All the latest information relating to school.
Thanks you for your support today everyone.
School will be open as usual tomorrow.
See you all then.
Mrs Murphy
Hello Families
Ofsted have now finished their inspection and I just want to say a very big 'thank you' to all of our families in school. It has been a very busy, stressful three days and the staff have worked incredibly hard so 'thank you' to them as well. Your children were absolutely amazing and a credit to the school and to you.
We are really pleased with the result. As soon as the report is published I will be able to share it with you. I will send you all a personal copy and will put it on the website as well.
Once again thank you for all your continued support, it is a real privilege to work with you and your children.
Joanna Murphy
Hello Everyone.
I just wanted to pop a quick message on here to tell you about our visitors in school for the next 2 days. - Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th April. On these 2 dates we are going to be having our Ofsted inspection.
Your children may tell you about new faces in school who have been talking to them and asking them questions. The inspectors will ask the children about their lessons, their friends and all about their school.
We will be around to make sure the children are supported in these conversations if it is needed.
This is also an opportunity for you to have to your thoughts heard by Ofsted, so please click on the link below and complete the Ofsted Parent View questionnaire.
https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk
For your information, this is the link to an Ofsted document that explains to parents all about school inspections.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspections-a-guide-for-parents
If you have any questions you would like to ask me then don't hesitate to contact me at school.
Thank you
Mrs Murphy
Hello families and a very happy New Year to you all.
I hope the Christmas break has been as peaceful as it could be for you all.
Who can believe we are already starting our 2nd term of this school year? The children have been very loud and excited coming back to school today. The time is going so fast it will be Summer before we know it.
Just a quick reminder that the school is closed for an Inset day this Friday 6th January. All the staff are having training about Subject Leadership and Team Teach. We will be back open on Monday 9th January as usual.
As ever if you would like to talk with anyone at school we are here to support you whenever we can.
We are looking forward to a happy successful term with your children.
See you soon.
Mrs Murphy
Please visit the School Office section of our Website to access the letter.
The letter can be found under Adademisation Consultation.
09 November 2021
Dear parent or carer
Inspection of Willow Grove Primary School by Ofsted
We have just told your child's school that we will inspect it on 10 November 2021. The lead inspector will be Simon Hunter, HMI. We are writing to you because we would like to know what you think about the school. Please take a few minutes to read the leaflet that came with this letter. It explains why we inspect schools and what happens during an inspection.
Your views about the school are important to us
If you are a registered parent or carer of a pupil at the school (including pupils on sick leave or who are temporarily excluded), you can tell us your views about the school by completing Ofsted's online survey, Ofsted Parent View, at: www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk.
Ofsted Parent View asks for your opinion on some aspects of your child's school, including the progress made by your child, the quality of teaching, how the school deals with bullying and poor behaviour. It also provides a free-text box for you to make additional comments, if you wish. The inspectors will use the online survey responses when inspecting your child's school. Written comments can also be sent to the school in a sealed envelope, marked confidential and addressed to the inspection team.
To register your views, you will need to provide your email address, which will be held securely. It will not be used for any purpose other than providing access to the online survey. Neither schools nor Ofsted will have access to any email addresses.
Please complete the online survey by 11am on 10 November 2021 as this will give the inspection team more time to consider your views. However, we will consider all online responses that are completed during the inspection, although the free-text box facility will not be available after noon on 11 November 2021.
Speaking to an inspector
If you are unable to complete the online survey, it may be possible to speak to an inspector during the inspection, for instance at the start of the school day, or to pass on messages to the inspectors if you are unable to speak to them in person. Inspection administrators will be happy to make the necessary arrangements. If concerns are raised about child protection, we may have to pass the information we receive to social services or the police. You can contact the administrators on 03000131350. Inspectors will be pleased to receive your comments, but cannot deal with complaints about individual pupils or settle disputes between you and the school.
