Stanmore Post - 26 February 2021
Dear Parents,
With the announcement of the Government ‘Roadmap’ taking us out of Lockdown and some better weather, it seems as though positive change is on the way. We are really looking forward to welcoming children back on Monday 8thMarch. We recognise that this date represents mixed feelings and children will experience the return in different ways. It is helpful to start preparing your child for this. You might choose to say that this is just another change in a year of changes and since they have coped brilliantly so far, there is no reason to believe that they won’t manage the change back into school. It is also worth reminding them that everyone is likely to feel a bit wobbly for a day or two but those feelings will soon pass. In school we will continue to focus on wellbeing. Throughout this year we have learned that the best way to help children resettle is to quickly re-establish routines and high expectations. You can help with this by ensuring that your child arrives on time, in full school uniform and attends every day.
Breakfast club can re-start on Monday 8th March. Please book this a week in advance. A booking form will be emailed separately, please return to the admin office. Payment is via scopay. Further restrictions will not be lifted until 29 March at which point outdoor mixing in groups of 6 and organised outdoor sport can resume. Our school clubs will resume after Easter.
This week our blended learning model has continued to deliver inspiring curriculum activities. This has included designing imaginative islands based on the book ‘Wonder Garden by Kristjana Williams and to write instructions from the book ‘How to wash a Woolly Mammoth’ by Michelle Robinson. Children in Year 3 / 4 at home and in school followed instructions to make a Woolly Mammoth of their own, and afterwards, evaluated the instructions to improve them for future use. In Year 1 / 2. The book ‘Diver Bill’ by Judith and Kenyon is inspiring Year 1 and 2 to find out more about Winchester Cathedral. Find out more about learning this week at:
https://www.stanmore.hants.sch.uk/news/2021/02/26/super-science
https://www.stanmore.hants.sch.uk/news/2021/02/26/woolly-mammoths
Next week, our final week of blended learning, we have some exciting events planned. World Book Day will extend over 3 days and will include a theme of maths through story amongst other events through story this year. We have different activities planned in school outlined in a separate letter and we will share photos on the website next week. Further information about these events can be found at:
https://www.mathsthroughstories.org/#
https://www.worldbookday.com/events/
On Friday 5th March children can wear their pyjamas or comfy clothes to school to celebrate World Book Day (and stay in them all day at home of course!)
Parents evening this Term will take the form of a 5 – 10 minute phone call. We will be offering telephone appointments during the week beginning 15th March. The purpose of this meeting will be to focus on how your child has managed within the Blended Learning phase and to evaluate their progress to date. Booking will be via Scopay and will open from tomorrow. This year, we will aim to offer an additional face to face Parents Evening in June.
Best Wishes
Sharon Taylor
Super Science
KS1 children have been busy being scientists this week and exploring how to tell if an object is a bean or a seed! They have all used fantastic scientific vocabulary and have identified all the different parts.
![IMG_4464[1].JPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b545b978ab722298aeeb748/1614348485873-UVVKQZ42YLCF6RGRIHEG/IMG_4464%5B1%5D.JPG)
![IMG_4449[1].JPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b545b978ab722298aeeb748/1614348485765-U8WEVTEXKKSKDD8BKY9X/IMG_4449%5B1%5D.JPG)
![IMG_4454[1].JPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b545b978ab722298aeeb748/1614348490806-MR1O5ZGLBCE29SP1JR5S/IMG_4454%5B1%5D.JPG)
Woolly Mammoths!
In Year 3 and 4, our focus is on learning about writing instructions, based on the book, ‘How to wash a Woolly Mammoth’ by Michelle Robinson. As part of this unit, the children have been learning about selecting the most appropriate imperative (bossy) verbs to use, as well as including prepositions to ensure that their instructions are effective. As part of this they had to give clear instructions to a friend on how to clean some very dirty ducks.
On Thursday, the children at home and in school followed instructions to make a Woolly Mammoth of their own, and afterwards, evaluated the instructions to improve them for future use. This will inform the instructions that the children will be writing next week, to help a new keeper at Marwell! We think that the children have followed the instructions beautifully – what do you think?
