Posted: Fri 3rd Sep 2021
Dear Parents and Carers,
A very warm welcome back and a very special welcome to our Biggin Hill Pre-School, Reception and new families joining us this year - we welcome you all to our school community. The children have had a wonderful first week back and all seem very settled and happy.
Although we have returned to what feels like “normality”, we are still maintaining our systems of control to keep everyone as safe as possible; and the children are already back into the hand washing and sanitising routines! I would like to formally introduce Mr Devlin, Assistant Headteacher, to our new families. Mr Devlin has been teaching at the school for 7 years and he will be a fantastic addition to the senior leadership team. Mr Devlin will maintain his year 6 teaching responsibilities as well as assist with the strategic leadership of the school with specific responsibility for assessment and achievement.
We also welcome Miss Burgham, year 2 class teacher, back from maternity leave who joins us on a part-time basis. Miss Knott, our new SENCo assistant, also joins us and will work with Mrs Lawrence and the inclusion team. Finally, Miss Curran has joined us as an LSA in our Pre-School. On behalf of the entire school, I extend a very warm welcome to our new staff and welcome Mr Devlin to the senior leadership team.
We hope you all enjoy the ‘Meet the Teacher’ video, which teaching staff will be uploading to your child’s Google Classrooms on Monday. Today children will be bringing home curriculum maps, which provide an outline of what children will be learning this term. We hope both of these initiatives will help you to feel informed about the term ahead. We will also issue weekly newsletters, monthly safeguarding bulletins and spotlight articles and our Inclusion bulletin, ‘Same but Different’ from time to time. Also, this website contains a wealth of information.
Within this newsletter, you will find an outline of the school day and instructions for drop off and collection arrangements. Please share this with your child so they are prepared for these transitional times. Teaching staff have also attached a special welcome message.
I would like to remind families that attendance at school is mandatory and we ask for your support in ensuring that any routine appointments are made outside of school hours and that term time holidays are not taken.
Please do not send your child to school if they have any of the key symptoms, any child sent to school displaying these symptoms will be sent home:
● High temperature
● New continuous cough
● Loss or change to sense of taste or smell.
We will continue to follow the latest government guidance. Our most recent risk assessment and outbreak management plan is available this website.
We are also in the throes of finalising our homework structure and policy for this academic year and will get this out to you over the next week or so. We will also communicate any changes to our behaviour policy as soon as possible.
We are still looking for reading volunteers - specifically to help with Guided Reading in Year 1 and Year 2 from 9.00-9.30am every day. If you think you might be able to help, please contact Sally Helps at s.helps@bigginhillps.com
We are all very excited for the year ahead; I know that the teaching staff have rigorously prepared for children’s learning and development and are very much looking forward to delivering an exciting and engaging curriculum!
Our door is always open; please do let us know if you need any clarification or have any questions.
Have a wonderful weekend.
My very best wishes,
Mrs Freeman
Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead
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