Mather Street Primary School

10^th July 2020

Dear Parents/Carers

We are coming towards the end of a very unusual school year.  We would like to thank you for your support and patience during these difficult times.

School will close at 3:10pm on Thursday 16^th July for all pupils to allow staff an opportunity to work in their classrooms without ‘bubble’ restrictions.

 School will be closed for the duration of the summer holidays for pupils as we prepare for September.

 We are all working under the current guidance and plans which will see school open to all pupils from September 2020. 

There will still be a range of measures we will need to put in place to allow this to happen as safely as possible for all of us. 

Measures will include slightly staggered start and finish times, restricting parents entering the building, continued good hygiene practices, staggered breaks and lunch times

and trying to keep children in year group ‘bubbles’ as best we can.

 We will share more details in the week before school opens on our website and via e mail.

 We hope you and your families have a safe and peaceful summer break and we look forward to seeing you in September.

Yours sincerely,

Mather Street Primary School

Oldham free school meals – are you eligible?

Information for Oldham School Pupils
 
Oldham Council is urging families to check whether they are eligible for free school meals for the next academic year in September 2020.
 
The Coronavirus Pandemic has left many families with different financial situations than before. The worry is that more children will be left facing hunger and malnutrition because parents and guardians are struggling financially and aren’t aware of what they are eligible to claim.
 
Free school meal vouchers are now available over the summer school holidays and you’ll need to contact your local school by Friday 10 July 2020 to claim them. 
 
You don’t need to make a separate claim for free school meals if you are already in receipt or have applied for Housing Benefit or help with your Council Tax. Oldham Council will use the information and evidence we have already provided to confirm your entitlement to free school meals. 
 
If you live outside the borough (except Manchester) and your child goes to an Oldham school. Then you will need to apply through your local council in the area where you live. 
 
If people are resident in Manchester but their child attends an Oldham school, please complete the Free School Meals application form.

For more information, and to access the form, visit:

http://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200231/education_grants_and_allowances/161/free_school_meals

www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200231/education_grants_and_allowances/161/free_school_meals
 
For any queries about free school meals you can contact the Council on 0161-770-6688 or email    benefits@oldham.gov.uk

29^th June 2020

Dear parents/carers,

Our plans for transition meetings are going ahead and we are keeping our fingers crossed for good weather.

Morning sessions will run from 10.00am to 12.00 noon and afternoon sessions will run from 1.00pm to 3.00pm.

When they attend, the children can come to school in sportswear and a cap.

At the end of the session the end of year reports will be handed out.

If it is sunny, please apply sun cream to your child.

Please meet on the ‘pylon’ car park at the side of school and staff will meet you there a few minutes before your start time and return your children a few minutes after the end time. Please try to stay apart from other parents and children and ensure your child has been to the toilet and washed their hands just before leaving the house.

• Current Year 6 (Mr Ali) – Thursday 16^th July 1pm until 3pm
• Current Year 5 (Mr Turner) – Tuesday 14^th July 10:00am until 12 noon
• Current Year 4 (Mrs Booth/Mrs Khatun) – Wednesday 15^th July 10am until 12 noon
• Current Year 3 (Miss Bibi) - Wednesday 15^th July 1pm until 3pm
• Current Year 2 (Miss Colley) - Tuesday 14^th July 1pm until 3pm
• Current Year 1 (Miss Conway) – Monday 13^th July 1pm until 3pm
• Current Reception (Mrs Benson) - Thursday 16^th July 10am until 12 noon
• Current Nursery (Mrs Gordon) – Monday 13^th July 10am until 12 noon

Thank you, Mrs Brown 

 Wednesday 17th June 2020

Dear Parents and Carers

 If you are confused about the government’s plans for schools then I am totally with you.

 I get my information at the same time as you – from the news or from the ministers who stand at the Number 10 podium at 5 o’clock every day.

