Latest News

WOW Launches on Tuesday 4th May 2021

Thu 29 Apr 2021 Miss Blanchard & Mrs Green

St Gregory’s pupils swap the school run for a school walk

Beginning on Tuesday 4th May we are taking part in an award-winning behaviour change scheme to help more pupils walk to school.

For the next year, St Gregory’s will be taking part in WOW – the year-round walk to school challenge from Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking.

When running WOW, schools see an average 23 per cent increase in pupils walking to school and a corresponding drop in car use; reducing congestion outside the school gates, increasing safety and helping in the fight against air pollution – all whilst children benefit from being more active.

With WOW, pupils log their daily journeys to school each day on the WOW Travel Tracker tool. Those who walk to school at least once a week for a month earn a WOW badge, with 11 to collect across the year.

Each year, the 11 WOW badges follow a new WOW theme, all of which are designed by pupils in Living Streets’ annual badge design competition. This year’s theme is INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD and will take WOW pupils on a year-round journey through time and across the globe, celebrating some of the greatest inventions ever created.

Joe Irvin, Chief Executive, Living Streets says:

“Walking to school is an easy way for children to fit more activity into their day. More children walking to school means fewer cars around the school gates - making them safer and cleaner places.

“WOW has increased walk to school rates in over 2,000 schools across the UK. It’s simple to run and pupils love to take part. Just a few minutes of a teacher’s day is needed to make a big difference.

“We can’t wait to see what a difference it makes to the health and happiness of more pupils this year.”

Mrs Roney, our Headteacher says, “We’re really excited about running WOW and walking to school this year. Our pupils are looking forward to collecting the badges and experiencing the natural world around them in the morning before class.

“We hope it will ease traffic outside the school gates and teach pupils vital road safety skills.”

Yr1 Children Return

Mon 22 Jun 2020

Monday 22nd June 2020

Dear Parents and Carers of Year 1 children,

I hope you and your families are all well and keeping safe.

At last I have some good news for year 1!

We are planning to reopen school for Year 1 children on Wednesday 24th June.

As you know we have been told by the Liverpool City Council that it is considered safe for schools to open for more children if we feel that we can accommodate them safely. I do feel that we can do this and still follow the two metre safe distancing rule. We are welcoming our Year 6 children back today and it will be year 1’s turn on Wednesday as they are next on the City Council’s return to school list.

If your child is in Year 1 and you would like them to return to school on Wednesday can you please let your class teachers know by replying on Do Jo if you haven’t already done so. This helps us to plan for numbers.

Procedures for 24th June:

• All Government, LA and Unions advice been followed and social distancing will be followed by staff and children at all times.
• All necessary Risk Assessments have been completed and will be shared with staff. They will also be reviewed regularly be adapted to meet any changes in the guidance.
• School will open at the normal time of 8.45am, children should be in school by 8.55am and collected at 3.00 -3.05pm, to allow a staggered collection to the other children (please be on time and remember some staff have their own childcare to worry about).
• Children are to all enter and exit the building via the Year 1 classroom door as normal. Children will be in a ‘Year1 Bubble’ which will be in the Year 1 and 2 classrooms depending on numbers.
• Children must be dropped off by one parent and all should adhere to the 2m social distancing guidelines at all times.
• The school office will be closed to parents and visitors. If you need to contact school please ring 0151 498 4313 to speak to a member of staff or leave a message.
• No parents, volunteers or visitors will be allowed into the building and staffing will be according to pupil numbers.
• School uniform is optional to make it easier for you, clothing must be suitable and no vest tops, belly tops or open toed shoes are allowed. Please make sure your children wear a clean change of clothing every day to minimise risk of infection.

