Latest News
Keep up to date with all the news happening in school
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Happy World Book Day
Thu 04 Mar 2021Dear Parents and Carers
We hope you are enjoying the stories you have heard so far. Remember there are lots of activities on our 'World Book Day' page.
A parent also let us know of a lovely opportunity to receive personalised Julia Donaldson books at Steyning Book Store online, until 12th March. They are available through this link
Personalised Julia Donaldson books
If you are in Year 1, please remember that it is your Winter Warmer evening tonight. Your special Winter Warmer goodie bags are available to pick up at school, so please come and get yours before this evening.
Today is a day to share reading with your children. Encourage them to find out what family members liked to read when they were their age, whether it be fiction or non-fiction. My son was astounded when I told him that I had no internet to find things out and that we had to books! Living in a tiny village, that meant waiting for the mobile library van to come around once a fortnight and putting a request in-not the instant stream of information in different media that is at our children's fingertips!
Have an amazing day!
Best wishes
Mrs Riches
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL PARENTS AND CARERS
Tue 02 Mar 2021STARTING BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION -Monday 8th March
We will be opening the school to all parents on Monday 8th March. We have all been very excited since the announcement, and have relooked at our procedures and what we need to put in place, within the new guidelines.
DROPPING OFF AND PICKING UP
We will continue to have our one way system in place. There will be two entrances to the school and one exit.
Entrance 1: The small blue pedestrian gate on the approach to school.
Entrance 2: The pool gate in between the infant school and the junior school. To use this gate, parents must use the Free Street entrance on to the junior school and only walk on the path, not cut across the field. Mr Campbell is happy for this route to be used, and the scaffolding has now started to come down , making the access easier for all again. Both entrances will be manned to ensure entry only (not exit).
Exit
Year R and Year 2 will exit through the blue gates and down the ramp. Year 1 will exit through the car park, if Mrs Ely is available to man. It is a live car park and parents will need to walk near the grass verge, with their children near at all times.
At all points around the school, children need to walk with their parents, not run on ahead.
Masks are to be worn by all adults.
To limit adult contact it is 1 adult per group of children (family group/childcare group).
Drop off and pick up will need to be brief, with parents 2m away from doors. If you need to pass a message on/would like to speak to a teacher, please telephone/email and a member of staff will get back to you.
Timings
There will be a 10 minute drop/off pick up time for each year group. Please do not come onto site before the allocated time. Gates will be locked between the timings.
Year R:
Morning: 8.45am-8.55am
Afternoon: 2.45pm-2.55pm
Year 1 and 2:
Morning: 9.05am-9.15am
Afternoon: 3.05pm-3.15pm
Children will need to adhere to their own time slots. With children in different schools, we understand that there maybe waiting/overlap. This is unfortunately unavoidable. We will reassess the school routine at Easter Break.
Please maintain social distancing at all times when on the school site.
What will my child need to bring?Please bring a water bottle, lunchbox (if needed), a coat/sunhat (depending on weather) and their book bag. Fruit snacks will be provided. Please put sunscreen on, if the day is sunny.
Children will need to be in school uniform, unless it is their PE day, when they can come in PE clothes. From now until September, our shoe policy is relaxed. Children can either wear school shoes or trainers, Footwear needs to be suitable for running around and outdoor learning (not thin canvas shoes as these become soaked when on wet grass). If children are wearing school shoes, they will need to leave a pair of trainers in school/bring a pair, in case we are running around.
PE days:
Mon:Year 1
Tues: Year 2
Thurs: Year R
What will happen at lunch time?
We will continue to have lunch in our class bubbles. There will be three options for school lunch. The menu is under 'school menus' under the parent tab. You can being a packed lunch if you would like to.
Are Early Birds and Treetops clubs running, before and after school?
Yes, both clubs are running as normal from Monday 8th March. They will be running from the hall. Year group bubble will still be kept apart, as per the government guidelines for the club. Please explain this to your children, if using the clubs.
What will the curriculum look like?
Our curriculum will continue to be taught through our projects and will be broad and balanced. We will continue to update to Tapestry in all Year Groups and parents can also update to tapestry too. The Year R curriculum, where observations are part of the EYFS curriculum, there will be more updates than in other year groups. Children will be assessed and taught appropriately, ensuring and knowledge/skills gaps are taught. Our teachers work as year teams and moderate regularly between themselves to ensure all classes have the same teaching, experiences and resources.
We will also be revisiting our Learning Values and Badger Values, to revisit school expectations with the children.
What about my child's mental health and well being?
From our remote learning questionnaire feedback, we looked for ways that we could further develop well being in BWIS.
