Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Remote learning
Tue 05 Jan 2021From tomorrow onwards, school will be providing home learning to be completed during the lockdown period. Home learning is vital and compulsory and as such it will be monitored if your child is accessing this. Initially, pupils should access the 5 day package that is posted on the class pages on the school website:
https://www.eastcroftpark.co.uk/school-closure-1/
For example, if your child is in reception, you would navigate to the reception icon & access the 5 day package for Spring there. The booklets/activities could be printed or could be accessed digitally and responses uploaded to Seesaw. If you require a printed booklet then you should contact your child(ren)s class teacher to arrange this.
Class teachers will be in touch by email shortly to explain the arrangements for the next stage in remote learning. The majority of scheduled learning will take place through activities set using the app 'Seesaw'. Lots of you will already be familiar with this app as we have used it previously for remote learning & homework. For those not aware, you will need to download (on any device) the Seesaw class app and you will need your child's home learning login. (These can also be requested through class teachers, if you do not have them). Help guides to use Seesaw can also be found on the same link (https://www.eastcroftpark.co.uk/school-closure-1/).
There may be a small number of devices made available to enable pupils to access remote learning who could not otherwise access it. These devices will need to be requested from school and will only be loaned, with a loan agreement needing to be completed for each. As such they must be looked after. You would need to request one of these from the class teacher.
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School opening 5th January 2021
Mon 04 Jan 2021In light of the government announcement at 8pm this evening, along with further guidance from the local authority which followed much later, school will be open tomorrow (5th January) but ONLY for the children of parents who are BOTH classed as key workers (E.g. NHS workers, police etc). School will be closed for ALL other pupils. These key worker parents must be able to provide evidence of both parents occupations when bringing them in the morning if this information has not previously been provided to school.
School will be in touch with the families of children who are classed as vulnerable tomorrow to offer those children places for later in the week. It is hoped that these places will be available from Wednesday onwards if all the required arrangements can be made. Learning will be provided for all pupils from Wednesday using Seesaw, further details will be sent out tomorrow.
Apologies for the late nature of this amended message, however, as you can appreciate, this was out of our hands. Hopefully we will see you all soon but in the meantime please take every precaution to stay safe.
Regards
Miss Withey
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Latest press releases Knowsley council
Mon 04 Jan 2021 -
Message from Jill Albertina, Assistant Executive Director (Education and Early Help) Knowsley Council
Mon 04 Jan 20214th January 2021
Dear Parent / Carer,
Happy New Year and I hope that you and your family had a good Christmas.
I wanted to provide you with an update on our current COVID-19 rates and once again ask for your support in following the rules to bring our infection rates down. Unfortunately in the last few weeks, our infection rates have increased significantly. On 23 December, our rates were 186.9 per 100,000 population and they have risen to 454.1 per 100,000 as at 30 December. As a result, Knowsley (and the wider Liverpool City Region) was placed into Tier 3 restrictions from 30 December. If our rates don’t come down, we face tougher restrictions being imposed.
We are doing all that we can to ensure our schools remain open. Some schools may become operationally compromised due to not having sufficient staff to supervise and safeguard children and if your school is affected, you will be contacted directly by them. In these schools care will continue to be provided for the children of key workers and for vulnerable children and remote learning will be provided to support your child’s continued education.
In Tier 3, household mixing in any indoor setting is not permitted (unless with people in your support bubble). You can meet up outdoors (in public parks for example) with no more than six people in total. If you can work from home, you should, and travel should be avoided unless it is for essential purposes such as for work or school.
Other preventative steps should be part of your daily routine. This includes regular hand washing (for at least 20 seconds), wearing a face covering where advised (including when dropping off and picking up from school as well as when using public transport), maintaining social distancing (that’s a 2m distance between you and other people), limiting interactions with others and carrying a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes. Please also remember to follow the staggered drop off / pick up times at school.
Importantly, if you display any symptoms (high temperature, new or persistent cough or loss of taste or smell), stay at home and book a test through www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or ring 119.
Testing is available across the borough for people who are not displaying symptoms. COVID-19 is easily transmitted from person to person so identifying people who have the virus but don’t have symptoms is vital. People who test positive can then self- isolate and stop them (unknowingly) spreading the virus to others.
Test centres at the Volair Leisure Centres in Halewood, Huyton and Kirkby are open from 9am until 6pm Monday to Friday and 10am until 4pm at weekends. No appointment is needed and your result is normally turned around in 30 minutes.
Hopefully, if we all play our part, we can get our rates down again. We have done it before and we can do it again.
Yours faithfully
Jill Albertina
Assistant Executive Director (Education and Early Help)
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School reopening after Christmas break
Sun 03 Jan 2021As of now (Sunday 3rd January 2021 12.30pm) school will reopen as planned for pupils on Tuesday 5th January 2021 at 8.40am. If there is any change to guidance or arrangements then you will be notified on the website, Twitter & parentapp as soon as possible.
Many thanks
Miss Withey
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Knowsley libraries Christmas events
Fri 11 Dec 2020A trio of festive Christmas Pantomimes
(available to watch until end of December on Knowsley libraries Facebook )
Thursday 10th December at 4.30pm & Friday11th December at 7pm
It Christmas time - oh yes it is! and the magic of pantomime is coming to Knowsley Libraries Facebook. Join storyteller John Kirk for a trio of popular pantomime stories to get you and your family in the mood for Christmas. Suitable for families with children 3+.
We're Going on a Christmas Story Hunt !
