Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Thursday 28th May

  Thu 28 May 2020
  Good afternoon to all Parents and Carers :)

  I hope that you are all enjoying the gorgeous weather?? Don't forget your sun cream. Charlotte had hers on yesterday and still got a little burned. !!

  I have been working with the LA and Head Teacher colleagues until about ten minutes ago on opening schools to more children. When I was listening to my friends I was surprised at our different circumstances but proud of the determination to bring children back as soon as possible, safely and well. 

  Some schools are in areas of high infection still. Two schools have had gas leaks. At St. Margaret's I predict that up to a quarter of staff may not be able to return yet because of underlying health conditions., or the health conditions of people in their household. Every single member of staff has expressed that they WANT to be in school and that they/I,  miss your children very very much.

  I am going to listen to the PM announcement later and then, depending on what he says, send a letter out to parents of Y6 children initially, tomorrow. Other year groups will follow. I am working with the Governors and staff on which year groups this will be. I know that you will continue to support the decisions school makes. You have been utterly amazing. Thank you so much.

  Mrs. Perry

• Tuesday 26th May

  Tue 26 May 2020

  Hello to all Parents and Carers

  I hope that you are enjoying the day?? If you read the Bury Times today you will see an article that I was asked to provide by one of their journalists. The issue of safety in schools is clearly at the forefront of the mind of the Press, which I think is good.

  I am trying to turn my head to the matter of opening St. Margaret's to more children. This will begin with the children of Key Workers from June 1st. As parents return to work, I realise that more places will be needed for your children. Therefore, please can you contact school by email to stmargarets@bury.gov.uk  if you need a place for your child(ren). I know that some of you have already done this. Please would you mind confirming the days you need so that we can plan ahead.

  School is also planning to re-open for more children, starting with Year 6. There are certain safety measures that must be in place before this is safe enough and the fact is that they are not in place yet. School will keep in touch on a daily basis as it has been doing so that you know what is happening. Please be re-assured that school will open as soon as possible for more children, but it must be done safely and well

  Mrs. Perry

• Monday 25/05/20

  Mon 25 May 2020
  Hello to all St. Margaret's Parents and Carers
  
  I hope that you have had a lovely Bank Holiday Monday. The weather has been utterly gorgeous where I am and I have been out in the garden trying to cut things back so my little sunflowers can grow.
  
  I want to tell you that, following on from the piece on Wednesday night, on National TV, I have been contacted by the Bury Times and have been asked to comment  on Bury Schools re-opening on June 1st. I have given an honest response. It will be in the Press tomorrow I have been told. Having never dealt with the media before, I have to admit to you that I have found this last week very stressful and that I have been distracted constantly from my most important purpose: the safety of your children and their return to school as safely and as soon as possible. I have responded because as you know I am the the Chairperson of the Bury Association for Primary Heads. I respond on behalf of my colleagues and I believe that we can shape the future together.
  
  I am working very hard with staff and Governors to complete risk assessments and to put them into place, so that our children can return as soon as possible.
  
  You know that I will keep you up to date with school's thoughts about returning to school. The health and well-being of your children is the most important issue for me.
  
  Keep safe and happy.
  
  Mrs. Perry :)
   

• Friday 22 May 20

  Fri 22 May 2020
  Hello to all our Parents and Carers

  School continues to plan for the return of your children as soon as possible but safely. This is our Government Guideline. Five conditions need to be met before this can take place and in Bury, these are not met yet. Thank you for your overwhelming support during this very difficult time.

  There is a huge amount to consider and plan for as you can appreciate.

  School is now looking again at bringing back Year 6 first. As soon as I have any more details I will let you know. 

  School is working with Governors to produce a comprehensive Risk Assessment to protect all your children. This will be shared with you when it is completed. Obviously, any Risk Assessments will change often as school responds to this ongoing situation.

  My Charlotte has an interesting situation in her school. Her school  is re-opening next week. There are no teachers there as they all left before China went into total lockdown. Beijing is not allowing English staff back into the country and most of the pupils are still in their homes all around the world. 

  In June Charlotte will be Zooming karate sessions to her children at 6am due to the time difference. Let's hope she does it quietly!!

  Fortunately at St. Margaret's we have staff who can't wait to see your children asap.

  I will continue to do my utmost to keep you up to date with the constant changes.

  Thank you for your patience !!

