Newsletters

Belmont School 4th February 2022 Newsletter

Global Goal 4 – Quality Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have had an amazing start to 2022 and cannot believe that it will be half-term soon (see diary dates below)!

We are looking forward to seeing you all virtually, as we will be hosting online parent consultations next week on Monday 7th and Wednesday 10th February. Links to the meeting will be sent on Monday morning, please make sure you have all booked. 

A reminder that next week will the final deadline for pupils to submit home learning. All pupils must complete the tasks by Friday 11th February 2021.

All pupils are expected to do the following weekly set task alongside:

  • Daily reading—The expectation is that your child will read daily for a minimum of 20 minutes at home.
  • Weekly maths – Continue to use Numbots/Timetable Rock Stars weekly.  
  • Weekly Spellings - children are to practice the spelling rule, understand the meaning of the word and use its context.

We would like to thank all those parents who have attended the virtual parents meetings on using the Reading Planet platforms. We have already seen pupils making significant progress with reading and show enjoyment of using the platform.  We know that there has been some issues with assigning books, and we are working with Rising Stars to make the experience better - thank you all for your feedback. 

We are also excited to announce that we have two spaces for Parent Governor vacancies. You will be joining a dynamic team and have a direct role in delivering strategic direction by:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.

2. Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the performance management of staff.

3. Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

To ensure the governing body has a broad skill set, it would benefit from a new governor with some legal or financial experience, or a background in education, or some experience of working in the public sector. The governing body, however, encourages any parent interested in being appointed to complete the nomination form. If you are interested or would like further information, please contact the clerk to the Governing Body, Sarah Wildman via office@belmont.harrow.sch.uk. 

Next week will be Children's Mental Health Week and on Tuesday 8th February is 'Safer Internet Day'. Pupils will be focussing on how they can keep themselves safe online, and we will be sending out further information for parents to improve your knowledge of how you can ensure that your children are safe when using technology - watch this space. For immediate tips, please click on our 'Online Safety' page on our website. 

We have sent out various letters to inform you that we have seen a significant increase of pupils and staff testing positive for COVID-19. Please ensure that you read the letters and follow the Public Health guidance. We are continuing high levels of cleaning throughout the day, as well as maintaining strict hand hygiene practices. If your child is unwell, please book a PCR test immediately and contact the school to inform us. We will work with you to ensure that safety for all. Do continue to wear face coverings whilst on our school site, unless you are exempt. 

Final reminder that all school run clubs will not be running next week. 

We hope you enjoy your weekend.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs P Aggarwall

Headteacher (Acting)

Vacancies for Parent Governors

Dear Parents/Carers

The governing body is responsible for the monitoring of the school’s performance and the promotion of high standards. It carries out its role by setting the vision for the school and then ensuring that the school works efficiently and effectively towards achieving its vision. It does this by building a thorough knowledge of the school and its community, by both supporting and constructively challenging the school, and by ensuring accountability and compliance.

Two vacancies exist for two parent governors on our governing body. Governors need not be experts in the field of education. What they do need is an interest in the school and in the welfare of the children, and the time and willingness to get involved.

Governors also need to be able to build relationships with a range of people, to work as part of a team and to be able to question and to make connections between different types of information.

All governors are expected to be fully literate and be able to read and assimilate straightforward budget reports and data on school standards. In addition, your particular skills and interests may mean you take on specific responsibilities on behalf of the governing body.

Our governing body expects governors to:

  • Attend one-two termly evening meetings of the full governing body
  • Commit to attend training courses, including within 6 months of appointment attending a ‘new governor’s training course’
  • Commit to reading material distributed to governors in preparation for governor meetings
  • Visit the school formally during the day for monitoring purposes at least 3 times a year
  • Visit the school informally during the day at least once a year

The governing body commits to providing a structured induction, access to quality training via SS4E Harrow Support Services for Education online portal, and support to all new governors.

To ensure the governing body has a broad skill set, it would benefit from a new governor with some legal or financial experience, or a background in education, or some experience of working in the public sector. The governing body, however, encourages any parent interested in being appointed to complete the nomination form.

The Candidate must be seen by myself or a nominated deputy.  You will also be expected, on appointment, to take part in a training session relating to Governors and Schools.

If you are interested in serving on the governing body, please return the attached nomination form (including a named proposer and seconder) to the school office, with a typed statement about yourself, including skills that you could bring to the governing body (in no more than 150 words), by 11th February 2022.

If there are more than two nominations, an election will be held on-line. The school will produce all applicants’ statements which can be read by to parents to assist them in casting their votes If the votes cast are still equal, the outcome will be decided by the agreed method. The results of the elections will be notified to parents in writing.

Yours sincerely

Manji Kara

Chair of Governors

Belmont School

Dear Parents/ Carers,

To celebrate the end of Children’s Mental Health Week, Belmont staff and children have been asked to join in with ‘Dress to Express Day’.

Children are invited to let their imagination’s run free on Friday 11th February, to show off their unique thoughts and feelings through how they dress.

They could dress as:

  • Their favourite colours and feelings
  • Their favourite clothes
  • Something they want to be when they’re older
  • Something that shows they’re favourite things.
  • Or something completely different…

Voluntary donations will be taken at the gates in the morning and after school, to raise money for the cause. So let’s Dress To express on 11th February!

 Have a lovely weekend,

Mr Brett - 2 Sea Class Teacher

Attendance

School attendance is mandatory for all pupils.

If your child is ill, please notify the school office on 0208 427 0903.

