Remote learning and school provision update

Dear Parents / Carers

This morning the Welsh Government announced that schools would continue to provide remote learning with a review taking place on January 29th. They also stated that it was likely that this situation could continue until at least half-term.

We all appreciate the high number of children who have already been engaging with their remote learning and I would encourage as many of you as possible to support your children in accessing the learning available whilst I appreciate the difficulties of managing this alongside everything else! It is just as important that you look after yourselves as it is for the children to access the learning and we are here to support you.

Our teachers will be providing learning opportunities in line with the Federation’s blended learning offer which we shared in the autumn. At the moment, with teachers having to provide face to face teaching for vulnerable learners and the children of ‘critical workers’ throughout the week they will not always be immediately available to respond to queries at any point in the school day. The staff are working on site on a rota basis and will still provide the support and ‘point of contact’ as they have been doing it just might be at different times in the week. Teachers will communicate with their classes as the weeks progress and we settle into yet another new ‘normal’ so that you and your children are aware of when they are available.

It might seem hard to believe, but we hear of the updates and changes to the expectations with regard to schools at the same time as you; usually through the BBC News app! This means that we often have to change plans and arrangements at extremely short notice whilst staying mindful of health and safety requirements and safe working practices alongside our other legal responsibilities. As soon as we know anything new and important it is shared with you, usually through a post on our website. This is beyond frustrating for all of us and I thank you for your patience and understanding with this.

From next week both of our schools will slightly change the way that the current provision for the children on site is managed. Rather than remaining in exceptionally small ‘class’ bubbles (which we were directed to do in case of the previously suggested return to school on the 18th) resulting in some children being on their own, each school will offer two new bubbles. In Bedwas the split will be one bubble for Years 3 and 4 and another for Years 5 and 6. In Rhydri there will be one bubble for Foundation Phase and one for KS2. This will enable numbers in specific rooms to be kept as low as possible whilst ensuring safe staffing levels and each new bubble will effectively be isolated from the other group. With an INSET day booked for our schools on Friday February 12th (where the schools are closed to ALL pupils) our term effectively ends on Thursday 11th February. This means that should we return to face to face teaching after half-term we will have had a 10 day ‘firebreak’ and the children will be able to return to their previous class bubbles with no impediment.

Look after yourselves and stay safe!

Richard Cook

Head Teacher

The Federation of Bedwas Junior and Rhydri Primary Schools