🌈 Launch of Google Classrooms

Check out this demo video to see an overview of how Google Classroom works for teachers and students. In this video, you will learn how to set up classes and...

Now that we have started to adjust to home learning (although far from ideal) we are always trying to make things easier for parents, children and the teachers. We strongly believe that by using Google Classrooms rather than just the class pages on the website we will definitely achieve that aim.

Instead of going to the website and clicking on the Class Page and then clicking an activity and attempting to complete it by printing or finding a piece of paper etc, the children can complete the task within their ‘virtual classroom’ where the teacher has set the tasks. This is sent straight back to the teacher without needing to attach it to an email. The teacher can then send comments and mark the work so the children can see how they have done.

Children will be able to access their classroom through a web browser or through the free app.

https://classroom.google.com

Year 6 are already using their new Google Classroom and some of the children are in and completing the tasks set by Mrs. Casey. We now have children joining other classes and we are really pleased to get this new exciting system working and rolling it out across the school.

You should now have received an email with the login details for your child. Please check your emails, download the app or use a web browser and encourage your child to engage with the tasks set by the teachers.

IF YOU CANNOT FIND THE EMAIL THEN PLEASE GET IN TOUCH ASAP SO WE CAN GET YOU INTO THE CLASSROOM.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mr. Sharp

p.s. Don’t stop sending us other things the children are doing through the class pages and Twitter.

🌈 Excellent Guide to Learning at Home

Consistent routines can be a struggle at home with changes to our home working and schooling. Routines support behaviour and wellbeing. You will be finding a...

Sir Linkalot App

Click the image to go to the website.

Sir Linkalot Resource on the class pages.

Wednesday 22nd April 2020

This is a free to use award-winning spelling app for common exception words that we are trialling for our children during the school closure period.

Sir Linkalot helps with the spelling of tricky common exception words, all the way from was, two and they up to accommodation, manoeuvre and even onomatopoeia! It is reported that the app is achieving incredible results, especially for those children who Eind spelling an issue and we would like to put that to the test.

Sir Linkalot has kindly giving all parents and schools free access to his resources during lockdown to enable children of all ages, 4 years old upwards, to have Sir Linkalot Time at home.

There will be a midweek 30 min show online, starting this Thursday (23rd April 2020) at 2 o'clock, on Sir Linkalot's Facebook page and Youtube channel.

Each word bundle has two forms of testing so the children can challenge themselves and other family members as they can use the code too.

It is reported that there is a small problem with android devices at the moment but once you have downloaded the Sir Linkalot app from the App Store all you have to do is tap on the log icon at the top right of the screen and enter the word 'Free' is both the username and password.

Your child(ren) should find a bundle of words that they feel comfortable with, tap on it and they can then start using the resources.

You can also view Sir Linkalot resources on a laptop or PC. Type in the browser, not a search engine, app.sirlinkalot.org and follow the log in instructions like you would do with the app.

Kind regards

Miss Caveney

♻️ Biffa Recycling Workshop

An online workshop from Biffa who came and did a workshop with the Urban Crew last term.

This video is a chance to do our recycling workshops from home! Learn about how to recycle properly in Manchester and why it's really important. To understan...

⚽️ City in the Community Activity Cards

Click on the images to see this week’s activity cards from Manchester City

FSM Voucher Update

We wanted to provide you all with an update on FSM vouchers as we know that many families have not received the eCodes that were ordered for them.

The main difficulty we are facing is that Edenred, the company commissioned by the government to run the scheme, has struggled with demand both from schools ordering codes and parents redeeming them for gift cards. As a result there have been thousands of codes delayed in being activated, sent out to parents and then redeemed. As I write now both schools and parents are put into a queue system of up to an hour. We did manage to access the site at 6.20am this morning but within working hours it is still very challenging and frustrating to get anything actioned. The links below show the scale of the national challenge.

Click the images below to read more.

The other difficulty is that some family contact details in school are not up to date or incorrect. If the email address we hold in school is not accurate or no longer used then it isn’t possible to get the eCode to you. Please keep rechecking junk and spam folders just in case they don’t go to your inbox.

If you have not yet received any emails from school or Edenred then please email school so that we can capture your correct details and reorder vouchers for you.

The final query from families is: Who is eligible for the vouchers?. They are only for children from Reception to Year 6 who are entitled to Free School Meals because they are in need of financial support and receive some form of benefits/tax credits etc. Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 all get universal free school meals when in school normally but the voucher scheme is only for those entitled through their household income.

There are other categories that have recently been added and they are:

• Children whose parents are Zambrano Carers;

• Children in families with LtR subject to NRPF restriction;

• Children whose families receive support pursuant to section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who have no recourse to public funds;

• and Children in failed seeker families receiving section 4 support.

If you believe you are in any of these categories then please email school.

Please be assured that we are working very hard each day to try and resolve difficulties with this temporary system and we share your frustrations. If you are in any doubt about whether you should be receiving the vouchers then please email us as we want everyone to be in the best position possible in this difficult time.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.