![IMG_8715[1] (1).JPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b545b978ab722298aeeb748/1614347793905-9UTELQ0RY1WYJGGZFR3D/IMG_8715%5B1%5D+%281%29.JPG)
Stanmore Post - 12 February 2021
Dear Parents,
Every half term is different to the previous one at the moment. We have almost got used to expecting the unexpected. Not being able to plan ahead with certainty is challenging as we all know. As a school community we have stayed focused on our core values of Belonging, Excellence, Support and Trust. There is no doubt that this has helped us to stay on track, continuing to strengthen our curriculum and our school community. Thank you for all of the support you have shown for this since January.
Despite the challenges of Covid this term, we have been able to continue with our school improvement journey. As a result, we are seeing progress in the way children are working in maths. Our focus has been to encourage children to think flexibly about number. This helps them to make sense of what they are learning, rather than relying on reproducing learnt procedures. To do this, children need to have a model to work with. From working practically with a model, children then begin to visualise the model and it becomes a tool for thinking with. What we want is for children to have this model to imagine whenever they are given different mathematical problems. If you have been supporting children at home, you may have enjoyed seeing them begin to make more and more connections. At Stanmore it is important to us that we train the children mathematically, building on the same models throughout the school. This will help children become more secure, competent mathematicians in our school and beyond. Many parents will have now experienced this first hand through the remote learning but further information can be found at: https://www.stanmore.hants.sch.uk/maths
This week children engaged with safer internet day. The focus was ‘An Internet we can Trust – exploring reliability in the online world.’ The reliance on remote working for children and adults has brought this topic sharply into focus. If you would like to find out more about how you can support your child at home visit: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2021/i-am-parent-or-carer
When we come back after half term, the children will be getting involved in World Book Day. If you are thinking about a half term activity, don’t forget to have a look at the 30 books your child should read before they leave Stanmore. On Friday 5th March, children can wear their pyjamas to school (and stay in them all day at home of course!) There will be fun activities on line and at school that children will find out more about after half term.
Well done for all of the hard work and extra effort that has gone into this half term. Enjoy a well-deserved break. I hope that the sun shines and that at some point next half term we will be back in school.
Best Wishes
Sharon Taylor
Stanmore Post - 5 February 2021
Dear Parents,
We are continuing to work well within our ‘Blended Learning approach, combining remote and home education. The tasks are improving as we find out more about how best to engage children in learning through ongoing feedback and assessment. Through the tasks and quizzes we are now able to assess children either through the work online or through work in school. This means that by the end of the year, despite the withdrawal of KS1 and KS2 testing this year, we will be able to give you up the most accurate information about how your child is doing. While we are hopeful that children will be back in school before Easter, we are not yet certain. For that reason we have made some changes to our termly Pupil Progress reviews. Parents evening this Spring Term will take the form of a phone call again. We will be offering telephone appointments during the week beginning 15th March. The purpose of this meeting will be to focus on how your child has managed within the Blended Learning phase and to evaluate their progress to date. This year, we will offer an additional Parents Evening in June where we will aim for a face to face meeting. At this meeting we will be able to discuss progress and transition into the next school year. We will share targets and ways in which we are supporting your child to secure the key learning that they need to make that process as smooth as possible.
Thank you for your feedback on the Google Classroom work. It is good to hear that children are enjoying lessons and becoming increasing familiar with the routine. The quality of the ‘turned in’ work is consistent. We have listened to parents who have told us that sometimes there are not enough opportunities for breaks during the day. This is a problem, particularly between the maths extension and English. We have responded by ensuring that slides are available on the Classroom page so children could go back and check their work, completing it later in the week. From Monday there is a new session ‘Rapid round up,’ where children can ask a teacher for any additional help. This may be useful for children who have had to move quickly from one session to another without being sure about how to start the task. A top tip from one parent is to encourage your child to start working alongside the teacher, not to wait until the end of the session to start. We have picked this tip up and teachers are suggesting that children work with them where possible. Ultimately you know when your child has done enough. It is essential that they get proper breaks in the day, eat well and get some fresh air and exercise. The quantity of work set caters for the broad range of children within the class, so don’t worry. If you can see that your child has done enough, even if they haven’t finished, it is ok to stop. If they are too stretched, focus on phonics, reading and maths and then perhaps select some of the wider curriculum subjects that they particularly enjoy. Whatever they are doing, if they are joining in on time and turning in work, we are proud of them. This is a real achievement and they are developing their keys for success which they can rely on in the future.
