Newsletters

Belmont School 10th September 2021 Newsletter

Welcome Parents and Carers,

A warm welcome back to everyone and a hello to all our new families. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Mrs Aggarwall, and I am your Headteacher (Acting).

I am sure our senior leaders need no introductions, but I think it is helpful to list their names and responsibilities here so that you know who to contact if you need any support or advice:

  • Miss Ali — Acting Deputy Headteacher
  • Mrs Dickins — Assistant Headteacher for Early Years (Nursery and Reception Classes)
  • Mrs McKenzie — Acting Assistant Headteacher for Years 1, 2 and 3
  • Mrs Bachoo — Assistant Headteacher for Years 4, 5 and 6
  • Mr Revens — Interim SENDCo
  • Mr Watts — Interim Business and Personnel Manager

It has been a brilliant start to the year and I have seen so many happy faces as the children have returned to school. We are glad to have them back and are impressed with how well they have settled in to Belmont this week. Our whole school ‘Exploration’ this term is called “Once upon a me...”. Pupils will be learning about their rights, diversity and inclusion in and out of school. Our curriculum always has strong focus on mental health and wellbeing. You will receive year group newsletters next week to give more information about what your child will be learning this term.

We have had a few questions about the new rules for isolation which we would like to clarify. This has been taken from the Government guidelines:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirusoutbreak/schools-covid-19-operational-guidance#tracing 

As with positive cases in any other setting, NHS Test and Trace will work with the positive case and/or their parent/carer to identify close contacts. Contacts from a school setting will only be traced by NHS Test and Trace where the positive case and/or their parent/carer specifically identifies the individual as being a close contact. This is likely to be a small number of individuals who would be most at risk of contracting COVID-19 due to the nature of the close contact. You may be contacted in exceptional cases to help with identifying close contacts, as currently happens in managing other infectious diseases.

Individuals are not required to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and any of the following apply:-

  • they are fully vaccinated
  • they are below the age of 18 years and 6 months
  • they have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
  • they are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

Instead, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test. We would encourage all individuals to take a PCR test if advised to do so.

I would like to reassure you that we are fully committed to keep you, your child and our staff safe. Though there may be further challenges ahead in relation to the pandemic, we really hope that the worst of the disruption of children's education is over. However, we would like to reassure all parents and carers that we will continue to follow government guidance in all of our decisions.

We are an outward facing school and look forward to building positive partnerships with you, your child and the local community. 

If you have any questions our queries, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs P Aggarwall

Headteacher (Acting)

The Latest Government, NHS and Public Health England Advice:

Here are links to help you find the latest government advice in relation to COVID-19:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-abroad-from-england-during-coronavirus-covid-19 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england

Attendance 

School attendance is mandatory for all pupils. 

If your child is ill, please notify the school office on 0208 427 0903.

If you or your child develop any signs of a continuous cough, high temperature and loss of taste or smell, book a PCR test immediately and let the school know as soon as you have been given the results - DO not send your child to school.

Punctuality

All pupils must in school and collected at their designated time:

 

 

Start Time:

Finish Time

Drop off and collection point:

Year 6

8.30am

2.55pm

Vehicle access next  to car park

Year 5

8.30am

2.55pm

Front car park

Year 4

8.35am

3.05pm

Vehicle access next to car park

Year 3

8.35am

3.05pm

Front car park

Year 2

8.40am

3.15pm

Vehicle access next to car park

Year 1

8.40am

3.15pm

Front car park

 

Activity Centre for Excellence (ACE) Breakfast Club and After school Club

We are pleased to announce the return of Activity Centres of Excellence who provide our breakfast and after school club that will be starting on Monday 13th September for pupils in Year 1 to Year 6.

The taster sessions have been such a success that ACE would like to continue with free taster sessions for NEW PUPILS only till the end of this half-term. So if you are interested in the taster sessions, or you would like to make regular bookings, please contact Mr Floyd Bennett by phone or email — 07947 682787 or info@activitycentresofexcellence.co.uk. 

