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We hope this half term's newsletter finds you safe and well after a busy few weeks of getting back into a school routine that feels more like normal.
Whilst the COVID rates continue to fluctuate and usual winter illnesses starting to reappear, we appreciate your support in our continued cautious approach to getting back to the 'old normal'.
Thank you for joining our parents evenings via School Cloud. Although we love having families in school to meet teachers and look at books, we felt that it was safer for everyone in the school community if we continued to communicate virtually for the time being.
With this in mind, we would like to remind you all:
- Exit the school site promptly and avoid gathering to chat.
- Alert school to any illnesses and keep your child at home should they be showing any symptoms of COVID-19, including a new or continuous cough, a loss or change of taste or smell or a high temperature. Collect from school immediately if these symptoms start to show within a school day. We would encourage you to arrange a PCR for your child. If a positive test is confirmed, your child should isolate for 10 days.
- Year groups are continuing to work as one bubble unless cases within that year group rise. In this case, the two classes will return to working separately.
- Large gatherings, including whole school assemblies will not take place and will be kept under review.
- Educational visits will take place with the clear understanding that they may be cancelled if COVID rates or restrictions change.
- Staff changes may occur as we strive to cover absence with minimum disruption for the children.
- Christmas celebrations will be reviewed nearer the time as we will always put the safety of children and our community first. Please look out for communications as we go through the term.
After half term, we would encourage Y1 parents to leave their child at the gate so that they can begin to walk to class on their own in the morning. This alleviates the amount of adults coming to and from our Y1 building. It's also a great way to build independence. There is always a member of staff on the gate to help.
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Breakfast Club and After School Club
Could we remind parents that the responsibility for booking either of our clubs via Arbor is essential to the efficient management of the clubs. Please ensure you book within the designated window to secure your child a place.
Unfortunately, we may not be able to accommodate late bookings, unless it is an emergency and pre-arranged with us. We must plan ratios carefully and would not want to compromise the safety of our children.
We would also ask that our members of staff are treated with respect at all times. We always try to do our best for the families who use BC/ASC.
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We are delighted with how all of our EYFS children have settled into nursery / school. They have been amazing, we are so proud of them.
Nursery have been learning about each other's families, exploring their environment and making new friends. Reception have learned the rules and routines of school life and are enjoying their school dinners. They have already shown great independence and are growing in confidence all the time.
Thank you to all of our new families who have faced the challenge of a half term with new routines and emotions. Your little ones are growing up and they are doing a great job!
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EYFS Open Evenings
If you are looking for an EYFS place in Nursery or Reception for 2022, please see below for information on our two Open Evenings.
Come and look around our wonderful school and have the chance to find out more about what we could offer your child as they journey through to Y6.
Bookings can be made by phone from Mon 1st November.
Only pre-booked visitors will be able to join us and the events will only go ahead if COVID rates and regulations allow.
Please share with any other families who may be searching for the perfect place to learn.
Don't miss out!
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Parent Governor shout-out!
After half term, we will be reviewing our governor vacancies and will be asking parents to express an interest in the position of Parent Governor.
Please take some time over the break to consider whether this post would be something you would enjoy. Think about what you could offer the school and how you would contribute to the governing board.
More information and date for elections will follow after half term.
Click here for more information on the role of the governing body.
National Governance Association
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Attendance
Knowsley have produced a new attendance strategy. For more information click here:
Knowsley Attendance Strategy 2021-2024
For Prescot Primary's attendance policy, click here:
PCP Attendance Information
Can we remind all families that children must be in school for 8.50am. Gates will be closed and your child will be marked later if they arrive at this time. Children who regularly arrive late can have an unsettled start to the day and feel unprepared for their first lesson. We would urge you to think about the impact that lateness has on learning and minutes lost as a result.
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Y6 BIKEABILITY
Bikeability training will take place for Y6 Unicorns after the half term break, during November and December. Dates for each class will be emailed soon.
Please ensure your child has a bike in good working order and a helmet. You should also think about how your child will travel to and from school on the days that they have their bike.
