Latest News

Remote Learning Monday 21st December 2021

Fri 17 Dec 2021

To keep everyone safe remote work will be provided Monday morning. Children will not be on the school premises.

Thank you.

Covid

Fri 17 Dec 2021

December 2021

Dear Parents/Carers,

Covid- 19 testing for primary aged pupils who do not have symptoms (asymptomatic)

I am writing to you as your local Director of Public Health to thank all of you who followed my advice and took a PCR test before your child returned to school after the October half term holiday. This made a really importantan important contribution in helping keep schools safe and protecting the wider community.

I am now encouraging all pupils who are attending primary school after Christmas to get a test before they come back to school in January 2022. These tests will help to reduce the risk of people without symptoms spreading the virus to others in the school and in their community.

I strongly encourage anyone they live with to get a test also to make sure that anyone who may be infectious does not come to school with the virus and potentially start an outbreak.

If possible, please take your child for a PCR test a few days before the start of term, in time to get the results back before your child goes back to school. The PCR test is the most sensitive and reliable test.

If you can’t take a PCR test, please take a lateral flow home test if your child is in Y1 to Y6.

Home tests are not for children in Nursery and Reception – they need to be taken to a test centre.

The useful questions attached tell you how to book a PCR test, where to collect lateral flow home tests, and what to do if your child is in Nursery or Reception.

As the weather is now colder, we are also seeing more colds, flu and sickness bugs. The best way we can stop the spread is by regularly washing our hands. Please encourage your family to continue to keep hands clean to avoid the spread of infection.

Thank you for your support during these difficult times. By working together, we have supported schools to keep open and as many children attending as possible. Covid-19 is being spread rapidly by young people so your continued efforts will help us protect those who are vulnerable in Barking and Dagenham.

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Cole

Director of Public Health

Useful Questions and Answers

How do I book a PCR test if I don’t have symptoms?

Go to the government website https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test where you’ll be asked some questions. Select the following options:

NO to essential worker
NO to having symptoms
NO to being part of a trial or pilot

YES - My local council or health protection team has asked me (or someone I live with) to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms

You can book your whole family by choosing ‘add family members’.

I can’t get to a testing centre; can we get tested at home?

Yes, you can ask to receive your test by post. When you are making your booking, answer ‘Yes’ to ‘Is the person who needs a test part of a trial or government pilot project’ and select the option that says ‘The person is taking part in community testing’.

Can I take a Lateral Flow Test at Home?

A second option is to use a lateral flow test at home.  You can pick these up for free from most pharmacies or from:

Barking Learning Centre Town Hall Square, Barking, IG11 7NB – 7 days a week 10.00am to 6.45pm

Dagenham Library, 1 Church Elm Lane, Dagenham, RM10 9QS – 7 days a week 10.00am to 6.45pm

Both sites are closed on 25th and 26th December and New Year’s Day.

You can order test kits to be delivered to your home at this link https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

Home tests are not for children in Nursery and Reception – they need to be taken to a test centre.

My child has tested positive recently, do they need to take another test?

If your child has tested positive with PCR in the last 90 days, they should not be tested using either PCR or rapid lateral flow tests (LFT) for 90 days, as the dead virus may still be in their system; unless they develop new symptoms during this time – in which case they should be retested immediately using PCR.

What if my family is already self-isolating?

If you’ve been asked to self-isolate by the NHS Test and Trace Programme or by our Public Health team you can still get tested by ordering a home testing kit. You still need to complete your period of self-isolation, even if you test negative as symptoms can take 10 days to show.

For the most up to date information please check the government’s website. Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

IMPORTANT: Spring Break Testing & Summer Term Protocols Adjustments

Wed 31 Mar 2021

Dear Parents & Carers, IMPORTANT: Spring Break Testing & Summer Term Protocols Adjustments

Firstly, thank you for continuing to help keep our school and community as safe as possible during these challenging times. We know that Public Health England expect there to be an increase in COVID cases after the spring break because of increased community mixing - this may result in classes closing and remote learning resuming. However, if we follow the Government rules about distancing, mask wearing and mixing, we are optimistic that we will fully re-open on 19th April.

Testing for Pupils who do Not Have Symptoms

PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE ATTACHMENT TO THE EMAIL FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH

If you or your child tests positively with a PCR test from 2nd – 7th April, please ring the school office BETWEEN 3PM & 5PM to report this result.

Y5 & 6 Change of Entry & Exit Times.

