E-newsletter 78

General Update

School Opening

As you will all know, Boris Johnson announced that English schools might possibly open on 8th March 'at the earliest'. There is currently no guidance for schools on whether this will be a full or phased opening and the return date has yet to be confirmed but I will, of course, update you the moment I have more information. 

Global Curriculum

Teachers and support staff are already working extremely hard to prepare for the next Global Curriculum themes which begin after half term. Plans are being made and learning environments are being created to reflect the new countries that will be studied and staff are very excited at the prospect of welcoming the children back to school as soon as possible. 

A significant part of Grendon's reputation has, for many years, been built upon our Global Curriculum which is characterised by engaging, immersive environments, high quality face-to-face interactions between staff and pupils and practical and exciting opportunities to learn across a range of subjects. Whilst some elements of this can be replicated remotely, there are many aspects that quite simply rely on pupils being together with their teacher in the classroom - that is how we know we work best and that is hopefully one of the reasons why you chose Grendon in the first place. 

A short video reminder of the Autumn Term Global Curriculum can be found here

Remote Learning

Engagement with remote learning continues to be very high and I am delighted and thankful for the huge commitment shown by families, school staff and pupils in making this so effective. For those of you keen to understand more about the school's rationale behind our Remote Learning strategy, I would urge you to read our Remote Learning Policy, particularly Appendix 1, which shows that our approach is very closely aligned to Ofsted's guiding principles of good practice which they devised during their visits to hundreds of schools over the course of this academic year.  

The children are a week into their current Learning Grid. We envisage there being one more fortnightly Learning Grid for immediately after half term which will take us up to Monday 8th March which we hope is the date that all children will return to school. 

Half Term 

Half term is a week after next (WB Monday 15th February). School will be closed for all pupils and the DfE has placed no requirement on primary schools to provide remote learning at this time. 

Key Stage 2 Key Worker Group Is Moving! 

With two Key Worker groups in school, there is the opportunity (with some careful organisation) for new learning environments to be created in the empty rooms. Now that Willow's Learning Environment is well on the way to being completed, our Key Stage 2 Key Worker group will move into the mobile for the whole of next week so that Pine Class can be transformed! 

For next week, pupils in the Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) Key Worker group should go straight into the mobile classroom on arrival at school from 8.45am and parents should then wait on the playground at the end of the day - your child will be sent out when we spot you!

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Despite everything, there is a strong feeling of optimism in school. We are all extremely hopeful that the summer term might be a time of some normality for our pupils, where they can be together with their friends and enjoy learning and playing outside in the sunshine as much as possible.