Headteacher Update 12.03.2021

Birkrig, Skelmersdale, Lancashire WN8 9BN. Telephone: 01695 724730.

www.bishopmartin.lancs.sch.uk Headteacher:

Mr IJ McDonald

12/03/21 Dear Parents/Carers, It has been fantastic to have all the children back in school again this week! The building has really felt like a school again with happy, laughing children’s voices! Attendance has been amazing too so it’s a huge thank you from me to all of you for showing such confidence in the school reopening safely.

I would ask that all parents work with us in ensuring that we are able to dismiss the pupils safely and at the correct time for your child at the end of the school day. Please do not try to crowd at the gate and keep to social distancing. Thank you for working with us at this time to make sure home times are kept as safe as possible.

It is absolutely crucial that the school leadership are able to listen to constructive feedback and suggestions from you as parents. We absolutely do not get everything right all the time and the partnership between school and home is something I really value here at Bishop Martin.

I have been fortunate this week to be able to take feedback from parents on a couple of areas around the school re-opening that I would like to address for you all:

1. The Microsoft Teams e-mail I can send direct to teachers doesn’t work anymore and I miss being able to contact them directly All pupil Teams accounts have been blocked now that the children are back in school. The Microsoft Teams emails are only going to be used if your child needs to access Remote Learning because their Bubble is closed due to a Positive Test.

The teachers are not monitoring those e-mails the way they were during Lockdown as they are spending all their time in school focussed on class based teaching again.

If you need to speak to your child’s class teacher about anything at all when we are not in Lockdown, then please e-mail or ring the school office we will make sure the message gets to them and they will contact you as soon as they can.

2. What is the School Policy Around Playing Out in Wet Weather?

Part of the school re-opening strategy (guided by Public Health England) says that children should go outside every 35-40 minutes to aid ventilation and get fresh air.

On Wednesday this week it was exceptionally wet and it did mean that a number of classes went outside in very wet weather as staff tried to keep to this aspect of the re-opening strategy. It is very much a balancing act between ensuring that children get the fresh air they need outside while also keeping them inside if the weather is TOO wet and I apologise if your child came home with wet shoes/socks.

I have absolutely taken this feedback on board from parents and we will work to keep an appropriate balance between ensuring pupils go outside when it is appropriate to get fresh air while also considering the weather conditions at the time.

3. Class and Teacher Photographs A number of parents have asked if they can see their class teacher with their class on the welcome section of the class pages. It has been really difficult getting full class photographs this year with all the rules around social distancing etc.

However one of the things all teachers are going to try to do over the course of these next three weeks is get class photographs uploaded to the welcome pages…so keep checking in!

I hope the information above answers the main questions that have been forwarded to me this week by parents.

New School Arrivals!

I am delighted to welcome 3 new members of staff to the Bishop Martin family. Miss Skillen has joined Miss Rowat and the Rabbits Class while Mrs Hathaway has joined Miss Johnson and the Hedgehogs. They have both come to us as part of their teacher training qualification and have settled in brilliantly.

Miss Nolan has also joined the school as a Teaching Assistant in Year 4 (Koalas) working alongside Miss Casey.

All three started with us during Lockdown and have loved getting to know all the children from their classes this week!

In Conclusion…

It is really difficult having the level and length of conversations in and around the school gate with parents at this time and under the current restrictions. It is because of this I would stress that if ANY parent wants to speak to me about ANYTHING to do with school you can e-mail the school office or ring and I will absolutely speak/arrange to meet with you.

Many thanks for your ongoing support

Mr McDonald Headteacher