If you or your child develop any signs of a continuous cough, high temperature and loss of taste or smell, book a PCR test immediately and let the school know as soon as you have been given the results - DO not send your child to school.

Punctuality

All pupils must in school and collected at their designated time:

 

Start Time:

Finish Time

Year 6

8.30am

3.00pm

Year 5

8.30am

3.05pm

Year 4

8.35am

3.05pm

Year 3

8.35am

3.05pm

Year 2

8.40am

3.15pm

Year 1

8.40am

3.15pm

Reception

8.50am

3.15pm

Nursery am

8.50am

11.50am

Nursery pm

12.15pm

3.15pm

It is important that your child starts school with their peers as this will help them to get ready for the amazing learning planned. It is your responsibility to ensure that your child is in school at their designated times. Repeated lateness means that your child is losing out on valuable learning, therefore the school’s safeguarding procedures will be followed and referrals will be made to external agencies where necessary.

Pupils who are not collected at the designated times at the end of the day will be escorted to the afterschool club (ACE) which will result in a charge for this service for parents.

 

Online Learning Expectations and Support 

We continue to set online weekly home learning online via 'Microsoft My Teams'. Staff will review what has been completed and leave feedback on the pupil’s page.

We are digitising the way the school operates, this means you will have access to all of the pupils daily learning so that pupils can review what they have learnt during the school day at home.

Please focus on reading with your child every day for at least 20 minutes, help them to learn their times tables and spellings and talk to them about their learning in school.

If you need help or support with online home learning, Mr Baig, our Computing Technician will be available to support you every morning from 8.30am to 9am. You will need to complete the following form to let us know what you need help with:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_V8ndTzT4UCYwoCKGgyMk4jHI5EEwytEqwJbw1OWdthUM0xGV0RaTk1YNVc1MlBLTDlDMFczQ04yMyQlQCN0PWcu

 

The Latest Government, NHS and Public Health England Advice:

Here are links to help you find the latest government advice in relation to COVID-19:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-abroad-from-england-during-coronavirus-covid-19 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england

Activity Centre for Excellence (ACE) Breakfast Club and After school Club

We are pleased to announce the return of Activity Centres of Excellence who provide our wraparound provision for pupils in Reception to Year 6.

If you would like to make regular bookings, please contact Mr Floyd Bennett by phone or email — 07947 682787 or info@activitycentresofexcellence.co.uk. 

Uniform Reminders

As mentioned in the final letter before the summer break, we have decided to keep the rules on wearing PE kit on PE days and wearing trainers the same. However, please read the changes below very carefully as we want to maintain the high standards that Belmont has:

1. All children will be allowed to wear black shoes or black trainers. The black trainers must have no

White/coloured soles or laces. If there are logos, these must be black (see pictures below):

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSCEPqzaQMIGZHyx6XorNbbxpFZcQBqgWTCD9gOk8HwMFx_lIy99nQJFQCk_l6cBWI5N-5AXHPE&usqp=CAc

2. The PE kit worn into school must be as follows:

  • Black or white trainers with plain laces. (No brightly coloured trainers please)
  • Black/Grey PE shorts, jogging bottoms (when it gets colder) or skorts – with no logo.
  • Plain white T-shirt or polo shirt (with no logo)
  • Pupils wear their purple school sweatshirt.

Please note that children should not be wearing any branded clothing and must only wear what is stated above.

Children in Year 6 will be expected to wear a school tie that can be bought from Teeny Wear in Harrow Weald. They must come to school wearing it on the first day back.

Long hair must be tied up. Hair accessories are not allowed and hijabs worn must be white.

We will be monitoring pupils’ presentation and expect all children to be wearing the correct uniform from the first day of school.

Ordering Hot School Lunches

All hot lunch bookings must be made online. 

Please order your child's hot meals for next week via the ParentPay website - www.parentpay.com.  This is for ALL pupils including Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils. 

All meals will need to be ordered in advance and the menu can be found on the website. 

If you need any help, please contact the school office on 0208 427 0903.

Health & Safety and general reminders - 04/02/21

To ensure that we are following safeguarding measures, we ask you to continue to help us by:

  • Only ONE parent to drop off and collect pupils to the teachers at the allocated times. If you have children in other year groups, you will only be allowed in school at the correct times – Please note - No parents will be allowed to wait on the school site.
  • Ensuring that you spread out and maintain a safe social distance from others when waiting to come on site – Keep your distance.
  • Do not gather in groups outside of the school gates and leave site as soon as possible – Keep your distance.
  • Wear a face covering when dropping off and collecting pupils and do let us know if you are exempt.
  • Wash your hands regularly.

No parents may come into building without an appointment.  All communication must be by email, website or telephone.  We must maintain social distancing and strict timings

Safeguarding remains ‘EVERYONE’S BUSINESS AT BELMONT SCHOOL.’

Harrow Children Services’ Golden Number is available to everyone, and gives people one number to call for information or advice on services for children, young people and their families.

Golden Number: 020 8901 2690.

A person points to themselves within a circle of black dots.

UNCRC Article 19
I have the right to be protected from being hurt or badly treated

Children's Mental Health Week - Growing Together
0:00am – 11:00pm
From 07 Feb until 11 Feb
07
February
Safer Internet Day
0:00am – 0:00am
08
February
Dress to Impress - Children's Mental Health Week - Non uniform Day
8:00am – 4:00pm
11
February
Half Term Holiday
0:00am – 11:00pm
From 14 Feb until 18 Feb
14
February
First Day Back For Pupils
0:00am – 11:00pm
21
February