Privacy notice
During the inspection, the inspectors will collect information about children at the school by talking to them, looking at school documents, responses to the pupil survey where appropriate, and observing the everyday life at the school. In most cases, we do not record names. However, some of the information may make it possible to identify a particular child. Ofsted uses this information to prepare its report and for the purposes set out in its privacy policy. Ofsted will not publish any information that identifies a child in the report.
More information is available in Ofsted's privacy notice:
The contact details for Ofsted's Data Protection Officer are as follows.
Email:
informationrequest@ofsted.gov.uk
Post:
Information management team
Ofsted
2 Rivergate
Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6EH
Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the online survey.
Yours faithfully
Steven Jones
Inspection support administrator
Warn and Inform Support
Dear Parent/ Carer
Today I have had information that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the staff team in school.
Your child and other members of your household can continue normal activities provided your child does not develop symptoms.
People who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive with COVID-19 are advised to get a PCR test, whether or not they have symptoms. If this test is positive, they must isolate for 10 days. PCR tests can be booked via https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested or by calling 119.
Children who are aged under 5 years old who are identified as close contacts will only be advised to take a PCR test if the positive case is in their own household.
Please note people should not need to be re-tested via an LFD test or PCR test within 90 days of a previous confirmed positive test, unless new symptoms develop, in which case they should book a PCR.
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID-19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must isolate and you should arrange a test for your child via https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested or by calling 119.
If the test result is positive, your child will be required to self-isolate for a period of 10 days from the day that their symptoms started. Please inform us if your child has a positive test result.
Please visit the link to Public Health England’s guidance for households with possible Covid-19 infections:
Symptoms of COVID-19
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting COVID-19:
Test and Trace Support Payments
If a person is asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace and is on a low income, unable to work from home and will lose income as a result, they may be entitled to a payment of £500 from their local authority under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. This now applies to parents/ carers who cannot work from home and will lose income by self-isolating or staying at home to care for the child.
Further details are available via: https://www.gov.uk/test-and-trace-support-payment
Further Information
Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Murphy
Head teacher
Hello to all our Families.
I can’t believe we are already nearly at the end of the first half term in the new school year.
Where has the time gone?
The staff team has expanded and last July we said goodbye to some of our previous staffing. We have 4 new teachers, 5 new L3 teaching assistants and 3 new L2 teaching assistants who have joined our staff team and they too are now settling into school routines and the wider life of the school. Ms Jordan has already been on training for Sounds Write and is ready to start supporting spelling and reading right across the school working with Mrs Latham from Elm class. Mr Lucas has joined the teaching assistant’s team. He is a very keen sportsman who has an interest in ADHD and physical movement. He has already joined the afterschool clubs and is keen to support our children learning to swim as well. All of the new staff are bringing something new to the school team and we look forward to the future with them in school.
We have welcomed lots of new children into the school in the last 5 weeks and they are now starting to settle into their new classes. The children have been very busy since their return in September. They have already started attending our after school football club on Tuesdays and the Swimming Club for some of our Y5s is also happening every Thursday after school. The School Council and class councils have begun to look at how we can improve our outdoor play provision at breaks and lunch times and we are about to get the Eco club running to ensure we remain Eco friendly at all times.
This year as well as the children’s Counsellor we are employing a Play Therapist. He will support our children in a range of therapies involving play and support our staff in understanding play and its role in the curriculum of our school. We are excited for this learning journey in school supported by the new therapist. We will continue to prioritise play to support the mental health and well-being of our children.
As ever, we are here to support you and your children, so please contact school if you feel there is anything we can do to support you further.
Mrs Murphy.
14th July 2021
Dear parents and families
Firstly, I want to thank you for your patience, understanding and support during what has been a difficult few weeks for some of our classes, children and staff.
I want to give you the best information and support possible during these difficult weeks.
We have been affected right across the school by the staff and children needing to isolate following current Government Guidance on the management of Covid in schools. We have had two confirmed cases of Covid in the school in the last 6 weeks. This is a relatively small number and this is in some part due to the staff and children sticking to the daily Covid safety regime that we have in school.