  Mrs. Perry

• Evening update Wednesday 20th May

  Wed 20 May 2020
  Good evening to all St. Margaret's Parents and Carers
  
  I arrived at school today with a list of jobs to do. I was happy because I was meeting with staff and Governors to, over time, bring children and staff back into our building more safely, to not set a definitive date, but rather a set of criteria that we would look to, before children could come back in, in  increased numbers,
  
  At 11.40am I was contacted by Bury Council and asked to  welcome the BBC Education Correspondent into St. Margaret's.
  
  Bearing in mind that I I had not been asked to do anything like this  before, I was slightly perturbed (as you can imagine!)
  
  I very soon came to the conclusion that the BBC could not have a better place to start, than our wonderful school and so I welcomed them and they were lovely.
  
  If you have seen the provision that will be on offer in school,  (On National TV at 6pm today and will be repeated in the 10pm news) I think you will be shocked at the changes that need to take place. I am so sorry.
  
  I continue to work with Bury LA on your behalf. All the staff at St. Margaret's and indeed across the borough, want our children in school as soon as safely possible. The key is... SAFETY. Thank you for your lovely messages of support. They are a source of inspiration at the moment.
  
  Mrs. Perry.
  
  Lots of love to you all.
  
   

• Wednesday 20th March

  Wed 20 May 2020

  Good afternoon everyone

  I had a visit today from the BBC Education Correspondent and her camera team.

  I was happy with what I said and I put forward the BAPH perspective as well as I could. The piece will be on tonight's news at 6pm. I just hope that what goes out reflects what I wanted to get across.

  Mrs Perry

• Tuesday 19th May

  Tue 19 May 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers

  I hope you have had a lovely day. I have watered the spider plants I potted for all your classes and they are really coming on. I re-potted some of the sunflowers over the weekend, but I broke the roots of one and unfortunately it has wilted so I will need to be more careful next time :(

  We have had tears in our house today. My daughter Charlotte has finally been told that she cannot return to China where she has been teaching Y1 in the British School in Beijing. The problem is that all her belongings are still there. 

  So at 4am this morning she was in contact with her class teaching assistant who has been so kindly packing her things ready for shipment home. In China, you can just buy a scooter and ride off on it. She has two that she uses to get to school. (Beware all other road users!!) When I was listening to her conversation, she was telling Yidan how to get the scooters up the stairs. (What?)

  Anyway, it seems to be all finished.... hence the tears.

  I hope you all have a lovely evening.

  Keep safe and well

  I hope we will all be back together safe and sound as soon as we can

  Mrs. Perry

• Monday 18th May

  Mon 18 May 2020

  Good afternoon Parents, Carers and Staff

  I am attaching a letter from Tariq Tamoor, the Leader of Bury Council. Bury Cabinet has today, decided that schools will not open on the 1st June for any pupils (Reception, Year 1 nor Year 6) as the overarching feeling that it is unsafe and therefore, wrong to do so. 

  The date for re-opening is now unsure. We await safer scientific evidence and future advice.

  The announcement was unexpected for me as head and it will be for you as parents. However, I agree that it is unsafe to open school too soon. I do not know  when the next proposed date will be.

  Keep safe and well.

  Mrs. Perry xx 

   

  To: All maintained schools and Academies - To Head Teachers (copied to Chairs of Governors)

   

  Colleagues

   

  An Important message from the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Schools & Families

   

  Dear Head Teacher,

   

  Covid-19 and the Bury Education Service

   

  I am writing to you, firstly to place on the public record my sincere thanks and those of our council for your unswerving professionalism and for the dedication of your staff during what is an unprecedented time in the life of Bury, whilst we get to grips with the biggest public health crisis our country has ever seen. 

   

  Secondly, I want to set out the concerns we have regarding the proposed extensions to the current opening arrangements as proposed by central government.

   

  The third matter, and one which is of the utmost gravity is to announce I have approval from Bury Council’s Cabinet to not support the government guidance regarding the progressive extension of schools re-opening to more pupils from 1st June 2020.

   

  I set out below the main themes of my argument;

  
  From the detailed discussions I have had with the DCS, Karen Dolton, and the Interim Director of Education and Inclusion, Julien Kramer, I have become very clear that there is an unacceptable risk to our pupils, our staff and to the communities of vulnerable people in Bury, if we were to extend the opening of our schools from 1st June as central government had proposed. 