It has been acknowledged that our protocols around entry and exit are robust and, in general, Covid rates have significantly reduced, so we are now able to adjust the Y5 & 6 times - from 19th April onwards:

· Y5 will begin the day at 9.00 and finish at 3.10

· Y6 will begin the day at 9.10 and finish at 3.20

This should help families with children in different year groups. It is imperative that your children arrive on time and leave on time to ensure safe transitions with no hold ups, which will cause safety issues. We will be working at capacity and latecomers & late pick-ups will present severe logistical challenges, which will affect everyone.

On entering and exiting, adhere to government social distancing rules – keep your distance from others, masks for adults on entry to school premises compulsory unless medically exempt

- Staff cannot stop to talk to parents dropping off or picking up their children (queries/messages must be dealt with by telephoning the school office)

- ADULTS COLLECTING CHILDREN MUST BE ON THE RECORDED CONTACT LIST – any adult collecting a child who is not Mum/Dad/carer must, on approaching the teacher, call their name, so the teacher can check the list before releasing the child (this adult must bring photo ID for verification)

The start and finish times below are as before except Y5 & 6

YEAR GROUP START DATE ENTER SCHOOL EXIT SCHOOL ENTRY/EXIT POINT

NURSERY AM 19.4.21 8.30 11.30 LEYS AVENUE

NURSERY PM 19.4.21 12.30 3.30 LEYS AVENUE

REC 19.4.21 8.50 3:00 LEYS AVENUE

Y1 19.4.21 8.40 2.50 LEYS AVENUE

Y2 19.4.21 8.50 3.00 WELLINGTON DRIVE (FIELD)

Y3 19.4.21 8.30 2.40 WELLINGTON DRIVE (FIELD)

Y4 19.4.21 8.40 2.50 WELLINGTON DRIVE (FIELD)

Y5 19.4.21 9.00 3.10 WELLINGTON DRIVE (FIELD)

Y6 19.4.21 9.10 3.20 WELLINGTON DRIVE (FIELD)

Book Bags - It is recognised that the reduction of items being brought into school has helped safety. We are aware that some of our temporary book bags are becoming worn – in this instance, we will allow personal bags to be brought in from 19th April but please ensure bags are not over-sized and they contain only: reading books, reading records, basic knowledge wallets, vocabulary books, password & login details & homework.

Have a safe and enjoyable two weeks!

Leys’ Senior Management Team

Is your child due to start school in September 2021?

Tue 23 Mar 2021

Is your child due to start school in September 2021?

If your child was born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017, they can start school in September, and you should have applied for their place by Friday 15 January.

If you missed the memo, don’t panic, there is still time and you can apply by visiting www.lbbd.gov.uk/school-admissions.

It’s important to know that getting your child a place at school is not an automatic process, so you still have to apply, even if they are already at a school nursery or they have a brother or sister at that school.

If you need to apply, head to the school admissions page now.

You can also check out this video to help you through the process.

World Book Day 2021

Wed 03 Mar 2021 Mrs Gough

World Book Day 2021

Children will receive their book tokens, on return to school on

Monday 8th March 2021

World Book Day book tokens will be valid from Thursday 18 February – Sunday 28 March 2021. In 2021 participating booksellers will honour the tokens beyond the 28 March while stocks last.

See link below: https://www.worldbookday.com/ideas/share-a-story/

January 2021 Update

Thu 31 Dec 2020

Dear Parents /Carers

You would have heard by now that primary schools in our Authority will not be opening on 5 January 2021 except for those pupils of Key Workers and those that are vulnerable, as we have been identified from the contingency framework list and will not be able to open fully yet.

The Government classification of Critical Key Workers includes :

Health and social care
Education staff and childcare workers
Key public services - essential to justice system, funeral directors
Local and national government
Food and other necessary goods
Public safety and national security
Transport
Utilities and financial services

If as a parent/Carer your job falls within the critical categories above you should confirm with your employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, your specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service. This is an extensive list and we ask parents and carers to consider very carefully whether they use the educational establishment for on-site provision

Once you have considered this could you please inform the office of your intention to send you child to school on Tuesday 5 January 2021by phoning 02082706470 between 10 am and 2 PM ON MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2021 so that we can plan accordingly.

Pupils on the vulnerable list will be contacted on Monday during the same times to establish if they will be attending.

Additional information will be shared via the school website on Monday afternoon.