I am, however, increasingly concerned by the number of children in school who are coming in obviously unwell. This week we have had several children who are coughing continuously and on closer examination have temperatures. These are both symptoms of Covid and whilst I appreciate that children will get coughs and colds and have temperatures as normal childhood illnesses, at this moment in time we are having to be extra vigilant for everyone’s safety. No one wants to spend the first part of their summer break having to isolate or feeling poorly.
I am therefore asking you to be very aware of your child’s health at this moment in time.
Do not send your child to school if they present with any of the following symptoms:
If you are asked to isolate your child at all please take them for a PCR test straight away. We can provide postal test if this is better for you. This will mean that we can really keep track of the potential cases in school and in the bigger picture of the Wigan Borough.
I do not want any child to be away from school for any time longer than necessary but please understand that by insisting on PCR tests it keeps everyone as safe as possible – your child’s safety and the safety of the adults in the building is our only priority.
Our school Covid risk assessment is still in place and we will be continuing with all our safety measure right up until the end of term on Wednesday 21st July at 12:30pm.
This letter is not intended to cause worry to any of our families but is intended to present you with the facts so that you as parents/carers are able to make informed decisions. I am aware that some families/members of staff have holiday plans, have events planned or are planning to visit family members they haven’t seen for months. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on these things if your child tested positive, the bubble had to close again or your child had to isolate again so close to the end of term.
I hope that I have given you enough information to allow you to make an informed decision on what is right for you and your family at this moment in time. I am hopeful that when we return to school in September some of these measures may be relaxed a little and that school can return to some form of normality.
Thank you for your support at this difficult time. Please stay safe and take care.
Yours sincerely
Joanna Murphy
Headteacher
Date: 13th July 2021
Dear Parents and Carers,
Step 4 of the COVID-19 Roadmap in England
As we approach the end of another academic year that has been significantly challenging for us all, we wanted to take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to you all for all you have done during the pandemic to support your child and their school/setting during this time. We have and continue to be grateful for your ongoing resilience, cooperation and understanding through such turbulent and uncertain times.
Over the last year we have seen our pupils in and out of their education setting due to bubble closures and the need to isolate. Many of you have and continue to support your children to work remotely during periods of isolation and we know that whilst for some this has been a good experience, for many, this has been a real challenge and has caused uncertainty, disruption and has impacted on both adult and children and young people’s health and well-being. It has been wonderful to see through social media, some of the fabulous and creative ways our children have been learning remotely and in their classes.
We would also like to say a massive thank you to the headteachers and all the staff in our schools who have worked tirelessly to keep our schools open and as safe as possible and to support children whether in school or at home learning remotely. Many have worked over the holidays and often weekends and evenings to ensure that the work is ready for the children and that the schools are COVID-safe.
You will be aware that new guidance for schools has now been issued by central government to describe what the next steps are when we reach the 19th July and then again from the 16th August when particular groups will no longer be required to isolate. As Wigan’s Director of Public Health and the Borough’s Chief Medical Officer, I wanted to briefly set these out for you and explain why we may have advised measures that are different to those advised in the Guidance.
Arrangements from 19th July
As the Government moves the Country to Step 4 of the COVID-19 Roadmap, this means that further restrictions are to be lifted and members of the public are expected to take more personal responsibility for their actions.
However, as many children in Wigan will still be in school on July 19th, and as we remain an enhanced response area (ERA), I have advised schools and settings not to relax restrictions on July 19th, but instead to introduce these new measures at the start of the new term in September.
Cath Pealing, Assistant Director Education
Wigan Council, People Directorate: Children, Adults and Families, P O Box 100, Wigan WN1 3DS.
Phone: 01942 489453
Email: C.Pealing@wigan.gov.uk
www.wigan.gov.uk
Our schools will continue to operate under their current risk assessment and related health and safety procedures for the last few days of the Summer Term. This means, for example, that children will still be taught in designated bubbles, social distancing rules will be maintained, and schools will still ask children to wear face coverings where required.
