Latest News
Keep up to date with all the news happening in school
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IMPORTANT NEWS SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL CHILDREN TOMORROW
Mon 04 Jan 2021Dear Parents and Carers,
Follow the Prime Minister’s announcement this evening, we are writing to inform you that Bishops Waltham Infant School and Bishop’s Waltham Junior School will be closed tomorrow for all pupils.
Teachers are currently preparing their resources, in line with our blended learning/remote education plans, and these will be uploaded ready for children to access from tomorrow morning.
The school will continue to be open for vulnerable and critical worker children from Wednesday 5th January.. Our Local Authority have asked us to wait until they issue advice regarding number limit and eligibility for these places.
We will contact parents of those children who we believe are classed as vulnerable to confirm a place for your child/children tomorrow (Tuesday). You do not need to contact us unless you believe that your child/children meet the definition of a vulnerable child and you have not received a phone call by 3pm tomorrow.
To ascertain numbers, if you believe that your child/children fit the definition for a critical worker place then please complete the following online form by 10am on Tuesday 5th January
Please Note: Completion of the form is not a guarantee of a place, and all parents who have filled in a form will be contacted by the end of the school day tomorrow.
Whilst we recognise that many families may have a need for childcare, we are required to restrict our provision to those children described in the official guidance, in order to keep the numbers in school as low as possible. School closure is primarily a means of limiting the spread of coronavirus in educational settings and the wider community. It was made very clear in tonight’s announcement that if you can do your job at home then your child should be home with you as schools are a ‘vector of transmission’.
Please accept our apologies for the late notice and for any disruption that this sudden change to our plans has caused to you and your family. We do not receive any prior notification of school closure from the government and receive the news at the same time as the rest of the population.
Please be reassured that, as always, we are on the end of the phone should you require any support. Thank you all for your support and understanding. Until we can come together once again as a community, please take care and stay safe.
Kind regards
Mrs Ginene Riches & Mr Darren Campbell
Headteachers of Bishops Waltham Schools
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Coronavirus and children-what to look for
Mon 04 Jan 2021Please find below, an up to date chart that we have been asked to share with parents regarding symptoms to look for in children regarding coronavirus.
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Importance Notice-current situation regarding school start of term
Sun 03 Jan 2021Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you have had a restful and enjoyable Christmas, however your plans turned out in the end. As I am writing this, there is much speculation in the press and on social media about schools reopening for primary aged children. I wanted to touch base with you, to let you know the information I have to date.
Currently, primaries in Hampshire are to remain open, and we are planning to reopen our doors to all pupils on Tuesday 5th January, with Monday being a planned INSET day. I understand that there will be a mixture of reactions from parents to this from relief to anxiety. There is also the ever increasing anxiety about the rapid rise in cases across the south-east and further last minute changes imposed on us from the government. This real anxiety is also felt amongst school staff as well as concerned parents.
As yet, there has been no additional guidance provided regarding additional risk assessment measures that are required in primary schools. As you know, we already had in place all the measures required to minimise the risks for staff and for pupils, and have reviewed these regularly throughout the term, and will continue to do so. We have added to our risk asessment the need for all adults picking up and dropping off children to now wear a mask, as communicated to you on Thursday 31st December. Some staff members have also expressed that they would like to wear a mask/visor, and you may see more staff doing this. We will continue to monitor the information provided by the DfE, along with any local authority guidance.
We will endeavour to provide you with as much notice as possible of any potential changes which will affect children or parents, although I’m sure you will appreciate that in the current situation, last minute decisions may be out of our hands.
We were very fortunate to have no bubble closures in the Autumn term, and I thank you in your continued support to help with this. However, regardless of how careful we are in following the guidance, we understand that the new strain of virus is impacting on the rate of transmission, and I am now hearing of many more positive cases amongst friends, our school families and colleagues. Realistically, it is more likely that we will be impacted on this term.
In light of the additional mixing which may have occurred on Christmas day, it is more vital than ever that I ask all families to ensure that you follow the government guidance regarding potential Covid cases this term:
• If your child, or anyone in the household, has Covid symptoms, the whole family should self-isolate until the symptomatic person has had a negative test result. Please fill in our COVID track and trace form for any household positive cases. We will continue to use this form as our record in the coming months. Emails often get lost from private mail boxes and the form will give us a way of collating all the information we will need when filling in our daily DFE return, without the need to bother you or your family during your period of illness.
