All the latest information relating to school.
25th March 2020
Hello children, it’s Mrs Murphy.
I just wanted to say hello to you all.
It feels very strange to have so few children in school and I am missing you sharing all your lovely work with me. I wonder if you are thinking of school as well?
We have been told by our Government that we have to stay at home and no one is allowed to go out to see their friends. It all feels very odd. It is time to give our town and country a big clean and the best way to do that is to stay in our houses and stay with our families.
I hope you are being good for your mums and dads. Your teachers are all thinking of you and they are wondering what you have been up to. They will be phoning you soon to have a chat and a catch up.
As soon as the people who make the rules tell me it’s ok to come back to school I will let you know.
Be happy and safe children and be good for your mums and dads. Look after the people you live with; we will see you all soon.
Mrs Murphy
25th March 2020
Dear Parents/ Carers
I wanted to write out to you all at this very challenging time in our lives.
As a school we have had to make some very difficult decisions over the last week. You have all been incredibly supportive of our actions and I wanted to personally thank you all. We will continue to do our best to support our school community in whatever way we are allowed and will continue to follow all the advice we are given from the Government, Public Health and our Local Authority. As a school we are running on a skeleton staff and we continue to be available to you over the phone if you need us. The teaching staff will be staying in contact with you and your children and you can expect regular check-in calls from school to see if there is anything else you need from us. I also wanted to publicly thank all our team at school. They have all risen to the challenge of supporting our children and families whilst managing their own lives at home.
I am mindful of our Y6 children who may be wondering about leaving us at Summer and whether we will be back at school anytime soon. Unfortunately, I don’t have the answers to that, but I can promise that as soon as we are back together as a school community we will find some way to celebrate our Y6 children’s achievements at Willow Grove.
I wanted to offer some thoughts around being at home with your children and the expectation that you are ‘home schooling’. Please do not feel the pressure of having to organise daily classes for your children. Home life can be hectic and busy enough without having to try to ‘teach’ in a formal way.
The work we send home is to offer activities that can be dipped into when you choose. Obviously your little one is missing a lot of schooling at the moment, but there is an awful lot of things you can be doing every day that will keep learning going as much as possible during this time.
Here are a few suggestions:
Most of all, have as many good times together as you can. Being active will help you to stay mentally strong whilst we all get used to living our lives differently. Enjoy learning as much as you can and remember we are here if you need us.
Stay safe and take care of each other.
Yours sincerely
Joanna Murphy
Headteacher
Will all parents please watch their emails as information regarding FSM will be coming to you later today.
If you dont have an email contact then give us a ring at school.
School information for Covid-19
On Monday 24th March The Government instigated further extreme measures to regulate the behaviours of our communities and to work to control the spread of the Coronavirus.
The guidance for schools is very clear. We are to limit the numbers of children in school wherever possible to reduce the risk to children and to staff. As a school we have worked towards that aim today. Parents and carers have been extremely supportive of our efforts to this end. Our numbers of children are now at its lowest and the staff have begun a rota of care and support.
We are still very much a working team – if not slightly spread out - and will continue to support our school community for as long as we possibly can.
Even if you are a key worker, if you are able to support your child at home then without question that is the safest place to do so. In school we are making every effort to ensure we are as safe as we can be.
The number of cases of Covid-19 has increased significantly over the weekend. Please take the time to read the Government advice on how best to keep your children and families safe. Advice can be found here.
Social distancing is extremely important and as you will be aware we could be carriers of the virus as well as be its potential victims. Sending children to school does increase their risk of exposure to Covid-19 as they will be with other children and adults. Please consider this very carefully if you are choosing to send your child to school.
Further Government advice on Social Distancing can be found here.
As a school community we continue to do whatever we can to prevent unnecessary risk to the children and staff in Willow Grove. The situation is changing rapidly as I’m sure you are aware and we will endeavour to keep our website updated for you.
We are currently taking the following steps:
This is a very worrying time for everyone in our school community. Please do not be alone with your worries. We are at the end of the phone or available via email. If you want to speak with someone then just call us at school and we will support you in any way we can or signpost you to someone who can help.
Support for your mental health can be found here.
Medical advice can be found here.
