals made. Any emails sent by staff will be via the admin office email so they can be robustly monitored. Contact can also be made through Google Classrooms by all members of a year group team. Any concerns must be reported to a DSL so referrals can be considered. Individual video conferencing with a child will be through the Google Classroom platform using Google Meet. These sessions will be scheduled with parents’ permission and will be recorded for safeguarding purposes only. It is vital that that a parent or carer is visible in the video conference for part of the meeting, and that they also stay within the same room for the duration. This is to safeguard the staff member and child. We will continue to share safeguarding messages on our website and social media pages. We recognise that school is a protective factor for children and the current circumstances can affect the mental health of children and their families. Teachers are aware of this in setting expectations of children’s work while children are at home and it is made clear in posts and newsletters that children can access as much as they are able. We will also direct parents/carers to resources on the school website to support the mental health and wellbeing of their families.
5th Spring 1 Risk Assessment - February 2021
|
|
` |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CORONAVIRUS RISK ASSESSMENT & PROCEDURE Review updates are highlighted in yellow
|
|
|
|
Location / Site |
Merton Infant School |
||
|
Activity / Procedure |
COVID-19 Lockdown 3 |
||
|
Assessment date |
11th January 2021 |
||
|
Identify people at risk |
YES or NO |
||
|
Employees |
YES |
||
|
Children |
YES |
||
|
Visitors |
YES |
||
|
Contractors |
YES |
||
National Lockdown announced on 4th January 2021
Below control measures are taken from ‘Guidance for all schools in England’ published 7th January 2021:
‘During the period of national lockdown, schools and wraparound childcare should allow only vulnerable children and the children of critical workers to attend. All other pupils and students should not attend and should learn remotely until February half term.’
‘Limiting attendance is about supporting the reduction of the overall number of social contacts in our communities.’
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Impact of social distancing in the classroom resulting in direct transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Lack of social distancing using toilets and poor hygiene resulting in direct and indirect transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Lack of social distancing at drop-off and collection times resulting in direct transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Lack of social distancing during playtimes and lunch playtime resulting in direct transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Lack of social distancing when eating lunch resulting in direct transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Lack of social distancing in the corridors resulting in direct transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Contact of shared resources resulting in indirect transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Emotional distress of the children |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Emotional distress of the staff – including anxiety |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Risk of spreading virus due to close contact with children – 1:1 and physical intervention resulting in direct transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Risk of spreading virus due to poor hygiene resulting in indirect transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Risk of infection due to lack of cleaning resulting in indirect transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Risk of illness of vulnerable staff and family members through direct and indirect transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
|
Risk of illness of vulnerable children and family members through direct and indirect transmission of the virus |
|
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
|
|
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
||
|
Risk of contact with individuals who are unwell with COVID-19 symptoms |
|||
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
||
|
|||
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
||
|
Minimising contact between staff |
|||
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
||
|
|||
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
||
|
Safeguarding concerns of those learning remotely |
|||
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
||
|
|||
|
Identify hazard |
Record the hazard that could cause harm or injury – add appropriate detail about the type and location of hazards |
||
|
Risk of infection from parents / contractors coming onto site |
|||
|
Control measures |
List your control measures required to reduce risk – add appropriate detail about the type and location of controls |
||
|
|||
|
OVERALL level of risk |
Consider level of risk following use of control measures HIGHLIGHT the appropriate assessment of risk |
||
|
NOT REDUCED THE OVERALL RISK |
REDUCED THE OVERALL RISK TO SOME DEGREE |
CONSIDERABLY REDUCED THE RISK |
|
|
Assessor’s comments |
|
||
|
Even with these controls in place the risk of young children not social distancing remains high. Parents have been made aware that we cannot guarantee social distancing for the children via newsletters, Facebook, text messages and the school website. While there are control measures in place, we cannot eliminate the risks but have aimed to reduce the risks. |
|||
|
Name of assessor
|
Signature of assessor
|
Date |
|
Larissa James - Headteacher
|
L.J.James |
11.1.2021 |
|
Health & Safety Governor comments |
|
|
I agree with the assessor’s comments. We need to review this risk assessment weekly to ensure the safety of staff, children and parents. |
|
|
Name of Health & Safety Governor |
Signature of Health & Safety Governor |
Date |
|
Emily Mean
|
E.Mean |
11.1.2021 |
|
Risk assessment review 1 |
|
|
Date 18.1.2021 |
Weekly |
|
CHANGES TO CONTROLS MEASURES AND OR HAZARDS |
|
|
Remote Learning team have completed the Display Screen Equipment e-Learning and certificates have been handed in to SBM |
|
|
New foot pump hand sanitiser has been ordered for entry into staffroom |
|
|
Attended Primary Staff testing webinar and devised procedures and register. Planned staff meetings with all teams to share guidance this week ready for administering from 25th January 2021. |
|
|
Lunchtime staff and DHT trained in using epi-pens |
|
|
Who was involved in the Review: Larissa James / Paula Bennett |
|
|
Signature of those involved in the Review: L.J.James / P.Bennett |
|
|
Risk assessment review 2 |
|
|
Date 25.1.2021 |
Weekly |
|
CHANGES TO CONTROLS MEASURES AND OR HAZARDS |
|
|
Number of children attending has increased in each year group |
|
|
Staff testing started on 25th January following all necessary training during the previous week. Testing RA has also been devised and shared with staff and Governors. |
|
|
Who was involved in the Review: Larissa James / Paula Bennett |
|
|
Signature of those involved in the Review: L.J.James / P.Bennett |
|
|
Risk assessment review 3 |
|
|
Date 1.2.2021 |
Weekly |
|
CHANGES TO CONTROLS MEASURES AND OR HAZARDS |
|
|
3 more children in YR attended today and 2 more children in Y1 |
|
|
Who was involved in the Review: Larissa James / Paula Bennett |
|
|
Signature of those involved in the Review: L.J.James / P.Bennett |
|
|
Risk assessment review 4 |
|
|
Date 8.2.2021 |
Weekly |
|
CHANGES TO CONTROLS MEASURES AND OR HAZARDS |
|
|
|
|
|
Who was involved in the Review: Larissa James / Paula Bennett |
|
|
Signature of those involved in the Review: L.J.James / P.Bennett |
|
|
Risk assessment review 5 |
|
|
Date 8.2.2021 |
Weekly |
|
CHANGES TO CONTROLS MEASURES AND OR HAZARDS |
|
|
Who was involved in the Review: Larissa James / Paula Bennett |
|
|
Signature of those involved in the Review: L.J.James / P.Bennett |
|
Newsletter 9 - 28th January 2021
Dear Parent/Carer,
Last night’s news from the Prime Minister about schools fully re-opening was not what many of us wanted to hear. The Department for Education (DfE) wrote the following message to schools:
Today, the Prime Minister has announced that it will not be possible to resume face-to-face learning immediately after the February half-term and instead hopes it will be safe to commence the re-opening of schools and colleges from Monday 8 March. This is in response to the national public health data and pressure on NHS capacity.
If the Government achieves its target of vaccinating everyone in the four most vulnerable groups with their first dose by 15 February then those groups will have developed immunity from the virus around three weeks later, that is by 8 March. It is for this reason that we hope it will therefore be safe to commence the reopening of schools from Monday 8 March.
Education settings, as well as students, parents and carers will be given at least two weeks’ notice to prepare for a return to face-to-face education.
Schools and colleges will remain open to vulnerable children and young people and the children of critical workers after February half-term, as they are now. All other pupils will continue to receive high quality remote education at home. This is in line with the wider national lockdown measures to help minimise the spread of the virus and respond quickly to the new variant.
We have had many calls from parents requesting that their child attends school. Currently, we are near full capacity. There are still a number of eligible children (i.e vulnerable children who have social care involvement) who are not attending school and, therefore, we need to remain flexible with school places. Our next category of eligible children are those whose parents work in the NHS. As you can imagine, these critical workers are constantly changing their working shift patterns and therefore are needing their child to attend school.
Please keep in mind that we also need to keep our staff safe. The more children who attend school the more there is an increased risk of transmission and therefore if staff fall ill with COVID-19 we will have no option but to close specific year group bubbles.
We do appreciate that this is very difficult for parents. Many of our staff also have their own children learning remotely at home which adds to their stress levels.
Last week, I wrote the following which I will reiterate:
Please do not put yourself under the pressure of trying to replicate school. In school, we gauge children’s concentration level on the number of their age plus 3 minutes; so if your child is 5 years old, their concentration is about 8 minutes. The DfE has asked schools to provide 3 hours of learning per day but this is not 3 hours in one block sitting at a digital device receiving intense 1:1 support. Remember to keep learning as active as possible with plenty of water, healthy snack breaks and fresh air.
From what we are seeing on Google Classroom so far, you are supporting your child very well. There will be good days and some not so good. Do what you can and do not be hard on yourself!
Some parents are worried that their child will fall behind. When the children returned in September, the gaps in their learning were not as big as we anticipated and by December they had caught up with their knowledge and understanding. When children return fully to school, we will assess their skills and plan accordingly as we did before. If you would like any of us to talk to your child to support them, please do contact your class teacher.
TOP TIPS ON HOME LEARNING!
- Read the weekly overview which explains your child’s activities so you can plan your day/week. Add your commitments so that they know their day and you can plan your time together.
- If your child gets stuck, they can move onto something else and then try again when you are free.
- Give your child a choice and a feeling of independence.
- Praise effort and behaviour.
- Support child-led learning. If your child wants to research something that is of interest to them, let them.
- Remember learning is fun - add your own activities like baking, sport, gardening etc.
- To help with behaviour use the ‘when..then..’ strategy. For example, ‘when you have done 10 minutes of your maths you can then have 10 minutes free play’. This gives them an incentive to engage.