• If your child has been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for Covid, please ensure that they follow the self-isolation period as required by track and trace.
In order to minimise risk of transmission in our community at drop-off and pick-up times, I would like to remind you of the following:
- Please adhere to the start and finish times for your child’s class Year Group when dropping-off and picking up (available on ‘Latest News’ and ‘Parent Information’ on our website. There is a 10 minute window for dropping off and picking up, and I urge you to consider spending less time queueing and try to arrive within the 10 minute window instead. This is especially important if relying on more vulnerable family members to help with childcare.
- We ask that only one adult accompanies the children onto site. If dropping off children for a friend, those children will become part of your family drop off. Group. If dropping off two or more children, please can the same family member do this, not swap family members outside.
- Drop off/Pick up need to be at 2m from the door. We will still be unable to have discussions with you at the door about your child, no matter how small, and instead ask that you use the Year Group email to contact us/let us know information or telephone the school office, where we will take a message and inform the teacher.
- Drop off and pick up should be as brief as possible and we will expect parents to help us with this. We ask that the exit ramp be kept clear at all times and parents do not congregate around the bottom, making it difficult for parents to walk past when socially distancing.
- When dropping off or picking up, please observe social distancing with the other waiting adults. Children should be kept close at all times, to enable all family groups to socially distance.
Please wear face coverings when dropping off/collecting pupils on the school grounds.
Letting children from different bubbles mix and run around in the park after school could impact our whole school and close more than one bubble down. Please take care if letting your child play in playparks, regarding mixing with children not in our school/in your child’s bubble.
You can also help by getting your child back in to good hand hygiene habits which may have become less stringent over the holiday if they have been mainly at home. Please also take some time to remind them of the importance of social distancing, particularly when playing. The children will have had limited opportunities for interactions with one another over the Christmas break and therefore may find social distancing even more difficult when they return to school. The teachers will take some time on Tuesday to remind them of expectations.
Provided there are no changes, we look forward to seeing your children on Tuesday, but I will be in touch as soon as possible if there are any further developments. I will alert you to any emails sent, with an app message as well. We will be open on Monday for any parent queries, so please do not hesitate to get in touch if you need to let us know anything or would like a question answered.
Kind regards
Ginene Riches
Headteacher
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Latest Government Guidance
Thu 31 Dec 2020Dear Parents and Carers
I am sure you are aware that there was an announcement about school reopening yesterday, where headteachers across the country find out, the same time as yourselves, whether our schools are opening or not. Despite being in Tier 4, Hampshire Primary schools, including both infant and junior schools, will be reopening to all pupils next week. Therefore we will be open. Early Bird Club and Treetops will be also be open. We will be closed on Monday 4th January to pupils, for staff training (planned INSET). We will reopen to pupils on Tuesday 5th January. The drop off and pick up times will be the same as before Christmas.
Due to the higher level of transmission of the new strain of covid, we are now asking that all adults wear a mask on our school site when dropping off and picking up. As before, we will be ventilating rooms throughout the day.
As it is getting colder, your child may benefit from another layer, such as a vest or long sleeve t-shirt under their uniform. They may also benefit from longer trousers instead of shorts. Please make sure your child is wearing warm clothing on PE days as all PE is outside. A pair of trainers should also be in school for other runaround sessions.
Reminder
Drop off times:
Year 1 and 2: 8.40- 8.50
Year R: 9-9.10.
Pick up times:
Year 1 and 2: 2.40-2.50
Year R: 3-3.10
The gates will be locked at all other times. Only 1 parent per family drop off. If dropping off for a friend, their child will become part of your family grouping, reducing the number of adults on site further. Both drop off and pick up need to be as quick as possible, with no group gatherings, especially on our exit ramp. If queuing at the entrance, please keep 2m apart with your child close to you/ holding your hand. Children should not be ‘running ahead’ especially through our car park and on the exit ramp of our school at any time.
Please can all adults where a mask on our school site,
We will be maintaining our high level of cleaning, hand washing and systems that we were doing before Christmas, to try our best to keep staff, parents and pupils as safe as we can. We hope that we have your parental cooperation at all times and your continued understanding of why our safety measures are in place. We also ask that families follow the Tier 4 guidance outside of school hours too, to reduce the transmission of the faster spreading strain.
School will be open on Monday, if anyone has any questions, we will be glad to help.
We 2021 brings more hope for us all.
