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

Celebrate with us!

'Class stars' are children selected by the class teacher - it could be for extra hard work, a great attitude or achieving something individual to the pupil.

• Easter Egg Hunt

  Mon 30 Mar 2020 Mrs Hall

  Here’s an activity everyone can join in:

   

  🐣 🐇 🥚 🐣 🐇 🥚🐣 🐇 🥚🐣 🐇 🥚🐣 🐇 🥚🐣 🐇 🥚🐣 🐇 

  Draw and decorate an Easter egg and put it in your window just like the rainbows. Whilst out on your daily exercise, see if you can spot any and tweet them to the school Twitter account using the hashtag #Easteregghunt.

  🐣 🐇 🥚 🐣 🐇 🥚🐣 🐇 🥚🐣 🐇 🥚🐣 🐇 🥚🐣 🐇 🥚🐣 🐇

   

  Thank you to Rice Lane Primary School for allowing us to pinch their idea. 😊.

  

• Childcare hubs for Key Workers

  Fri 20 Mar 2020 Mrs Hall

  Liverpool City Council information regarding childcare hubs for key workers,

   

  https://liverpool.gov.uk/childcarehubs

• Information regarding Free School Meals

  Fri 20 Mar 2020 Mrs Hall

  Liverpool City Council information regarding vouchers for those entitled to free school meals.

   

  https://liverpool.gov.uk/communities-and-safety/emergency-planning/coronavirus/free-school-meals/

• Closure of Education settings- information for parents

  Fri 20 Mar 2020 Mrs Hall

  Government Information can be found by following this link:

   

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

• Home Learning

  Thu 19 Mar 2020 Mrs Hall

  Home Learning packs have been distributed to children. However, some packs have not been collected. If you are unable to collect them from school and would like it delivered, please inform the school office before closing tomorrow.

   

  There are are plenty of downloadable and online learning links on the ‘Parents’ page under the ‘School Community’ menu and also in the ‘Online Learning Links’ section under the ‘Children’ menu.

   

  Usernames and passwords for the sites that we frequently use and are subscribed to have the same login details : Abacus, PurpleMash and TTRockstars. Children have been given these details every year. Please be aware that these details cannot be posted online as each one is private. If your child has lost theirs, contact school before closure.

• School Closure

  Thu 19 Mar 2020

  19^th March 2020

   

  Dear Parents/ Carers,

  We have not been asked by the city council to remain open, so school will finish at 3:30pm tomorrow (5pm if attending after school club) and we do not know when we will re-open.

   

  The children have been given lots of activities and we have provided numerous links to online activities on our school website. We have also shared numerous links to free activities via our school Twitter feed (@stmarys_CofE ) and we will continue to share ideas and activities over the coming weeks. We would love to see what work the children are completing while away from school so please tag the school in on any Twitter posts that you make.

   

  If you have a problem logging in to any of the online activities that require passwords, please send a message through Twitter or by emailing admin@st-maryswestderby.liverpool.sch.uk.

   

  We do not expect parents/carers to do full days of learning at home. Please access 1 or 2 activities a day and most importantly read and share stories. The health and wellbeing of our children and families is our main priority and so we hope you can use some of this time to enjoy being together as a family.

   

  If you require support while we are closed the following Children’s Centres will be open;

  Tuebrook, West Derby, & Yew Tree Children’s Centre

  St Margaret’s Anfield School site: 61 Lower Breck Road, L6 4BX Tel: 233 3830

  Blackmoor Infants School site: Leyfield Road, L12 9EY Tel: 233 6202

  Yew Tree Health Centre: Berryford Road, L14 4ED Tel: 296 795

  Alternatively, please email us on admin@st-maryswestderby.liverpool.sch.uk and we will support you as best as we can.

   

  We look forward to re-opening the school in the near future and thank you for your support during this extremely difficult time.