 Free School Meals

We are continuing to provide free school meals to be collected from school for children who are entitled to them. This can be confusing because when we are working normally all infants get a free meal. This is called a Universal Free School Meal. To be entitled to a free school meal you will be in receipt of certain benefits. If you’re not sure the offices have a list from the council and if you think you are entitled you can make a claim at any time.

As soon as we get the go ahead and the way to do it we will process the vouchers for the summer holidays. Bear with us, there is no information just yet.

 Summer opening

We are starting to get phone calls about whether we are open during the summer holidays. Again, I have no more information than you have. I have listened to ministers say schools will not be open and I heard the prime minister say there would be a summer of catch up but I have no idea of what is planned. I do know however that we have worked throughout the lockdown and throughout the holidays so far and at some point schools will have to close. I know you join with me in praising and thanking the staff for their valiant efforts in carrying on with whatever they have been asked to do.

 September

We are making plans to open as normal in September, taking into account catching up on the (nearly) 4 months of learning lots of children will have missed. Teachers and classes are sorted. We do not know whether we will be opening however, it will depend on government decisions.

Home Learning

We continue to send out English, maths and topic work every Monday but fewer and fewer children are emailing their teachers. We understand that it’s a slog, getting your children to engage, but if you can it will help them and it will help us to catch them up eventually.

If you let your teacher know about work for this week and next week there will be a small reward.

 Children in School

The children who are in school now are doing really well. They are safe and in a routine and learning well. The staff are doing a great job.

 I hope you are well and staying safe. It’s getting more difficult to know what the rules are but be assured we are following the rules for schools as best as we can.

Yours sincerely

Martine Buckley

EXECUTIVE HEADTEACHER

Monday 15th June 2020

School is open to the children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 as planned.

We have put a safety plan in place which is being managed well by the staff in school. 

If your child is in one of the identified year groups and you would like him/her to attend school, please contact the school office. 

Home learning activities are available as usual for all year groups - please send your child's teacher pictures of the work that has been completed so we can award prizes to the children that have completed the tasks. 

Thank you 

Home learning - week beginning Monday 22nd June 2020

Maths 

Week 8 of the White Rose Maths Scheme is now online. White Rose is no longer providing worksheets for online activities. 

The worksheets can now be found on the school website at the bottom of the year group home learning page. 

English 

English will remain the same. Each week there will be a new English mat for year 1 and an English mat for years 2 -6. Children are to choose 5 activities to complete.

Topic

This week we have a topic mat based on famous musicians and composers. Please share your child's work with his/her class teacher. 

Once again, if you have any questions about the work please email the class teacher using the Gmail accounts on the school website or contact the school directly via the info account.

Thank you 

Home Learning

Please follow the links to the appropriate year group from the home learning page. (Nursery and Reception children will be provided with information via Tapestry.)

Please click the link below to be taken to your year group home learning page 

Year 1    Year 2    Year 3   Year4   Year5   Year 6

 Free School Meal Update:07/04/2020

How do I use my eCode to select a supermarket eGift card?

We recommend ordering your supermarket eGift at home before going to the store.

To select your supermarket eGift card, follow the steps below:

1. Copy eCode from your email
2. Go to www.freeschoolmeals.co.uk
3. Enter the 16 digit eCode (you can enter more than one eCode if you have more than one to redeem)
4. Select a supermarket 
5. Enter the amount and add to basket
6. Checkout and enter the email address you would like the eGift card sent to.
7. Your eGift card will be processed and sent (please allow up to 3 hours for it to be delivered to your inbox). 
8. https://www.edenred.co.uk/Documents/DfE/DfE_FreeSchoolMeals_ParentCarerFAQs.pdf 

School will be closed for the majority of pupils from 3:15pm on Friday 20th March 2020.

Parents of vulnerable children will be contacted by school so that we can explain what arrangements we have put in place. 

If you are a parent that is a 'key worker' please follow the advice provided by the government. 

Advice from the Government.

If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.