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

• Winter health video

  Sun 13 Sep 2020

  The Solihull School Nursing Team have produced a video with some key messages about how to stay well this winter. We think this is particularly important this year and at this time as we see an increase in COVID-19 cases.

  Watch the video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/y_2IBwox8hE

• Welcome presentations

  Thu 10 Sep 2020
  We couldn't hold our traditional 'meet the teacher' evenings this year so each year group has instead prepared a presentation containing some important information. Mrs Scott, Mr Hornsey, Mrs Glover, Mrs Jellicoe and Mrs Hall have also created a presentation with some messages for the whole school. You can watch the videos on our website here: https://greswold-primary-school.primarysite.media/playlist/parent-information-presentations-september-2020 .

• Message from Solihull MBC

  Thu 10 Sep 2020
  

• Our first week back

  Fri 04 Sep 2020

  So our first week of this new academic year has now finished. There has been a lovely buzz around the school, with children seeing their class mates again getting to know their new teachers. We've introduced new routines to get used to and the children have been brilliant at adapting to them. Over the coming months, our values will be more important than ever. The focus this half term is the first letter of BRICKS - belonging. We want our pupils to know they are each an important part of our school community and for them to help make everyone feel welcome.

   

  Today Mrs Scott led our first well done assembly using Teams video, with the classes joining the assembly from their rooms. A star pupil was chosen by each class teacher and the chosen children was celebrated by Mrs Scott and their class. Well done to children chosen to be the first star pupils of the year.

   

  Finally, a great big thank you to our pupils and parents for all their support this week. It is great to be back in school again.

  

• Welcome to a new academic year at Greswold

  Wed 02 Sep 2020
  It was fantastic to welcome our pupils back to Greswold today and see so many smiling faces. We have missed having the Greswold family all together. Many thanks to parents to following our protocols and helping us. Let's have a great new academic year.

• The new academic year from September 2020

  Tue 25 Aug 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  On behalf of governors and staff, I am writing to express how much we are looking forward to welcoming our school community back to Greswold from Wednesday 2nd September. We have worked hard to follow guidance, minimise risk and be able to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all of our children. I wrote to you at the end of last term with details of how we will achieve a safe and secure learning environment and I encourage all parents to reread this letter alongside our Parental Protocol and Behaviour addendum with their children prior to return to school.

   

  • Letter
  • Parent Protocol
  • Behaviour addendum
  • A map showing drop off and collection

   

  I am confident that parents will find details of all logistical arrangements, including the altered drop off and collection arrangements, uniform requirements and what your child is required to bring into school, in the above communications. In its simplest terms, for the vast majority of the school day, your child will be part of a class bubble of 30 children, in their classroom or designated outdoor space with their class teacher and other identified staff, supported by a familiar lunchtime supervisor.

   

  I know it may seem as if there are a lot of rules or instructions to follow but we all want our children to be as safe as possible. Once at Greswold, we will continue to provide the safest and happiest school possible- an inclusive learning community where every child really does matter.

  Staff are well prepared to support the children on their return to school but ask that if you have any new or significant information (such as a bereavement or change in family circumstance) that may impact on your child of which we may not be aware, please let us know using this form.

   

  Enjoy the last few days of the summer holiday and we look forward to seeing Years 1-6 on Wednesday 2nd September and our younger children in Nursery and Reception on their designated start days.

   

  Stay safe.

   

  Yours faithfully,

  Karen Scott

  Headteacher

  

• Letter to parents 17.07.2020

  Fri 17 Jul 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers,

  I am writing to communicate with you as much information as I can confirm for a full return to school for September. I thank you for your continued patience.

   

  Our intention is very much to enable all children of statutory school age (Y1-6) to return to school full time from Wednesday 2^nd September and operate a phased start for our Nursery and Reception children similar to previous years. You will have received separate communication regarding start times and dates for Nursery and Reception and the offer of wrap around care.

   

  Our intention is also to be able to offer before and after school care at Greswold Greyhounds for all children from Monday 7^th September and again, you should have received a separate communication from Abby Hall, Extended Services Manager. If you need to contact Greswold Greyhounds, please email them directly on greyhounds@greswold.solihull.sch.uk  

   

  At Greswold, all of our thinking, planning and decision making requires the appropriate balance of 3 principles which are:

  • Our practical ability to welcome all children back to full-time education with mandatory attendance;
  • The safety of all onsite and their families;
  • Staff wellbeing in order to deliver care and sustainable education through a broad and balanced curriculum.

