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

• Collective Worship - 28th April 2020

  Tue 28 Apr 2020

  Dear Children and Parents

  Please click on the link below to enjoy a wonderful collective worship with Rev Jo.

   

  https://beaminsterteamchurches.org/the-road-to-emmaus/

   

  Best wishes.

  Mrs Barnett

• From Mrs Barnett - 20th April 2020

  Mon 20 Apr 2020
  Dear Parents/Carers, 

   

  I hope that you all managed to have a lovely Easter, despite the uncertain times and that you are all well. 

   

  Although no one is actually working from the school building, Beaminster St Mary's School, is very much open and has been throughout the Easter break. The teachers, office staff  and myself have been working daily to produce remote learning for the children, we have been answering emails from parents as well as making daily and weekly calls to some of our families. Our support to families ranges from supporting them with home learning to  organising hot meals to be delivered and helping  them with their food shopping. I am incredibly proud of the work which we are continuing to do to support our school and local community, in these unprecedented times as much of it is taking place outside of our normal working patterns. However, our desire to support our children and their families is unwavering. 

   

  Thank you so much for your continued support during this time.

   

  Stay safe.

   

  Mrs Carys Barnett

  Headteacher

   

  Tel: 01308 862201

  E-mail: headteacher@beaminsterstmarys.dsat.org.uk

   

  Where children come first; belonging and building together

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• Parents Update- 20th April 2020

  Mon 20 Apr 2020
  

• Guidance from the DFE - Help primary school children continue their education during coronavirus (COVID-19)

  Mon 20 Apr 2020

  Guidance

  Help primary school children continue their education during coronavirus (COVID-19)

  Advice for parents and carers looking after primary school children.

   

  Published 19 April 2020

  From: Department for Education

   

  While staying at home due to coronavirus (COVID-19), parents and carers will be concerned about their children’s education and the impact of missing school.

  No one expects parents to act as teachers, or to provide the activities and feedback that a school would. Speak to your school who will be planning work for your child to do. Parents and carers should do their best to help children and support their learning.

   

  Structuring the day

  Do not worry about trying to maintain a full routine for your child like they had at school. But children will feel more comfortable and learn better with a predictable routine to the day, even if this is difficult.

  When schools provide children with work they may give you advice on how to structure the day. But generally, you should try to make sure that they:

  • get up and go to bed at the same time each day
  • have regular meal times
  • have regular breaks
  • make time to be active - children are used to regular play at lunch and break times

   

  Using digital devices

  Your child’s school may set them work that can be done on a digital device such as a laptop, desktop, tablet or smartphone.

  Set age-appropriate parental controls on any devices your child is using and supervise their use of websites and apps. See advice on keeping them safe online and talk to your child about online safety.

   

  Reducing screen time

  Digital devices are not the only way to learn. Manage screen time with a timer and break up screen time by getting your child to:

  • use books and other printed materials that their school has provided or that you have at home
  • write by hand – try asking them to complete work by hand, write a diary, a summary of things they have learned or done each day or ‘to do’ lists
  • be active and get away from the screen regularly – see a selection of physical activity resources for primary school children
  • stop using digital devices at least an hour before bed

   

  Reception, year 1 and year 2 children

  The best way to help children aged 4 to 7 learn is to:

  • sit with them as they work
  • do active and practical things, rather than trying to make them sit and listen for long periods
  • try to break down the work into shorter periods, based on how long they can concentrate
  • take frequent breaks
  • praise or reward them when they do well

   

  Talking

  Talk with your child throughout the day and try to explain new words. For example, discuss everything you are doing and pick out words that might be new to them.

   

  Reading together

  When you read with your child try to:

  • express the emotion in the story
  • give colour to the characters using voices, tone and pace
  • discuss the things you are reading

   

  You can make a story more interesting and help your child develop their understanding of a book by linking what you are reading to their life. For example, while reading about Cinderella going to the ball, talk about how a ball is similar to a birthday party.

   

  Ask your child questions about what you are reading as you go. For example:

  • ask some questions that only need a short answer, such as what colour something is, or the name of a character
  • ask some questions that need a longer answer, such as how a character is feeling
  • ask them to tell you what has happened in the story so far

  Libraries are currently closed, but you can find digital services they are providing at Libraries Connected.

