Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Letter to Parents about the 'phased reopening' of schools 13th May 2020

  Wed 13 May 2020 Ms Ward

  Earlier this week the government announced that they wanted children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to return to school after 1 June, at the earliest.  We know that some parents are concerned about this so please read the letter below which explains what school is doing about these government plans. 

   

   

  Dear Parents/Carers

   

  We know that you have seen in the news that schools may reopen in the future for Nursery, Reception, Year 1, and Year 6 pupils, if the government considers it safe to do so. However, re-opening of school for these year groups is still conditional and dependent on several key factors, and will happen no earlier than 1 June 2020.  Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that the safety of all our children, staff and the wider community is paramount in all our decision making, and to share some key information regarding the government plans.

   

  Having received guidance from the government, we have begun to create an action plan to prepare for our phased reopening and, as you can imagine, there is much to be thought about and planned for. Firstly, we need to consider the numbers of children who will return if phased reopening goes ahead. Therefore, if you have a child in Nursery, Reception, Y1 or Y6, then you will be contacted over the next few days and asked about your intentions to send your child back to school. However, there will be no pressure to send your children to school, as we recognise that you know your children and personal situation best, and that there are many factors which will influence your decision. Furthermore, due to government guidance, no family will be penalised for keeping your child at home during this period of reopening.

   

  We understand that this is a very unsettling time for us all, but be assured that we will do everything we can to make sure that we are ready to safely receive any children who are returning. We will also keep you updated with all our preparations for making school as safe as possible, so that you can make an informed decision. To support this planning and preparation, we will be following four pieces of guidance which have been published. These include:

   

  • Actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening
  • Initial planning framework
  • Implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings
  • Guidance for parents and carers

   

  All our plans will be approved by the Trust before implementation, and plans will be continually updated and posted on the school website.

   

  In the meantime, the school is still open for vulnerable pupils and the children of critical workers only. We know some employers will be encouraging you to return to work, but unfortunately we are not in a position right now to extend places to other children until we receive further government guidance.

   

                                                                                                  Cont./

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  We would like to thank you for your continuous support in helping your child learn from home. We have been overwhelmed by the positive attitudes of our children and their families, and are extremely proud of you all. However, we need to keep going with this for a little while yet, so please do continue to do what you can and stay in touch regarding how your child is doing.

   

  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01226 722416 or via email parkside@pioneeract.org.uk.

   

  Yours sincerely

   

   

  Ms Rachel Ward

  Headteacher

   

   

• UPDATE to Free School Meals Vouchers

  Sun 12 Apr 2020 Ms Ward
  Schools are experiencing issues with the company who are providing Free School Meals vouchers; Edenred, who are providing the vouchers are currently struggling to cope with processing the demand from schools and their website is unavailable.  We wanted to provide additional vouchers for Free School Meals beginning on Monday 13th April however at the moment we aren't able to do this.  We will continue to provide packed lunches for Free School Meals children until the vouchers arrive.  If you are entitled to Free School Meals and haven't already ordered a packed lunch for your child but wish to receive one, please contact school and we will arrange this for you. We will update you further on Free School Meals vouchers when we have more information.

• Free School Meals Vouchers

  Wed 08 Apr 2020 Ms Ward
  From Monday 20th April Parkside will be emailing an Asda voucher to each family entitled to Free School Meals every week.  The voucher value is £15 per child, so if you have two children in receipt of Free School Meals you will get a £30 voucher.  It will be sent to you by email from a company called EdenRed.  I have spoken to the store manager at Royston Asda so that he is aware parents will be using vouchers for their shopping.  The government has said these vouchers will only be valid when purchasing food and groceries.  If you have any questions or queries about the vouchers then please contact school.

