Parents/carers of current year 6 students

Dear Year 6 Students and Parents/Carers

Welcome to Highfields School! If you are reading this, then you must already be interested in our school and what we are doing.

"School" is very strange for all of us at the moment. We don't quite know how the coming weeks will work out, but we understand for students in year 6 it will be particularly odd - you haven't had chance to finish primary school properly after all your time there, then you might be wondering how you will get on with secondary school at Highfields.

All we wanted to say here is don't worry. We have certainly not forgotten you! Over the coming weeks, as we see what is happening across the country and the world we will be deciding how we can best help you smoothly make the move to being a Highfields student. We will think through all those issues and concerns you might have - what is the school like, how will I find my way around, how do I buy the uniform, what will happen with the buses?

We will keep updating everyone through the newsletter here, but really specific messages will come from Mrs Green. She is the 'Year Manager' for year 7 and your first point of contact. Mrs Green has already emailed some basic information to parents/carers of our year 6 students. So, if your family haven't received an email from Mrs Green, please email tgreen@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk with your name and primary school so she can add you to our communication list and you will receive all future updates.

Take care and stay well. Mr Rodgers Associate Assistant Headteacher

Cashless Catering electronic form

Earlier this week families of year 6 students should have received an email from Mrs Green and the year 7 team asking for you to complete the first electronic form for our cashless catering biometric fingerprint system (this needs to be completed by 8 May 2020). Apologies if you have already completed this form and returned to your primary school, but they may not have been able to forward this to us in time before the lockdown.

Further emails will be sent out over the coming weeks to include information on the transition process, together with several electronic forms for you to complete and return. The information you provide will be helpful in planning the year group in good time for their start date. Year 7 students will start with us on Wednesday 2 September 2020 if the school has re-opened in line with our previous plans.

As previously advised, please ensure you keep the existing dates of your child's proposed transition days free. If school has re-opened it is possible that these will go ahead as planned. If school has not fully re-opened we might be able to adjust these days in order to comply with social distancing guidance and will advise you of further instruction nearer the time, once government information is forthcoming.

September 2020 – Transport to school for year 6 parents/carers

The link below is to the Derbyshire County Council website that aims to answer any questions you may have on school transport in September 2020: https://derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools/your-child-at-school/travel/school-transport.aspx

The site provides information on the options available for travelling between school and home, including details on free bus travel, timetables and DCC plans and policies for school transport.

We look forward to meeting you and your child soon, but if you have any queries in the meantime, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Mrs Green in the first instance (tgreen@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk).

Year 7 team:

Mr Rodgers – Associate Assistant Headteacher Mrs Hollinrake & Mrs Redhead – Joint Heads of Year 7 Mrs Green – Year Manager (Year 7)