   

  The North West region and Bury face persistently high levels of new infection, and a significant level of deaths through Covid-19 infection: and we have very high levels of vulnerable individuals within our communities. There are in addition real concerns regarding, Covid-19 testing, availability of PPE, limitations on the proposed Track and Trace, and real concerns regarding the inconsistent level of central government support for our recovery.

  ​

  As the lead Member for Children's Services Schools and Families, I feel the heavy responsibility of protecting our education communities; and the wider community. I therefore have approval from Bury Council’s Cabinet to not open schools to a wider intake of pupils from 1^st June. I further intend, to lobby our case for a delayed, and more planned restart, with central government through the Secretary of State for Education. We will commit to regularly review this decision if there is clear evidence to suggest any changes around Covid-19 infection rates or if the government brings forward different direction or guidance than it has done currently affecting education. 

  
  ​I have only praise for the superb professionalism and determination of our Heads, and our staff in Bury schools. Through the daily briefings and from conversations with heads and staff it is clear how resilient the education service is, and how determined colleagues have been to protect the most vulnerable. I thank them for their brave work.

   

  But I must recognise, both the high level of uncertainty regarding persistent high levels of Covid-19 infection in the North West; and the widespread anxiety which government proposals have created; across our education service, among parents and carers; and in the communities we serve here in Bury. In the last week the public view and the views of parents and carers around the re-opening of schools has been quite clear. I know some of our schools have directly consulted with parents to ask if they intend to send their children into school in line with the governments timescales, and overwhelmingly the response has been NO.

   

  The decision to ask Early Years Children to be amongst the first back into the school was ill thought out and most definitely ill judged. Pupils of that age, would not adhere to or understand social distancing and this would place greater pressure on our teaching staff. 

   

  Moreover there are clear significant implications including, the impact for our SEN children, school staff that are shielding, the lack of physical space in some schools and the fact next to no PPE has been offered for our School staff.  We must learn the lessons from recent weeks where significant number of health and social care staff were put at risk without PPE. 

   

  I have had detailed engagement with Heads, parents, carers and professional associations/unions; and I have listened carefully to their expressions of doubt, and their misgivings.

    

  The latest government announcement by the Prime Minister, together with an unfortunately timed and poorly judged Ministerial letter, have created yet further uncertainty and some dismay.

   

  As the Lead Member for Education I have had valuable advice from, and discussions with the Bury Heads Advisory Group. I have also had numerous representations from parents and local groups; unions and the professional associations. All are saying to me, the present risk is too great. 

   

  Bury Council believe passionately that each child in our Borough should have access to education, we are also conscious of the fact that there will be gaps around the teaching and learning of disadvantaged pupils.  However we will continue to work with you as our head teachers in helping to bridge and repair this gap at the earliest opportunity.  Moreover at this stage our decision making and priority has been based on the clear concerns that have been raised from the teaching profession, parents and carers and teaching unions and the risk that is placed on all if schools were to reopen on 1 June.

   

  The cabinet recognises that this decision will necessitate a clarity around safeguarding procedures aligned to the latest government advice. We will continue with our safeguarding plans which have been in place through the period of lockdown and ensure through this next stage of the Summer Term we keep up the engagement with schools. We are clear that vulnerable children and children of key workers should continue with school provision as they have been doing over recent weeks.  

   

  I recognise the Cabinet's heavy duty in making this decision to not further open schools from 1^st June; and I am clear that there are wider health and safety issues which government must address, before we risk returning more children to our schools. Subject to your advice to me, I intend to write to the Secretary of State for Education, citing the persistently high levels of infection in the North West region, the lack of PPE, the very slow progress in setting up Track and Trace, and the confused government approach to resourcing our recovery. I will urge him to reflect on the importance of local evidence, the local scientific advice, and the national opinion of the British Medical Association in proposing decisions which could have a dramatic impact on our lives here in Bury.

   

  In conclusion I thank you for your outstanding contribution and leadership to teaching and learning within our borough during this pandemic. It is abundantly clear that you have more than risen to the challenge. I share my gratitude and thanks to you our Head teachers and all of your staff for the flexibility, resilience, and your determination to protect the health and safety of our schools communities at this time.  

   

  Once again Bury has shown the strength of our Education Service, through the strong family of schools, including our local authority maintained schools, our faiths schools and our academy trusts. 

   

  Looking ahead, the Local Authority advice that you have been receiving on a daily basis will continue, and we will of course keep dialogue open with you around risk assessments, and your individual plans for the eventual opening of schools whenever that may be. 

