Dear Parents and Carers,

Happy New Year

Welcome back everybody following the long Christmas holidays.

Once again we are faced with new updates, guidance and restrictions due to the new Omicron Covid variant, but we are much more prepared for this and we hope to continue our incredible progress from where we left off last year.

You will be pleased to know that not very much will change for our children inside school as we are not going back to bubbles or staggered starts and ends to the school day, and our children can continue to enjoy each other’s company and have visitors into the school as planned (although perhaps with a little more distance between them).

The main difference to our children is that they will see their grown-ups wearing masks in the corridors, although, if any of our staff have to isolate, we may join classes together in order to keep all children in school. This may mean that our children work together on their tables and chairs in the hall – which will become their really big classroom!

Our priority is to keep everyone safe but also to maintain every pupil staying in school as far as possible.

Symptoms of Covid in School

We know that it is cough and cold season and that our children will sometimes present with these symptoms. We are very used to this and will encourage using tissues, and sanitising hands regularly as normal, however at this risky time we may ask that an LFD is completed at home and a negative test obtained before your child returns to school as normal. We just need to keep as many of us free from Covid as possible.

If anybody in your household is positive with Covid and your child is presenting with cough or cold symptoms in school then we will ask for a PCR test to be taken before returning to school. This is because it becomes a little more likely that your child has picked it up too.

Covid Positive 

If you are positive but your child is not then they can continue to come to school. The rule is that daily LFD tests are taken to ensure that the virus has not been passed on.

If your child tests positive then they will need to isolate for 10 days. Early release from isolation is possible if a negative LFD test is obtained on Day 6 and Day 7 (please see guidance below).

If your child has to isolate, and they are well enough, then they will attend their lessons from home – virtually. More information will follow from your class teacher if your child has to isolate but please do not worry as we will support you through this. Work packs are also available.

Lunches will continue to be provided of course for our Free School Meal children. If this is a very pressing issue and you are in immediate need of food support for your family do not hesitate in contacting Mrs T.

New Staff

We are very excited to welcome new staff into the team this term to help support us in our efforts in closing any educational gaps that have come about due to Covid lockdowns.

We welcome Mrs Stewart to her tutoring role supporting Reception and Year 1 children (our children know Mrs Stewart already!)

We welcome Miss Allen to her Academic Mentor role working with Year 2 (and yes you do recognise her surname…).

And finally, we welcome Mr Ogilvie to our Key Stage 2 team who will be working alongside Mrs Shaw in her KS2 tutoring role supporting children to meet their full potential

All are fully qualified teachers and have been chosen especially for their warmth, kindness and skills in nurturing primary children. We hope you give them a brilliant Portland welcome!

PE Kits

We once again ask if our children can come in on their PE days in the school uniform kits please. This entails blue jogging bottoms, pumps/trainers and a white polo shirt and school jumper. Your child’s class teacher will remind you of the PE days via dojo.

Enrichments

Please keep an eye out for the spring term enrichment slips which will go out to our families next week. These after school activities will begin the week commencing Monday 10th January.

Applications for Reception (F2)

Do you have a child born between 1st September 2017 and 31st August 2018?

There are only days left to apply for a Wirral primary school place. The closing date is 15th January 2022. At Co-op Academy Portland our Reception places are filling up fast.

Visit the link below to apply or give Mrs McKay a call in the school office on 0151 652 5124.

https://www.wirral.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/apply-primary-or-secondary-school-place

If your child is in a school nursery then they must still apply for a place as Reception places are not automatic. If you miss this date (late application) then your child may not get into a preferred school. If anyone needs help with this process, please do not hesitate to ask at our school office.

Building Work

As you may be aware Co-op Academies Trust has invested over half a million pounds into our academy buildings and premises but there is still lots to do.

We are very excited to share our plans for a new waiting room at the front of our school. This will replace our small porch and will provide a private community room as well as a spacious and bright area to welcome visitors to our academy.

Sadly, we do have to live through the building work which does precede this wonderful addition to our school. Work has already begun and we apologise in advance for any disruption or changes in the future to our entrances and exits to the school. We will ensure that you have plenty of notice of any changes that may affect you.

Thank you

I think you will agree that Co-op Academy Portland has the best team and have worked tirelessly to ensure that our Co-op families are all doing as well as possible in these tricky times.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we help support you and your family in any way.

Thank you for your continued support – stay safe. Don’t forget your masks when coming onto the school grounds.

Your sincerely,

Mrs Peace

Headteacher