Latest News

• COVID Winter Grant Scheme

  Fri 22 Jan 2021 Miss West

  The COVID Winter Grant Scheme is available until 31 March 2021.

   

  The scheme helps to support those most in need with the cost of food, energy and water bills and other essential items.

   

  To apply please click here.

   

  If you are unable to apply online, please contact the school office on 01942 243582. We will take your details and apply for you.

• Crossing Patrol Vacancy

  Thu 21 Jan 2021 Miss West
  

• Picture News

  Wed 20 Jan 2021 Miss West
  Our topic this week is 'showing thanks'. Have a go at answering the questions below and don't forget to share your thoughts with us!!

  

• Yellow weather alert

  Tue 19 Jan 2021 Miss West
  

• Free School Meal Vouchers

  Tue 19 Jan 2021 Miss West

  If your child is entitled to benefit related free school meals, you should now have received your first weekly free school meals voucher by email. 

   

  If you have not yet received your voucher, or you are having trouble redeeming your code, please let us know.

   

• Internet connection

  Tue 19 Jan 2021 Mrs McCarthy
  If you are still struggling with devices or connecting to the internet please let us know. In addition to data on SIMS cards, we now have a limited number of vouchers which allow connection to BT WiFi in our local area. We want to be sure we stay connected to each other.

• Letter to families

  Thu 14 Jan 2021 Miss West
  Dear Parents and Carers,
   
  As you are aware the Prime Minister has announced a full lockdown which has meant that all schools were closed except for children categorised as vulnerable and children of our critical workers. None of us wanted the 2021 to start like this and we had hoped that all of our children would be returning to school by the 18th January at the very latest.  
   
  We need to drive down the infection rates in Wigan and indeed the whole country so that we are all safe and secure in returning to everyday life. In order to do that, it is crucial we all follow the government guidance of staying home unless absolutely necessary. We need everyone to follow this guidance to protect not only the NHS but also ourselves, our families and our friends. Hopefully, with the roll out of the vaccine and keeping to the guidance this will happen sooner rather than later. 
   
  Government guidance for schools and for parents and carers has been very clear about who should access places in schools. ‘Children with at least one parent or carer who is a critical worker can go to school or college if required, but parents and carers should keep their children at home if they can.’ Full guidance for parents and carers can be found at: 
   
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educationalprovision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision 
   
  We would ask that if you can, as the guidance says keep your child at home then please do so. Schools are under increasing pressure to manage the number of children and young people in school due to staff not being able to attend school due to COVID issues. Schools may therefore as a last resort have to consider prioritising places for vulnerable children, health workers and school staff. Schools will only do this after considering their Risk Assessment and consultation with their governing body and Wigan Council. This will be continually reviewed as situations change throughout this current lockdown. Your school will keep you informed as to what is happening. Schools will likely have to make appropriate adjustments to their offer if they have any issues with their capacity in staff to support and safeguard children both on school site and at home.
   
  Alongside having children in school, schools are working hard to provide a high quality remote learning for those accessing education at home.  As you can imagine this is placing a very heavy burden on staff to ensure that everyone is catered for.  Please do remember that all school situations are different and this

   
  impacts on how a school will deliver remote learning. There are many different ways that this can be delivered and no one way is the only way. 
   
  Some schools may have the facilities to deliver ‘live’ lessons and other may not be able to do so, that does not mean that their offer is any less effective. Please do work with your school to support your child and if you do have any worries then please discuss with your school. All our schools have worked incredibly hard to ensure that what they are offering is helping our children and young people to carry on learning in very difficult circumstances. If you are struggling with accessing online learning again please do speak to your school. 
   
  We would ask that you continue to encourage your children to follow the advice of Hands, Face, Space. Our schools will continue to reinforce this message as well as ensuring social distancing, good ventilation, use of face coverings as appropriate, and ensuring people with symptoms do not attend. These remain the most effective ways to reduce the spread of the virus, even with rapid testing in place within schools. 
   
  However, as parents and carers you could further support by not sending children to school unless  necessary – stay at home; please don’t bring children to school if they are of an age when they can walk there on their own. If you need to take your child to school please observe hands, face,  space, wear a face covering and don’t stand around the playground or school gates. We need to continue to try and minimise people mixing. 
   
  We want to thank you for your continued support in these incredibly challenging times for everyone. We would ask that you continue to work with and support our schools with the same consideration you have done so throughout this pandemic.
   
  Please take care and stay safe.
   
  Yours sincerely,
   
   
   
   
  Colette Dutton

  Director of Children’s Services

  Wigan Council
   
  Professor Kate Ardern                  

  Director of Public Health 

  Wigan Council
   

• Returning home learning packs

  Thu 14 Jan 2021 Miss West
  Home learning packs should be returned to school tomorrow. Please return everything other than the pencil case.

   

  Y1 and 2 may return and collect their packs at 10:30am

  Y3 and 4 may return and collect their packs at 11:00am

  Y5 and 6 may return and collect their packs 11:30am 

   

  If your child is entitled to free school meals, you should also collect your food parcel when returning your home learning pack. Please be aware that parcels are heavy and there will be 1 parcel per child. 

• Mobile Data Increase

  Tue 12 Jan 2021 Miss West

  We have received information that schools are now able to request mobile data increases for parents when we report a closure or have pupils self-isolating. If you are on any of the following networks you may be able to benefit: Three, Smarty, Virgin, EE, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile.

   

  If you think you may be eligible and would like to request a mobile data increase, please contact us with the following information.

  We need to know:

  • the name of the account holder
  • the number of the mobile device
  • the mobile network of that device (for example Three)
  • if you pay as you go or have a pay monthly contract

• Loaning a Device

  Tue 12 Jan 2021 Miss West

  If you do not have a device at home for your child to access online learning, please let the school office know as soon as possible. 

   

  We expect all children who are learning from home to be logged on each day. If children are absent from online learning, we are required by law to find out why, so please expect a phone call from us if your child has not logged on.