   

  Please forward this letter to the parents and carers in your school, your staff team and your governing bodies. 

   

  More than ever, feedback is appreciated at this unprecedented time. 

   

  Yours faithfully,

   

  Councillor Tamoor Tariq

  Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Schools and Families

   

  Copy to           Vicky Beer, Department for Education

  Deborah Smith, Diocese of Manchester 

                          Simon Smith, Diocese of Salford

   

   

   

• Sunday 17th May

  Sun 17 May 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers

  I hope you have all had a good weekend? As you can imagine, I have been giving significant thought to how to safely re-open school  for the Year 6, Reception and Year 1 parents who want their child to return before September.

  I am currently working closely with Year  6 parents and carers and sharing the 'detail' with them. Once this has happened then I will turn to Reception and Year 1. I know that you have lots of questions, but just for now I may not be able to answer them all  on a daily basis as I have been doing for the last two months. I will return to answering you when I can.

  I do miss your pictures though :)

  At home all my flowers are beginning to grow - slowly and some not at all :((

  The fish are doing ok tho:))

  Lots of love to you in these very difficult times.

  Mrs. Perry. 

  Am off to watch Waterloo Road - what happened to Miss Mason after the building fell on her? Most of you are too young to know!!. 

• Fri 15th May

  Fri 15 May 2020

  Hi to all Parents and Carers

  Tonight I have sent you a long email. I have thought long and hard about what to say. In this letter I am beginning to outline to you the provision I think school can safely make to re-open school for your child. 

  I know that you will not all be happy with the school's offer. However, this offer is being made with all our welfare in mind.

  I will be in touch again very soon.

  Mrs. Perry. 

  God Bless.

   

   

   

   

   

  15^th May 2020

   

  Dear St Margaret’s Parents and Carers,

   

  Apologies for this lengthy letter. This is the most difficult letter I have ever had to write to parents and yet it is the most important for all our well-being.  It has been eight weeks since the announcement was made that schools across the United Kingdom would be closed for the majority of pupils. Staff have continued to work throughout this period, providing home learning opportunities and support; along with communication links with parents and children.

   

  We miss our St Margaret’s family immensely. We are looking forward to the day that we can be all back together. But your safety and that of our staff team is the utmost priority.

   

  As you will be aware, the Prime Minister announced on Sunday 10^th May that primary schools in England may begin to open in a limited capacity from June 1^st for pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.

   

  A 50-page Government document and publications from the Department for Education was made available from Monday and continue to be developed on a daily basis. We are looking closely at these documents, digesting the content and communicating with Bury Local Authority on a daily basis in order to begin to consider the options available to us. Any proposals will have huge implications for us all as parents, employees and employers and it will not meet the needs of every household. What will underpin any decision made, is the safety and well-being of our pupils, staff and community.

   

  It is important that school shares with you our initial thoughts on how to move forward.

   

  Firstly, these are some of the headlines from Sunday and Monday’s Government announcements:

  • Schools may begin to reopen from 1^st June for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 in limited numbers, if the conditions are right and the ‘R’ remains below 1.
  • The aim is for all primary pupils to spend a month in school before the summer break – this being kept under review.
  • Childcare provision will still be made available for children of key workers as currently permitted.
  • Children will be in smaller groups / classes of 15 pupils, maximum. Children should stay within their new group. At St. Margaret’s the number will be 8 as a maximum due to the size of the rooms available.
  • It is important that contact between children and staff is reduced as far as possible. This means that staff will not work with children in the usual and casual way.
  • Where settings can keep children and young people in small groups 2 metres away from each other, they should do so.
  • Outdoor space to be utilised where possible. Any equipment used will need to be cleaned after each use. This will clearly be weather dependent.

   

  In reality, this is what we face at St Margaret’s:

  • Each Key Stage 2 classroom made available for Year 6 can fit 8 pupils in, with social distancing (2m) in place as much as possible and one member of staff.
  • There are 105 pupils in R, 1 and 6. Each year group requires 4 rooms. We have 8 classrooms in school – the maths demonstrates that we cannot host all the identified year groups in school at the same time.
  • Add to 105 pupils, the number of keyworker children that would be in school for childcare. At least one other classroom will be needed to host them.
  • A number of staff are classified as vulnerable and will not be able to return to work.
  • Children will not have the same member of staff every day and it will not be your child’s usual class teacher who teaches them.
  • We do not yet know the plans for the kitchens to open to provide meals for your child.
  • School does not yet know what plans are made by Bury Cleaning Services to ensure that the building is suitably cleaned at the end of each day. I know my team are very dedicated and they will try their very best, with the deeper cleaning of rooms.
  • The school is being asked to provide three functions simultaneously: Childcare for keyworker children, education in school for some year groups and provide / support home learning for those pupils not in school. I think you would agree this is a challenge if not impossible.