   

  We will genuinely miss working with your children as we are extremely privileged to work with such incredible children on a daily basis and we are so proud of the progress they have made since September. I would like to thank every single child, parent, carer and member of staff for making me feel so welcome since arriving in January and I am devastated that we will be closing our doors for an unknown period of time.

   

  Many thanks,

  Mr D Harrop

  Headteacher

• Update from Steve Reddy, Director of Children's Services

  Wed 18 Mar 2020
  Dear children, young people, parents/carers and families,

  
  Following my letter yesterday the government has now announced a number of additional measures.
  
  It is important that we all continue to follow the guidance set out by the Government and DfE and make the necessary changes.

   

  Whilst schools remain open some planned activities will inevitably be cancelled. 

   

  Schools may well restrict all but essential visitors on to the site.

   

  We will be speaking to Public Health England to consider the implications for children and staff with significant health needs.

   

  Anyone who has high temperature/fever and/or new persistant cough will be required to self-isolate at home for 14 days along with anyone in their household.

   

  We are very grateful for the continued support of all school staff, children, young people and families as we manage these difficult times.

   

  It is important that we continue to work together and support one another.

   

  
  Best wishes,
  
  Steve Reddy
  Director of Children and Young People’s Services.

• Letter from Steve Reddy Director of Children's Sevices

  Mon 16 Mar 2020

  ENQUIRIES:  Steve Reddy, Director, Children & Young People’s Service.

  OUR REF:SR/CK/PC DATE:

  16th March, 2020 

   
  
   Dear children, young people, parents/carers and families,  

   

  We appreciate the considerable anxiety faced by the whole community at this moment.  My team is working closely with Head Teachers to ensure they are provided with up-to-date guidance and support.

   It is important that we all follow the guidance set out by the Government and DfE which no doubt will change over the coming days and weeks.  

  I thought it would be helpful if I provided the following reassurances, based upon the current position as of 16th March 2020.   

  • All schools currently remain open. They will only close as a result of coronavirus case, if directed to by Public Health England.   
  • There is no need to cancel school events or activities including domestic trips, unless the risk assessment undertaken by the school concludes this is necessary.
  •   Schools will not be communicating to their school community ‘suspected ‘or ‘confirmed’ cases of coronavirus, unless directed to by Public Health England.   
  • Schools are ensuring that children, young people, staff and visitors are washing their hands thoroughly and regularly throughout the day.   
  • Schools are taking steps to clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces more often than usual, using regular cleaning products.
  •  Children should be kept at home for 7 days if they are unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, to avoid spreading infection to others. Otherwise they should attend as normal.  

   Guidance about staying at home is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance  

   NHS guidance can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/  

   

  Schools are spending time in lessons, as part of the curriculum, talking to children about coronavirus and supporting children who may be experiencing any anxiety. 

   

  We value the support of our schools, children, young people and families during these uncertain times.  Liverpool has a strong tradition of pulling together, long may this continue.   Best wishes, 
   
  Steve Reddy, Director, Children and Young People’s Services.

• Coronavirus letter to parents and carers

  Mon 16 Mar 2020 Mr Harrop

  Dear parents/carers,

   

  As you’re probably aware, the government’s guidance on the coronavirus has changed from the ‘contain’ phase to one of delaying the spread of the virus. We’re getting in touch to let you know what we’re doing in light of this, and what we expect from all of you, to help make sure our school community keeps safe and calm.

   

  We’d like to reassure you that at St. Mary’s we’re taking all of the necessary steps to protect our community and are continuing to follow official guidance from the government and Liverpool City Council. I have also spoken to the Department for Education and Public Health England to ensure that we do everything that we need to do to keep our whole school community safe.

   

  What’s the current situation?