• Easter Message

  Fri 03 Apr 2020 Ms Ward

  It's Friday 3rd April and it should be the last Friday of the term...I  usually really look forward to spending the day giving out special Head Teachers Award prizes and taking photos of Easter Bonnets.  Everyone is excited because we draw the winning tickets for our Easter Egg raffle....we all hope that we are going to win!!!  I always write an end of term news message wishing everyone a Happy Easter.

   

  Today feels very different.  

   

  We have still had some children in school who have Mums and Dads who are key workers.  We've spent the day making different types of rainbows and banners which we have hung on our railings on Midland Road.

   

  All the staff, teachers and myself are missing the children very very much; we CAN'T WAIT until everyone is able to come back to school.  The teachers are working hard to update their blogs and make sure that there is always something new for children to do.  Mums, Dads, Grandmas and Grandads you are all doing an amazing job of keeping your children safe and doing school work with them during this very difficult time.  

   

  However some things are still the same as they have always been at Parkside, like the kindness, generousity and care from the parents, children and staff who make up our brilliant Parkside Community.  

   

   Thank you to you all for reminding us what makes Parkside such a special place.   🌈 🌈 🌈 💙💙💙. 

   

  Ms Ward

   

   

   

    

  

• Guidance for parents and carers: keeping children safe online

  Wed 01 Apr 2020

  Information from the DfE:

  We have updated our information for parents and carers to include a section on keeping children safe online. It provides links to online resources that will help support parents and carers in keeping their children safe online.

  Full details can be found in section 6.3 of the guidance for parents and carers on the closure of educational settings:

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

• Barnsley Employment Support Helpdesk

  Wed 01 Apr 2020

  Please see the information below from Barnsley Council:

   

  We are writing out to let you know of a new service available for residents of Barnsley, please can you help us raise awareness of the support available.

   

  During these difficult times, many residents are unfortunately facing uncertainty about their current and future employment. To address this and to support our residents, the employment and skills team have developed a simple, single point of contact to make it easier to speak to someone and access the free support available to residents who may have been:

  • Furloughed
  • Laid off/unemployed
  • Are at risk of redundancy
  • Looking to develop or grow skills

  Barnsley Council’s Employment and Skills service has joined forces with Enterprising Barnsley and other employment support providers to make it easier for residents to access employment and skills support.  We have launched the Barnsley Employment Helpdesk providing a simple single point of contact for all residents who would like to speak to someone and access support.   We aim to respond to enquiries on the same day with a referral to support within 24 hours.

  • Support can be accessed through the website and its webchat function:   https://www.enterprisingbarnsley.co.uk/support-for-employment/
  • Or, directly through our email address: employmentsupport@barnsley.gov.uk

   

  We’re on the end of a phone and can provide advice to determine eligibility for Universal Credit and how to start and prepare claims; job searching, getting a CV ready, support with applications and interviews and access to free training if residents want to develop your skills for a new role or promotion.

   

  Please help us raise awareness of this support across your networks, we are ready to receive referrals. Just make sure people are happy for you to share their contact details and email them through or direct people to us on the details above.

   

  We are working on getting a contact phone number and unfortunately in the meantime we are only able to receive enquiries through the email or webchat.  However, if individuals are not able to access email or webchat, if they can ask a friend, neighbour or professional to email us their phone number we will phone them straight back.   

   

  Our partners include: Barnsley Council Adult and Community Learning, Enterprising Barnsley, The Growth Company & Wiseability, The Coalfields Regeneration Trust, The Citizen’s Advice Service

   

  For further information about Barnsley Council’s response to Covid-19, visit: barnsley.gov.uk/services/health-and-wellbeing/covid-19-coronavirus-advice-and-guidance/

   

• Applications for Free School Meals

  Tue 31 Mar 2020

  If your circumstances have changed, you may be entitled to Free School Meals - please apply via the link below:

  www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/children-families-and-education/schools-and-learning/free-school-meals/

  If you are unable to go on line please call 01226 787787 opt 3 and the form can be completed over the phone.