• A coat needs to be brought to school every day in a disposable carrier bags if the weather requires it. No bags or equipment are allowed. Children will not be getting changed for PE so please make sure what they wear is suitable. Trainers are the best option for footwear and can be worn until the end of term.
• The weather is forecasted to be very hot this week so please make sure your child has sun cream on before leaving the house and send it in for them to reapply at lunchtime. It needs to have their name on.
• Any staff or children who have symptoms will not be allowed into the building and will be sent home to self-isolate for 14 days.
• If your child displays any COVID 19 symptoms do not send them into school, but please inform me immediately on 07725234348 or telephone the school office. If any members of your household display symptoms please telephone school and ensure you child does not attend but self isolates for 14 days. If any child display symptoms during the day, they will be isolated and you will be asked to collect them immediately. Please be prompt in doing so.
• All children will be required to have a school dinner. Sandwiches will be an option each day and on some days, if the weather is good picnic meals may be provided to be eaten outside. Please do not send any food or treats into school. No packed lunches are allowed, in order to minimise the possibility of infection.
• If your child is not entitled to free lunches, we will ask you to pay our normal subsidised rate of £1 per meal. If any of you have difficulties with paying this please don’t hesitate to contact me and we can sort something out.

School has been informed that we must cancel Free School Meal vouchers for children who are attending school and are entitled to free school meals as they will receive a meal free of charge.

• Children need to bring in their own water bottle that must be taken home each day and thoroughly cleaned to be brought back the next day. It is very important that children bring their own water bottle especially with the warm weather.
• There will be no extended school provision including Breakfast Club.
• Children will be divided into ‘Bubbles’ and will be taught in these groups. There will be a Year 1 Bubble and the children will have access to the online learning set by their teacher for the whole class. They will be supported with this and some additional learning and will also be taking part in fun activities.
• The Year 1 bubble area has been prepared for the children’s return. It has been cleaned and additional cleaning will take place each day, including surfaces toilets and door handles.
• Children will have restricted use of the building and will only access their area and the hall.
• If the weather is sunny, children will require sun lotion to be applied before they leave the house. This can be reapplied by themselves during the day so it should be put in bag with their coat.

I apologise for this long list, but during this very worrying and challenging time, my key priority is the safety of the children and staff. Staff will do everything they can to ensure that children feel safe, secure and welcome in the environment. They will support the children in their learning and also make sure it is a happy and fun place for everybody to be.

These measures and conditions will apply until guidance changes, which it does frequently. Hopefully we will have more information on the wider opening of school and will soon be welcoming more children back.

As soon as this happens I will contact parents. If you have any worries or concerns that I might be able to help you with, you have my number so please don’t hesitate to contact me. It has been lovely to hear from so many of you over the past few weeks even if it has been over the very problematic Free School Meal Vouchers!

I will be in touch again soon and thank you so much for all your support over the past weeks.

Take care, keep safe and please give my love to all the children.

Mrs Roberts

New Restorative E-Resource for Parents

Wed 29 Apr 2020 Mrs Green

New Restorative Practice digital learning resource.

This is a great resource for parents and cares, there are 4 sessions all completely

free to access and will help you to support your child/children

This tool will help if you:

are concerned about spending a lot of time with family members at home, and the impact this can have on our relationships
are worried that your family might be falling out more
want to find out about simple relationship techniques
just want to learn more about positive relationships

Just follow the link below:

https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/advice-parents/restorative-thinking-and-positive-relationships-preventing-and

Covid-19 School Closure Update for Parents

Fri 20 Mar 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you and your families are all well.

I received an email during the night with the information schools have been waiting for regarding school closures, what will be happening during the coming weeks and an information link for you.

The government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.

Some schools will be open as hub schools for eligible children who are allowed to go to school but as yet we are unsure which schools.

The information given from the government is as follows:

It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children, but the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.

Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.

Vulnerable children include children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.

Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined below. Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.

Please, therefore, follow these key principles:

If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.

If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised.

Many parents working in the critical sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.

This is an offer to parents and carers and there is no requirement for parents and carers to send their children to school if they do not need or wish to do so.

For vulnerable children, your child’s social worker will work with you to assess the best option for your child.

Please follow this link and read the information given for parents:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

If you are a key worker can you please telephone the school office, school mobile or send a message on Dojo immediately to let us know and indicate if you would need your child to attend school.

Please be assured that myself and St Gregory’s staff will do everything we can to provide for all the children of our school, and support you in the coming weeks. I will stay in contact with you on Dojo and the School App.

As soon as I have any more information I will share it with you, hopefully before the end of the day, if not over the weekend

Take care and look after you and yours.