Next Friday (18 March) is Red Nose Day. As Friday is PE day for all our classes, we will not be asking the children to dress up because they will need to be in their PE kits as usual. However, they are welcome to wear any Red Nose Day accessories they may have.

We are aware of the strain on household budgets at the current time and we will, therefore, not be asking the children to bring a donation into school. Below, please find a link to the Comic Relief donation page where you can make a donation if you wish to do so.

https://donation.comicrelief.com/cart/1YsYOwm2pHZgBUhWr8ZL13

“Red Nose Day is coming. And whatever you do, no matter how small, you can help people live free from poverty, violence and discrimination. This includes funding organisations that are supporting people right now in Ukraine, and those attempting to cross the border. Because you have the power to change lives.”

 

Please see the message below from Durham County Council:

Watching the horrors of war unfold has been very difficult for many adults this week.  TV and radio news are full of information about the awful attacks on the Ukrainians and, perhaps one advantage of social media, is letting us all see what happens when one country invades another.  Much of the information on TV has, to a certain extent, been sanitised with the most horrific content removed, this is not the case on social media.  We have recently become concerned that some of our children are seeing horrific pictures and videos of the war, and some are struggling to cope with what they have seen.  There is not one particular app or website that is worse than the others.   Pictures and videos of the war are available on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and probably lots of other social media sites too.  In addition they are being reposted so they do not always come directly from Ukraine.  We strongly recommend you take some actions to help your children:

1. Discuss this with your children, have they seen upsetting content?  Explain what you would like them to do if they see something scary. (Turn the device upside down and get either Mum, Dad or their carer – they are not in trouble).
2. Carefully consider what social media (if any) is suitable for your children.  The minimum age for most platforms is 13 because the content providers cannot guarantee that it is suitable for a younger audience.
3. Set up parental controls on devices.  Many apps have settings which try and limit the most graphic content – but even with safety features turned on, content is not guaranteed to be “child friendly”.  The website “Internet Matters” https://www.internetmatters.org/  is particularly useful in providing advice on most apps and security settings.
4. Talk and listen to your children.  We can’t pretend this isn’t happening and they may well have questions and worries which are better discussed than kept secret.
5. If you have serious concerns then please talk to the school as staff there may be able to help, or it might be that other children from the school are equally affected.

There is no longer a legal requirement for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) infection to self-isolate, however if you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive test result, the public health advice is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. This advice also applies to children who usually attend an education setting.

If you have COVID-19, stay at home and avoid contact with other people

If you have COVID-19 you can infect other people from 2 days before your symptoms start, and for up to 10 days after. You can pass on the infection to others, even if you have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.

If you have COVID-19 you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. You should also follow this advice If you have a positive LFD test result, even if you do not have any symptoms.

You should:

• not attend work. If you are unable to work from home, you should talk to your employer about options available to you. You may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay
• ask friends, family, neighbours or volunteers to get food and other essentials for you
• not invite social visitors into your home, including friends and family
• postpone all non-essential services and repairs that require a home visit
• cancel routine medical and dental appointments. If you are concerned about your health or you have been asked to attend an appointment in person during this time, discuss this with your medical contact and let them know about your symptoms or your test result
• if you can, let people who you have been in close contact with know about your positive test result so that they can follow this guidance

Many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days. You may choose to take an LFD test from 5 days after your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you did not have symptoms) followed by another LFD test the next day. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, the risk that you are still infectious is much lower and you can safely return to your normal routine. Report your LFD test results after taking each test.

How to safely return to your normal routine before 10 days

If your day 5 LFD test result is positive, you can continue taking LFD tests until you receive 2 consecutive negative test results.

Children and young people with COVID-19 should not attend their education setting while they are infectious. They should take an LFD test from 5 days after their symptoms started (or the day their test was taken if they did not have symptoms) followed by another one the next day. If both these tests results are negative, they should return to their educational setting if they normally attend one, as long as they feel well enough to do so and do not have a temperature. They should follow the guidance for their educational setting.

