Latest School News and Guidance
On this page, we aim to provide you with the latest school news, along with guidance concerning our response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Please check this page regularly to ensure that you are familiar with any changes that have been made in our continuing efforts to keep everyone safe.
Please visit the Class Pages for information specific to your child's class, including start and finish times and correct entrances.
Monday 17th January
This term, one of the topics for Year 3 is ‘Touch’. The letter contains information regarding the learning objectives and associated vocabulary that will be taught in school.
Further details of our Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education curriculum are available on the PSHE curriculum page.
Friday 14th January
Further Changes to Testing and Isolation Guidance
From Monday 17 January, people who are self-isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with a lateral flow device (LFD) test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if they test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to their education or childcare setting immediately on day 6. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day.
All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace. If the result of either of their tests is positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest. Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.
Year 6 Residential: 18th - 20th February 2022
During the February holiday we will be taking our Year 6 pupils on a residential visit to Robinwood Activity Centre at Dobroyd Castle in Todmorden. This is a three day visit and the first time we have been able to plan a residential since 2019. We are looking forward to enjoying a range of adventurous activities, including: archery, climbing, canoeing and indoor caving! A meal planner and parent booklet are now available to download using the link below.
Friday 7th January
Covid-19: Responding to Staff Absences
& Changes to Testing and Isolation Guidance
The north-west region continues to have very high levels of Covid-19 and we have been asked to prepare for staff absence and plan how we will minimise the disruption to education.
We will continue to implement the plans we have had in place since November. Where possible, we will utilise our existing staff to cover absence, including calling on part-time staff to work additional hours. We also have a good working relationship with supply agencies and can often request particular teachers who have previously worked at FJS. If all of these options are unavailable we will combine groups and deploy support staff under the direction of a teacher. We have also been asked to consider class closures and returning (temporarily) to home learning via SeeSaw. This would be a last resort and we would always aim to provide as much notice as possible.
To support us in these difficult circumstances, please continue to be vigilant for any Covid symptoms – bearing in mind that many children have been generally ‘unwell’ or just had a headache, sore throat or cold-like symptoms before testing positive. Please remind children that these issues are national and, although they may find it difficult to believe, this won’t last forever. In the meantime, they should support one another and be prepared that sometimes they may not have their class teacher or teaching assistant.
You will hopefully be aware that there have been changes to guidance around testing. A positive result from a lateral flow test does not have to be confirmed with a PCR test (from Tuesday, 11th January) and the number of days spent in isolation has been reduced. It is now possible to end self-isolation after 7 days, following 2 negative LFD tests taken 24 hours apart. The first LFD test should not be taken before the sixth day. From 14 December 2021, adults who are fully vaccinated and all children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 are strongly advised to take a LFD test every day for 7 days and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result. All of this information can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Thank you again for your support and stay safe.
P A Swift
Headteacher
Friday 17th December
Letter to Parents from Sefton Council
Thursday 9th December
Covid-19: Latest Government Guidance for Education Settings
Dear Parents and Carers
Following the government announcement last night, here is the latest guidance for education settings:
“The Government is clear on the critical importance of not disrupting the education of children and young people and the Government will prioritise keeping all education and childcare settings open. The measures set out below will support this.
School attendance remains mandatory and all the usual rules continue to apply. Enabling children and young people to attend their education setting regularly continues to be a national priority. As usual, schools are able to grant leaves of absence for pupils in exceptional circumstances.
We strongly encourage everyone involved in education to continue with regular testing – using Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs).
Staff (and pupils in Year 7 and above) should continue to wear face coverings in communal areas.
All individuals who have been identified as a close contact of a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, irrespective of vaccination status and age, will continue to be required to self-isolate and asked to book a PCR test.”
Let’s work together to keep everyone safe.
Thank you,
P A Swift
Headteacher
Monday 6th December
Keeping Safe & Keeping Warm
In school we are trying to ensure good ventilation, but this can make the classrooms feel colder (especially when the outside temperature drops). We would therefore encourage pupils to wear additional layers - a fleece, for example, or an extra T-shirt under their uniform.
Although we are determined to enjoy our Christmas parties, movies, bingo games and fun, we are trying to minimise the number of items brought in from home. Rather than bring in lots of Christmas cards and have to quarantine them, why not make a donation to charity instead?
Thank you in anticipation of your support!
Monday 29th November
Covid-19: Latest Government Guidance for Education Settings
Thursday 25th November
Important Information:
Multiple Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Year 5
Monday 22nd November
Year 6 Residential: 18th - 20th February 2022
Thank you to everyone for responding to our initial letter and paying a deposit. We would be grateful if you could ensure that full payments are made in advance of the trip – you can make several smaller payments between now and then!
Please download the PDF for further details of what children should take with them on the trip.
Wednesday 22nd September
Letter to Parents from the Chair of Governors
Thursday 16th September
Following our Section 8 OfSTED inspection on the 7th and 8th July, we have now received the final version of their letter. It will be available on the OfSTED website from the 23rd September but we are allowed to publish it on our website and share it with our whole school community.
As a school, both staff and governors feel very proud of the many positive comments – especially as the visit came during the pandemic. Some of the highlights are:
“Pupils work hard to live out their school values.” “Pupils are proud of their school.”
“Pupils take pride in their work and achieve well.”
“Pupils feel listened to. They trust the adults in school…”
“All staff foster a love of reading in the pupils.” “Pupils behave well in lessons.”
Of course, we have already begun to implement their recommendations, whilst continuing to build on the strengths identified.
Thank you to everyone who played a part in helping the inspection team to gain an insight into our school and thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Tuesday 7th September
Important Advice from Public Health England
Following a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the school setting, we have been asked to share this important advice from Public Health England.
Coming Back to School
We have also been asked to share information from Sefton Council and the Government about the changes to COVID-19 restrictions in schools from September 2021.
Friday 3rd September
Welcome Back
A very warm welcome to everyone (and all our new children and parents) at the start of the 2021-22 academic year. It has been lovely to see such excited, enthusiastic children starting back in their new uniforms and shiny shoes! A two-day week has helped to ease everyone back into the swing of things, but it may take a little longer to get used to new routines.
Although the latest government guidance has removed previous restrictions, I hope you will be reassured to know that we have put the following procedures in place:
- We will continue to place great importance on handwashing and the use of sanitiser throughout the day.
- All classrooms and corridors have good ventilation.
- Additional cleaning routines remain in place.
- Children will be encouraged to use the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ strategy when using tissues.
- Any adult or child displaying symptoms of Coronavirus will not be allowed into school and parents will be asked to collect children who develop symptoms during the school day.
- Rotas and timetables have been carefully designed to ensure that only one year group is using the playground or lunch hall at any time.
Following the removal of staggered start/finish times it would be much appreciated if you could help us by:
- Making full use of our extensive playground to wait – rather than congregating in one area.
- In the mornings, doors open at 8:45 to allow children to enter in time for registration at 8:55. This 10 minute window should allow a flow rather than a surge! Staff are on each door to welcome children in.
- At home time, please limit the number of people collecting each child. Waiting behind the line of cones will make it easier for children to identify who is picking them up. Older pupils may make arrangements to meet a parent in the red or blue zone. Children know not to leave the school site if they can’t see an adult and to return to a member of staff.
- Please comply with our request to not bring dogs onto the playground.
It will be busy – especially at the start of the year when we are establishing new systems but we will monitor and make further changes if necessary.
Thank you, in anticipation of your support.
Plans for September 2021 (Updated) - Download PDF
