Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Here is a link to the The e-Bug project. It is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.
Dear Parents/Carers,
We hope you have had relaxing break and that this letter finds you all well.
As we start our new term there are few things that we wanted to let you know about and remind you of to help us all keep in touch during this challenging time.
Starting tomorrow the office team will be contacting all families by telephone to see how you and your families are and to ask you if there is anything we can help you with. Please note all of these calls will show as No Caller ID as the staff are not in school.
As the new term has started teachers will be continuing to add work to the learning platforms we use (Reading Eggs/Mathletics) as well as the class pages on the website. Don’t forget there are also sites that you can use for free including White Rose Maths, Rising Stars, BBC Bitesize, Phonics Play and Technola, links to these can be found on the school website on the Home Learning page of our school website.
The new government run Free School Meal system is up and running with eCodes being sent out via email to families over the last few days. We are aware of an issue when trying to order Asda vouchers via the government site and have emailed them asking when this will be fixed. Due to heavy traffic we are aware that it is taking a while to access the site to redeem any codes, it tends to be quieter after 8:00pm at night so we advise trying after that time. The vouchers that have been sent out are per family for a four week period ending Friday 15thMay 2020.
If you think you maybe entitled to Free School Meals and haven’t enquired yet you can do so via the Bury Council website, select the “Schools and Learning” section in that section click on “School Meals” and then select “Free School Meals.” On this page is all the information you will need alongside a link to apply for Free School Meals.
School is continuing to monitor all email accounts on a daily basis to enable you to contact us.
If you have a general enquiry you can email stlukes@bury.gov.uk
If you have a question regarding work or a safeguarding concern you can email parentsupport@stlukesbury.co.uk
If you need a password resetting you can email passwordreset@stlukesbury.co.uk
If you want to email work to your child’s class teacher the class email addresses are on each class page on our school website.
Kind Regards
Miss M Michael
Headteacher
Free School Meal Voucher Update
As you will be aware from previous communications the Government has set up a national scheme for Free School Meal vouchers with a company called Edenred.
Unlike the vouchers you have already received the new vouchers will be sent to you via an email not a text message.
Due to the volume of applications being made there have been some delays in eCodes being emailed out but as of last night our account was showing the order as approved so we are hopeful that they will be with you at the start of next week.
Once we have confirmation that the eCodes have been sent we will send a Parenthub message to let you know. Please note the email may go into your junk/spam folder so make sure you check in there.
As with the previous system this is a new system to school and we are doing everything we can to make it work for our families. Our understanding is that you will receive an email with a code that you need to register to select the supermarket of your choice; you will then be sent an eGift card for that supermarket. The activation email you will receive does have full instructions for you.
To try and ease the burden on the system we have been asked to order per family rather than per child so when you receive the email, if you have more than one child at our school, it will only have the name of one of your children on but please be reassured the voucher is for all your children. The amount you will be given is made up of £15 per week, per child, for a four week period. (One child will be £60, Two children will be £120, Three children will be £180 etc).
We are hopeful that the transition to the new vouchers will go smoothly but should you have any problems please email the school email account stlukes@bury.gov.ukand we will do what we can to help.
Thank you for your continued support during this difficult time.
Please see information below from The Children's Trust. Lots of useful and helpful links that you can access. Kind Regards.
1. You can get up-to-date information about the coronavirus and how to support families in Bury on the Bury Directory at the following links:
·The dedicated ‘Coronavirus’ section is updated regularly with Government guidance and you will also be able to browse and access a wealth of relevant and timely information. It provides a link to the:
·The Childcare & Families Coronavirus page providing information and links particularly relevant for staff working with children and families. This provides a link to the:
·The CT Partnership Coronavirus Update – Support, Advice and Guidance for Families in Bury (Special Edition Weekly E-mail). It provides a breakdown of information from organisations in Bury and other sources to help you to support families during this time. The information is set out under themes to hopefully make it easier for you and will be updated with information from the weekly e-mails.
·The SEND Local Offer – Coronavirus pages providing information about the SEND Local Offer during the Coronavirus pandemic
·Advice for Childcare providers – where Childcare Providers can find a range of information to support them as a provider and a business in the current time.