Avoid meeting people at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from COVID-19, especially those with a severely weakened immune system, for the 10 days after your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you did not have symptoms).

While you are infectious there is a high risk of passing on COVID-19 to others in your household. These are simple things you can do to help prevent the spread:

• keep your distance from other people you live with and spend as little time as possible in shared areas such as kitchens and living rooms. This is particularly important if someone you live with is unvaccinated or at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from COVID-19, especially those with a severely weakened immune system
• if you need to spend time in shared areas wear a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask. Ventilate the room by opening windows and leaving them open for at least 10 minutes after you have left the room. Leave extractor fans running for longer than usual with the door closed after use
• cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of tissues into a rubbish bag and immediately wash your hands or use hand sanitiser
• wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose and before you eat or handle food. Avoid touching your face
• if you can, use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. If this is not possible try and use the bathroom after everyone else
• regularly clean frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles and remote controls, and shared areas such as kitchens and bathrooms

GermDefence is a useful website that can help you identify ways to protect yourself and others in your household from COVID-19. It provides scientifically proven advice on reducing the risks from COVID-19 and other viruses in your home.

COVID case _20211207_Reducing_household_transmision

Please see the message below from Durham County Council:

Our Fun and Food programme is providing activities with healthy snacks and meals for children and young people this half term.

All activities are offered through Voluntary and Community Sector partners and schools who will be operating in a Covid-secure way. There is a range of activities planned across County Durham.

Find out what’s on in your area at www.durham.gov.uk/FunAndFood

Dear Parents/Carers

As we approach the half-term holiday, we have been reviewing our risk assessment in light of the most recent government and local authority coronavirus guidance. I am pleased to be able to let you know that we are aiming to return to some semblance of normality, once again, after the half-term break. Please note the following points:

DROP OFF AND PICK UP

The drop-off and pick-up arrangements will return to the way they were in the autumn term. All children are to arrive at school between 8:45am and 8:55am, entering via the side gate. We request that parents of children in Classes 3 and 4 leave their children at the pedestrian gate in order to reduce congestion on site. Class teachers will be waiting to greet the children and they will filter directly into classrooms to wash their hands. At the end of the day, the side gate will be opened at 3:15pm and parents will be able to walk round to the playground at the rear of building and collect their children directly from their classrooms. If more than one child is being collected, please collect the younger child/children first.

MIXING AND ‘BUBBLES’

It will no longer be necessary to keep the children in consistent groups (‘bubbles’). This means that children from different classes can play together at playtimes and there will be no need for staggered lunchtimes. We will also be able to return to having whole school assemblies once again.

CONTROL MEASURES

We will ensure that the following control measures continue to be in place:

• Ensuring good hygiene for everyone.
• Maintaining appropriate cleaning regimes.
• Keeping occupied spaces well ventilated.
• Following public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19.

PE LESSONS

PE lessons for next half term will be as follows:

• Class 1 – Wednesday and Friday
• Class 2 – Monday and Friday
• Class 3 – Monday and Friday
• Class 4 – Monday (swimming) and Friday

HALF-TERM HOLIDAY

School will close for the half-term holiday today (Friday 18 February 2022) at 3.15pm. We return on Monday 28 February 2022.

Take care and stay safe.

Mr Kirtley (Headteacher)

On Thursday 3 March, we will be celebrating World Book Day at Byers Green. Children can come to school dressed as their favourite book character! We have always been so impressed by the children’s enthusiasm on our dress-up days. Please could they also bring along their favourite book (with their name on) to read with their friends?

Kind regards

Miss Dodds (Deputy Headteacher)

Please see the updated information below from NHS County Durham:

Where and when you can you walk in to get your jab in County Durham updated CURRENT

Dear Parents/Carers,

On Tuesday 8 February we will be joining schools and youth organisations across the UK in celebrating Safer Internet Day 2022. Safer Internet Day is a global campaign to promote the safe and responsible use of technology, which calls on young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers and more, to join together in helping to create a better internet.