- Ask for any resources that you need.
- Children with English as a second language can access Google Classroom Translate
- Contact helpatmertoninf.com if you are having any problems with technology.
Thank you for your many comments giving positive feedback regarding Google Classroom. We are learning too and want to make remote learning as easy as possible for the children, parents and staff.
Children’s Mental Health week 1st – 5th February
We will be participating in Children’s Mental Health week commencing 1st February 2021 and will be doing daily activities to keep ourselves mentally healthy. The theme this year is ‘Express Yourself’, so we would like to start our mental health week with an express yourself dress code on Monday 1st February.
‘Dress to Express’ in as many colours as represents your personality and we can’t wait to see how you all see yourselves!
Please keep in touch and stay safe. Remember the T in MERTON…Teamwork!
Take care and stay safe
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 8 - 20th January 2021
Dear Parent / Carer,
Our third week in and a HUGE WELL DONE!
We understand that home learning is very difficult, trying to manage the demands with your work, home learning and different aged children at home. When our children returned to school from the first lockdown, they coped really well. Whatever you managed to do at home then, worked.
Please do not put yourself under the pressure of trying to replicate school. In school, we gauge children’s concentration level on the number of their age plus 3 minutes; so if your child is 5 years old, their concentration is about 8 minutes. The DfE has asked schools to provide 3 hours of learning per day but this is not 3 hours in one block sat on a digital device receiving intense 1:1 support. Remember to keep learning as active as possible with plenty of water, healthy snack breaks and fresh air.
From what we are seeing on Google Classroom so far, you are supporting your child very well. There will be good days and some not so good. Do what you can and do not be hard on yourself!
Some parents are worried that their child will fall behind. When the children returned in September, the gaps in their learning were not as big as we anticipated and by December they had caught up with their knowledge and understanding. When children return fully to school, we will assess their skills and plan accordingly as we did before. If you would like any of us to talk to your child to support them, please do contact their class teacher.
We are currently devising our Remote Learning Strategy which needs to be published on the school website by 25th January. This will explain the school’s commitment and expectations.
TOP TIPS ON HOME LEARNING!
• Read the weekly overview which explains your child’s activities so you can plan your day/week. Add your commitments so that they know their day and you can plan your time together.
• If your child gets stuck, they can move onto something else and then try again when you are free.
• Give your child a choice and a feeling of independence.
• Praise effort and behaviour.
• Support child-led learning. If your child wants to research something that is of interest to them, let them.
• Remember learning is fun - add your own activities like baking, sport, gardening etc.
• To help with behaviour use the ‘when..then..’ strategy. For example, when you have done 10 minutes of your maths you can then have 10 minutes free play. This gives them an incentive to engage.
• Ask for any resources that you need.
• Contact help@mertoninf.com if you are having any problems with technology.
We would welcome any positive or negative feedback regarding Google Classroom. We are learning too and want to make remote learning as easy as possible for the children, parents and staff.
Primary Staff testing
This week schools will receive testing kits so staff can test twice weekly whether they are negative or positive for COVID-19. As per scientific evidence, 1 in 3 people can be positive and not display any symptoms. Staff must report their results to both school and NHS online. Please ensure you regularly check the school website, text service or Facebook in the event that we may have to close specific bubbles.
Safeguarding
Please ensure that you keep your child safe when working on any digital device at home. Please see our addendum to the school’s Child Protection policy on the school website under ‘Key Information - Policies’. We will also be adding a specific Safeguarding page on the school website which will include support regarding e-Safety when working online.
Celebration Assembly
Last Friday, we tried our first Google Classroom Celebration Assembly in school and with our remote learners receiving awards at home. It was so lovely to see the children joining at home. Please do share any work that your child is proud of so that we can celebrate their effort.
Please keep in touch and stay safe. Remember the T in MERTON…Teamwork!
Take care,
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 7 - 6th January 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
Thank you so much for your patience and understanding over the past couple of days. Schools only heard about the lockdown at the same time as parents. So it has been very hectic making our plans! Please ensure that you regularly read any updates we post via text messages, Facebook and on the school website.
As you are aware, school is open for vulnerable children i.e. children who have some form of social care involvement or have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) or children who are at risk with their mental health or needing additional support with their learning.
School is open also for children of critical workers. This includes:
- Health and social care
- Education and childcare including social workers
- Local and national government
- Key public services
- Food and other necessary goods
- Public safety and national security
- Transport and border
- Utilities, communication and financial services
Currently, children, who meet the above criteria and can attend school, are being placed in a year group ‘bubble’ taught by:
YR = Mrs Estlea
Y1 = Mrs Jones
Y2 = Mrs Epstein
For children who remain at home, we are also working on our Remote Learning using Google Classroom led by:
YR = Miss Fellhauer
Y1 = Mrs Hill
Y2 = Miss Bennett
Mrs Wisken is supporting parents and staff with access to Google Classroom. If you have any difficulty in accessing the platform with the given user name and password (which are in your child’s pink Home-School reading books) please do not hesitate to email help@mertoninf.com for support. Mrs Wisken is checking who is logging on and will be contacting parents of children who are not logging on over the next couple of days. Please can we stress that you do not need a computer, laptop or iPad to access Google Classroom. It will also work on a mobile phone, smart TV, playstation or an X-Box – please click on the following link: https://edtechawesomeness.com/2020/03/17/access-google-classroom-with-your-phone-your-xbox-or-your-playstation/amp/?__twitter_impression=true. You can also access primary school learning programmes every week day for 3 hours starting on Monday, 11 January on CBBC from 9.00a.m.
The Department of Education (DfE) requires primary schools to provide 3 hours’ worth of learning for the children. Please access the tasks planned to ensure that your child continues to progress with their learning. Most tasks being planned are active and will not be worksheet based. Mrs Durbajlo and myself will continue with our safeguarding responsibilities and will be conducting weekly telephone welfare checks of children at home.
In school, we continue to implement stringent control measures to ensure that risk of transmission of COVID-19 is minimal. The school’s practices and procedures are successful so far in that there were no reported cases during the Autumn term. We hope that this will continue, therefore, please remember the following:
- the wearing of face masks on the school site
- leave the school site as soon as possible and avoid chatting in groups
- arrive as near to the start and finish times of 8.45am and 3.15pm as possible
- contact school as soon as possible regarding any child who displays any symptoms or who has been in contact with anyone who has tested positive
We also continue with:
- regular cleaning of the toilets and work surfaces during the school day
- thorough deep cleaning at the end of the school day followed by the use of a specialist fogging machine
- regular washing of hands using soap and water throughout the school day
- providing anti-bacterial gel in each classroom
- ensuring children are seated in own table space and chair with their own pack of resources
- staggered playtime
- limiting unnecessary visitors to the school
- children eating lunch in their own classrooms
- staff wearing face masks when moving around school
- staff accessing designated staffroom areas
Children who remain at home must stay at home unless taking their daily exercise as permitted by the Government. Households should not be mixing. REMEMBER Hands, Face, Space.
We miss seeing all our children together and are hoping to organise some ‘virtual’ gatherings for our weekly Celebration Assembly on Fridays. We hope to explain details about how this will happen soon. In the meantime, please continue to upload photos of your child’s learning as it is really heart warming to see that they are still living our MERTON values. Well done Parents you are making great Teachers!
Free School Meals
As per Government guidance, schools are required to provide families who are entitled to benefit related free school meals with picnic boxes if they are not in school. There is currently no national voucher scheme available for term time during lockdown as provided in the past. Therefore schools are preparing food parcels instead. Please separate letter on the website about how to access these food parcels:-
Applying for Y3 and YR Places for September 2021
The online application facility for applying for a Y3 junior school place is now open – all Y2 parents need to apply at: www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/admissions. If you are unable to apply online paper copies are available from the school office. The closing date for applications is Friday 15th January 2021.
For any parents who have a child who will be celebrating their 4th birthday between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021 you will now be able to apply online for a school place for September 2021 at the above link. Paper forms will be available from the school office for anyone who is unable to apply online. The closing date for applications is Friday 15th January 2021. Please view our Year R virtual tour for prospective parents on our school website at www.mertoninfants.com
Thank you for your continuing support. We are TEAM MERTON.
Take care.
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 6 - 4th January 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
Happy New Year. We trust that you all had an enjoyable and safe festive holiday.
As you are aware, Government policies are rapidly changing and guidance is coming through to schools every day. Therefore, please ensure that you regularly read any updates we post via text messages, Facebook and on the school website.
Currently, despite being in Tier 4, primary schools are being advised to remain open for ALL children and continue to implement stringent control measures to ensure that risk of transmission of COVID-19 is minimal. The school’s practices and procedures are successful so far in that there were no reported cases during the Autumn term. We hope that this will continue, therefore please remember the following:
the wearing of face masks on the school site
leave the school site as soon as possible and avoid chatting in groups
adhere to the staggered start and finish times (for children of key workers and with junior siblings 8.45am and 3.15pm – for all other children 8.55am and 3.05pm)
contact school as soon as possible regarding any child who displays any symptoms or who has been in contact with anyone who has tested positive
In school we will continue with:
regular cleaning of the toilets and work surfaces during the school day
thorough deep cleaning at the end of the school day followed by the use of a specialist fogging machine
regular washing of hands using soap and water throughout the school day
providing anti-bacterial gel in each classroom
ensuring children work in specific groups and seated in own table space and chair
staggered playtime and lunchtimes
limiting unnecessary visitors to the school
YR operating as a year group bubble to ensure effective continuous provision of learning in all areas
Y1 and Y2 operating as class bubbles
children eating lunch in their own classrooms
staff wearing face masks when moving around school
staff accessing designated staffroom areas
We will update parents with any new developments regarding any mass testing arrangements as currently being applied to secondary schools.