   

  We believe that we will be able to meet our three principles from September and manage risk effectively by adopting the twin strategy of:

  1. Limiting contact between pupils by ensuring pupils remain in consistent ‘bubbles’ and maintaining distance between individuals where possible (social distancing);
  2. Implementing a system of controls including those already familiar at Greswold such as thorough and regular handwashing and good respiratory hygiene (the catch it, bin it, kill it approach).

   

  We have carefully planned the school day, staffing and the school building to minimise contact through all children being in ‘class bubbles’ for the majority of their time in school and ‘year group bubbles’ when this is not possible e.g. arriving and departing school, at Greswold Greyhounds and outside at breaktimes and lunchtimes. Within bubbles, children will be expected to maintain distance from each other and 2m from staff wherever possible. We recognise that younger children will not be able to maintain social distancing at all times so learning outdoors, using individual resources, regular handwashing and good respiratory hygiene will be encouraged. There will also be regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and staggered break and lunchtimes.

   

  In September you will be notified, via the app, of your child’s PE day(s) and we ask that your child comes to school wearing their outdoor PE kit on these days. Indoor PE kit will not be required initially, however, please provide your child with a pair of trainers to be kept in school at all times to be worn for ad hoc games and activities outside. At all other times, children should wear normal Greswold uniform. Details can be found on our website: https://www.greswold.solihull.sch.uk/greswold-uniform/  Outdoor learning will be particularly encouraged so please ensure your child wears a suitable coat to school each day.

   

  I ask that all parents take time to read the updated Parental Protocol and the Behaviour addendum which can be found on our website as these will provide you with most answers to your questions and how you can help us to welcome your children back to school. In particular, I ask for your continued support in minimising contact and maintaining distance on drop off and collection of your children for school. We have tried to stagger the start times practically and not increase the wait times for siblings but with over 650 children arriving and departing with 20 minutes of each other, I do need parents to work with school staff to be punctual and closely supervise their children. Initially, Year 6 pupils must be accompanied by a parent to and from school which staff and governors will review during September. The Walking Bus will not resume for the first few weeks of term.

   

  Parental protocol: https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/greswold-primary-school/UploadedDocument/62a7efe90f1549ce926263b5475bc25f/a1-parent-protocol-september.pdf

   

  Behaviour addendum: https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/greswold-primary-school/UploadedDocument/5e51655789b944d9b7e62294c9986d9d/a16-behaviour-addendum-september.pdf

   

  On Wednesday 2nd September, when you drop your child off in the morning, parent must place all permanent medication to be held in school in the collection boxes by the gates. This should be in a clear, sealed plastic bag marked with the child’s name, date of birth and class along with the completed medicine form and, where applicable, authorisation form for the emergency medication register. These forms are an appendix to the medication policy which should be downloaded and printed from the school website: https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/greswold-primary-school/UploadedDocument/37160dd6bbd343fe89079ea100368beb/2020-taking-medicines-in-school-policy-v2.pdf

   

  Staff are unable to administer medicines to your child unless accompanied by a medicine form. Any medicines not placed in the boxes by the gates must be handed into the school office through a booked appointment.

   

  Stay safe over the summer and I look forward to seeing everyone back at Greswold in September.

  Yours sincerely

  Karen Scott

  Headteacher

• Letter to parents 11th June

  Fri 12 Jun 2020

  Dear Parents/Carers,

  I hope you are all keeping well and safe during these strange times. I write to you to communicate how Greswold is continuing to support our families and how this may change in the future. Please take time to read the relevant sections of this letter.

   

  For every child and family

  We have continued to provide home learning for every child at Greswold throughout these unprecedented times. Children in N-Y1 have also received regular updates through Tapestry. We have considered parental feedback and made relevant changes to our offer as time has gone by. We don’t underestimate the pressures on parents to manage home learning and I applaud every one of you for persevering when times have been challenging. We will continue to provide home learning for the remainder of the summer term.

  Our website provides links to many supportive documents and signposts families to additional external support. Staff have diligently responded to all enquiries and questions that have been submitted by parents to the school office email account office@greswold.solihull.sch.uk

   

  For families eligible to receive free school meals

  One of our, and your, biggest frustrations has been the reliability and speed of issuing of vouchers for those families eligible for free school meals which is managed by a national external provider called Edenred. We thank parents for working with us in their times of need and for updating us on when they have finally received vouchers. Currently, we are processing free school meal voucher orders for more than 65 Greswold children. If you think you may also be eligible, please visit https://www.solihull.gov.uk/fsm

   

  For families of key workers or children who are considered vulnerable

  Since March, when the country went into lockdown we have continued to offer and provide care and education for the children of key workers and those who are considered vulnerable. We have opened our doors to these children every weekday including usual school holidays except for four bank holidays. Currently, we are providing this education for over 50 Greswold pupils. However, we are receiving more requests for places from parents who are considered key workers and now wish to return to work. So far, we have managed to accommodate every request but this is becoming increasingly difficult due to a restriction on the number of children we can accommodate safely in each bubble and the availability of staff, especially at lunchtimes. If we find that numbers become unmanageable, we will implement a priority list. Please only request care as a key worker if it is for you to be able to return to work, not so that a non-essential worker can return to work. 