   

  We simply do not have the staffing and space available to provide all the above safely and effectively at the same time.

   

  It is important for you to be aware that:

  • Even if your child is in the identified year groups set by the Government they will not be starting back at school on June 1^st. In the week beginning 1.6.2020 staff will be in school being trained in our systems to keep your child safe and defining our curriculum offer.
  • Pupils may not be returning to school for the full day or full week or for the full half term.
  • There may need to be time allocated within the week for deeper cleaning of rooms and equipment.
  • Drop off and collection times will be staggered to support social distancing measures. We will ensure that siblings are assigned the same times. Social distancing measures will need to be in place for drop off and collection times.
  • There will be no provision of childcare or supervision before 9am or after 3.30pm.
  • Children will work in groups. They may not be with their chosen friend although we will try our best to arrange this.
  • Once children are assigned to their groups and rooms, they will have to stay in their groups, in an allocated seat in the same room throughout these measures, including over lunchtimes.  
  • The Government have accepted that social distance measures (2 metre distancing) cannot be achieved throughout the school and at all times of the day; particularly with our little ones – we are dealing with children after all. As head teacher, I am being honest when I say that under these circumstances I cannot guarantee social distancing will be observed and therefore I cannot guarantee your child’s safety. Our Governing Body is considering its response on this very issue.
  • There will be reduced equipment available for Early Years children to play and learn with, in order to comply with safety and cleaning guidelines. There will not be free flow continuous provision – Early Years pupils may be assigned an area and equipment each day, in order to manage regular cleaning and minimise cross contamination. Your child will not return to the provision they are used to. (Sorry to say)
  • We will not be returning to a school timetable, curriculum or teaching style that was in place prior to school closure.
  • A return to school in any form will result in changes to the current arrangements for home learning, because all staff will be in school.
  • If you would like your child to wear a face covering in the classroom or around the school environment, it would be worth them starting to wear and get used to it now, around their home and out on their daily exercise. Children must be able to independently put their face covering on and we cannot enforce this in school. Face coverings have not been deemed as compulsory or a requirement for staff or children by the Government, but staff or children may choose to wear it.
  • Any outbreak of COVID-19 in school will result in school closure for at least two weeks

   

  Therefore, I am asking for your help in the following ways:

  • Please do not make plans based upon children in YR, Y1 and Y6 returning to school, fulltime on the 1^st June. This is not going to happen. The earliest return for Year 6 will be the 8^th June. More details will follow specific to Year 6 as soon as possible.
  • Give school the time needed to devise an approved plan and risk assessments based upon DFE, Public Health England, Health and Safety, Local Authority and Teaching Union guidance. You will be updated as often as possible.
  • Thank you for supporting the decisions made by the school, in order to manage the safety of pupils and staff during this pandemic. Planning and risk assessments have the absolute priority of keeping everyone safe and complying with our duties as an employer for our workplace.

   

  In order for school to start our planning and risk assessment process, we would like to know if you would be intending or considering whether to send your child in to school, if it was open to do so before the summer break.  We will begin with, Year 6 then Reception and Year 1. This will allow us to know provisional numbers and inform our plans. Please send your message to stmargarets@bury.gov.uk. This is not formally committing your child’s attendance. If we do not receive a message regarding your child, we will consider this as an indication of not returning before the start of the new academic year. If we are in a position to expand opening to pupils in other year groups, we will gather this information at that point in time.

   

  The decision as to whether your child returns to school lies with you as parents. It is a decision that many of our staff are having to make about their children too.

  Please continue to take care. We are missing you all dearly and look forward to seeing you during safer times. To re-iterate, this is most difficult, yet most important message, I have ever sent to my parents in my whole career at St. Margaret’s.

   

  Yours sincerely,

   

  Mrs. Perry – Head Teacher since September 2004

  Mr. A. Longworth – Deputy Head Teacher

  Mrs. Louisa Murphy – Chair of Governors