It is not just the children at home who are managing extremely well, the children in school have had to adapt to different routines, different teachers and in some cases different bubbles. Children throughout the school are working hard in their bubbles enjoying learning about Stonehenge and surviving in the Amazon.
The opportunities for children at school and home to participate in a shared experience like Assembly and ‘Chill and chat’ are the highlight of the week. I have heard that Mr and Mrs Read have turned into gameshow hosts!
If you can’t find a space for your child to work, or you are struggling with technology, including internet connection or having enough devices to work on, then we may be able to help you. Please contact the school office: adminoffice@stanmore.hants.sch.uk Thank you for your ongoing support.
Stanmore Post - 29 January 2021
Dear Parents,
Reading is one of the few leisure activities still available to us during lockdown. Turning this into a positive opportunity to develop good reading habits could prove to be helpful in the future. We know that reading matters to children’s language development along with improving their chances at academic success. Sometimes we forget that reading also has the tremendous power to offer us pleasure and comfort in what are immensely challenging times. Now just isn’t the time to be too anxious about what your child is reading. Reading instructions, recipes, and even old baby books, are all valuable. Please don’t worry about the level or perceived challenge of a book when your child is reading for pleasure. Talking about the book is still a valuable activity. Your child may wish to return to their favourite stories, given the likely emotional benefits during this tricky time. Indeed, in such uncertain times, children may gain comfort from reading a book they enjoyed as a very young child. If you are not sure what to encourage your child to read we have suggested a list of 30 books that they should read before they leave Stanmore. You may already be aware of a fantastic website that can provide ideas - https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/
Children are continuing to achieve well in our Spring Term ‘Blended Learning’ Curriculum. We are seeing increasing numbers of children participating in all remote lessons and tasks. In RE this week Mrs Fenton and I were really impressed with the children’s responses and high level questions on the subject of creation. I recognise that sustaining children’s interest virtually is demanding, requiring considerable parental support and patience, but no effort is wasted. In addition to the maths and English tasks we have received videos of creative projects including: music making, how to plants a seed and re-telling stories. Children eligible to attend school are also engaging well and showing good learning behaviour. It is very encouraging to see the hard work invested in developing the Keys for Success: persistence, resilience, organisation, confidence, co-operation and respect reflected back through positive learning behaviours. We know this because the children are continuing to adapt so well to their constantly changing experience, however difficult that may seem at times.
If you haven’t done so already have a look at this routine checklist.
If you can’t find a space for your child to work, or you are struggling with technology, including internet connection or having enough devices to work on, then we may be able to help you. Please contact the school office.
We enjoy hearing about how well children are doing. We now know that restricted attendance is likely to continue for a few more weeks. The Government have indicated that the earliest that school’s will begin to reopen is Monday 8th March. As soon as we have a confirmed date and plan for this we will communicate with you through emails and text. If you have a suggestion for our ongoing improvement to our blended learning over the coming weeks please email Mrs Taylor via the admin office. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Best wishes,
Sharon Taylor
Science and our environment
This week, the children in Year 3 and 4 have been continuing their learning about rocks and soils. Building on their knowledge from previous learning, they re-created the formation of three types of rock using chocolate. They used melted chocolate to represent the molten rock, grated chocolate to represent the sediment that forms sedimentary rock, and applied pressure to the igneous and sedimentary rocks that they had created to produce metamorphic rock. The children loved this activity - with the added bonus of eating the rocks afterwards!