We understand that some parents are nervous about sending their child to school, however parents still need to inform the school by phone preferably, or email the reason for the absence. Facebook is not contuniually monitored throughout the day and is not the forum to be used for reporting a child’s absence.
Whilst we are in Tier 4, we will not be issuing any penalty notices for non-attendance. This will be amended when the Government reviews the Tier system.
Over the holidays many of our staff have seen our families out and about in the community. Please can we remind you that if you are keeping your child off, due to not feeling comfortable about them returning to the school environment, you should also be ensuring that your family stays at home to reduce the risk of contracting the virus, which can also be caught when out anywhere in the community - REMEMBER Hands, Face, Space.
Staffing
I am delighted to announce that Miss Bennett, Y2 Eagle Owls class teacher, is expecting her first baby in July. She has told her class today. Whist there will be much excitement, please can I stress the importance of keeping her safe during these challenging times. I will inform parents of Eagle Owls with plans to cover her maternity leave for the summer second half term nearer the time.
Half term topics
Year group Curriculum newsletters will also come out this week detailing the topic for this half term and suggesting ways you can support your child’s learning at home.
Google Classroom
In the event of a local lockdown, non-attendance or during self-isolation periods, we will use our new Google Classroom Learning Platform to ensure children have access to their learning. Thank you to all parents and carers who have already logged on. If you have any difficulty in accessing the platform with the given user name and password (which are in your child’s pink Home-School reading books) please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher and/or email help@mertoninf.com for support. We must stress that if you are keeping your child off school the Government has deemed it compulsory for learning online to be completed, and has asked schools to ensure appropriate remote teaching and learning takes place.
Fundraising
Last term we raised £1479.98 and are aiming to achieve £5000 by the end of the year to create our new Mental Health garden. We are planning film nights this half term with details being confirmed later so watch this space!.
Applying for Y3 and YR Places for September 2021
The online application facility for applying for a Y3 junior school place is now open – all Y2 parents need to apply at: www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/admissions. If you are unable to apply online paper copies are available from the school office. The closing date for applications is Friday 15th January 2021.
For any parents who have a child who will be celebrating their 4th birthday between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021 you will now be able to apply online for a school place for September 2021 at the above link. Paper forms will be available from the school office for anyone who is unable to apply online. The closing date for applications is Friday 15th January 2021. Please view our Year R virtual tour for prospective parents on our school website at www.mertoninfants.com
‘
Key Dates:
8th February - YR Film Night
9th February - Y1 Film Night
10th February - Y2 Film Night
11th February - Y1 Fire Service visit
12th February - Break Up at 3.15pm
Thank you for your continuing care, patience and understanding. We are TEAM MERTON.
Take care.
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 5 - 15th December 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
Well what a term but we have made it. Thank you for all your support as we faced new and unusual challenges in school. As a result, thankfully, we have had no confirmed cases of coronavirus in school this term. The Department of Education (DfE) have asked all schools to remind parents to be extra vigilant over the Christmas holidays and ask:
- if a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, the school is asked to assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school.
If your child develops COVID symptoms from Friday 18th December, please arrange for them to be tested immediately. If a positive test is received between Saturday 19th to Wednesday 23rd December, then please inform the school via the school email address above.
Please indicate the date of the positive test result, the first day your child displayed symptoms, your child’s last day in school, and any siblings in different year groups. Please can you also inform the school of any advice you have been given by NHS Test and Trace/PHE.
We will then contact Public Health England (PHE) to ascertain who will need to self-isolate. We will notify, via text message, all the parents of children whom PHE consider have been in close contact with the positive case and will need to self-isolate for 10 days.
A positive test after 23rd December does not need to be reported to the school during the holiday as it is outside of the contact and trace period recommended by PHE, but you should notify the school if they will be absent when school re-opens on 4th January.
- Where a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms more than 48 hours since being in school, the school should not be contacted. Parents and carers should follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace.
Fundraising
Thank you for your generous support this term:
|
Date |
Event |
Amount raised |
|
|
22/10/2020 |
Non-uniform day |
£167.00 |
|
|
26/11/2020 |
Commission from school photographs |
£346.88 |
|
|
26/11/2020 |
Bag2School |
£91.50 |
|
|
07/12/2020 |
Year R Heroes Dress-up Day |
£55.10 |
|
|
11/12/2020 |
Christmas Jumper Day |
£158.00 |
|
|
14/12/2020 |
Christmas Art Gift Pack |
£661.50 |
|
|
Total |
£1,479.98 |
The School Council have decided to use all funds raised to create a new mental health garden in the internal quad area. I am sure you are aware of the HUGE mental health awareness in the world at present. The garden will give the children the space and opportunity to use strategies to support their mental health. We have many events planned for the spring and summer terms. Let’s see if we can raise £5000 by the end of the year!
|
|
Thank you to all parents and carers who have already logged onto our remote learning package. We look forward to seeing all the festive photographs of your child with their white candles.
Applying for Y3 and YR Places for September 2021
The online application facility for applying for a Y3 junior school place is now open – all Y2 parents need to apply at: www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/admissions. If you are unable to apply online paper copies are available from the school office. The closing date for applications is Friday 15th January 2021.
For any parents who have a child who will be celebrating their 4th birthday between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021 you will also now be able to apply online for a school place for September 2021 at the above link. Paper forms will be available from the school office for anyone who is unable to apply online. The closing date for applications is Friday 15th January 2021. Please view our Year R virtual tour for prospective parents on our school website at www.mertoninfants.com
Key Dates:
4th January - 8.45am School starts
8th January - Florence Nightingale museum visit to Y2
11th January - Local Authority (LA) Advisor visit
14th January - Governor Monitoring Day
22nd January - LA Maths Advisor visit
8th February - YR Film Night
9th February - Y1 Film Night
10th February - Y2 Film Night
11th February - Y1 Fire Service visit
12th February - Break Up at 3.15pm
On behalf of all the staff and Governors, have a safe and Happy Christmas and best wishes for a ‘normal’ 2021.
Take care.
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 4 – 1st December 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
♫ It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas everywhere we go … ♫
Advent officially starts today so preparations are well and truly here…
Our Christmas postbox is outside the school office. Please ensure that you put the child’s full name and class on the envelope. It would also be helpful if you could put a rubber band around the cards for each class. The last posting day will be Friday 11th December. This is to ensure that all cards are quarantined for 48 hours before they can be delivered to the children as per COVID-19 guidance for schools. Unfortunately we will not accept any cards after this date.
Some parents have asked about giving staff Christmas presents this year. Again, please ensure that presents are given by Wednesday 16th December in order that they can be quarantined before staff take them home. Obviously, as always, there is no obligation to send any presents to staff.
Our Christmas tree is now up in the hall and staff will take photos of each child in a Christmas costume in front of the tree to be made into calendars. These will be included as part of the Christmas Art Gift Pack available to purchase for £3.50.
Friday 11th December is Christmas jumper day for £1.00 per child. This will support the school’s fundraising project for new scooters and bikes for the children to use at playtimes in our effort to support the children’s physical development, which has dipped due to national lockdowns.
Wednesday 16th December is our Christmas Lunch. Children can wear red and/or green to get us in the festive mood.
Friday 18th December is Christmas Party Day. Children can wear their party clothes. There is no donation for this event. And who knows, we might have a special visitor … socially distanced of course!
INSET
Yesterday, staff completed the statutory Prevent training about looking for signs of radicalisation of extremist views and the procedures to follow if an incident happens in our school community. This is part of our safeguarding procedures.
We also completed pupil progress meetings of each year group. We are so delighted with the children’s progress so far this term. They have worked their socks off! Not only with catch-up plans following non-attendance at school during the first national lockdown where some children’s skills, knowledge and understanding had dipped, but also with learning new concepts appropriate to their current age related expectations. Work in books is very good.
It was noted that sadly some children are not being supported at home and therefore at risk of underachieving. PLEASE read daily with your child using their books or Bug Club, including accessing Mathletics and practising their spellings. The more parents help the more progress your child will make.
Covid-19 Lockdown
As we finish the second national lockdown today, we have reviewed our Risk Assessment. We will continue with our control measures already put in place e.g. regular cleaning, frequent hand washing or sanitising, wearing face masks, and advising parents to leave school site as soon as possible and avoid chatting in groups.
We have decided to revert YR back to operating as a year group bubble rather than class bubbles. This will support the children’s learning better as they will have increased opportunities for their continuous provision using the inside and outside learning areas. Y1 and Y2 will continue to operate as class bubbles.
Applying for Y3 and YR Places for September 2021
The online application facility for applying for a Y3 junior school place is now open – all Y2 parents need to apply at: www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/admissions. If you are unable to apply online paper copies are available from the school office. The closing date for applications is Friday 15th January 2021.
For any parents who have a child who will be celebrating their 4th birthday between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021 you will also now be able to apply online for a school place for September 2021 at the above link. Paper forms will be available from the school office for anyone who is unable to apply online. The closing date for applications is Friday 15th January 2021. Schools in Hampshire have received updated guidance about open mornings for parents to view schools and other events which involve visitors being in the school. It has been advised that schools should find alternative ways to conduct these events. Therefore, please view our Year R virtual tour for prospective parents on our school website at www.mertoninfants.com
Staffing
We have welcomed two new lunchtime supervisors, Mrs Scotford-Smith and Miss Ross and a new cleaner, Miss Rosier.
Key Dates:
4th December - YR Heroes dress-up day for £1.00 donation
11th December - Y2 Art Gallery – to be confirmed
Christmas Jumper Day for £1.00 donation
Last day for posting Christmas cards
14th December - Christmas Art Gift Packs going home
16th December - Christmas Lunch: wear something red or green
18th December - Special visitor in school
Break up for Christmas at 3.15pm
4th January 2021 - School re-opens at normal drop off time
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 3 - 5th November 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back. We trust that you all had a lovely half term holiday. This would usually be the busiest half term of the year preparing for the Christmas performance and subsequent events. However, as we all know life is a little different at the moment. Whilst we are unable to host large gatherings, we do not want to take away all the magical opportunities and experiences for the children, so plans are underway for alternative arrangements.