   

  • The school remains open – this is the current official guidance we’ve been given
  • All school extra-curricular activities continue to run as normal if staff are in school
  • Like many schools we are pulling out of all sporting competitions and will monitor this decision over the coming weeks
  • Pupils should attend unless they feel unwell – if your child has any of the following symptoms they should remain at home for 7 days:
  • a new, continuous cough and/or
  • a temperature

  • We’ll keep you up to date with any changes to the current situation
  • If your child is unwell, report this as you would normally by phoning the school office

   

  What we’re doing to protect and support pupils and staff;

   

  • We will contact you if any child complains of feeling unwell or displays any of the symptoms given above
  • We are following cleaning guidelines for all areas of the school
  • Children are taken to wash their hands throughout the day
  • We have already held hand washing sessions with each class and have provided all our children with the knowledge on how they can try to keep themselves and others safe

   

  What we need you to do

   

  • If you’ve recently changed your contact details, please inform the school office as soon as possible
  • Talk to your children about the coronavirus. It’s a scary time and we should make sure children feel supported. BBC Newsround has regular updates for younger children and Young Minds has practical steps older children can take to help with anxiety
  • Come and collect your child straight away, if we ask you to (we’ll contact you if they become ill with either a temperature or a new, continuous cough)
  • Inform ourselves and Public Health England if you have been in contact with anyone diagnosed with the Coronavirus or if anyone in your family is tested posit

   

  What happens if the school has to close?

  We’ll only close if we’re either officially advised to do so or we don’t have enough staff to run the school.

  In either case, we’ll:

  • Send a message out through our text messaging service and we will post an announcement on our website and Twitter feed
  • We will inform you as to when school will reopen via the same forms of communication posted above
  • We will provide learning packs for all children and passwords to our online learning sites. We will add activities and links on the school website and will send information through our school Twitter feed

  Please keep in mind that we’re only sending out this information to help the school community prepare. There are currently no plans to close.

   

  If you have any questions

  Please consult the:

  • School office, if you have any questions about our response to this issue
  • NHS, if you want to know more about the symptoms of coronavirus. If you think you or your child may have the symptoms, use NHS 111 online if at all possible before calling 111
  • Department for Education’s coronavirus helpline: 0800 046 8687, if you have any questions about the government’s response to coronavirus in relation to schools
  • Government’s travel advice, if you want to know whether any upcoming trip or holiday you’re taking abroad should go ahead

   

  It’s a tricky time and we know you’re worried about the impact this might have on our community. It’s important we keep each other safe and talk about these events to help with any anxiety.

   

  Thank you for your continued support.

   

  Mr D Harrop

  Headteacher

• Star Pupils

  Fri 13 Mar 2020 Mrs Hall

  This week's Star Pupils are:

   

  Reception:Theo Robinson and Elizabeth Holland

  Class 1:Matilda Begley and Rose Hargreaves

  Class 2: Nathan Chen and Imogen Bristow

  Class 3: Charlie McCabe and Niamh Westoby

  Class 4: Lucy Caine and Ruth McKane

  Class 5: 

  Class 6: Evie-Mai Parkins and Alix Cain

   

  Reading Stars:

   

  Reception:Georgie Keir

  Class 1: Isaac Brooks

  Class 2: Grace McKane

  Class 3:Harry Stewart

  Class 4: Jacob Irving

  Class 5: 

  Class 6: Cerys Wilson

   

  Well done to all of our stars!!   

   

  House of the Week: Sefton

   

  P.E. Class of the Week:

  KS1: All of EYFS and KS!          KS2: Class 5

   

  The best attending class this week was: Class 5 -Well done!

   

  Class attendances are as follows:

   

  Reception: 96.1 %

  Class 1: 97.7 %

  Class 2: 98.3 %

  Class 3: 93.7 %

  Class 4: 97.2 %

  Class 5: 98.7 %

  Class 6: 97.8 %

   

  The most punctual class this week was - Reception

   

  Class lates this week are:

   

  Reception: 0 lates

  Class 1: 1 late

  Class 2: 1 late

  Class 3: 5 lates

  Class 4: 2 lates

  Class 5: 5 lates

  Class 6: 11 lates