The children in EYFS have been exploring their environment.
Stanmore Post - 8 January 2021
Dear Parents,
Thank you for responding so well to all of the changes that have happened since Monday. It has been an extraordinary week, even in the current circumstances. The strength of our school community can be measured by how quickly children, parents and staff have adapted to two different situations in the space of one week. Everyone has played a part in making sure that this has happened as smoothly as possible.
I do not underestimate how challenging this has been for many families. If you have struggled with the technology this week then you are not alone. I imagine there are many people, myself included, who have been daunted by the step up into remote learning. The positive news is that the families who have taken the first step in engaging with remote learning, asking the school for support where necessary, are now up and running on Google Classroom. Some children and families felt overwhelmed initially, but the more they are getting used to this way of working the easier it is becoming. Who imagined a world where 5 year olds could so easily put themselves on mute?
This week children at home have participated in maths and English lessons that are similar to their usual classroom practice. The children in school are following the same routine. The curriculum next week develops this further with a wider range of subjects available. Planning follows the intended curriculum for this term with some necessary changes. For example art and design with Mrs Stanley will be a practical lesson using basic resources that you are likely to have at home rather than our usual art resources. In addition, ‘wellbeing with Mrs Mason’ and the ‘chill and chat’ session where children will just be able to see their friends under the supervision of the teacher, are there to support children’s mental health. It was wonderful to see so many faces on the screen for our Celebration Assembly. Next Friday we will run two sessions to allow for more than 100 to attend. Children across all year groups in the school will enjoy these sessions. The timetable can be found here.
We have resolved a couple of issues around the day to day management of the sessions. For example, children should now be unable to join a meeting before the teacher arrives. Find out more about how we are safeguarding your children and managing the expectations of behaviour in a remote lessons.
As well as juggling home education I am fully aware that families are coping with many other pressures. There is an expectation that children do participate in online learning this time. The Department of Education recommends that children in KS1 complete 3 hours a day and KS2 complete 4 hours a day. Of course, I would hope that this is possible, particularly once the Google Classroom routine becomes a familiar process. We are working hard to provide more support to parents through direct teaching on Google Meet. No-one would want to see children fall further behind because of a situation beyond anyone’s control. However, I am realistic and know that what is most important is that everyone stays positive, taking a balanced approach that keeps your family on track. Start small, be successful and build up from there. You are not on your own and we can help through re-assurance or in more practical ways if needed.
Contact adminoffice@stanmore.hants.sch.uk
We know that choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you can make. At Stanmore Primary School you will find an environment that will support them in their development and positively challenge them in their learning. The deadline for Year R applications is January 15th 2021. If you or anyone you know has a child who will start school in September 20-21 please follow the link below:
Stanmore Post - Remote Learning Update - 5 January 2021
Dear Parents
Today has been a very quiet day in school and we have missed seeing all of the children.
You will have been contacted by us if you have requested a key worker space, or your child meets the criteria of vulnerable as outlined in the Government Guidance. If you are sending your child to school, please continue to follow the enhanced measures set out at the beginning of the week including:
Wearing face masks on the site
Collecting children without older siblings from Early Years/ KS1 at 3pm
Limiting adults on the site and arriving/leaving promptly
Remote Learning
Parents have been emailed two separate documents. One is a reminder of how you can access Google Classroom. The other is an example weekly timetable.
For the rest of this week our remote learning will be limited to Maths, English and a creative project. The creative project will be something straightforward for you to share at home with your child and there will be a different task for each year group with some examples. This limited timetable will allow us the time to make sure that all children and staff are confident in the process. From Monday 11th January, the timetable will be more varied to include a wider range of topics and activities.
Every child from Year 1- 6 who is not in school should log on to Google Meet for the early morning registration session from tomorrow and by Friday at the latest. If you have forgotten the password, or you are not sure how to do this, please contact the admin office. Registration is part of our safeguarding procedures as outlined in the statutory guidance. We have staggered the registration time so that siblings can join separately using one device where this may be necessary. Further information on how to do this for children in Catkins class will be posted on Tapestry by Miss Day.