Kind regards
Mrs Riches and everyone at BWIS
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Merry Christmas Everyone!
Fri 18 Dec 2020Dear Parents and Carers
We made it with no 'Bubble' closures! I think we all breathed a big collective sigh of relief when today came! Thank you to all the staff and parents who have worked so hard to help maintain this in our school. We all really appreciate everybody's contribution to this. If anyone in your family tests positive over the next two weeks, please contact us via the link sent out on the email, which is also on the 'Parent Information' page. Our regular emails will not be manned over the next two weeks as the staff will be having a well earned break. I will be checking the track and trace one every day.
All the children looked super in their Christmas Jumpers today, and we had a fabulous Friday dance, accompanied by Mr Wakely, our Co-Chair of Governors. He was very impressed at our groovy moves!
It has been a Christmas week full of laughter and fun this week. Our visit from Father Christmas surprised everybody yesterday. Our zoom magic and fun show with Crazy M, the pantomime afternoon with popcorn treat, party fun, Christmas lunch, Christmas Bazaar shopping and Christmas crafts have all injected a little bit of normality in our school for our children. Below are just a few photos from the week-there are lots more on our password protected page, so please have a look. Our lovely Christmas show of singing, readings and poems were also added yesterday too.
We are still uploading Christmas themed stories to our Christmas section on our videos too, if you would like to listen to them over Christmas. You will also find an interview with Father Christmas himself in there too. if the children would like to see him again.
Earlier on this week we put on this page about signing up to do a 'Santa Run'. If any of you do the run, please send your pictures in-we'll love to see them!
Today we raised just over £200 for Naomi House. Thank you all for your generosity for this cause.
We hope you all manage to relax and enjoy the Christmas break and we look forward to seeing you in 2021!
Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!
Mrs Riches and everyone at BWIS
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Christmas Raffle - PTA
Thu 17 Dec 2020Well done to the PTA for organising the school Christmas raffle and for all the lovely donated prizes. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for collecting your prizes so promptly. The raffle raised an incredible amount, over £1000!
Our tea towels have been delivered and will be sent home today. They are nearly all sold out!
We would like to thank everybody involved in the fund raising for our school. We appreciate everything you do to help us buy things for our children. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
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Important Information for Year 2 Parents from Mr Campbell
Wed 16 Dec 2020BISHOP’S WALTHAM
JUNIOR SCHOOL
Is your child due to start in Year 3 in September 2021?
We would like you to consider applying for a place at Bishop’s Waltham Junior School.
As prospective parents have been unable to come into school for an ‘Open Day’ this term, we have produced a short video to provide an insight into why you should consider sending your child to Bishop’s Waltham Junior School.
Please click on the following link: https://youtu.be/FDdo9djMGP4
Find out more about Bishop’s Waltham Junior by checking out our school website www.bwjunior.hants.sch.uk or download ‘School Jotter’ using your smart phone.
For further information please call/email Darren Campbell (Headteacher)
01489 892368 headteacher@bwjunior.hants.sch.uk
Question & Answer Session:
If after watching the video you are still not sure about your choice of Junior School, or have any questions for Mr Campbell, please join the ‘GOOGLE MEET’ Q&A session at 6pm on Wednesday 6th January 2021.
https://meet.google.com/eyx-fvgq-pgk
Applying for a place in Year 3 (at a junior school)
If your child attends Year 2 of an infant school, you will need to make an application for admission to Year 3 in a junior school, to start in September 2021.
Hampshire residents can apply online. After registering with a username and password, and supplying basic details about yourself and your child, you can name up to three preferred schools, giving reasons as appropriate.
If you do not wish to apply online, a Hampshire common application form is available from schools or the County Admissions Team and should be returned to a Hampshire school or to the address on the form.
County Admissions Team admissions.team@hants.gov.uk
Children's Services Department
The Castle
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 8UGTel: 0845 603 5623
Timeline for applications to Year 3 in September 2021:
Online application system opens – 1st November 2020
Parents of children resident in Hampshire (not including Portsmouth or Southampton) wishing to apply for a place to start school or transfer to junior school (including schools outside Hampshire) can apply online. Paper forms are also available on request from any Hampshire schools or the County Admissions Team. from 1 November 2020.
National deadline for Year 3 (junior school) applications – 15th January 2021
The online application system will close at midnight on this date. Paper application forms should be returned to a Hampshire County Council school during school hours or the County Admissions Team by this date.