2. There are a number of funding streams being made available to enable community organisations to provide support in the light of the coronavirus pandemic. These include the Forever Manchester Community Support Fund – click on the link and a wide range of organisations which are outlined in the attached Emergency Funding Bulletin.
3. Incidents of domestic violence and abuse are expected to rise in the coming days as families isolated in their homes by the coronavirus struggle to cope with fear and uncertainty. Closing schools also puts some children at a greater risk of domestic violence and abuse because they may be confined at home with abusive parents. Services in Bury are providing services to clients via apps, telephone and email. As a community it is vital than now more than ever before we need to look out for the most vulnerable in our society; neighbours and family & friends need to be extra aware. Please click on the link to the Bury Integrated Safeguarding Partnership page for e-learning courses, including Domestic Abuse awareness training. Click on the link to the Domestic Abuse pages on Bury Directory for more information and for signs and symptoms to be aware of. Anyone at immediate risk of harm should ring the police on 999. You can also find a simple fact sheet about the impact on children and young people in the Domestic Abuse section of the Children’s Trust Partnership Early Help online toolkit.
4. In the light of the increased risk of domestic violence and abuse, Bury VCFA has been asked by the Council to undertake an urgent mapping to assess the status of current provision and to identify new or supplementary sources of support. If you work in the Domestic Abuse sector and/or related organisations please complete the attached questionnaire and return it ASAP (and no later than 15 April 2020) to admin@buryvcfa.org.uk Please share with your own contacts and networks in order for us to capture as wide a picture as possible.
5. For any concerns in respect of families who are tenants of Six Town Housing, the STH contact centre is still open (remotely) – click on the link. STH staff are carrying out regular checks on tenants offering reassurance and offering/signposting to help and completing emergency repairs and compliance (gas/electric/water) checks.
6. Although its centre is closed Bury2Gether is contactable for families via email and social media. They are also sharing information from the government/local authority via our website and social media. Contact details are: website: www.bury2gether.co.uk Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BURY2GETHER Facebook group for parents/carers www.facebook.com/groups/Bury2Gether Email bury2gether@gmail.com
7. Andy Smith, Advocate & Inclusion Ambassador in Children’s Services is setting up weekly zoom meetings for SEND young people where they can just have a chat, offer support to each other or just have a bit of fun! If people (professionals or parents) would like more information about this or other coronavirus related support, they can email Andy at Andrew.smith@bury.gov.uk.
8. The Challenging Behaviour Foundation has produced information and booklets to help families of children/young people with severe learning difficulties during the coronavirus pandemic. Click on the link to for an information sheet: Challenging Behaviour – Supporting your loved one at home and a visual summary: Supporting children and adults with severe learning difficulties at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
9. The Enterprise Centre (Naturally Enterprise Project) is providing Outside Alternative Provision for those with SEN or Emotional need. Students are being referred via school or SEN teams. For more information, e-mail alison@theenterprisecentre.co.uk
10. Mark Withington, Families Activities Officer (M.Withington@bury.gov.uk) is using the Bury’d Treasure twitter handle (@bury’dtreasure) to put on different activities families can do at home. These are posted everyday on Twitter and on Tuesday & Thursday on Facebook.
11. The Bury Directory has a new ‘Health & Wellbeing Hub’ where you can discuss health & wellbeing topics with others, browse health & wellbeing news, access a range of free and funded learning opportunities and share useful resources.
12. Manchester Metropolitan University, Adfam and Alcohol Change UK have jointly produced a briefing: Alcohol and domestic abuse in the context of Covid-19 restrictions. Click on the link.
13. Click on the links to the following organisations that are providing updated bereavement advice and information for children and families in the light of Covid 19: the Child Bereavement Network and Cruse Bereavement Care . For general advice click on the link to NHS.UK website
14. You can get a daily free David Walliams audio story for children at this link: https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses/ and you will also find a link t catch up with stories from previous days.
