Dear Parents,

 

Thank you so much for your continued support with our Covid procedures. Although we are approaching the lifting of the lockdown on December 2nd, it is still essential that we all carry on following the advice. In school our use of hand gel and handwashing procedures are rigorous and I ask that you also ensure that your child/children wash their hands before leaving home and also when they arrive home. This helps reduce possible virus transmission.

 

The children are working well in their 'school families' which is great and they really are respecting these new expectations.

 

Some children have been seen to arrive at school before half past 8, and they then mix on the playground. This is not ideal as we keep the school families separate all day, so mixing in this way is undoing the good work being carried out in school. Please send your child to school within the arrival window so that they can come straight into school and so avoid mixing unnecessarily.

 

If you are dropping off at the infant school, please do stand behind the YELLOW lines to allow a suitable distance between you and the adult welcoming the children into school. Remember until 2nd December, lockdown rules still apply so children should not be out playing with other households unless they are part of your support bubble.

 

As I write this, we still have no confirmed cases within the Federation and I want to keep it this way - as I am sure you do too!

 

As you will be aware, Christmas in school is not going to be the same as usual as we are restricted by what we can and can't do. What we are determined to do is ensure the children still have the opportunity to enjoy Christmas in school in some way.

 

However, we are not able to allow the sending of Christmas cards due to the cards being an ideal way of the virus being transmitted, instead we will be providing the children with the opportunity to send messages in other ways.

 

Parents are also very kind at this time of year and often buy or make presents for the staff. In the current climate we would prefer that this did not happen as again, it is another way of the virus being transmitted. It has been a tough year financially for many, so please use your money for your family instead or, if you so wish, donate to the Save the Children Charity.

 

Please don't think we are being ungrateful, but I don't think it is right to allow staff to receive gifts when the children aren't being allowed to bring in cards.

 

Christmas Activities:

 

• Thursday 10th December       Christmas videos of productions uploaded (providing we can  meet all of the legal obligations required of us to do this)

 

• Friday 11th December            Christmas Jumper Day (no money to be sent in - see letter on  website)

 

• Monday 14th December        Christmas Movie afternoon

 

• Tuesday 15th December         Christmas Dinner day at Infant School

 

• Tuesday 15th December         A Christmas Craft activity will then be sent home which the children will have made

 

• Wednesday 16th December   Christmas Dinner day at Junior school

 

• Thursday 17th December       Class parties across the whole Federation - children can come into school in their party outfit.

 

Due to social distancing, we cannot have the usual arrangements for Christmas Dinner. Instead, the children will have their Christmas dinner in their own classroom, and celebrate this with the adults who usually work with them.

 

Please remember that you should collect your child and then leave the site immediately. There are still adults stopping to talk to other adults - this is not allowed - you should be socially distanced at all times and leave with your child, who again should not be mixing with other children. Some parents have expressed concern over other parents letting their children run around and not respecting the lockdown rules. This is law and we should all be following these rules. Now that we are confirmed as being in Tier 2 as from 2nd December, the rules are different and you can meet in a group of 6 outside but this does not include school grounds.

 

We all want to keep the children, our families and staff safe so please keep your children next to you and leave the site straight away. Thank you.

 

Finally, please look out for the Christmas Dinner letter which needs to be returned to ensure your child gets their free Christmas Dinner on the date stated above.

 

With my very best wishes

 

Stay Safe

 

Mrs Sheila Pape

Executive Headteacher

 

If your child is eligible for benefits-related free school meals and they are not attending school because they are self-isolating please go to:

 

https://www.southview-jun.hants.sch.uk/school-dinners/

 

to order a school lunch.

Dear Parents,

 

On Friday 13th November 2020, both schools will be taking part in activities linked to the Children in Need appeal. We support this appeal each year and the focus for this year is children’s mental wellbeing which is a priority for many during these challenging times.

 

We are asking that children wear sports clothes rather than their school uniform, it can be but doesn’t have to be their school P.E. Kit.

 

The children will be taking part in activities linked to Children in Need ‘Five to Thrive’.

 

We will not be collecting money this year, due to the pandemic, but if you would like to support the charity, you can donate at https://donate.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/

 

It is important for our children to understand the difficulties that some children experience on a daily basis and be aware of ways in which they can help and support mental well-being.

 

Thank you for your support.

Dear Parents,

 

As you will be aware the Prime Minister announced a National Lockdown with effect from this morning. Schools are to remain open and I am delighted to say that we have excellent attendance as usual.

 

We continue to have many measures in place to minimise any transmission of the virus and it is reassuring that parents and staff are being very sensible and erring on the side of caution should anyone they are near be symptomatic and are staying at home until a negative test result is received. It still remains the case that there are no positive cases in either school. 

 

As I have said before, if you have any symptoms or are in any doubt, please ring into school for advice.

 

Yesterday afternoon at 3.52p.m. I received the Guidance for Schools regarding lockdown. There is nothing new that we need to put in place which is not already in place, other than Clinically Extremely Vulnerable staff and pupils are advised to stay at home for the duration of the lockdown. You will have received an email or letter from the Government informing you if you fall into this category.

 

The new lockdown rule regarding only meeting one person who is not your household, is now applicable everywhere. 

 

This means any adult collecting a child from school should not be meeting up with anyone else on site as everyone will have another child with them and so you will be mixing with at least 2 other people as well as mixing school families. So, please collect your child/children and then leave the site immediately, ensuring your child/children are close by your side and not mixing with other children. They are being kept totally separate at school so then letting them mix out of school is increasing risk of transmission. It remains the case that only one adult should be on site to collect children and please do not arrive before 3p.m. as this is the start of the collection time.

 

Obviously, the lockdown now prevents any households mixing other than for support bubbles and childcare for working families, so your children should be at home and not out playing with children from other households.

 

If we all continue to abide by the rules then hopefully, we will get through this lockdown safely.

 

As has been the case since September, any child off school due to being in isolation whilst they await test results, will have work set for them.

 

As always, please stay safe.

 

Keep washing your hands and socially distancing.

 

Best wishes,

Mrs Sheila Pape

Executive Headteacher

Skoolkit

Here we go again!

Following government guidance, we will be closing our 6 stores from 5th November.

 

We will reopen as soon as we are told it is safe to do so.

 

If you have placed an order instore you will not be able to collect from the store after 5th November so we will now post your order out to your home address.

 

Orders can continue to be placed online via our website for home delivery.

 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

www.skoolkit.co.uk

There will be no crossing patrol on Vivian Road from 2^nd November 2020 until further notice.

 

We have been asked to advertise the following:

 

The Hampshire County Council School Crossing Patrol Service currently has a large team of dedicated community-minded men and women carrying out the important role of ensuring the safety of children on their way to and from school.

 

We currently have a vacancy on Vivian Road, Basingstoke. We would be keen to hear from parents, grandparents and members of the local community who can demonstrate traffic awareness, a sense of responsibility and are keen to show dedication and commitment in carrying out this important role to make the roads of Hampshire safer for children travelling to and from School.

 

Experience is not necessary as full training will be provided, more important are your personal qualities and commitment to provide a safe crossing environment for children travelling between home and school during term time.

 

Additional information you may require:

 

Patrol working hours are up to 1 hour in the morning and up to 1 hour in the afternoon during school term-time

A uniform is provided to protect you against the elements

Starting salary is £9.62 per hour plus a payment in lieu of holidays

 

The post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check

 

If you think you may be interested in the role and would like further information then please see our careers page

 

- https://www.hants.gov.uk/jobs/careers/schoolcrossingpatrolcareers