ACE will also be starting the following chargeable clubs:

  • Football
  • Cricket
  • Tennis

Further information regarding bookings and payment will be sent out next week.

Uniform Reminders

As mentioned in the final letter before the summer break, we have decided to keep the rules on wearing PE kit on PE days and wearing trainers the same. However, please read the changes below very carefully as we want to maintain the high standards that Belmont has:

1. All children will be allowed to wear black shoes or black trainers. The black trainers must have no

White/coloured soles or laces. If there are logos, these must be black (see pictures below):

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSCEPqzaQMIGZHyx6XorNbbxpFZcQBqgWTCD9gOk8HwMFx_lIy99nQJFQCk_l6cBWI5N-5AXHPE&usqp=CAc

2. The PE kit worn into school must be as follows:

  • Black or white trainers with plain laces. (No brightly coloured trainers please)
  • Black/Grey PE shorts, jogging bottoms (when it gets colder) or skorts – with no logo.
  • Plain white T-shirt or polo shirt (with no logo)
  • Pupils wear their purple school sweatshirt.

Please note that children should not be wearing any branded clothing and must only wear what is stated above.

Children in Year 6 will be expected to wear a school tie that can be bought from Teeny Wear in Harrow Weald. They must come to school wearing it on the first day back.

Long hair must be tied up. Hair accessories are not allowed and hijabs worn must be white.

We will be monitoring pupils’ presentation and expect all children to be wearing the correct uniform from the first day of school.

Ordering Hot School Lunches

All hot lunch bookings must be made online. 

Please order your child's hot meals for next week via the ParentPay website - www.parentpay.com.  This is for ALL pupils including Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils. 

All meals will need to be ordered in advance and the menu can be found on the website. 

If you need any help, please contact the school office on 0208 427 0903.

Home Rapid Testing For Families

COVID -19 infection rates remain high, particularly in Harrow and other parts of North West London. In order to keep schools safe and open the NHS is now rolling out rapid testing to all families with school age children. This is intended to pick up asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 so that outbreaks can be managed and contained quickly. If any member of your household normally leaves home to go to work, your family should be taking rapid (Lateral Flow) tests twice a week.

School staff are already doing rapid home testing so ensure any infection is picked up quickly. We will be sending out a separate letter from Harrow’s Public Health Team explaining where and how families can get tested, and this will include arrangements for attending local rapid  Test Centres as well and how to order home test kits.

Health & Safety and general reminders

To ensure that we are following safeguarding measures, we ask you to continue to help us by:

  • Only ONE parent to drop off and collect pupils to the teachers at the allocated times. If you have children in other year groups, you will only be allowed in school at the correct times – Please note - No parents will be allowed to wait on the school site.
  • Ensuring that you spread out and maintain a safe social distance from others when waiting to come on site – Keep your distance.
  • Do not gather in groups outside of the school gates and leave site as soon as possible – Keep your distance.
  • Wear a face covering when dropping off and collecting pupils and do let us know if you are exempt.
  • Wash your hands regularly.

No parents may come into building without an appointment.  All communication must be by email, website or telephone.  We must maintain social distancing and strict timings

Remote Learning Expectations

We continue to set online weekly home learning online via 'Microsoft My Teams'. Staff will review what has been completed and leave feedback on the pupil’s page.

We are digitising the way the school operates, this means you will have access to all of the pupils daily learning so that pupils can review what they have learnt during the school day at home.

Please focus on reading with your child every day for at least 20 minutes, help them to learn their times tables and spellings and talk to them about their learning in school.

Safeguarding remains ‘EVERYONE’S BUSINESS AT BELMONT SCHOOL.’

Harrow Children Services’ Golden Number is available to everyone, and gives people one number to call for information or advice on services for children, young people and their families.

Golden Number: 020 8901 2690.

A person points to themselves within a circle of black dots.

UNCRC Article 19
I have the right to be protected from being hurt or badly treated