Covid-19 Lockdown
As we embark on another national lockdown today, the Government has made it very clear that schools should remain open for all children:
“It remains very important for children and young people to attend, to support their wellbeing and education and help working parents and guardians. Senior clinicians still advise that school is the best place for children to be, and so they should continue to go to school. Schools have implemented a range of protective measures to make them safe”.
We understand that it is a worry for parents. However, we will continue with our control measures already put in place before half term in our school Risk Assessment, including:
- regular cleaning of the toilets and work surfaces during the school day
- thorough deep cleaning at the end of the school day followed by the use of a specialist fogging machine
- the wearing of face masks on the school site
- regular washing of hands using soap and water throughout the school day
- providing anti-bacterial gel in each classroom
- ensuring children work in specific groups
- staggered playtime and lunchtimes
- limiting unnecessary visitors to the school
- advising parents to leave school site as soon as possible and avoid chatting in groups
We have also amended our control measures in light of the new lockdown, to include the following:
- classes now operating as ‘bubbles’ rather than year group bubbles
- children eating lunch in their own classrooms
- staff wearing face masks around school when not in their bubbles
This risk assessment will continue to be regularly reviewed by the school’s Health and Safety team. If we all work together then we can keep our school community as safe and well as possible. Remember ‘T’ in Merton is Teamwork.
To ensure sufficient ventilation during these times, windows and doors will remain open. Therefore we advise that children wear additional layers to keep themselves warm whilst in class.
Unless your child has a valid reason for not being in school (e.g. illness, medical appointments or covid related symptoms/advice given), there should be no reason why any child should remain at home for the month of lockdown. If any siblings attending pre-school, junior school or secondary school display any of the three coronavirus symptoms, they will be advised by that particular setting whether that sibling and household will need to self-isolate, following the guidance from the Department of Education (DfE) and Public Health England (PHE). Further guidance and advice can be found at: www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.
If any of our children need to self-isolate, then we will ensure work packs are sent home and you can also access Bug Club and Mathletics via your log-in details in your child’s Home School Reading Diary.
We recognise that some families will have concerns regarding financial stability and mental health. Please do not hesitate to contact us and we will endeavour to support you in any way that we can eg: food parcels.
From Monday 9th November we will be offering an alternative menu for the children so that they can eat in their class bubbles. Each day will include a Red /Green hot option together with a Red/Green cold option – along with a selection of potatoes/vegetables/salad items or fruit and the dessert of the day. The menu will be the same every week until further notice and the options can be seen in the table below:
|
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
RED: Hot Pork Sausage Roll GREEN: Hot Vegetarian Sausage Roll |
RED: Chicken Burger GREEN: Quorn Burger |
RED: Pizza GREEN: Pizza |
RED: Hot Pork Sausage in a Roll GREEN: Hot Vegetarian Sausage in a Roll |
RED: Fish Finger Wrap GREEN: Fish Finger Wrap |
|
RED: Ham Roll GREEN: Cheese Roll |
RED: Ham Roll GREEN: Cheese Roll |
RED: Ham Roll GREEN: Cheese Roll |
RED: Ham Roll GREEN: Cheese Roll |
RED: Ham Roll GREEN: Cheese Roll |
|
Dessert |
Dessert |
Dessert |
Dessert |
Dessert |
All special diets will still be catered for.
Applying for Y3 and YR Places for September 2021
The online application facility for applying for a Y3 junior school place is now open – all Y2 parents need to apply at: www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/admissions. If you are unable to apply online paper copies are available from the school office. The closing date for applications is Friday 15th January 2021.
For any parents who have a child who will be celebrating their 4th birthday between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021 you will also now be able to apply online for a school place for September 2021 at the above link. Paper forms will be available from the school office for anyone who is unable to apply online. The closing date for applications is Friday 15th January 2021. Schools in Hampshire have received updated guidance about open mornings for parents to view schools and other events which involve visitors being in the school. It has been advised that schools should find alternative ways to conduct these events. Therefore, please view our Year R virtual tour for prospective parents on our school website at www.mertoninfants.com
Parents’ Evening
Thank you to all parents who conducted the telephone consultations regarding your child’s progress. Whilst they were not the same as face to face meetings, staff and parents found them useful. Obviously we are worried about your child’s learning due to Covid-19 and strongly urge you to support your child at home in order that they do not fall behind. Staff are always available to answer any queries that you may have. If you were unable to speak to your child’s class teacher, please phone the school office to make an alternative appointment.
Staffing
At the end of last half term, we welcomed a new Lunchtime Supervisor, Miss. Kenchington.
Bag2School
Help our school to raise vital funds by donating any unwanted clothing items hidden in the back of your wardrobe. Items should be placed in a sealed black sack and left by the blue double gates no later than 9.00am on Monday 23rd November (specific bags are not being provided this year).
- Acceptable items – mens/ladies/childrens clothing, paired shoes, handbags, hats curtains, towels household linen and bedding, socks, jewellery and belts.
- Not acceptable items – duvets, blankets, pillows, cushions, carpets, rugs, ripped/torn clothing, school uniform and work uniforms.
Key Dates:
11th November – Armistice Day 2-minute silence at 11.00am
13th November – Children in Need Day: wear something spotty
23rd November – Bags to School
27th November – Christmas Fair for Children only: details to follow
30th November – INSET – School closed for staff training (Safeguarding/Prevent and Pupil Progress)
4th December – YR Heroes dress-up day for £1.00
11th December – Y2 Art Gallery – to be confirmed
Christmas Jumper Day for £1.00
16th December – Christmas Lunch: wear red or green
18th December – Break Up at 3.15pm
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
2ndnOctober 2020 - Newsletter 2
Dear Parents/Carers,
So far the term is going well. The children are now used to their routines and showing good work ethic. Staff have been busy assessing the children and identifying their gaps in knowledge and understanding as a result of non-attendance at pre-school or school due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Reading Books
From Monday, we will be sending home our school reading books for you to practise reading with your child every night. We cannot stress the importance of practising their key words so that your child becomes more confident and fluent. Please see the list of words in the back of your Home-School reading diary. The children MUST know these words by sight by the end of the academic year.
As part of our Home-School Remote Learning package, we will also be launching ‘Bug Club’ which is an on-line reading scheme. Staff will be able to access each child’s account to check their progress. Please see their log-in details in the Home School reading diary. Remember, ‘reading is the MOST important skill’.
Relationships Education
This September, the Department for Education (DfE) made Relationships Education compulsory in all primary schools in England. Schools are required to conduct a parent consultation about the school’s policy. Please access this link to view our Relationship Education Policy https://www.mertoninfants.com/policies/ Our Personal Development Learning (PDL) topics detail how and when we teach Relationships Education and can be viewed via this link https://www.mertoninfants.com/pdl/
After-School Club
Mrs. Bond, After School Assistant, has now left this role. She is replaced by Miss Mead, Y1 Learning Support Assistant and Miss Thane, a Learning Support Assistant, from Merton Junior School. Mrs Haddington will also not be working on Fridays.
Covid-19 guidance
Please bear with the staff when dismissing the children at the end of the day. It can be difficult to see who the parents are especially when raining and parents are wearing a hood with their masks. In the interests of safeguarding, please refrain from calling your child’s name, as only staff are allowed to dismiss a child to whoever is collecting them.
Please may we remind you:
· to wear face masks if you need to speak to staff in the school building
· to arrive as near to the staggered start and finish times
· to avoid large gatherings with other parents
· to keep to the 2 metre social distancing
· to leave the school site as quickly as possible
· only 1 adult should be dropping off/picking up
School Events
Due to advice from the DfE and the Local Authority released this week, schools have been advised not to plan face to face Parents Evenings, special assemblies and school performances e.g. Harvest and the Christmas nativity for this term at least.
We appreciate that many of you have already booked a Parents’ Evening time. We will, therefore, produce a short report detailing how well your child has settled into their new class, including their targets for reading, writing and maths. Phone consultations can now be booked to discuss your child’s progress and targets. We will text the link to book your time slot the week beginning Monday 5th October:
Please note: Your old appointment time has been cancelled-you will need to re-book for a telephone consultation.
Telephone Booking Times
Y2 = 13th October 3.30 – 5.45pm or 15th October 3.30 – 5.45pm
Y1 = 19th October 3.30 – 5.45pm or 22nd October 3.30 – 5.45pm
YR = 3rd November 3.30 – 5.45pm or 5th November 3.30 – 5.45pm
Remote Learning
School is currently completing our contingency plan if the school or local area goes into lockdown. This will involve an on-line package. There will be a parent survey sent out shortly where we are asking about the technological devices that you have available at home. Please complete in order for us to assess how best we can support your child’s needs and continue with their education if they are requested to self-isolate.
Year 1 and Year 2 Welcome Meetings
The Year 1 and Year 2 Welcome Meetings will be available to view online (via our website) by the end of next week. A text will be sent with the link. Please do watch these as we are unable to do them face-to-face this year.
Take care,
Larissa James
Headteacher
11th September 2020
Dear Parents/Carers
Newsletter 1 - September 2020
Welcome back to our existing parents and a very warm welcome to our new YR children and families. We hope that you had a lovely summer holiday.
The children look very smart in their school uniforms and have settled into their classes very well.
We have a very busy term ahead so please ensure you check and empty your child’s book bag daily or view the school website for newsletters or other important information.