As part of our whole school, well-being approach we are introducing Trick Box, which is a fun and effective personal development programme, to help children to;
Build confidence
Manage emotions and anxiety
Develop communication skills
Make positive choices about actions
Coach themselves through challenges
From Reception to Year 2 your child will be introduced to 12 'tricks' and a simple self-coaching model called the Letter Box, designed to give them positive habits for life. We'll be practising the tricks at school and it would be great if you could also practise these tricks at home with your child. There are 12 more tricks in the Trick Box to help your child now or during their school journey as juniors.
You will find more information about Trickbox at:
This will be a new approach for us and we are busy training and looking at ways we can introduce this with our children.
What can I do to help?
Being at home, children will not have been handwashing as regularly as they will at school. We will be giving lots of reminders, but if you could talk to your children about this too, this will really help.
We will not be mixing class bubbles inside, but children will be mixing outside in their year group at play/lunch times. Children will have their own space to sit, like last term. One thing we did notice, when we came back in September, was how much time we spent explaining playground rules ie. only jump where it is safe to, using equipment appropriately (ie not climbing on musical instruments and playhouse roofs). If you could also talk to your children about how school and home are different, as they are so young, this will help us too.
What do I do if my child or a household member displays COVID-19 symptoms?
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot, for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – this means they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
If your child/member of your household develops any of these symptoms, please follow the NHS advice:
- Get a test to check if they have coronavirus as soon as possible.
- You, your child and anyone else you live with should stay at home and not have visitors until you get the test result – only leave your home to have the test.
Anyone in your support bubble should also stay at home if your child has been in close contact with them since their symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started.
If the test is positive, please contact the school immediately by telephone in school hours and QR code on Parent Information page, out of school hours, so that we can put our Track and Trace into place.
For advice on what to do please click on either link below:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/
What happens if we have to isolate/a bubble has to isolate?
Don't worry! We will be updating our remote learning plan, to ensure children are educated throughout.
I know there is a lot of information to take in on here, and I hope that I have covered everything. We are looking forward to seeing you all so much. If there is any aspect of the start back, you need further clarification on, please don't hesitate to get in touch. It has been a really tough few months for parents and we are under no illusion that this has been easy for anybody. Life is not yet back to 'normal'. We are still under lockdown regulations, with our lives being very different for a while yet. Many parents have found ways to cope, whilst many are struggling. We hope you have felt supported by us and remember we are here to offer advice/support as well as teach.
You have all been truly amazing throughout the lockdown. Thank you for your messages, goodies and support for both your children and us. I cannot end this message without mentioning our AMAZING school team at BWIS. We are learning all the time, developing new skills and knowledge month after month. Our teachers, LSAs, office staff, cleaning team, lunch staff and kitchen staff have worked incredibly hard to make everything run as smoothly as it possibly can, and will continue to do so. It all looks easy from the outside, and it can only look like this with everyone giving 100%. I am very proud of our whole team and would like all the parents and carers to know that your children are really and truly at the heart of BWIS. They drive every decision, and are always at the forethought of all we do.
Hopefully, schools are a very small step towards normality and seeing family and friends soon.
Best wishes
Mrs Riches
Headteacher
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World Book Day Thursday 4th March
Fri 26 Feb 2021World Book day is on Thursday 4th March and we would like to invite everybody to a day of Reading celebration!
Every half hour a teacher will be reading a story, that EVERYBODY can attend. The timetable is as follow:
9am Miss Salter
9.30am Mrs Riches
10am Mrs Campone
10.30am Mrs Charles
11am Miss Turner
11.30am Miss Miners
1pm Miss Apsey
1.30pm Miss Harper
2pm Miss Whitehead
2.30pm Miss Campbell
A link will be sent out by Mrs Greenwood to join the story session. You can attend as many as you like. There will be no class zooms on Thursday. Instead, the story sessions will be running and there will be a World Book Day Activity Page. This page will have loads of different activities to do or try, and you can pick and mix the ones you think your child will like the most to do. Please click the link below to find out more (the activities will be uploaded between now and Thursday).
This year, we will not be dressing up in school/bringing things to school, and the day will be about celebrating reading instead. However, if you are at home and would like to dress up, please do so. You could also bring your cuddly toy to the story sessions in your house and add a photo of you reading to your tapestry.
Mrs Greenwood will also be sending a World Book Day token that can be exchanged for a £1 book.
In the evening of World Book Day, Miss Salter will be running her 'Winter Warmer' experience virtually for Year 1 children. We will have a winter warmer pack for your Year 1 child ready on Wednesday from 1pm onwards to come and collect (with goodies inside). This Winter Warmer runs every year for Year 1 children and we didn't want them to miss out this year!
Your child needs to be ready to log on with you at 5pm, dressed in their nightclothes (you can too!). You will receive a zoom link from Miss Salter next week to click and join.