Schools in Wigan have also been advised that local Public Health advice remains the same in relation to a range of school events, including Proms, overnight residentials, transition days, and sports days.
Attendance continues to be mandatory and therefore pupils should be attending school during term time. When planning holidays please remember that any self-isolation after the holiday should also fall within the school holidays.
We regret that we have had to make these recommendations to schools, however the high rates of COVID-19 within the borough leave us with no other option. For further information about the rates of COVID-19 in Wigan, please visit: https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Docs/PDF/Resident/Crime-Emergencies/COVID19-Weekly-Tracker.pdf.
Arrangements for the Summer Break
Over the summer, we will continue to support schools with COVID-19 testing for staff and for older students, either on site or at home where appropriate, and we will continue to support them to identify children who need to isolate as a result of either having COVID-19, or from being a contact of another child or adult who has tested positive. To obtain home testing kits over the summer, please visit this link: https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Crime-Emergencies/Coronavirus/Request-a-Covid-19-test-without-symptoms.aspx. Booking is not required, and you will be provided with 2 boxes (containing 7 tests each) per person. It is recommended that people undertake 2 tests per week to help to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Please ensure that results are uploaded onto the national portal as per the instructions inside the kit. Enquiries can be emailed to C19Testing@wigan.gov.uk.
Children attending summer schools/clubs may be required to take lateral flow tests depending on their age. Y6 pupils attending their new secondary school summer activities may be asked to take part in testing. If they are a close contact with a positive case, they will still be required to isolate until the new rules come in on the 16th August.
We hope that you will support us in our Public Health work to help keep everyone safe. By far the best form of protection against COVID-19 is to be fully vaccinated and if you have not yet done this, you can find clinic dates and book an appointment as soon as possible via the NHS Portal at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination. Appointments can also be booked by calling 01942 807780.
Everyone aged 18 years and over are eligible, and those aged 16-17 years who are carers or have a health condition. There are also a number of walk-in vaccination clinics across Wigan where you do not need to book: Walk-in Vaccine Clinics - Healthier Wigan Partnership
Cath Pealing, Assistant Director Education
Wigan Council, People Directorate: Children, Adults and Families, P O Box 100, Wigan WN1 3DS.
Phone: 01942 489453
Email: C.Pealing@wigan.gov.uk
www.wigan.gov.uk
Where possible, you should continue to maintain social distancing, minimise contacts especially in crowded spaces, continue to wear a face covering in shops and other public places, and practice good hygiene measures including regular hand washing. If your child is unwell, they should stay at home as there are a number of other viruses also circulating.
Arrangements for September
As the guidance currently states, we are hoping our schools will return to some form of normality in September. This includes, amongst other things, the lifting of bubbles and not wearing face coverings. However, in certain circumstances such as a local outbreak, measures may be reintroduced. Further information for parents and carers is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/step-4-update-what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges
On return to school in September, all secondary school pupils will be asked to undertake two on-site lateral flow tests, three to five days apart. It is recognised that specialist settings will have additional considerations to take into account when delivering asymptomatic testing and additional guidance on testing in specialist settings has been published: Rapid asymptomatic testing in specialist settings (applies until Step 4) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
You may find when your children return to school that some of the changes will remain in place. This is because schools have found that some of the measures have improved the systems used and have proven to be beneficial. Please do remember that all school situations are different and what happens in one school will not necessarily be the same in another school. Please do respect the systems that your school has in place. All schools will be reviewing their risk assessments for the new school year to ensure that all the children, young people, staff and visitors, including parents and carers, remain safe.
Should you have any questions about the information in this letter, please contact your school in the first instance.
It just remains for us to wish you all a very happy and safe summer holiday.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Kate Ardern, MBChB MSc FFPH Director Public Health Wigan Council
Cath Pealing Assistant Director of Education Wigan Council