• Children who are entitled to a Free School Meal

  Fri 20 Mar 2020 Ms Ward

  If your child is entitled to a free school meal you can order a packed lunch from the school office and collect it beginning Monday 23rd March 2020, between 11.30am-11.45am.

   

  These lunches are being made off site at another school in our Trust so we need to know numbers required the working day before. If you wish to order a packed lunch for Monday 23rd March, please contact the office before 3pm today, Friday 20th March.

   

  From Monday 23rd March onwards, please advise the school office each day if you require a packed lunch for the following day.

   

  If you are self isolating, please advise the office that someone else will be collecting your packed lunch.

   

  If you have any questions about this please contact the school office.  

• Advice from the Government Dept for Education re: Key Workers

  Fri 20 Mar 2020 Ms Ward

  UPDATED ADVICE FROM THE GOVERMENT

   

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

   

  As a country, we all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

   

  That is why the government has given clear guidance on self-isolation, household isolation and social distancing.

   

  And the most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.

   

  That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.

   

  It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.

   

  Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.

   

  Vulnerable children include children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.

   

  We know that schools will also want to support other children facing social difficulties and we will support head teachers to do so

  parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined below. Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.

   

  Please, therefore, follow these key principles:

  1. If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
  2. If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
  3. Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
  4. Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.
  5. Residential special schools, boarding schools and special settings continue to care for children wherever possible.

   

  If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision:

   

  Health and social care

  This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.

   

  Education and childcare

  This includes nursery and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach.

   

  Key public services

  This includes those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting.

   

  Local and national government

  This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies.

   

  Food and other necessary goods

  This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines).

   

  Public safety and national security

  This includes police and support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic), fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas.

   

  Transport

  This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.

   

  Utilities, communication and financial services

  This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors.

   

  If workers think they fall within the critical categories above they should confirm with their employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.

  If your school is closed then please contact your local authority, who will seek to redirect you to a local school in your area that your child, or children, can attend.

   

  We are grateful for the work of teachers and workers in educational settings for continuing to provide for the children of the other critical workers of our country. It is an essential part of our national effort to combat this disease.

• CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – UPDATE 19th MARCH 2020 FROM PACT TRUST

  Thu 19 Mar 2020 PACT TRUST

  Pioneer Academies Community Trust

  Information for key workers and the parents of vulnerable children

  Dear Parents/Carers

  RE: CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – UPDATE 19^th MARCH 2020

  Following the announcement yesterday by the Secretary of State for Education we would like to inform you of the arrangements we are beginning to make with regards the education of children whose parents are listed as key workers, or vulnerable children. These arrangements apply to all three of our academies

  Carlton Park Primary Academy

  Parkside Primary Academy

  Summerfields Primary Academy

  Stage 1

  In the first instance we need to ascertain how many places will be required on each of our sites. If you are a parent and fall into the listed categories of key workers can you, please contact school via email or telephone to register your need for a place. We will telephone those parents listed under the vulnerable children criteria.

  We respect that some parents who fall into these categories may still wish to keep their children at home.

  Contact details are.

  Academy	Email	Telephone
  Parkside	parkside@pioneeract.org.uk	01226 722416

   

  Stage 2

  Once we have ascertained the number of places required, we will decide whether we need to open all three sites (including Parkside), or whether we can offer a shared provision. We will consider if parents have access to transport arrangements and whether one site is more suited to a child’s specific needs. We will keep parents informed whilst formulating these plans to consider any specific requests.

  Stage 3

  As directed, we are intending to open this specific provision on Monday 23^rd March

  Please note this provision is only for the children of those parents who fall into the listed government categories.

  Entitlement to Free School Meals

  As soon as we have more information with regards this entitlement, we will inform parents of our intended actions.

   

  These are unprecedented times and we fully appreciate your support in this matter.

   

  Your sincerely

  Harry Wood – Chief Executive Officer

  Pete Steadman – Chair of the Board