Wigan Local Council support advice can be found here.
Access to Government information for Coronavirus – Covid 19
Yesterday evening the Government issued a statement that the country is now taking extreme measures to protect our communities and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. This includes shutting non-essential shops and limiting public and personal gatherings. Willow Grove will continue to monitor closely the situation as it evolves and will continue to keep our website as up to date as possible.
The Government continues to update schools regarding the prevention strategy for Covid-19.
Full details of each stage of the government action plan can be found here.
The Guidance is as follows:
The symptoms are:
The full Stay at Home Guidance for anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 can be found here.
Information on Social Distancing can be found here.
Information to Support Families
How to wash your hands properly:
Wash your hands more often for 20 seconds with soap and hot water.
To watch a short NHS film for guidance, click here.
Teach young children how to wash their hands with the NHS handwashing song:
Public Health England recommends that in addition to handwashing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, everyone should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport.
Access to Government information for Coronavirus – Covid 19
The Government continues to issue guidance for schools regarding the prevention strategy for Covid-19.
Full details of each stage of the government action plan can be found here.
The Guidance is as follows:
The symptoms are:
The full Stay at Home Guidance for anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 can be found here.
Information on Social Distancing can be found here.
Information to Support Families
How to wash your hands properly:
Wash your hands more often for 20 seconds with soap and hot water.
To watch a short NHS film for guidance, click here.
Teach young children how to wash their hands with the NHS handwashing song:
Public Health England recommends that in addition to handwashing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, everyone should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport.
School information for Covid-19
As of Sunday 22nd March we are able to remain open for the majority of our pupils. This may change on a daily basis and I ask all families to check the school website and their personal emails for the latest information.
The number of cases of Covid-19 has increased significantly over the weekend. Please take the time to read the Government advice on how best to keep your children and families safe. Advice can be found here.
In school we currently have:
Social distancing is extremely important and as you will be aware we could be carriers of the virus as well as be its potential victims. Sending children to school does increase their risk of exposure to Covid-19 as they will be with other children and adults. Please consider this very carefully if you are choosing to send your child to school.
Further Government advice on Social Distancing can be found here.
As a school community we continue to do whatever we can to prevent unnecessary risk to the children and staff in Willow Grove. The situation is changing rapidly as I’m sure you are aware and we will endeavour to keep our website updated for you.
We are currently taking the following steps:
In order to facilitate school remaining open to pupils we have had to make a little alteration to the start of the school day. From Monday 23rd March school will start at 9.30 am. Taxis have been notified accordingly and have requested that we notify all parents of children currently accessing transport that there will be a later pick up time for these pupils. If you have any queries regarding your child’s new collection time, please contact ITU directly on 01942 489685 or email ITU@wigan.gov.uk. As I am sure you can appreciate, the ITU are extremely busy in there endeavour to facilitate transport for several establishments and therefore I would ask that you only make contact if absolutely necessary.
Coronavirus – Covid 19
The Government continues to issue guidance for schools regarding the prevention strategy for Covid 19.
Yesterday, 16th March, the Government issued their latest guidance in response to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Full details of each stage of the government action plan can be found here:
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The new guidance is as follows
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The symptoms are:
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The full stay at home guidance for households with these symptoms can be found here:
The Prime Minister’s statement from Monday 16 March can be found here:
I wanted to reassure parents that as a school community we are doing whatever we can to prevent unnecessary risk to the children and staff in Willow Grove. The situation is changing rapidly as I’m sure you are aware and we will endeavour to keep our website updated for you.
We have currently taken the following steps:
In school we are continuing to follow all the advice and recommendations given by the Government, Public Health England and our own Local Council. Please keep school informed if you take the decision to self-isolate you child in order for us to track our attendance.
In the meantime, we ask that you inform school and keep your child at home if he/she develops a persistent cough and/or a high temperature as per Government guidelines.
Information to support families
Wash your hands more often for 20 seconds with soap and hot water.
Watch this short NHS film for guidance:
Teach young children how to wash their hands with the NHS handwashing song:
Public Health England recommends that in addition to handwashing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, everyone should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport.
Thank you for your co-operation.
I hope you all keep safe and well.