Latest News

Forestdale Club will close for the Easter holidays 6th April - 19th April

Mon 30 Mar 2020

Forestdale Club will close for the Easter holidays

6th April - 19th April

due to:

deep cleaning
emergency testing and servicing
staffing issues

We will reopen on Monday 20th April

Please follow government advice regarding Coronavirus

FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROVISION

Thu 26 Mar 2020

The government and local authorities are finalising a shop voucher scheme for children eligible for Free School Meals - PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT FOR ALL KS1 and FOUNDATION STAGE CHILDREN - just for those who qualify for Free School Meals.

It is likely this will be in place after Easter. In the interim the school will be delivering a shopping voucher for each child who normally receives a free school meal - it is hoped these will be delivered Friday.

SCHOOL CLOSURE

Mon 23 Mar 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

As you are aware, school is now closed with effect from Friday 23rd March until further notice. This is due to the government following scientific advice to further limit the spread of COVID-19.

Our school will remain closed to all children except those identified as being vulnerable or children of key workers.

The fewer children who make the journey to school and the fewer children there are in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect the vulnerable members of society.

I will therefore not be allowing any parent who can care for their child at home to take up a place so unless you receive a letter confirming your child’s place, please do not send them or bring them to school until further notice.

I apologise if this sounds harsh but this is government directive in very trying times.

The children have been wonderful throughout all of this and are a credit to you all. We will still be in touch as per our other letters

A reminder to check the school website and school APP regularly for emergency updates and to inform us of any change in your contact details- enquiry@forestdale.bham.sch.uk

Thank you for all your kind wishes and thoughts to the school staff and we wish the same for you.

We wish you and your families all the best and please stay in touch.

Stay safe,

R James

Head teacher

Information re Coronavirus/ Covid-19 (update 19th March 2020)

Thu 19 Mar 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

You will probably have seen the announcement from the Government yesterday afternoon at the 5pm press conference that all schools across the UK are to close from Monday 23^rd March to all but some pupils.

Schools will remain open for-

Children of key workers
Pupils with EHC Plans
Other vulnerable groups

It is vital that we are informed by 12 noon Friday via email or letter if you believe your child falls into this group and will continue to attend school so that appropriate provision can be made for them.

As some of you who are self- isolating already know we are supporting the learning of children at home through school packs (to be renewed after the Easter holidays) and through links on the school website. Please see Mr Foster’s letter.

Today, we understand you may be worried or anxious about the coming weeks but we want you to know that Forestdale Primary School will continue to do what we do best: be there for each other and support you as much as we can in these troubling times.

We will stay in contact with you through the school website, through emails or phone calls. We still want to share successes and hear of your learning and experiences at home.

Again, a reminder to check the school website and school APP regularly for emergency updates and to inform us of any change in your contact details- enquiry@forestdale.bham.sch.uk

Once again, thank you for your continued support, care and understanding. Please do not hesitate to contact me via telephone or email if you have any queries. I have kept the contact details on the back of this letter for your information.

Please look after yourselves and your families too,

Best wishes

R James

Head teacher

Useful contacts-

Department for Education-

DfE coronavirus helpline for parents relating to education:

0800 046 8687 (Monday -Friday 8am to 6pm)

Email: dfe.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk

Public Health England-

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england

NHS symptom checker- click and follow the links-

https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19

Coronavirus/ Covid-19 (update 17th March 2020)

Wed 18 Mar 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

With the rapidly changing advice by the Prime Minister on 16/03/20 regarding Coronavirus, please read my latest instalment.

We continue to follow all the appropriate guidelines from Public Health England and the guidance issued by the Department of Education with regard to how educational settings should handle the current situation.

On the 16/03/2020 the advice changed again and any self- isolation should now follow for a period of 14 days. This is true for all family members.

We will still send any adults or children home if they exhibit either of the following- a new, dry and persistent cough and/or a high temperature/fever. This will obviously affect children, parents and staff and therefore could impact on the day-to-day running of the school.

If or when we find ourselves in this situation, may I remind you that the following actions may be taken:

Putting classes together with shared staff

Dividing classes between teachers
Closing down classes

All decisions we make will be for the safeguarding of your children.

We have now made the decision to place the school into a “mini lockdown” until further notice.

This means that only long standing staff and children will be allowed into the school buildings.

All outside stakeholders/agencies including-

parents
sports coaches
music teachers
workshops
visitors
trips
courses for staff
after school clubs
assemblies

will either not be allowed past the school office or cancelled until further notice.

In this way I am attempting to limit social contact and restrict school activities to only necessary

work but also allow us to keep a routine in place- as much as is possible in these ever changing days.

As I said in yesterday’s letter, it is really important to keep up the routine for the children and we will endeavour to do everything in our power to keep all our children happy, healthy and safe.

A reminder to check the school website and school APP regularly for emergency updates and to inform us of any change in your contact details- enquiry@forestdale.bham.sch.uk

Again, thank you for your continued support in these unprecedented times. Please do not hesitate to contact me via telephone or email if you have any queries. I have kept the contact details at the end of the letter for your information.

Please look after yourselves too,

Best wishes

R James

Head teacher

Useful contacts-

Department for Education-

DfE coronavirus helpline for parents relating to education:

0800 046 8687 (Monday -Friday 8am to 6pm)

Email: dfe.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk

Public Health England-

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england

NHS symptom checker- click and follow the links-