   

  Phonics

  Phonics is a method schools use to teach children how to read quickly and skilfully.

  Contact your school, which will be working on ways to help you with this. Try to sit with your child and practise with them, following the advice you get from their school.

   

  Writing

  Try to help children to continue to practise their writing. This may include the formation of letters and familiarity with pens and pencils for younger children, or practising creative writing for older children.

  Ask children to write about their day-to-day experiences of being at home, or to write letters to send to family members.

   

  Numbers

  Practise counting and numbers. This does not always have to be a planned activity. For example, count things around the house while you are doing other things like cooking or cleaning.

  For older children learning sums, ask your school for help or see a list of resources to help with maths recommended by teachers and school leaders.

   

  Year 3 to 6 children

  The best way to help children aged 7 to 11 learn is to:

  • give them support and direction, but encourage them to do work independently too
  • include active and practical things, rather than trying to make them sit and work for long periods
  • try to break down the work into shorter periods, based on how long they can concentrate
  • take frequent breaks
  • praise or reward them when they do well

  To check if they are learning try to:

  • ask them questions as they go
  • talk about things they learned

   

  Talking

  Ask children to talk through what they have learned during the day and find time to talk with them more generally.

   

  Reading

  Talk to your child about what they are reading. This will help them understand what they have read and encourage them to read for fun.

  Ask your child questions about what they are reading. For example:

  • ask questions that make them think about the story, such as how a character is feeling
  • ask them to tell you what has happened in the story so far

  Libraries are currently closed, however, you can find digital services they are providing at Libraries Connected.

   

  Writing

  Try to help children practise their writing. Work from school may be sent digitally, but using pen and paper will help children be ready for when they go back to school.

   

  Information for parents of year 6 children

  Year 6 children (aged 10 to 11) should continue doing any work set for them by their school.

  To prepare for going to secondary school this can be a good time for them to follow their own interests. For example, for:

  • history, by visiting the English Heritage website to explore England’s history
  • geography, by researching other countries
  • science, by finding out more about the human body on BBC Bitesize
  • art, by trying the activities on TATE Kids

  Ask your primary school about how you can help your child prepare for moving up to secondary school.

   

  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-primary-school-children-continue-their-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

• Summer Term Online Learning

  Fri 17 Apr 2020
  

• Happy Easter

  Fri 03 Apr 2020
  Dear Parents/Carers, 

   

  I hope this email finds you all well in these continued unprecedented times. 

   

  A huge thank to all for all of the photographs and messages which we are receiving regarding the home learning, it has been so lovely for us to see and you are all being wonderful! Please do not worry if you haven't done this, it is not a requirement, it is just an added bonus for us as a school!

   

  I have added a `Home Learning` section on the school website which outlines how the home learning will continue after the Easter break as well as having some helpful documents to support online learning.

  The school office have contacted you all to check that you can access online learning, if you haven't already, please can you respond to this email as this will help us to know if we need to investigate other ways of supporting home learning. Please can I take this opportunity to stress that all home learning documents are produced as a guidance to support you at home, if you have any questions or concerns regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact on the provided email addresses.

   

   

  The teachers are in the process of adding Easter challenges for your children to complete over Easter, please note, that these are optional.

   

  As a school team, despite the school being physically closed, we are continuing to work hard behind the scenes, including: supporting vulnerable families through regular contact, responding to parental emails, preparing online learning documents and developing the school curriculum. The office staff are working hard to support FSM procedures as well as continuing with the daily routines to ensure that the school runs smoothly, albeit it remotely! The Teaching Assistants are completing online CPD courses which will enhance out provision once the school is reopened. I am incredibly proud of everything that we are doing and I very much appreciate everyone's hard work and dedication.

   

  Taking into consideration the above, I feel that it is important for the school staff to take some time over the Easter break to have a rest so that we can hit the ground running for the next phase, whatever that may entail. Therefore, we will continue to support our vulnerable families as we have been doing but teachers will be accessing their emails, less frequently over the Easter period, although they will still be checked.

   

  Thank you so much for your continued support and for staying at home, when you can, to keep everyone safe!

   

  With very best wishes and `Happy Easter`

   

  Mrs Barnett 

   

  Mrs Carys Barnett
  Headteacher
  
  Tel: 01308 862201
  E-mail: headteacher@beaminsterstmarys.dsat.org.uk