Latest News

• Covid 19 Update

  Fri 29 Jan 2021 C Swann
  Please look at the Covid 19 Update page as I have added some information

• Guidance from the Education Achievement Service and ARW CiW Primary School

  Fri 22 Jan 2021

  Guidance

  to parents and

  carers to support learners to stay safe and stay learning (January 2021)

   

  This year’s changing circumstances have required great flexibility and resilience as learning moves from home to school and back again. We are grateful to you for supporting your child’s learning offline or online at this difficult time. We will continue to provide work for your child to do, maintain contact and provide you with help along the way. Any encouragement and support you offer will be very helpful, but you are not being asked to be a teacher. We hope that this leaflet will provide you with some useful information about the way in which your child is currently being asked to learn.

   

   

  Definitions

  Online learning: Is education that takes place over the Internet. It is often referred to as “e- learning” among other terms. However, online learning is just one type of ‘distance learning’.

  Synchronous Learning: Teachers and learners attend a session/lesson at the same time. This can take place face to face or online.

  Remote Learning: This means the same as Distance Learning.

  Blended Learning: An approach that combines face to face and distance learning experiences. Face to face learning and distance learning should complement each other and should be driven by a single curriculum.

  		Face to Face Learning: Refers to the learning your child(ren) will receive when they are inside an educational setting.
  				Asynchronous Learning: Teachers provide learning materials (may include online videos, audio clips and presentations) which can be accessed by the learner in their own time.

   

   

   

  Different approaches to delivering learning

  It is important to note that schools and settings will take different approaches to delivering learning during this period. One model of delivery will not suit all schools or all learners and there are many forms of learning that will be undertaken during this period. It is not helpful to compare how one school approaches distance learning to another as the contexts will vary.

  Your child(ren) will be in receipt of a variety of methods to engage them in their learning. This may include:

  • Pre-recorded material from staff to explain and set the scene for learning (asynchronous).
  • Some lessons may be delivered via live streaming (synchronous).
  • Learning tasks which may need completing online, in books, reading books or creatively (building models etc).
  • Shared learning where learners may be able to learn with their peers.
  • Teachers may engage with your child(ren) through a messaging function within their learning platform, for example, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams to support them with their learning.
  • Independent activities, for example: researching a subject or topic, completing a practice test or assessment, watching a TV programme for example, BBC have a range of programmes on offer to assist our teachers deliver learning.
  • Your child(ren) may be asked to attend an online check in session which may referred to as an Assembly, Wellbeing Session, Circle-time, Story-time, for example.
  • Engage in physical activities, for example: Joe Wicks fitness sessions, going for a local walk, outdoor play (in line with Government Guidance).

   

  What can you expect from us?

   

  1. Your children's teacher will set work on a daily/weekly basis with clear guidance and where appropriate support, for your child(ren) to complete and return their completed work to school for marking/feedback.
  2. Your child may receive work directly from their school, again on a daily/weekly basis and indicate when your child needs to engage in learning and when to complete learning tasks independently.
  3. We will provide work in paper format where there is no access to internet, hardware, revision textbooks or regular stationary (paper, pens etc.).
  4. Our communication about distance learning to parents/carers will be simple and accessible to all.
  5. We will continue to communicate with you using text messages, newsletters, school website and Google Classrooms,  
  6. We will continue to ask you as parents/carers to provide views on our learning provision and will refine the learning giving consideration to your feedback.

   

   

  How you can help us

  1. It is important that you contact us if you have any questions, queries or concerns. 
  2. Try to avoid comparing the approaches to learning that other children are receiving within other classes or within other schools. As a school we are trying hard to ensure that we provide the most appropriate approaches to learning that meet the needs of your child and the learning objectives of each activity. It is likely that these will be varied, as there is no ‘best way’ or ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to teaching in this way.

   

• Ambassadors

  Fri 22 Jan 2021 C Swann

  This weeks Ambassadors are published on the 'Ambassadors' page, and there is also a recording on each child's class page.

  As always, our children have made us so very proud!

• Consultation Document

  Fri 22 Jan 2021 C Swann

  Dear Families,

  I’m writing to share the information sent from MCC advising us that the statutory process regarding the review of school places in Caldicot Town is now open. The full consultation document is available for you to view via https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/schoolreorganisation/

   

  Please note that the consultation closing date is 2^nd March 2021. 

  There is a survey that you can complete. We are discussing the proposals at Governors in brief on Monday, and I am sure that we will be organising further  meetings so that you can ask questions. https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/schoolreorganisation/

   

  Do take care and have a lovely weekend,

   

  Kind regards,

   

  Caroline Swann

• Ambassadors

  Fri 15 Jan 2021 C Swann

  Please see the names of our wonderful Ambassadors for this week on the dedicated Ambassadors page.

  As ever, we are so proud of all of our children, and staff have particularly noticed the actions and efforts of individuals who have caught their eye this week.

  Enjoy!

• Letter from Welsh Government regarding school closures

  Mon 04 Jan 2021 C Swann

   

  Please see below the information received this evening.

  I will respond to these changes tomorrow, and share subsequent plans with you via email and on our COVID 19 Update page. 

   

   

  WRITTEN STATEMENT 

  BY

  THE WELSH GOVERNMENT

   

   

  TITLE	Return to school and college arrangements
  DATE	04 January 2021
  BY	Kirsty Williams MS, Minister for Education

   

  The situation in Wales and across the UK remains very serious. Today, the four UK Chief Medical Officers have agreed that the UK is now at the highest level of risk, Joint Biosecurity Council level 5.

   

  In the light of that decision the Welsh Government, in consultation with the WLGA and Colegau Cymru, has agreed that all schools, colleges and independent schools should move to online learning until January 18th.

   

  As a government we will use the next two weeks to continue to work with local authorities, schools and colleges to plan for the rest of term.

   

  This is the best way to ensure that parents, staff and learners can be confident in the return to face to face learning, based on the latest evidence and information.

   

  Schools and colleges will remain open for children of critical workers and vulnerable learners, as well as for learners who need to complete essential exams or assessments. On this basis Special Schools and PRU’s should remain open if possible.

   

  We had initially given schools flexibility in the first two weeks of term to decide when to reopen based on local circumstances.

   

  But it is now clear that a national approach of online learning for the first fortnight of term is the best way forward.

   

  We know that schools and colleges have been safe and secure environments throughout the pandemic.

   

  However, we also know that education settings being open can contribute to wider social mixing outside the school and college environment.

   

  We are confident that schools and colleges have online learning provision in place for this immediate period.

   

  Universities in Wales have already agreed a staggered start to term. Students should not return to universities for face to face learning until they are notified that they can do so. 

   

  Wales remains in the highest level of restrictions. Everyone must stay at home. 

   

  I will continue to update members.

   

• Happy New Year!

  Sun 03 Jan 2021 C Swann

  Well Happy New Year everyone!

  I hope that you have had a lovely break.

  I thought that I would quickly update you with the fact that I have no further news as yet regarding our return to school.

  Therefore, the plan remains the same for now, which is a return to school on Wednesday.

  I would imagine that there will be further communication with the Head Teachers and Local Authority tomorrow, and if there are any changes as a result, I will email you and post information on 'Covid 19 Updates' located in News and Events. 

  We are so looking forward to seeing our families, but for Monday and Tuesday, please access the learning via Google Classroom.

  If you have any difficulties, please contact the office.

  As ever, take care and stay safe,

  Very kind regards,

   

  Caroline Swann