Kind regards,

G Krog

Headteacher

SCHOOL CLOSURE 4 JANUARY 2021 AND COVID TESTING UPDATE

Wed 16 Dec 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

RE : SCHOOL CLOSURE 4 JANUARY 2021 AND COVID TESTING UPDATE

You are likely to be aware of the very high rate of covid-19 in Barking and Dagenham. This is having a devastating effect on many schools. Thousands of children and hundreds of staff have been sent home due to increased positive cases. The prediction is that will get worse after Christmas.

In order to counteract this, the Government and Public Health England are introducing an intense testing regime for all primary school staff. This will ensure that the fewest possible positive cases attend school. At the moment, this is impossible to guarantee as 1/3 of cases in adults are asymptomatic and they do not know they have covid.

Therefore, after Christmas, ALL school staff are being tested on Saturday 2nd January. Only those who are negative will be permitted to attend school.

As results will take up to 48 hours to be processed, we have no choice but to be closed to pupils (and staff who have not received their negative test results) on Monday 4th January. This day will give us the opportunity to make appropriate plans going forward.

We recognise that this is another huge inconvenience for parents, but schools all over London and Essex are having to do this to help make schools as safe as possible as we start the new year.

It is also our understanding that future weekly tests of staff will take place during a school day in an attempt to keep schools fully open.

We are aware that Secondary School students will receive a letter requesting that they take a test before returning to school in January and that their younger brothers and sisters are encouraged to do the same;

“To keep schools safe and protect the wider community, all students in years 11, 12 and 13 must get a test between Monday 28 and Thursday 31 December before they return to school. Data has shown that rates amongst this age group are particularly high. Staff in schools are also required to get tested before the new term.

We also strongly encourage students in other year groups and anyone they live with to get a Covid-19 test before students go back to school in January, to make sure that anyone who may be infectious does not return to school with the virus and potentially start an outbreak.

How do I book a test if I don’t have symptoms?

Go to the government website www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test where you’ll be asked some questions. Select the following options:

• NO to essential worker

• NO to having symptoms

• NO to being part of a trial or pilot

• YES - My local council or health protection team has asked me (or someone I live with) to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms

You can book your whole family by choosing ‘add family members’.”

You have all played a part in ensuring that we can continue to deliver face to face teaching at school by wearing masks and attempting to social distance. We have to date, had no teacher/TA/pupil test positive and as such have not had to send bubbles home. As we enter the new year and return on Tuesday 5 January, you are required TO WEAR MASKS (unless medically exempt) AND SOCIAL DISTANCE WHEN ON THE SCHOOL PREMISES.

Thank you, once again, for your understanding and support at this very challenging time for all.

Leys SLT

Re: End of Term Thursday 17th December & Christmas Celebrations

Fri 11 Dec 2020

Re: End of Term Thursday 17^th December & Christmas Celebrations

Following advice from the Government published 8.12.20, and after much consideration, we are writing to inform you that the last day of term will be Thursday the 17^th December (leaving times remain the same for each year group, as they have been since September). Friday will be used for on-line staff training.

‘Public Health England has agreed a 6 day window after the final day of teaching in which schools and further education providers are asked to remain contactable so they can assist with contact tracing where necessary’. Consequently, we are required to report if your child tests positive for Covid 19, between 18th and 23^rd December – if this happens, in the first instance, email the school office with your child’s name, class, date of birth and a screen shot/photo of the test result. If it is not possible to email, call on the above number (BETWEEN 3PM AND 5PM - we will only be accepting calls for positive test reporting). Their class mates’ parents/carers may be informed that they may be required to isolate for 14 days.

We appreciate this announcement comes at short notice and hope it does not cause too much inconvenience.

After a challenging term, as we approach this unique holiday period, we thank you for your support in helping keep our school site safe and for encouraging your children’s engagement.

Given the priority of minimising the risk of Covid transmission we must ask you not to send anything additional into school with your child, including:

cards or presents
food (class parties will still take place and we will ensure they are fun, with a special pantomime included!)

Christmas Jumper Day is Friday 11^th December and Christmas dinner is Wednesday 16^th (when Christmas jumpers can be worn again!).

With adult adherence to government restrictions and the forthcoming vaccinations, we are hoping 2021 celebrations can eventually run as usual!

Thank you for your understanding. Have a peaceful and enjoyable break.

Yours faithfully,

Mr G Krog

Head Teacher

Wellbeing Award

Thu 14 Nov 2019

Young Minds

Wed 30 Oct 2019

Contact Details