Dear Parents and Carers,

I am writing to you with my weekly update.

I hope you and your family are keeping well and coping with the challenges of the current lockdown.

As you will be aware, the Prime Minister announced last week that schools will not reopen until at least 8^th March and there will be a two-week notice period to support reopening.  When we have more information regarding this, we will share it with you.  Until that time, we will be continuing with our remote schooling provision. It is important to state, and to reassure you, that I will only open the school more widely when I believe that it is safe to do so, following the scientific advice.

In terms of our pupil’s engagement, we have been very pleased so far with the remote learning and we hope that your child is finding them useful and beneficial. If you have any question about this please don't hesitate to contact the senior leader for your child's Bubble, which is listed lower down.

Laptop Support

To support remote learning we have so far loaned 19 laptops to pupils who are currently at home. If you feel that you need a laptop to help your child get online, we still have more available to loan. Please contact Caroline Whitlock to arrange collection on cwhitlock@castle.w-berks.sch.uk

Online Learning Resources

As a reminder, remember that our webpage on home learning resources is packed full of things that you and your child can do whilst at home. There is lots there to use so please go and visit. We will also try and add a few more videos as we go of staff, including myself, reading stories, singing songs etc. There is even one that has just gone on about Chinese New Year, which is coming up on 12^th February. Of course, if you have links you think might be useful to share then please email me. The resources can be found by clicking the link below.

https://www.thecastleschoolnewbury.org.uk/page/?title=Online+resources&pid=57

 

Any queries

In terms of any other questions you may want answered please speak to the Senior Leader of your child's Bubble. Below are their names and email addresses, just in case you do not have them:

 

Red Bubble - Kate Mason - KMason@castle.w-berks.sch.uk

Green Bubble - Caroline Whitlock - cwhitlock@castle.w-berks.sch.uk

Blue Bubble - Shannon Booth - SBooth@castle.w-berks.sch.uk

Orange Bubble - James Whybra - JWhybra@castle.w-berks.sch.uk

 

Thank you once again for your support along with your commitment and dedication. It is not underestimated how challenging your role at home at the moment must be and we really do appreciate it.

As always, please be reassured that all the decisions I am and will be taking will have the best interests of every member of our community at the heart.

 

Best wishes,

Jon Hewitt

Headteacher

The Castle School