Covid-19 guidance
School has worked very hard to ensure that we adhere to the guidance published by Public Health England and the Department for Education. Currently, the school’s Risk Assessment is being reviewed daily with staff and Governors. Please may we remind you:
· to wear face masks if you need to speak to staff in the school building
· arrive as near to the staggered start and finish times as possible
· avoid large gatherings with other parents
· keep to the 2 metre social distancing
· leave the school site as quickly as possible
Unfortunately, we are unable to permit parents and siblings to use the visitor toilet facilities at any time. If your child develops a cough, a high temperature or loss of taste or smell, please contact NHS 111 directly for relevant advice. Please avoid contacting the office staff for advice as they are not medically qualified.
The DFE have produced a Covid-19 helpline number:- 0800 0468687 which is open between 8.00am and 6.00pm. The DFE have also given the following advice regarding symptoms:-
If your child displays any symptoms of Covid-19 (such as a high temperature/persistent cough/loss of taste or smell) they should self-isolate and get a test. If they test negative and feel well enough they can return to school. If they test positive they should self-isolate for at least 10 days from when they first had symptoms.
Following our site risk assessment it is difficult to social distance on pathways. We, therefore, request that all parents wear a face mask on school grounds unless you are exempt.
Please do not be offended if a member of staff queries why you are not wearing one. Thank you
If someone in your household has symptoms the whole household should self-isolate and the family member who has symptoms should get a test. If they test negative your child can stop self-isolating and return to school. If they test positive your child should continue self-isolating for the full 14 days from when the family member first had symptoms.
In all cases of self-isolation could we please ask that you inform us immediately about the outcome of a test.
Curriculum Newsletters
Each year group will send out information this week about this half term’s topics including suggestions about how you can support your child’s learning at home. Each child will bring home their pink Home School Reading books as a means of communication, especially when staff read with your child and when you access the online Monster to Read website for them to practise reading at home. At present, we will not be sending home our reading or library books.
Parking
Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.
Belongings
Please ensure you label all school uniform including hats, gloves, coats, shoes, PE kits, lunch boxes and water bottles. We are always amazed at the amount of lost property we donate to charity shops so please check the lost property box in the office porch regularly. Children often have the same items and become anxious when they lose something.
Money
All money must be put in your child’s zipped wallet and handed to your child’s class teacher with a note indicating the amount and reason for the money. The office staff are unable to take money across the front desk. Any change will be returned at the end of the day, but wherever possible, please try to send in the exact amount.
However, during the current COVID situation we would prefer that Breakfast club, After School Club and school trips are paid online.
Wednesday 30th September - School photographer (individual photos)
Tuesday 13th October - Parents’ Evening 3.30- 6.00pm
Thursday 15th October - Parents’ Evening 3.30- 6.00pm
Monday 19th October - Parents’ Evening 4.00- 6.30pm
Thursday 22nd October - Flu Vaccine for all year groups
Thursday 22nd October - 3.15pm break up for half term
Friday 23rd October - INSET Day
Monday 2nd November - School re-opens at 8.45am
Thank you for your continuing support, patience and understanding.
Larissa James
Headteacher
School Year September 2019 - July 2020
If you would like to translate the newsletters into a different language, please select the newsletter and then click on the 'select language' drop down arrow to select the language you would like to view the newsletter in.
Hello Parents/Carers, we hope everyone is safe and well.
June 1st is the provisional date given by the Government for non-essential retailers like Skoolkit to reopen. So, we would like to update you with our plans to help this happen and to hopefully cover any questions.
We have a social responsibility to not attract large numbers to our shops to maintain social distancing measures, so where possible we would like to encourage customers to buy from our website. Please use the FAQ on our website to help answer any questions you may have regarding ordering online.
Regrettably our usual “discount week” has been suspended for this year, however we will be offering free delivery codes for uniforms purchased on-line on specific dates as follows: Just enter the code at the checkout.
26TH – 28TH JUNE 2020 – JUNEDEL20
27TH JUNE – 26TH JULY – SUMMER2020
29TH – 31ST JULY 2020 – JULYDEL20
5TH – 7TH AUGUST 2020 – AUGDEL20
If you do need to visit our shops please buy early to help avoid crowds building up through the summer. There will be queues for uniform and service will take longer than usual but we aim to move customers through as safely as possible and we will be observing all Government guidelines including:
- Providing staff with PPE as advised
- Providing hand sanitiser in-store for use by staff and customers
- Installing cough/sneeze guards
- Observing 2 metre social distancing rule by using a one-way flow system through stores with floor markings and signage.
- Limiting the number of people who can be inside a shop at any given time. With only one adult with their children where possible.
- Limiting the use of fitting rooms so that they are only used where absolutely necessary
- Limiting customers’ handling of uniform. So, please come prepared with size information (Refer to www.skoolkit.co.uk for size guides)
- Encouraging the use of card payment
Can we please ask our customers to be patient with our staff who will be working incredibly hard to help make sure your child has all they need for their return back to school.
If we all help each other stay safe we can survive this challenging time together.
www.skoolkit.co.uk
28th May 2020
Dear Parents / Carers,
School Phased Return
Following last night’s announcement from the Government, it is confirmed that we will implement our school phased return for all YR children, including key workers, vulnerable and EHCP children in each year group from 1st June.
Following our survey sent out at the end of last week we have had confirmation that there will be 48 children returning to school. We stress that this is your decision to send your child back to school and we are not insisting that they attend. Parents will not face fines or other sanctions if they do not send their child in. School will not be held to account for our attendance figures during this time. We ask that you make the decision whether or not to send your child into school and keep to that decision. We cannot have children sent in for one day but not the next unless they become unwell. If you have not already informed the school that your child will be attending from the 1st June and now decide that you want them to return, you must confirm with us first and not just arrive at school. We will need at least a week’s notice in order to ensure correct procedures are in place.
YR and priority Y2 children will remain in their own classes/’bubbles’. Priority Y1 children will be combined as one ‘bubble’.
Session times will be:
Owlets: 8.45 - 2.45pm
Snowy: 9.00 - 3.00pm
Y1: 8.45 - 2.45pm
Wise: 9.00 - 3.00pm
Eagle: 9.00 - 3.00pm
Class bubbles will not be mixing with each other and will remain in their allocated classrooms and designated outdoor areas for the Summer 2nd half term, with their class teacher and LSA.
We have set tables in rows in each classroom with their own resource packs in zipped wallets e.g. pencils, books, scissors, glue etc to avoid sharing of resources. These will be wiped down at the end of each day. School has also invested in a specialist machine which sanitises all furniture and equipment and this will be done daily.
Children will spend lunchtime in their bubbles with their adults either outside (weather permitting) or in their new classroom. They will be provided with a picnic bag with a red or green option or you can provide their own packed lunch from home. There will be no hot dinners available.
For pupils with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP), it may not be possible to provide the full range of provision set out in the plan, and it may be necessary to make different arrangements if some of the support services are not available in their usual form.
The curriculum planned will focus on Personal Development Learning (PDL), basic phonics, reading, writing and maths per topic per year group. Home School learning packs will still continue for those who remain at home.
Children will be constantly reminded to wash their hands throughout the day. We will encourage social distancing, however, this is extremely difficult with young children and therefore we cannot guarantee keeping children 2 metres apart from each other.
Children must bring in their own labelled water bottles and PE kits but they do not need their book bags.
Staff are not required to wear PPE unless a child or adult becomes ill. However, we have ordered face masks and aprons if staff want to wear them and we will explain to the children why they are wearing them.
Each class will use designated toilets which will not be gender based but supervised by their allocated adult.
We have organised staggered start and finish times to reduce the ‘traffic’ around the school site. There will be markings to indicate a queuing system. We ask that one parent only drops off and collects each day, and leave the school site as soon as possible. Parents can organise telephone or email communication if you have any queries via the school office. Parents will only be allowed to enter the school building in an emergency.
Staff will not be taking children’s temperature each morning. Doors and windows will be open to ensure the classrooms are well ventilated. If anyone in the bubble develops symptoms of coronavirus, they will be sent home and asked to be tested. The entire bubble and siblings will be asked to isolate initially whilst the individual is tested (to be arranged by the parent of that child). If positive, the bubble will need to isolate for 14 days. They will be able to return to school if testing reveals a negative result. If more cases occur in school, we will follow instructions given by PHE (Public Health England).
If a child or member of staff lives with someone who is shielding (clinically extremely vulnerable - those with a Government letter) then they should not be in school.
Breakfast and After School Clubs will not be running until further notice. Teachers will have their weekly entitled Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time on Thursday afternoons and LSAs will support the children.
We are all learning, so please bear with us. Plans may change due to information given by the Government. Following the first week in school, we will evaluate our procedures and may be able to offer Y1 places in subsequent weeks.
Thank you for your continuing support, patience and understanding.
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
18th May 2020
Dear Parents / Carers,
School Phased Return
We are in the process of planning for our school phased return for all YR children, including children of key workers, vulnerable and EHCP children in each year group from 1st June. Please note it is not for Y1 cohort as per Government advice for Infant Schools.
We stress that this is your decision to send your child back to school and we are not insisting that they attend school. Parents will not face fines or other sanctions if they don’t send their child. School will not be held to account for our attendance figures during this time. We ask that you make the decision to send your child into school or not and keep to that decision until further guidance from the Government. We cannot have children sent in for one day but not the next unless they become unwell.
Following our risk assessments, we plan to split YR into four groups/ ‘bubbles’ of 12. Children of key workers including vulnerable and EHCP children in Y1 and Y2 will also be organised in bubbles of 12 children. The class bubble will not mix with each other and will remain in their allocated classrooms for the Summer 2nd half term.
Each bubble will be allocated a teacher and LSA but this may not be the adults the children previously had before lockdown.
We have set tables in rows in each classroom with their own resource packs in zipped wallets e.g. pencils, books, scissors, glue etc to avoid sharing of resources. These will be wiped down at the end of each day. School has also invested in a specialist machine which sanitizes all furniture and equipment which will be done daily.