15. In an effort to make quarantine a bit easier, Audible audio book platform is making a vast selection of its titles available to listen to for free. A mix of classics, education and entertainment books will remain free to stream for anyone for as long as schools are closed. Go to https://stories.audible.com/ (Council staff may not be able to access due to IT restrictions).
16. Energy companies may be able to help those on a pre pay meter or smart meter if they are self-isolating and unable to get out of the house to top up. Most are offering to send 2 weeks’ worth of gas/electricity if a customer has no other options or support in making a payment. Some companies are also sending out pre-loaded smart cards for those in need.
·British Gas 0333 202 9802
·EDF 0333 200 5100
·EON 0345 052 000
·Npower 0800 073 3000
·Scottish Power 0800 027 0072
·SSE 0345 026 2658
17. The House of Commons Select Committee on Education has set up an inquiry to look at how the outbreak of Coronavirus is affecting all aspects of the education sector and children’s social care system and to scrutinise how the Department for Education (DfE) is dealing with the situation. The inquiry has launched a call for evidence to examine both short term impacts, such as the effects of school closures and exam cancellations, as well as longer-term implications particularly for the most vulnerable children. The call for evidence closes on 31 May 2020.
18. Click on the link to GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) for information on new mental health services for people across Greater Manchester affected by social restrictions to complement local support. You can also click on the Bury Directory Mental Wellbeing and Coronavirus page.
19. The Council for Disabled Children has published an open letter from the Children and Families Minister to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, their parents, families and others who support them signposting guidance published over the past week. Click on the link to the letter.
20. The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) has published information for parents, carers and families and information for professionals to support deaf children and young people during the Coronavirus outbreak. Click on the link.
21. Thinkuknow has published guidance for parents and carers to support children who may be spending more time online at home while they do their school work and socialise with friends. Suggestions to help parents keep children safe online include: chatting to find out how they use online technology and what it means to them; reminding children to report anything worrying, and how they can do this; and setting up or reviewing parental controls. Click on the link.
22. The NSPCC has created a new webpage with information and advice for parents or carers who are worried a child or young person may be struggling with their mental health or has anxiety about Coronavirus. The webpage includes information on: talking about feelings and worries; keeping in touch and balancing screen time; ways to create structure and routine; and helping to give children a sense of control. Click on the link.
23. The NSPCC Library and Information Service has created a reading list of books for children who are worried or anxious. Our free information service remains open, and can provide reading lists and help you to find information on safeguarding topics. Contact learning@nspcc.org.uk or click on the link to the reading list.
24. The Children’s Commissioner for England has written to the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Communities, the Secretary of State for Education and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on children and families. Click on the link. In a separate letter, the Commissioner has written to the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice to ensure the rights of children in custody are upheld during the Coronavirus outbreak. Click on the link. A further letter to the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Education and the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Health and Social Care requests additional safeguards to ensure that children’s rights and best interests are upheld during the Coronavirus outbreak. Click on the link.
25. Public Health England (PHE) has published updated statistics on children living with parents in emotional distress. Figures show that for the period 2017 to 2018 in England: around one in three children lived with at least one parent reporting symptoms of emotional distress; around one in four children lived with a mother reporting symptoms of emotional distress; and children were more likely to live with a parent reporting symptoms of emotional distress if both parents were out of work. Click on the link.
Dear Parents/Carers,
School will close today as planned for the Easter Break with the exception of children accessing emergency childcare.
Children are not expected to complete school work during the next two weeks. Some teachers have added fun activities to their class pages and twitter pages which children are more than welcome to complete if they wish.
During the next two weeks staff will not be responding to requests for work as they will be on holiday.
Please be advised that should you need to contact school in relation to a safeguarding issue you can email the school email address stlukes@bury.gov.uk as this will be monitored daily.
Free School Meal Vouchers have been ordered for families already in receipt of Free School Meals to cover them over the next two weeks and these should be with families later today. For any families that apply for, and are granted, Free School Meals during the Easter Break the vouchers will be set up as soon as school is informed.
I would like to thank you all for your continued support during the past few weeks and moving forward. It has been a very challenging time for all of us but together we will come through this.
I wish you all a safe and relaxed Easter Holidays.