National notification date – 16th April 2021
Online applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by e-mail. They will also be able to log into the online system to view their application outcome.
Waiting lists established from – 27th April 2021
Additional Information:
It is very important to apply on-time in order that your application is not disadvantaged. Every year children miss out on a place at their parents’ preferred school, including where this is the catchment school, because applications are submitted late. This may mean that they are allocated a place at a school some distance
Please click below for a special message from Mr Campbell
1) A video providing an insight into life at the Junior School2) Invite to a 'Google Meet' Q&A session with the Headteacher. Wednesday 6th January 2021 (6pm) -
My Santa Run
Mon 14 Dec 2020My Santa Run
Run, jog, walk for fun or for charity this Christmas!
Santa in the City usually takes place in December, but due to COVID-19 social distancing measures, this year we’re asking people to get into the festive running spirit by taking part in Santa in the City’s ‘MY SANTA RUN’.
It’s free to take part and all you need to do is run 5km anytime, anywhere in December! Run for fun, run for a charity, run on your own or with friends, you choose! Plus you can buy Santa suits, festive medals when you sign up.
You can fundraise for the school, by picking our school on the drop down link below, or enter with your family for a bit of fun.
The link to the site is below:
The link to the school registration page is here:
https://mysantarun.com/my-santa-run-schools
If you do the run, please send any photos to the admin office email address on our website. We would like to see you doing your run!
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St Peter's Nativity Trail
Fri 11 Dec 2020St Peter’s Church invite you to join in with their 'Nativity Trail and Walk-Through'. The trail is perfect for kids and will take you around the village, looking in shop windows for Mary and Joseph and the other members from the cast of the Nativity Story (who have cheekily escaped from the church!)
There will be instructions in the Post Office window where it begins and there are clues as you go around town which help you solve the mystery Christmas code! You can then 'walk-through' the nativity story in the church, looking at stations and soaking up the Christmas atmosphere.
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Christmas Countdown
Thu 03 Dec 2020Dear Parents and Carers
You may have noticed our lovely Christmas trees, spreading a little cheer around our school. They look very sparkly, and the children love them! Our huge tree (slightly taller than we thought it was going to be-usual story whenever I get a Christmas tree!) was from Joymount Farm, Curdridge. It was cut down especially for us and delivered to our school on Tuesday. Our governors and PTA have generously paid for the tree and lights, and myself, the office team and a little help from the builders at BWJS all worked together to get it erected and and decorated.
The tree outside the hall was donated by' 'First Choice waste and Removals, Titchfield Road, Stubbington' and delivered by Mr Ely. Mrs Ely and Miss Ely then decorated it beautifully!
Next week, when the weather is a bit brighter, we will set aside a time when picking up for each year group's parents to take a picture by the tree.
Monday-Year 1
Tuesday-Year 2
Wednesday- Year R
If it is raining on your day, don't worry we will put it on another day.
We ask that children stay close to parents when waiting for their picture to be taken. Remember to bring your cameras on your day.
We also need everybody to bring in their Christmas tops tomorrow (Friday) for our Christmas filming next week. If you haven't got a Christmas top, a bright colured t-shirt/jumper and some tinsel to wrap around will do. Please put it in a clearly labelled bag.
Thank you to Katie Harrison from St Peter's Church for the lovely advent assembly she sent us. The children really enjoyed it, and I know there are a few more to come.
The PTA have been really busy organising our grand raffle and teatowel orders for Christmas. Please look out for deadlines for these. We will have buckets out collecting for Christmas contributions for our Panto and Treat day in the last week of term.
We also had some good news from the DFE today. At the end of KS1, there will be no testing in place, only teacher assessments. These are something we have always completed alongside the tests, and are a better reflection of your child's abilities. Ofsted have also announced that they will not resume inspections of schools until Easter. This is also welcome news, as schools are still working under covid guidance from the DFE.
Mr Jonathan, from Swanmore Secondary, has let us know that due to the risk of COVID spread being greater amongst teenagers, he is letting parents choose whether to let pupils at his school study from home in the final week. We are not doing this and it will be school as usual for us, in line with current guidance. If this changes, we will let you know.
Please see the November newsletter for the full 'Christmas Countdown'.
(Joymount Farm Trees, Curdridge. Any Tree, Any Size £20, pick your tree and they will cut it down! )