Children will spend lunchtimes in their bubble with their adult either outside (weather permitting) or in their new classroom. They will be provided with a picnic bag with a red or green option or you can provide their own packed lunch from home. There will be no hot dinners available.
For pupils with Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP), it may not be possible to provide the full range of provision set out in the plan, and it may be necessary to make different arrangements if some of the support services are not available in their usual form.
The curriculum planned will focus on Personal Development Learning (PDL), basic phonics, reading, writing and maths per topic per year group. Home School Learning Packs will still continue for those who remain at home.
Children will be constantly reminded to wash their hands throughout the day. We will encourage social distancing, however, this is extremely difficult with young children and therefore we cannot guarantee keeping children 2 metres apart from each other.
Children must bring in their own labelled water bottles and PE kits but they do not need their book bags.
Staff are not required to wear PPE unless a child or adult becomes ill. However, we have ordered face masks and aprons if staff want to wear them and we will explain to the children why they are wearing them.
Each class will use designated toilets which will not be gender based but supervised by their allocated adult.
We have organised staggered start and finish times to reduce the ‘traffic’ around the school site. There will be markings to indicate a queuing system. We ask that one parent only drops off and collects each day and that parents leave the school site as soon as possible. If you have any queries please contact the school office either by telephone or email. If parents need to speak to the office staff, only one parent will be allowed to enter the building at a time and only if absolutely necessary.
Staff will not be taking children’s temperature each morning. Doors and windows will be open to ensure the classrooms are well ventilated. If anyone in the bubble develops symptoms of coronavirus, they will be sent home and asked to be tested. The entire bubble and siblings will be asked to isolate initially whilst the individual is tested (to be arranged by the parent of that child). If positive, the bubble will need to isolate for 14 days. They will be able to return to school if testing reveals a negative result. If more cases occur in school, we will follow instructions given by PHE (Public Health England).
If a child or member of staff lives with someone who is shielding (clinically extremely vulnerable – those with a Government letter) then they should not be in school.
Breakfast and After School Clubs will not be running until further notice. Teachers will have their weekly entitled Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time on Friday afternoons and LSAs will deep clean the classrooms and resources. Therefore, children must be collected at 1.00pm on Fridays.
If your child is in one of the groups which are eligible to return to school from 1st June e.g. all YR children, children of key workers, vulnerable and EHCP children in each year group, we ask you to complete the short survey below to indicate whether you are intending to send your child into school. Please complete by 12.00pm on Wednesday 20th May. Once we have confirmed numbers, we will allocate your child to their adults and classroom notifying you where and when to drop off and collect each day.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/S7W7XDJ
We are all learning so please bear with us. Plans may change due to information given by the Government over the next couple of days.
Thank you for your continuing support, patience and understanding.
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
11th May 2020
Dear Parent/Carers,
By now, I am sure you will have watched or listened to the Prime Minister’s address to the nation last night. In terms of the potential for schools re-opening, the Prime Minister said ‘In step two - at the earliest by 1st June - after half term - we believe we may be in a position… to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6’. It is important to note that the statement makes it clear that this is not a set date, and that this may happen.
Therefore, for schools across the country, at present, nothing has changed.
Until further notice, we are only open to children of key workers, as in the original descriptors set out in March, along with vulnerable children and those with EHCPs. We are not in a position to begin welcoming more children back to school.
We know that this situation still has the potential to cause parents and children some concern, and we are sure you have many questions which you are keen to have answered about what this may mean for you and your family. However, at this present time, we do not have all the answers. We assure you that further information will be provided in the coming days and weeks once the Government has issued more detailed guidance for schools. We are working with the Governing Body to formulate plans as we await further guidance from the DFE and the Local Authority as to when we can admit more children into the school safely.
We will need clear guidance to plan how it is possible to social distance in schools and keep our children, staff and families safe; how we might start to phase groups of children returning and what that looks like. Each school may have different plans according to their own circumstances and staffing levels, many of whom have their own children in different year groups.
In the meantime, we will continue to plan online learning and prepare home learning packs for your child which will be sent out on Mondays for the week, available on the school website or paper copies for collection.
Thank you for your continuing support.
Take care and keep safe.
Larissa James
Headteacher
20th April 2020
Newsletter 6
Dear Parents/Carers,
This newsletter would normally be welcoming you back after the Easter holiday! We trust that you had a lovely holiday and enjoyed the wonderful sunshine over the Easter weekend.
On Thursday 16th April the Government announced the continuation of the national lockdown for at least another three weeks. Currently, there is not a projected date for schools to re-open for all children. School will only be open for the children of key critical workers and vulnerable children for example those who have a Social Worker involved with the family and those with an EHCP (Education, Health Care Plan) only where it is absolutely necessary. If there are childcare arrangements at home, then children MUST remain at home.
Staff will attend school on a rota to supervise any children. Teachers will continue with weekly phone welfare checks including myself and Mrs Durbajlo, our Inclusion Manager. Phone calls will obviously vary on different days if there are siblings depending on which teachers are in school.
As usual, year group curriculum newletters will be put on the school website this week to detail the new topics for this half term and ways you can support your child at home. Please continue to explore online resources for your child to continue their learning at home. These are listed on our school website and class pages. We will update these pages regularly.
There will be another Home Learning pack available for collection by the end of the week. They will be in labelled boxes along the car park pathway. Please remember social distancing rules of keeping 2 metres apart. We suggest the following collection times:
YR = 9.30 - 10.30am Y1 = 11.00 - 12.00 Y2 = 1.00 - 2.00pm
Please collect and leave the school site as soon as possible. If you are unable to collect, please contact the school office and we will arrange postage. Please can you also communicate whether you have limited access to technology at home so that we make sufficient packs and avoid over photocopying.
There will also be a box of reading books alongside the learning pack boxes if you would like to take any for your child.
Today there will also be daily lessons for primary home schooling on the BBC website https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/dailylessons
Staffing
At the end of last term, we sadly said goodbye to Miss Cooper, Y2 teacher. She decided to take a part time position in a school in Newbury following the birth of her son last June. We also said goodbye to Miss Foster, Y1 LSA, who has taken a new position at St. Bernard’s Nursery in Oakridge. It was not our usual send-off for both staff! But I am sure that you will join me in wishing them well in their new jobs.
On 13th May, we are expecting Mrs Wisken, Deputy Headteacher, to return from her maternity leave.
Mrs Knight, Special Needs Assistant, and Miss Neilsen, our ELSA, continue their self-isolation and we wish them both well.
We miss you all very much. I light a candle every night for hope and would love for you to join me. Please keep sending us your pictures, your stories, your news, your letters, your love, your examples of our MERTON values.
Take care MERTON family.
Larissa James
Headteacher
3rd April 2020
Dear Parents / Carers,
I hope that you are all safe and well. A strange day today because we should be finishing school for the Easter Holidays!
It has been lovely to see and hear all your news and work this week via your class pages and teachers. It is very strange having to communicate in this way but please still continue to do so to keep us all sane!!
Please keep checking the school website and text message service for up-to-date information after Easter for the week commencing Monday 20th April. We will shortly be contacting parents of vulnerable and key worker children to ascertain their childcare requirements for after the Easter holidays. If you need to contact the school urgently over the Easter break please do so via email - adminoffice@merton-inf.hants.sch.uk.
Staff have volunteered to keep the school open during Easter for children of key critical workers and our vulnerable children. A HUGE thank you to them. Parents, who have absolutely no other alternative arrangements, have now been informed of the plan for the week. For those parents, on behalf of our school community and beyond, we applaud you; our thoughts and best wishes are with you.
Easter is a sign of New Life so perhaps the children can draw a picture to cheer us all up. I continue to light a candle every night for hope and would love for you to join me.
Stay safe. Don’t be a stranger and contact us at any time for anything and we will try our best to help you.
Happy Easter and take care.
Larissa James
Headteacher
24th March 2020
Dear Parent / Carer,
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement last night, please can we remind you that children must only attend school if it is absolutely necessary, for those children of key critical workers or considered as vulnerable children. Where you possibly can, please make alternative childcare arrangements if you are required to work.
The list of key critical workers from the Government are:
- Health and Social Care
- Education and Childcare
- Key Public Services
- Local and National Government
- Food and other necessary goods
- Public safety and national security
- Transport
- Utilities, communication and financial services
Please access this link if you are unsure whether you fit into one of these categories:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
Online materials and learning
Please continue to explore online resources for your child to continue their learning at home. These are listed on our school website and class pages. We will update these pages regularly.
We have created Resource packs (e.g. pencils, glue, books) for collection from Thursday 26th March. We are also making hard copies of work/activities for collection for those who need it. Please can you inform us if you have limited access to technology so that we can make sufficient packs and avoid over photocopying.
Make this your daily walk! But in line with Government advice about social distancing, we suggest the following collection times from the school car park gates:
Y2 = 9.30am -10.30am Y1 = 11.00am - 12.00pm YR = 1.00pm - 2.00pm
Please collect your pack and leave the school site as soon as possible and avoid large social gatherings! Please be sensible and stand back where necessary.
In addition, the BBC has said that it will be increasing its range of resources to support children’s education.
Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, has created a link to his YouTube channel to support children’s physical education:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ
You should be able to stream the workouts live each day at 9.00am.
Please do share any work/activity your child has completed with staff via our Facebook class pages.
We will contact parents who qualify for the Free School Meal vouchers as soon as possible once the Government has agreed to the national voucher scheme.
Please see our Safeguarding details on our school website should you have any concerns about a child.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continuing support through these unprecedented times. Please be assured that we will continue to update you as the situation changes as soon as we can and that we will continue to work for the best interests of the children at our schools.
Please do contact us for anything. Keep yourself and your family safe. We will be thinking of you. Go TEAM MERTON!