We look forward to seeing you all virtually next week. remember to send your reading pictures in. We will add a slideshow on the website to celebrate your fantastic reading!
Best wishes
Mrs Riches and Miss Salter
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Thank you!
Wed 24 Feb 2021Thank you to two families who have sent in cakes for the staffroom this week.
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Open letter to Parents and Carers from Gavin Williamson
Tue 23 Feb 2021Dear Parents and Carers
Please click the following link written to all parents and carers, released today.
Open letter from Gavin Williamson
Kind Regards
Mrs Riches
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All Children to Return to School on Monday 8th March
Tue 23 Feb 2021Dear Parents and Carers
We were delighted to see that all children will be returning to school on Monday 8th March. Over the next two weeks we will be looking at the further implications for site safety/timings and our risk assessment. We had already implemented much of what is now being advised; twice weekly lateral flow tests for all staff, facemasks to be worn by all in shared areas and parents when dropping off and picking up, a one way system, staggered start and finish, non mixing of bubbles, lots of outside time etc. Our teachers will also be busy planning activities to cater for all learning needs and abilities after the home learning break.
The guidance states that all children are expected to attend school, unless they have received a shielding letter. Our Earlybird club will be open and we are waiting to hear from TreeTops on their start date.
I imagine most children are really excited about coming back to school, but if your child is worried about coming back, please let their class teacher know.
We look forward to seeing everybody in person very soon.
Best wishes
Mrs Riches
Headteacher
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Spring 2B
Mon 22 Feb 2021Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome back to the second half of spring term. I hope you all managed to have some rest during half term, even though the rain didn't seem to stop. We have a few things happening this week, starting with our Parent Workshops this week. It is an unusual position to be in this year, as over the past few weeks you have all been able to observe teachers teaching live in your home(albeit remotely), so many of the questions you normally have for the workshops were probably demonstrated. There may be an aspect of the curriculum that you really want to know about, however, and the workshops will be a good opportunity to ask questions.
The workshops are on:
Year 2 Workshop:Tuesday 23rd February 10am
Year R Phonics and Maths Workshop: Wednesday 24th February 10am
Year 1 Workshop: Wednesday 24th February 1.30pm
Our roof is getting repaired this week , so hopefully will be safe again. The police are dealing with the crime itself, and Hampshire County Council are helping us with more anti-vandal measures. There is a very elaborate scaffold structure in place, due to the shape and materials the roof is made of. There is a picture below if anybody is interested in having a peek.
We are all eagerly awaiting the Government's announcement tonight, and whatever has been decided regarding returning to school. After the announcement, we will look at our risk assessments and arrangements and let you know as soon as we can on what returning to school will look like at BWIS (pick up/drop off etc). We will make the school as safe as we can for all children, staff and parents.
There are signs of spring all around Bishops Waltham, including our school grounds. The sight of lovely, yellow daffodils, brightly swaying, always manages to make me smile as I drive to school in the mornings. The only thing that can lift my spirits further, is to be able to open our doors to everyone again. Fingers crossed there is a way forward in this soon.
Best wishes
Mrs Riches
Headteacher
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Happy Pancake Day!
Tue 16 Feb 2021I hope everybody is having some yummy pancakes, this Shrove Tuesday!
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WELL DONE
Fri 12 Feb 2021We wanted to say a huge WELL DONE and THANK YOU to all our parents and carers for being amazing this half term. Nobody expected a full lockdown-we were all ready to open and the announcement to close came as a shock to us too. Your children have been fantastic too, given the circumstances that they had no preparation for. Our children, like us, are missing their friends and family. With the roll out of the vaccine now gathering pace, I know that many of us are seeing a chink of light at the end of the tunnel. The day where we see loved ones again, and begin to gain semblance of normality is hopefully not too far away.
Mrs Palmer is sending out log in details to our new reading platforms today. We know online books are not as good as real books, and we cannot wait to be able to share real books with you again. Please enjoy your half terms as much as lockdown allows. and fingers crossed we'll see some sunshine.
Have a well earned rest, you have made it to half term! Many of you have juggled work, elderly parents, different age children and much more. Well done everybody! I am sure you will all find the appropriate beverage to pour tonight and toast yourself-We will be raising our glasses to you and all fellow school staff too.
Best Wishes
Mrs Riches and all the staff at Bishops Waltham
(Below are some funny pictures of remote learning. Some may resonate a bit more!)
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Gingerbread Man Hunt
Wed 10 Feb 2021The Year R children have really enjoyed reading the story of 'The Gingerbread Man'. They have been busy writing missing posters after watching a video showing the Gingerbread Man running around our school.
Thank you to Miss Guy and Mrs Legg for creating Gingerbread Men hunts around Bishops Waltham which has continued their enthusiasm outside of school. The children have really enjoyed searching for them.