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Dragon Adventurers!
This month has seen our adventurous Dragons travel to Kingswood Colomendy to get stuck into some outdoor pursuits - we were very impressed with how they rose to many challenges.
Our Dragons were able to enjoy a full day of orienteering, problem solving, crate-stacking and buggy building. Staff watched proudly as the children faced their fears, communicated articulately and motivated each other with patience and positivity. We are very lucky to have staff who are committed to giving the children these exciting opportunities - even during these difficult times.
We know that the children were disappointed to get back on the coach, wanting to know when they were going to their rooms! Maybe next year, our Kangaroos will be able to have the overnight stay we had originally planned for Dragons.
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Monarch Mondays!
We have decided to focus on the concept of 'Monarchy' within our history curriculum this year. In each year group the children already study one significant British monarch:
EYFS: Fictional Kings and Queens
Y1: Queen Elizabeth II
Y2: Queen Victoria
Y3: King Henry VIII
Y4: William the Conquerer
Y5: King John
Y6: King George VI
We intend to have three 'Monarch Mondays' across the year, with the first being on Monday 1st November. On this day, your child will look closely at portraits and photographs of monarchs. Children will look for clues and discuss the reliability of portraits as a historical source.
You may want to talk to your child about British monarchs in the past and the current royal family. #pcphistory
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Black History Month
Throughout October, our children have been listening to stories that help to illustrate the lives of significant black people in the past who may not have been celebrated or commended at the time.
Y4 completed some excellent written work on the life of Harriet Tubman and we have also explored the lives of Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parkes.
We have lots of resources, including many books , that will allow us to continue these discussions throughout the year.
You may like to read more around this subject with your children at home. Click here for book ideas.
Black History Month: books for children
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Children in Need
Our children love to support other children and really do understand the principles behind the annual BBC Children in Need event. We love to encourage our children to be 'bothered' and act for change.
This year, we would like to invite children to dress in yellow, spots or Pudsey merchandise on the day of Friday 19th November.
We would suggest a donation of £1 that will be collecting in buckets on the gate.
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Online Safety
During the recent Digital Parenting Week, there was a focus on the digital wellbeing of our children. This is obviously something that is a priority for us as a school that values technology and how it enables our children to achieve.
You may want to read more here:
Digital Parenting Week 2021
The app below is recommended as a virtual friend for children aged 8-11 years. You may want to explore this as an option for your child.
We also release monthly newsletters that highlight various aspects of online safety. Click here for PCP Online Safety information and newsletter:
PCP Online Safety
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Apple Distinguished School 2021-2024
If you haven't yet had a chance to read our successful application document, click here to find out more:
PCP Apple Distinguished School
We are particularly proud of this award as it allows us to demonstrate how iPad technology supports, accelerates and personalises learning at our school. If you ever wonder why our iPads are so important to us, click here:
ADS Application 2021-2024
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The return of PCP Library!
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Our school library is something we are all very proud of. It's purposeful and engaging and is loved by children and staff all across the school. We have missed it so much over the past two years... but now it's back! And it's even better than before.
While the doors were closed, we were investigating different cataloguing systems and we have found the one for us! To help us keep track of books, we now have a digital system that the children can use to zap books in and out. It's taken our library provision to the next level.
Thanks to all of the children who continue to donate their pre-loved, good quality books to our library. It keeps it up-to-date and well-stocked. We love that you are so kind and 'bothered' about books. Keep them coming!
Mrs Molloy would also like children who are on Accelerated Reader to know that half termly target challenges and rewards will start again after the break.
Keep reading!
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Calling all of our young writers!
Here's a competition you may be interested in!
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Forward financial planning!
All trips will take place only if COVID rates & restrictions allow. Further details to follow.
Y4 Kangaroos - Trip to Grosvenor Museum in Chester. December 2021
Y5 Dragons - Y6 PGL Residential. Sept 2022
Y6 Unicorns - World War 2 Experience, in school. January 2022.
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From all of us at Prescot Primary and Nursery School, have a safe and happy half term break.
See you on Monday 1st November!
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