If your child is unwell then you must phone 01962852941 or email the admin office.
We have to report attendance daily. As you can imagine, it takes a considerable amount of time to check in with families who do not make contact.
There is an expectation in this Lockdown, that every child completes work in line with the planned school curriculum. We can still arrange for printed worksheets to be prepared for collection or delivery where necessary, but this is in addition to participation in the online register and live sessions. If you would like paper copies, let the office know and we can arrange this for you. Completed worksheets can be returned to school with your child when the school re-opens. Parents are of course welcome to support home learning with all of the creative activity seen during the previous lockdown. This should be in addition to the set work rather than instead of.
Please support us in doing our best to provide a curriculum that is closely matched to our planned school curriculum. The next few days are the practice run. We have put in preparation ready to go live and we are looking forward to getting started. As always, please contact us if you have any difficulties, we are here to support you. Use google classroom or the admin office email to do this.
You will notice that there is more than one maths session. Core is the basis of the learning required for the majority of children. Some children may wish to access the support if needed or extension session for further challenge, as they would normally. Children can access more than one session if they would like to. This is just a guide, give it a go and find the best fit. If you have more than one child sharing a device, they will have to log on at different times - don't worry too much about this. The teacher can help with any questions.
Children will be awarded one house point for attending the morning register and one for each piece of completed work. Extra house points will be available for children who choose to go the extra mile. We are planning a weekly celebration assembly each Friday at 2pm using Google Meet. This will give us an opportunity to maintain our value of belonging. We are looking forward to the new opportunities that remote learning will bring to our curriculum.
Best wishes,
Sharon Taylor
Stanmore Post - Covid Update - 4 January 2021
Dear Parents and Carers,
You will have seen, I have no doubt, the message from the Prime Minister with regards to school closures with immediate effect.
From Tuesday 5th January, Stanmore Primary School will be closed to most pupils, with remote learning in place until at least February Half Term. I know that everyone in our Stanmore Community will be affected by this decision and I am so deeply sorry that the education of all of our children will once again be interrupted. The only reassurance that I can offer is that we are even more prepared in terms of staying in contact and providing improved remote learning, including some face to face, via Google Classroom.
School will remain open to vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers as during the previous Lockdown.
While the National Picture has been building, the immediate school closure of Primary Schools is nevertheless unexpected. We need tomorrow to get properly organised and so tomorrow will look slightly different from the days that follow.
Tuesday 5th January
Vulnerable Children
If your child was identified by the school as vulnerable in the first Lockdown you may attend school tomorrow.
Key Workers
If you identify as a Key worker or you simply can't manage without us in order to work tomorrow because of the short notice, your child may attend school
Remote Learning
Remote Learning will be available on Google Classroom, but there will not be any face to face learning. If you are unable to access this and need paper copies of work for home learning, please email the admin office.
From Wednesday 6th January
Vulnerable Children
You will be contacted if your child meets the criteria of vulnerable on Wednesday so that your child can attend daily from Thursday 6th January until school re-opens. If your child is on a part time timetable those hours will remain the same.
Key workers
If you identify as a key worker, you can complete an online form and you will be allocated a place based on the Government criteria and the days that you have to be in work. https://www.stanmore.hants.sch.uk/covid19-registration
Remote Learning
Children will access regular remote face to face learning in addition to the daily work on Google Classroom - details to follow.
Please bear with us for the rest of this week. There are likely to be technical hitches with the remote learning and some uncertainty about whether you qualify for a key worker space. We can work through all of this together over the coming days. The best interests of the children at our school remain the priority during this time.
For now, contact the school via the admin office at adminoffice@stanmore.hants.sch.uk if you have any further questions, but please help us by using the online form only to book a key worker space. Above all, please take care of yourselves and each other.
We will contact parents with children in receipt of free school meals tomorrow morning with details of how you will be supported.
Yours sincerely,
Sharon Taylor