Using the internet safely and positively is a key message that we promote in Byers Green Primary School, and celebrating Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity for us to re-emphasise the online safety messages we deliver throughout the year. Some of the activities we’ll be participating in on the day include:

• Staying safe online story ‘Digiduck’
• Role play activities linked to the story
• Information sorting (information that is safe to share online and information to be kept private)
• Designing posters/presentations explaining how to stay safe online

We would be delighted if you could join us in celebrating the day by continuing the conversation at home. To help you with this, you may be interested in downloading the free Safer Internet Day Resources for Parents and Carers which is available at: saferinternet.org.uk/sid-parents.

There are top tips, quizzes, and films which you can use at home with your child.
Some other resources which you may find helpful in supporting your child online are:

• Tips, advice and guides for parents and carers from the UK Safer Internet Centre
• Advice for parents and carers from Childnet 
• Reviews and information about games, apps, TV shows and websites from Common Sense Media 
• Help on using parental controls and privacy settings from Internet Matters
• Information and reporting of online grooming or sexual abuse from CEOP

Online safety is an important issue which as a school we’re committed to teaching our pupils about.

If you have any concerns or questions about keeping your child safe online, please do get in touch with us.

Kind regards

Mr Kirtley

Headteacher

Family Online Safety Plan

Dear Parent/Carer,

The week beginning Monday 7 February is Children’s Mental Health Week.

We’ll be doing some special activities during this week to help children keep mentally well, using resources provided to us by Coram Life Education SCARF and on Friday 11 February, to mark the end of this week, we’ll be holding a special Wear your scarf to school day.

SCARF is a big part of our health and wellbeing/PSHE curriculum where we learn about all the things we can do to keep ourselves physically and mentally healthy.

On Wear your SCARF to school Day children are invited to wear a special or favourite scarf all day in school. We’ll be doing some special activities to help us remember and celebrate SCARF’s important values of Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship.

You can also try these activities to support children’s emotional health at home, provided by Coram Life Education SCARF, during the week.

Coram Life Education SCARF is a children’s health and wellbeing that works throughout the UK to provide high-quality PSHE education for primary-age children. You can find out more about Coram Life Education by visiting their website www.coramlifeeducation.org.uk and about their SCARF PSHE resources here.

Thank you for your support with this important part of your child’s education.

Kind regards

Miss Dodds

Deputy Headteacher

 

FAO: Y4, Y5 & Y6 parents and carers only

STUDENT VOICE SURVEY

Our school, as well as many others in County Durham, is participating in a survey for children and young people. This survey will inform the development of plans and services across County Durham and is designed to positively impact upon pupils as services can be directed to support where particular issues come to light.

The survey has been designed in conjunction with children and young people and includes questions of a range of topics including:

Educational wellbeing

• Homework
• Lessons
• Career advice (secondary only)

Social wellbeing

• Healthy relationships
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Behaviour and safety
• Online safety

Health and physical wellbeing

• Physical activity
• Healthy eating
• Smoking, alcohol, (drugs – secondary only)

Community wellbeing

• Hobbies and interests
• Access to community facilities

Each response will be anonymous and confidential, and therefore no pupil will be identified when the data is analysed.  The council’s Research and Intelligence team will receive the results and data for use in further analysis at council and school level. The council and partners will then use this information to plan and target services, especially where improvement is required. Further information is available in Frequently Asked Questions, which can be found below.

I hope you will agree with us that this is an exercise in which we wish to co-operate fully.  I will assume you DO APPROVE unless I hear otherwise, and I look forward to working with you to support the best school life, health and wellbeing for our pupils.

Yours sincerely

W. Kirtley

Headteacher

SVS FAQs for children and young people

Data Protection Act 2018

Durham County Council complies with all relevant statutory obligations.  Personal information processed by the Council will be handled in accordance with the Council’s privacy statement, which can be accessed here http://www.durham.gov.uk/dataprivacy.

If you have any concerns about how your data is handled, please contact either the Data Protection Officer at DPO@durham.gov.uk  or the Information Commissioner’s Office casework@ico.org.uk.