Saturday 12th December at 12 noon on Zoom
Please click this link to register to watch the live performance
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlcuiorzkrHdAFTsJPY2rIjvlvwQzSact2
Join storyteller John Kirk for a special festive story hunt. This interactive scavenger hunt storytelling session is guaranteed to be 30 minutes of fun to get you in the mood for Christmas This session will incorporate a popular pantomime story and is suitable for families with children age 3+ with a Christmas story at its heart.
These events are part of GEM (Great Emerging Marvellous) Places the ‘arts in libraries’ project allowing more people access to art and culture in local libraries and to keep the arts alive over the festive season. The events are funded through Arts Council England.
For further details, please contact Carla Simkin, Culture Development and Events Officer on 0151 443 5353
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Eastcroft's Christmas stars
Sun 06 Dec 2020Here are some of the lovely Christmas Sharing Stars made by the children of Eastcroft Park School.
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Christmas dates for parents
Fri 04 Dec 20204th December 2020
Dear Parent /Carer
Information for Christmas 2020
Please find below the following information in relation to Christmas 2020 at school
Christmas Cards: Each classroom will have its own post box; children will be able to post their class Christmas cards into the post box up to 11th December 2020. The cards will remain in quarantine and given out to children week beginning 14th December 2020.
Friday 11th December: This day will be full of Christmas activities
Save the children charity Christmas jumper day –the charity is asking’ Just grab a jumper and donate £1 to Save the Children!’
your child will be able to wear a Christmas t/shirt, jumper or a Christmas hat.
Santa Dash 2020 : Schools across the country are coming together on Friday 11th December to deliver a Christmas Santa Dash. The emphasis is about physical activity for all children in each year bubble while spreading some Christmas cheer. Children can wear Santa Hats to complete a jog/run/walk around the grounds.
School Christmas dinner – please let the office know if you haven’t returned your slip to confirm your child is staying for Christmas dinner.
In the afternoon each class will be watching an online pantomime – 'Robin Hood and His Socially Distanced Men! and will taking part in fun activities from the pantomime
Monday 14th December 2020: Years 3 and 4 class party day
Tuesday 15th December 2020: Nursery/reception class party day
Years 1 and 2 class party day
Wednesday 16th December 2020: Years 5 and 6 class party day
Christmas party food will be provided by Bernie our school cook. Due to the current restrictions in school we are not allowed to accept food donations from home
Wednesday 16th December 2020: Breakfast with Santa
Each child will be able to attend breakfast with Santa this year. Children will be in their own class room for breakfast and for when Santa makes his magical visit to Eastcroft Park!
To cover the costs please could each child make a donation of £1.00
School will close for the Christmas school holidays on Thursday 17th December 2020 at 1.30pm (please note the change of time)
School will re-open on Tuesday 5th January 2021
If you require any further information, please contact your child’s class teacher or contact the office on 0151 477 8210 or email eastcroft@knowsley.gov.uk
Thank you for your continued support this term and enjoy your Christmas break
Miss Julie Withey
Headteacher
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Kirkby Christmas Star
Sun 22 Nov 2020Kirkby Christmas Star – bringing the community together at Christmas 2020
We are working with the Kirkby Collaborative of Schools and Tower Hill and Shevington Together group to bring the Kirkby community together.
The idea is to encourage everyone in Kirkby to put up a Christmas symbol in their window with a Christmas message for the community.
It was agreed that a star should be the symbol that everyone uses, as this has diverse appeal and religious and non religious affiliations.
By putting up a star in the window the idea is that everyone is thinking of all other members of the Kirkby community at Christmas – and the star is the symbol we are using to demonstrate that togetherness and unity at this difficult Christmas time.
Your children will be making a star in school during the remainder of this month – and they will bring the star home on Tuesday 1st December so they can all be put on the window together on the 1st to shine a light throughout the Christmas month.
Members of the Kirkby community without school children can also create their own star. You may wish to share the message to embrace other members of the community and community groups.
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Letter to parents of Y4 children
Wed 18 Nov 2020Dear Parents/Carers of Year 4 children,
We have been advised by Public Health England that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the school.
We have followed the national guidance and have identified that your child’s class bubble may have been in the proximity of the affected person. Your child may have been in close/direct contact with the confirmed case as defined by Public Health England.
Governors and I have made the decision to follow the national guidance as we must take every step to ensure the safety of the children, staff and the school community. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, the children in the Year 4 class must self-isolate for 14 days. As the affected person has not been in school since Monday 16th November, the isolation period will end on Monday 30th November and children can return on this date.
Miss Bennett will set work for the children during the isolation and she will be in touch via Seesaw to explain how the work can be accessed. If your child has difficulty in accessing the work please contact the school and we will make any necessary arrangements.
It is not recommended that you access a test unless your child begins to show symptoms, as even if the test comes back negative your child will still have to self- isolate for 14 days.
The rest of your household does not have to self-isolate and other family members can attend school as usual.
If your child needs to access a test during this time, please inform school of the results.
Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to minimise the risk to your children and I thank you for all your support in following the new arrangements.
I would be grateful if parents/carers would refrain from using social media to discuss this matter as rumour and speculation can cause unnecessary upset and panic.
Please read the attached information and if you have any questions, contact the school and I will be happy to speak to you.
Thank you again for your continued support in such challenging times.
Miss J Withey
Head teacher
Please see the link to the PHE Staying at Home Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19- stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when symptoms appeared as advised in https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
You should arrange for testing for your child via https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested or 111.nhs.uk or primary care
All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home.
Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community
If you are able to, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period
Symptoms of COVID 19
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
· new continuous cough and/or
· high temperature and/or
· a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia) For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/ or by phoning 111.
How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19:
· wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
· use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
· wash your hands as soon as you get home
· cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
· put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
Further Information
Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
