It’s been such a strange end to the term.  In a piece I wrote for the school newspaper (due out tomorrow) I used the footballing analogy of  ‘a game of two halves’,  for those of you new to the phrase, it can be explained quite simply - a match that has a drastically different feel and result in the first and second halves, due to a change in formation or a key event impacting on the way the game is remembered.  Often with all the good one team does in the first half being obscured by the events of the second and therefore totally forgotten about. I am acutely aware that ‘a game of two halves’ could easily be the epithet assigned to the Lent term of 2020.

However, even the recent tumult hasn’t dampened our team spirit.  We have come together magnificently over these past few weeks and it really has made me proud.  Many thanks for the massive part you have played in this; at a time of great stress you have all been really understanding and supportive.  There’s more to follow on the adjustments we need to make with regards to our remote schooling and I have had some very sensible feedback from parents to help here.  I will communicate these before the start of the new term. 

Finally, you’ll all receive a separate letter from our chairman, Aatif Hassan, and myself, outlining how we can support each other further over the next few months and beyond in terms of school fees for the summer term and the academic year 2020-2021.  I am convinced that united, we will get through this and hope that we will be able to celebrate together during the summer term.

Keep safe and keep healthy,

Richard

Dear families,

Not quite the same newsletter from me as usual and certainly the strangest circumstances I’ve known in well over a decade of teaching, however, nonetheless we have had teaching and we have had learning so that is a success!

Thank you for keeping in touch with us and for posting so many exciting photos on Tapestry in fact, I thank you for all your support with all aspects of remote learning, for getting behind us and sharing the children's new learning, new classrooms, and for all of the lovely work they have been completing. I know it isn’t easy but during these highly unprecedented times the whole staff team gain so much joy from still interacting with our children albeit virtually.

I really appreciate the wonderful emails we have received with support and encouragement - again acknowledging the difficulty of finding the fine balance between working from home yourselves as parents but having the activities and work accessible for the children. We continue to be here to help, as I said last week - the success is about the journey not the end result and we want to support our children on this journey as we would if they were in our classrooms.

I send well wishes to you and your loved ones and encourage you to stay home and well.

Have a good Easter.

Nic Henson

(Head of Nursery and Prep)

I hope the Caterpillars and their families have had a good week so far and that you found the suggested activities and songs useful. Please keep posting on Tapestry, it has been absolutely brilliant to look through the photos you have been uploading and to feel connected with the children, please keep them coming!

Some staff from Nursery will be uploading videos for you to enjoy of them reading stories, so enjoy those too!

We are posting some suggestions of activities you can do over the Easter break onto Tapestry today - these are non essential but just some fun ideas to support you at home. Stay safe and we look forward to seeing all the Caterpillars and their families again soon.

Elmers, we are all missing being together, but it has been lovely to see some of you on Tapestry, having a try at the activities and learning that we have shared. We have also enjoyed looking at what games and exercises you have been doing at home! Well done! Please continue to upload photos and comments as normal as we move through this ‘remote learning’ stage. We are keen to see what the children are up to and support you with how to best move their interests and learning on.

Look out for the staff reading stories on Tapestry as well - we are going to upload some videos for you to enjoy!

The end of Lent Term reports will become ‘live’ on Tapestry for you to see and comment on by the end of this week. In your child’s profile box click on their name, then the reports option, click on Lent term summary and read through, we look forward to seeing your comments.

Look out for the ‘Easter fun activities’ post on Tapestry this week, with more ideas of fun activities and suggestions for you to try at home, with some great links to follow. Once again, please keep in touch and post when you can.

Have a good Easter.

Dear Parents,

It has certainly been an unusual teaching week. I have missed seeing both the children and you, reminding me of what a privilege it is to play and teach alongside Tiger Class.

I know many of you have been finding your way with a ‘routine’ this week. Having a familiar structure and something to do each day in unstructured times helps children cope. However, please trust your own instincts about what your child needs. If they would like to dig in the garden or build towers with Lego, that is brilliant! My role is to support you in keeping them occupied and learning through play.

Many thanks for all the uploads to Tapestry. It is wonderful to see what you are doing at home and remain in contact. It is also helpful to get feedback on which activities the children are enjoying. Please do email me if you need pastoral support, extra ideas or just to touch base, I am here to help. As we enter the ‘Easter Holidays’ I will upload to Tapestry a bank of fun ideas for staying at home.

Most importantly, you are doing enough. You are loving your children and supporting them through a difficult time. I look forward to hopefully seeing you all soon. Please look after yourselves and stay safe.