Kind Regards
Miss M Michael
Headteacher
Dear Parents/Carers,
Free School Meal Vouchers
As you will have seen from previous communications the Government have set up a voucher system to enable us to provide vouchers to the families that are entitled to benefit led Free School Meals.
There are some children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 that may be entitled to these vouchers but they have not registered for Free School Meals as their child is already being given a free meal under the Universal Infant Free School Meals Scheme.
There may also be children in Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 that are not claiming Free School Meals, as they did not know they are entitled.
If you are in receipt of one of the following benefits you will be able to claim Free School Meals, which will mean you can then be sent Free School Meal vouchers whilst school is closed. These vouchers will be worth £15 per child per week for all new vouchers from next week. (School will be issuing vouchers very soon to cover the Easter Break).
If you get Working Tax Credits you will not be eligible unless you are receiving the four week 'run on' payment after stopping work.
To apply for Free School Meals you need to go to the Bury Council website and select the “Schools and Learning” section in that section click on “School Meals” and then select “Free School Meals.” On this page is all the information you will need alongside a link to apply for Free School Meals.
If your application is successful school will be notified and we will issue the vouchers as soon as possible.
Kind Regards
Miss M Michael
Headteacher
Dear Parents/Carers,
School Closure Update
As you are aware school is closed to the majority of children at present as instructed by the Government.
We have no update as to when this will change and as such schoolwill notre-open to pupils on Monday 20thApril 2020.
The school will remain open throughout the Easter Break for the children of keyworkers and those classed as vulnerable that are currently accessing the emergency childcare provision.
The school will be open for these children only with the exception of Good Friday and Easter Monday when school will be closed completely.
As soon as we have any further information in relation to when all other children are allowed back into school we will let you know.
Thank you for your continued support during this difficult time.
Kind Regards
Miss M Michael
Headteacher
1stApril 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
Please find below a lovely message from one of our School Governors, Mrs Dickerson.
Dear Parents/Carers,
I am writing to you during what you will all agree is a very difficult time for us all. We are all facing challenges we have never faced before and are not sure when we will return to normal.
As a governor and member of staff at St.Luke's I am incredibly proud of how the school staff have responded to this situation. From the Senior Leadership Team through to the Caretaking & Cleaning Team every single member of staff has risen to this challenge with one aim - to do the best for the children and to keep them safe!
Resources for home learning are lovingly created and published on a daily basis for the children hoping that they can continue to learn whilst at home.
This is a very challenging time for us all,we must all do our best to stay positive and keep our children happy and healthy.
Special thanks has to be given to the wonderful staff from Edstart and Technola who have been looking after the children who have needed to access the emergency childcare in school. It is clear from the feedback from Mrs Holt that you are ensuring our children are having as much fun as they can. After reading Mrs Holt's feedback - I want to attend the childcare provision! We are incredibly grateful to be able to work with such dedicated and caring providers. THANK YOU!
I wish each and every one of you all the best for the upcoming weeks and I cannot wait until the day we are all back in our wonderful school together.
Stay Safe.
Kindest Regards
Mrs Dickerson
Staff Governor
Kind Regards
Miss M Michael
Headteacher
1stApril 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
Please find below a lovely message from one of our School Governors, Miss Parveen.
Hope you are all in the best of health right now. Many of you know me as Miss Parveen, as I worked at St Luke's for many years. I now am honoured to be a School Governor.
I would like to salute all the staff at the school including Edstart and Technola for all their tremendous efforts in enabling the children to learn whilst having fun. Please encourage your children in home schooling. It will stimulate their mind and give them a routine each day, which will combat them from feeling bored.
The programme is highly recommended by the Education department and will assist each child to work towards their goals. It will break the long day up during these spring days and make it easier to manage your children. Families will have an opportunity to work closely with their children and become teachers for a while and you can experience the amazing skills your child progresses each day! There is a huge sense of satisfaction when teaching.
I deeply wish everyone keeps safe during a very stressful time for all of us.
I hope to see you all in better circumstances. God Bless.
Finest regards
Manaza Parveen
Kind Regards
Miss M Michael
Headteacher