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.

 

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

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

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

 

 

 

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!!. 

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

 

 

 

 

Dear Parents and Carers

 

I was in school today and I was so pleased to be able to speak to a number of you in person. This was because you were out for a walk and just passing.  I ran down to the end of the path , so don't worry I was def socially distancing. It was so lovely to see you. I now have someone researching how to grow peas for me and another little guy who wants some of my sunflowers. 

I have been been working really hard today to put a letter together for you all to try to explain the way forward for St. Margaret's. I have to admit that I am finding this to be the most challenging task in my 30 years + of teaching. 

Your class teachers are concerned as are you.  

I will tell you my plans asap and by early next week, so that you can decide what you want to do as parents.

I have already had many parents saying that they are not happy to send their children in to school. They are apologising to me. 

Please DO NOT. I understand. I know that you want to keep your children safe. 

That is what I want too.

Mrs. Perry

:)

Up to date information  tomorrow.

I am in trouble now as Charlotte is making my tea and she is putting it out!!!!

She is putting on Waterloo Road. Yes!!

Hi to all Parents and  Carers

I do hope that you all have had a lovely day. I am very busy following the PM interesting announcement on Sunday. Pleased be re-assured. St. Margaret's will open to children when I am happy that it is safe to do so. Mr. Longworth, Mrs. Barnes and I have been talking about it ALL day !!!!Yes.... ALL day. We found some old chocolates in Mrs. Barnes draw to help us get through. They were a bit mouldy but Mr. Longworth ate them any way. (Don't tell him I told you though;)

He also has a constant stash of crisps I am finding  hard to resist!! 

The weather has been quite good considering that it was supposed to be really cold all week. I have planted some new things in my back garden and I am especially pleased with my peas (which I have never grown before). Can anyone tell me how to grow peas once they grow tall? Also, I have about thirty sunflower seedlings that will need planting in soil soon. I planted them for you guys. Does anyone want any.?? If they are ready I will bring them to school next week, but you will need to bring a pot of soil!!

Lots of love to you all

Missed you today in school

Mrs. P :(

?Afternoon everyone :)

I have had lots of emails from children today, telling me what they are up to.: eating honey on toast; playing football; going for a walk and clearing the garden.

I have had lots of comments and concerns from parents as well, following on from the Government's 'plan' on Sunday. I am working hard with Governors and Mr. Longworth to see how, and indeed whether, the Governments plan is achievable. I am speaking again to Bury Local Authority this Friday. The aim is to formulate a plan for Bury Schools. Please do not be concerned right now about future plans as they are not defined yet.

The Government guidelines still say that the health and safety of everyone in school is at the forefront of their plans so this is what I am working on, and will always be my 'bottom line'.

I think the worst thing at the moment is that the PM's plan is not specific. Schools MAY return on 1st June at the earliest, for example. There is so much that we do not know. So!!! If we don't know, please do not worry  until I find out!! (Which I will).

Keep safe and well. Mrs. Perry :)

God bless xx

Hi to everyone :))

I thought I would end the day on a positive note.  To all my wonderful children. I am so proud of you and all the work you are trying to complete. Please remember that the most important thing is to keep safe and happy. Do not get stressed about finishing everything that is put out for you on the website. Your teachers are only trying to give you plenty to do IF YOU WANT TO. No one will be left behind. When school gets back to normal (and it will some day) then we will help you to catch up on anything you are struggling with.

I have had a long meeting with Bury Local Authority this afternoon, with some of my trusted Head Teacher colleagues. We have been talking about the Prime Minister's announcement last night.No decisions have been made, only this, that schools will move forward with the best interests of Bury children and families at heart.

Keep safe and well.

Lots of love,

Mrs P :)