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Infant Headteacher
March 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
With the school closed except for children of key workers and vulnerable learners because of the COVID-19 outbreak, we are emailing regarding our safeguarding procedures during this time. The usual safeguarding protocols will be in place for on-site activity.
In addition, to maintain our safeguarding duty for children not in school:
- If you have any safeguarding concerns then please contact Mrs James, the school’s Designated Safeguarding Leader via the normal school email address: adminoffice@merton-inf.hants.sch.uk and mark it as ‘confidential and FAO MRS JAMES’. The school office will then send this information on.
- Alternatively, you can contact Children Services directly on 0300 555 1384 or email childrens.services@hants.gov.uk (office hours - Mon to Fri 9.00am until 5.00pm). There is also an out of hours contact number - 0300 555 1373.
- If you are in any way concerned that a child is at an immediate risk then you
should call 999 without delay.
Thank you for your continuing support,
Larissa James
Headteacher
20th March 2020
Dear Parent / Carer,
We are sure that you will have heard the Prime Minister’s announcement on Wednesday 18th March about general school closures but continuing provision for children of key workers and vulnerable children. We are writing to give you an update on our plans for this, following advice from the Local Authority.
Both schools will close at the end of Friday 20th March and there is no expectation that pupils will then attend school until the advice from Government changes.
Emergency Service
While our schools will be closed for general admissions, all schools across the country are being asked to run an emergency service for the children of key workers in essential services so that they are able to continue to work. We have now received the definitive list of key workers from the Government which are:
- Health and Social Care
- Education and Childcare
- Key Public Services
- Local and National Government
- Food and other necessary goods
- Public safety and national security
- Transport
- Utilities, communication and financial services
Please access this link if you are unsure whether you fit into one of these categories:
There is no expectation that children of these key workers have to attend school. If you fall into this group and wish to make other arrangements, then you are welcome to do so.
The Government is also asking that we continue to provide education and support for children who have an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP), children who have a social worker assigned to the family, those from families receiving Early Help and children receiving support from the Primary Behaviour Service.
Again, there is no requirement that children in these groups have to come to school, but they will be welcome should parents or carers choose this option. The Government are asking schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.
Home to School Transport
The County Council will continue to make home to school transport available to those children that are eligible to receive it. In some instances, that might require some changes to be made which may take a little time. We expect further information from the Local Authority if this is the case and will provide further information as soon as we have it.
Online materials and learning
For those children who will be at home from Monday morning, there will be online resources available to support children to continue to learn.
Infant School
- We have already sent packs of work home but if you have not collected them due to being self-isolated then we will post them tonight.
- We have listed websites on our school website on the Children’s pages.
- We have sent you a log-in for ‘Teach your monster to read’ website.
- We have sent you a link to twinkle: www.twinkl.co.uk/offer and enter the code UKTWINKLHELPS.
- We will create Resource packs (e.g. pencils, glue, books) for collection or staff will drop them to your houses next week.
Junior School
- We have sent packs of work home to some children and exercise books to other children – if your child has an exercise book then please access the work packs on our website and children can write their answers in their exercise book.
- Further work will be updated on the website each week.
- Please access a list of websites which can be found on the Year Group pages.
- Please take advantage of the free subscription offer on Twinkl’s website (https://www.twinkl.co.uk/offer) and enter the code CVDTWINKLHELPS.
- We will keep you informed of any updates on our school Facebook page.
In addition, the BBC has said that it will be increasing its range of resources to support children’s education.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support through these unprecedented times. Please be assured that we will continue to update you as the situation changes and that we will continue to work for the best interests of the children at our schools.
Breakfast and After-School clubs will be cancelled. Please do contact us for anything. Keep yourself and your family safe. We will be thinking of you.
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James Kayleigh Reading
Infant Headteacher Junior Headteacher
Newsletter 5: 2nd March 2020
Welcome back. We hope that you all had an enjoyable holiday!
We have another busy term at school so please check your child’s book bag every day for any newsletters or visit our school website.
Year group Curriculum newsletters were sent out last week detailing the topic for this half term and suggesting ways you can support your child’s learning at home.
Please ensure your child practices reading every night. We are finding many children who are struggling due to lack of home support. As we say ‘Reading is the most important skill’!
Staffing
We welcome back Mrs Jones, Y1 Barn Owls teacher, following her successful second teacher training placement at Hook Junior School. She was so successful that she was offered a teaching position for September 2020. Well done Mrs Jones!
Miss Cooper shall be leaving on 2nd April in order to start a part time teaching position after Easter following the birth of her baby son.
Attendance
I am pleased that school attendance was 96% again for last half term and therefore continuing to meet our school expectation. I hope that it will continue to rise especially with the warmer weather coming.
Please remember that there are 2 attendance sessions per day (am & pm). If your child is absent in the morning e.g. to attend a medical appointment or due to some exceptional circumstance, please send them in for the afternoon session, which begins at 1.00pm, so that they can have a mark for their attendance. If there is no valid reason given for the absence it will be unauthorised.
Breakfast Club and After School Club
Just a reminder that all Merton Infant and Junior school children can attend our Breakfast Club and After School Club. Breakfast Club is open from 8.00 - 8.45am each day and costs £2.70. ASC runs from 3.15 - 5.45pm and costs £7.50 for regular booked sessions and £9.50 for ad-hoc sessions. Forms are available from the school office.
Parking
Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.
Key Dates
4th March - Parents’ Evening (3.30-6.00pm)
5th March - World Book Day: Dress up as a book character
9th March - Parents’ Evening (4.00-6.30pm)
25th March - Easter assembly at St.Bede’s Catholic Church at 9.30am (parents welcome)
1st April - Class Photos
3rd April - Easter Egg Hunt & Raffle - details to follow
3rd April - Break Up at 3.15pm
School re-opens at 8.45am on Monday 20th April
27th February 2020
Dear Parents/Carers
National advice for travellers from areas affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed this week, and we understand that parents and carers may have questions about this. The school is following national guidance that has been issued for educational settings.
The latest accurate information on Coronavirus (COVID-19), including the current situation in the UK and details about the virus and its symptoms, can be found at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus. This is updated regularly and includes the most recent advice in relation to travel from certain parts of Italy - so we encourage you to visit the website for the latest information.
The UK’s Chief Medical Officer continues to advise that the risk to individuals in the UK remains low.
As a school, the most important action that we can take to protect against Coronavirus and other germs is to promote good hand and respiratory hygiene. We continue to encourage the children and staff to do the following and ask that you support this at home too. The advice is to:
- wash hands often - with soap and water or using alcohol sanitiser if handwashing facilities are not available
- cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin
We are following national advice and the school is operating as normal. Should the situation change or if we are given different advice, we will contact you.
If you believe you are at risk, then please contact NHS 111 for advice.
Yours sincerely
Larissa James
Headteacher
26th February 2020
Dear Parents/Carers
As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our children are kept healthy and safe, I thought I would share with you advice from Hampshire County Council regarding the Coronavirus outbreak. Please be assured that everything contained in it is a precautionary measure, rather than a response to any local concerns.
Updated information from HCC regarding the Coronavirus outbreak
There are a small number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the UK and understandably, there is some concern among local school communities.
However, there have been no confirmed cases in Hampshire.
The Government’s Chief Medical Officer continues to advise that the risk to the public is moderate, with risks to individuals remaining low.
The current advice is:
- If you have travelled from Wuhan or Hubei Province to the UK in the last 14 days you should immediately:
- Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu, whether you have symptoms or not
- Call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the area
- If you have returned to the UK from any of the other specified areas, https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public in the last 14 days and develop symptoms of cough or fever or shortness of breath, you should immediately:
- Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu
- Call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the country
- If you believe you have had close contact with a confirmed case of Coronavirus, and you haven’t been contacted by Public Health England, you should contact NHS 111 for further advice.
Otherwise, if you have not been contacted by Public Health England in relation to a known case of Coronavirus, you do not need to take any action at this time. This means that everyone else should continue to go about their daily routine, e.g. going to work or school as they would normally.
We will continue to promote good hand hygiene among our staff and pupils, as well as ensuring they know to Catch it, Bin it, Kill it if they have a cough or cold.
We will provide further updates should the situation change
Newsletter 4: 7th January 2020
Welcome back and best wishes for your health & happiness in 2020. Thank you for all your Christmas cards and kind gifts, they were much appreciated as it was a long term!
We have another busy term at school so please check your child’s book bag every day for any newsletters or visit our school website.
Year group Curriculum newsletters will also come out this week detailing the topic for this half term and suggesting ways you can support your child’s learning at home
Staffing
We welcome back Miss Cooper from Maternity Leave. She will be supporting Y1 & 2 groups including covering for teachers when they attend courses.
Mrs Jones, Y1 Barn Owls teacher, has started her 2nd teacher training placement at Hook Junior School. We welcome Miss N who will cover Barn Owls for this half term. I will also cover her non-contact days.
Children starting School in September 2020
Will your child be celebrating their 4th birthday between 1st September 2019 and 31st August 2020? If so, you will be able to apply for a school place from 1st November, preferably online at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions.
If you are unable to apply online, you will be able to collect a paper application form from the school.
The application deadline is Wednesday 15th January 2020.
Breakfast Club and After School Club
Just a reminder that all Merton Infant and Junior school children can attend our Breakfast Club and After School Club. Breakfast Club is open from 8.00 - 8.45am each day and costs £2.70. ASC runs from 3.15 - 5.45pm and costs £7.50 for regular booked sessions and £9.50 for ad-hoc sessions. Forms are available from the school office.
Parking
Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.
Key Dates
29th Jan - Gymnastics competition at the Active Life Centre
7th Feb - YR Nurse screening
12th Feb - Open Box Theatre visit for Years 1 & 2
13th Feb - Fire Service visit Y1
14th Feb - Break Up at 3.15pm
24th Feb - School re-opens at 8.45am
School Website update
The new school website went live on Tuesday 7th January 2020. This new website is mobile friendly and information will be easier to access and see from now on. Later in the school year a photographer will be visiting the school to take photos of the children in their surroundings to populate the website with and, thus, make it more personal to us. We look forward to hearing what you think of the new site.
4th December 2019
Dear Parent / Carers,
Following our e-Safety and Clever Never Goes theme day on Monday, I am writing to inform you that several children explained that they play Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto games at home.
Please can I remind you that these are not age appropriate and are actually rated for 18+ years old. It is a criminal offence to allow younger children to play such games. Schools have a duty of care to children and can report concerns to Children Services.
Children also report that they have their own Facebook and Instagram accounts. The official age to join these sites is 13 years old.
Please ensure that you use the necessary parental controls on your home devices to keep your child safe. There is advice on our school website about Internet safety or alternatively speak to a member of staff who can advise you of the dangers and safety solutions.
Thank you for your co-operation on this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Larissa James
Headteacher
Newsletter 3: 6th November 2019
Welcome back. We hope that you had a lovely half term holiday.
This is traditionally the busiest half term of the year with many festive activities taking place so please ensure you check and empty your child’s book bag daily and view the school website for newsletters or other important information.
Let’s Explore Theme Week
The ‘O’ in MERTON stands for ‘Opportunities’. This week we will explore a different subject each day and stimulate the children’s curiosity as they challenge themselves to open ended problems, learn new skills or try new experiences.
The school will visit the Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium on Wednesday 6th November.
Curriculum Newsletters
Each year group will send out information this week about this half term’s topics including suggestions about how you can support your child’s learning at home.
Parents’ Evening
It was lovely to see you last half term and thank you for your positive comments regarding your child’s learning and progress. Attendance per class was:
Owlets - 96%
Snowy Owls - 100%
Tawny Owls - 86.21%
Barn Owls - 82.76%
Wise Owls - 96.55%
Eagle Owls - 85.19%
Overall whole school attendance 90.85%
If you were unable to meet the class teacher, please make another appointment via the school office.
Attendance
Overall attendance last half term was good – 96.5%, although Barn Owls & Eagle Owls were slightly below the Government expectation of 96%. Our persistent absence figure was 9.5% - above national average. Please remember to inform the office if your child is absent, otherwise it will be recorded as unauthorised. If a child incurs 5 days of unauthorised absence within 10 weeks parents may be issued with a penalty notice.
Breakfast Club & After School Club
Just a reminder that all YR, Y1 & Y2 children can attend our Breakfast Club and After School Club. Breakfast Club is open from 8.00 - 8.45am each day and costs £2.70. ASC runs from 3.15 - 5.45pm and costs £7.50 for regular booked sessions and £9.50 for ad-hoc sessions. Forms are available from the school office.
Parking
Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.
Key Dates
14th Nov - Family Reading Evening @ 5.30 - 6.45pm
15th Nov - Children in Need - wear something spotty
19th Nov - Family Photo session @ 4.30 - 7.00pm
29th Nov - INSET Day
6th Dec - Family Bingo @ 2.30 - 3.30pm
6th Dec - Yr R Super Hero dress up day
9th Dec - Panto visit
9th Dec - Flu immunisations – all year groups
10th Dec - School choir singing at Tesco
11th Dec - Christingle Assembly at St.Bede’s Catholic Church @ 9.30am - all welcome
13th Dec - FOMs Christmas Market @ 3.15 - 4.30pm
13th Dec - Christmas Jumper Day
13th Dec - Yr 2 Art Gallery @ 2.45pm
16th Dec - Christmas lunch
17th Dec - Dress Rehearsal for Christmas Play @ 2.00pm
18th Dec - Christmas Play @ 9.30am
19th Dec - Christmas Play @ 5.30pm
20th Dec - Special visitor in school
20th Dec - Break Up at 3.15pm
Details for above events to follow, where applicable
Newsletter 2: 10th October 2019
Walktober
We sent home the Walktober challenge cards last week so we hope that you are rising to the challenge and walking as much as possible. It is based on the NHS’s “Five Steps to Wellbeing”. Evidence suggests that these are five steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing:
- Connect– Have a fun day out, walking with family and friends, playing games together on your walk and collecting up treasures from nature to take home with you
- Be active– Make activity part of your everyday – walk, cycle, scoot or Park and Stride to school or work, go for a lunchtime stroll, play ball in the park or walk a friend’s dog with them
- Keep learning– Go for a walk somewhere you haven’t been before, perhaps around a park, garden or historical site
- Be mindful– Think about your surroundings during your walk and be at one with nature
- Give to others– Take a friend for a walk, volunteer at a local garden or do a sponsored walk for charity.
You could win
- Connect: Vouchers for a family day out at the Hillier Gardens, near Romsey
- Be Active: A climbing voucher for up to nine people at Calshot Activities Centre
- Keep learning: A voucher for a family day out at the Winchester Science Centre
- Treasure Trails vouchers (treasuretrails.co.uk) for runners up
Please search www.myjourneyhampshire.com/walktober for further information.
Parking
We are still receiving complaints from residents living on Romsey Close and Glastonbury Close about inconsiderate parking.
Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning, it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.
Harvest Festival
We are still collecting food items for the Food bank. Please make sure that they are in date!
We are planning our Harvest Festival at St.Bede’s Catholic Church on Friday 18th October at 9.30am. All are welcome to join us.
Admissions
Starting school in September 2020
Will your child be celebrating their 4th birthday between 1st September 2019 and 31st August 2020? If so, you will be able to apply for a school place from 1st November 2019, preferably online, at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. If you are unable to apply online you will be able to collect a paper application form from the school. The application deadline is Wednesday 15th January 2020.
We have several parent viewings planned. Please check our website for the dates available and contact the school office to make an appointment.
Key Dates
11th Oct - School closed: INSET Day
15th Oct - Parents Evening @ 3.30 - 6.00pm
17th Oct - Italian themed day (wear red/white/green)
18th Oct - Harvest Festival at St. Bedes @ 9.30am
21st Oct - Parents Evening @ 4.00 - 6.30pm
23rd Oct - FOM Halloween Disco 3.30 - 4.30pm
24th Oct - Yr 1 parents in to view end of topic work 2.30pm (details to follow)
25th Oct - Non-uniform day in exchange for £1.00 donation
25th October - Year R Art Gallery @ 2.45pm
25th Oct - Break Up
4th Nov - School starts @ 8.45am
6th Nov - Whole school trip to Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium
Monday 7th October 2019
Dear Parents/Carers,
As part of our celebrating languages project we will be holding an Italian themed day on Thursday 17th October 2019. On this day we invite the children to wear a coloured T-Shirt that represents the Italian flag (green, white and red). They are welcome to wear their normal school white polo shirt.
During the day the children will take part in a range of creative activities to learn about the Italian culture which will include making pizza with Mrs Alfano, one of our parent volunteers. At the end of the day the children will meet for an assembly to sing an Italian song they will have learnt during the day.
To make this day as authentic as possible we have arranged for our school dinners to be Italian themed. Red dinner will be Pasta Bolognaise and green dinner will be Margherita Pizza, these dishes will be substituted with an alternative for the days they would usually be served on the menu.
We hope that the children enjoy our special themed day and learn lots about the Italian culture.
Yours sincerely
Larissa James Sophie Durbajlo Miss Fellhauer
Headteacher Inclusion Manager Year R Teacher
Newsletter 1: 9th September 2019
Welcome back to our existing parents and a very warm welcome to our new YR children and families. We hope that you had a lovely summer holiday.
The children look very smart in their school uniforms and have settled into their classes very well.
We have a very busy term ahead so please ensure you check and empty your child’s book bag daily or view the school website for newsletters or other important information.
Staffing
Miss Whitney, Y1 teacher, got married during the summer holiday and is now known as Mrs Hill. Congratulations to the newly weds!
Mrs Wisken, Deputy Headteacher, and Miss Cooper, class teacher, are continuing their maternity leave this term. All are doing well and settling into new routines.
Curriculum Newsletters
Each year group will send out information this week about this half term’s topics including suggestions about how you can support your child’s learning at home.
Belongings
Please ensure you label all school uniform including hats, gloves, coats, shoes, PE kits, lunch boxes and water bottles. We are always amazed at the amount of lost property we donate to charity shops so please check the Lost Property box in the office porch regularly. Children often have the same items and become anxious when they lose something
School’s 50th Birthday
Merton Infant and Junior Schools opened their doors for the first time in September 1969.
We are hosting many celebratory occasions including a Dress-Up Day (anything from the last 50 years) on Friday 13th September for £1.00 donation and a Fun Day on Saturday 28th September at 12.00 - 2.30pm.
Please pass the word on to your friends, neighbours and families as we celebrate within our fantastic community.
Parking
Please avoid driving on Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.
Key Dates
9th Sept – Y2 Swimming starts
11th Sept – YR Full time
13th Sept – Dress-Up Day
16th Sept – Y1 Welcome Meeting @ 2.45pm
18th Sept – Y2 Welcome Meeting @ 2.45pm
24th Sept – Y2 trip to the Titanic Museum
28th Sept – School’s 50th Birthday Fun Day @ 12.00-2.30pm
3rd Oct – Y1 Trip to Beaulieu Transport Museum
8th October – Individual school photos
11th Oct –School closed: INSET
15th Oct – Parents Evening @ 3.30- 6.00pm
21st Oct – Parents Evening @ 4.00-6.30pm
25th Oct – Year R Art Gallery
25th Oct – Break Up
If you would like to translate the newsletters into a different language, please select the newsletter and then click on the 'select language' drop down arrow to select the language you would like to view the newsletter in.