  Moving forwards, we will require at least 14 days notice of your requests via the office email account office@greswold.solihull.sch.uk so that we can safely accommodate these rising numbers.

   

  For families who have needed additional support in relation to mental health

  Since April 2020, relevant staff members have been calling every week those families who may need a bit of extra support. Some weeks, this has totalled conversations with over 60 children and their parents. Parents who have requested a call home to provide some additional support for their child’s motivation or anxiety have received one within a few days. We have also uploaded a variety of resources to our website https://www.greswold.solihull.sch.uk/social-emotional-and-mental-health-resources and signposted parents to external support agencies. We can also provide details of how to access educational psychology support if needed.

   

  For children in N, R, Y6 and Y1

  As per government guidance, we have been able to invite pupils in Nursery, Reception, Year 1, Year 6 and those who take their main 15 hours of childcare in Greswold Greyhounds back to school. Our offer for N, R and Y6 is for two days per week from Monday 8^th June and it has been wonderful to see more children at school. We look forward to welcoming back pupils in Y1 for two days per week from Monday 15^th June. In total, we will be welcoming back an additional 135 pupils who will be allocated a safe ‘bubble’ with consistent staff. We believe that the safest way to manage the return of additional pupils is to ensure that each bubble is protected as much as possible, keeping numbers of children in each bubble low due to the restrictions on space and keeping staff consistent within each bubble.

  I have been asked two key questions by parents of children in N, R, Y6 and Y1 which are:

  1. When can my child return if they haven’t already?
  2. When can my child attend full time or more than two days per week?

  In answer to question 1, we asking parents of children in N, R, Y1 and Y6 to complete a new short form if you would like your child to return to school w/c 29^th June for the final 3 weeks of term.  https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_8XsNkcZBUCdDFgUlropG11bVZzMtYZIk_2CPBKJJCdUOEtTREo1TEUxODE2TTFYS1lTT05YNlFFTi4u Please note that there is no guarantee that we will be able to accommodate every child in N, R, Y1 and Y6. Forms must be completed by Monday 15^th June. You do not need to complete the form if your child already attends or has been allocated to a bubble or if you do not wish your child to start back before the end of term. If you do not respond to this new form we will assume your child will not be returning before September and be unable to allocate them a place.

  In answer to question 2, there are no plans for Greswold to increase its care for Nursery children to more than 2 days per week before the summer holidays. It is highly unlikely that we will increase the number of days we offer to Reception due to staff capacity and availability. We may be able to offer additional days to Y1 and, more importantly, Y6 before the end of the summer term but it depends on how many parents would like their children to return who are not already in school, hence question 1. We will be in further contact if we feel we may be able to increase the number of days in Y6 or Y1.

   

  For children in Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5

  Unfortunately, we will not be able to safely invite pupils in Y2-Y5 back to school for consistent on-site education before September. However, we are looking for ways to invite groups of our not-forgotten Y2-Y5 pupils back for a short outdoor session with their current teacher and possibly a short outdoor session with their new teacher before the end of term, most likely w/c 6^th July. These group sessions can most safely be conducted outside so may be weather dependent but could also provide an opportunity to collect any belongings left in school. Please bear with us while we plan for these events and we will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible.

   

  For children who use Greswold Greyhounds childcare

  Greswold Greyhounds remains closed for before and after school care and wraparound. At the moment, there are no plans to open this provision during the remainder of the summer term. In regards to a summer holiday club, a decision has not been made yet and there is certainly a lack of guidance at national or regional level to support schools at the moment. I have escalated my frustrations on this matter to Solihull Council who will hopefully escalate it further. Our governing body is well placed to make decisions once further announcements are made or guidance is published.

   

  I fully appreciate that some parents may be disappointed that school cannot offer more education during these difficult times. Our three principles for decision making, previously shared with you, still apply:

  1. Our ability to welcome children back
  2. The safety of all onsite and their families
  3. Staff wellbeing in order to deliver sustainable education and care

   

  Finally, I genuinely thank every parent for working with us and communicating with us to ensure that we can provide safe education and care, at home or at school, for our children.

  Most of all, please stay safe.

  Yours faithfully

   

  Karen Scott

  Headteacher

• Letter from the Director of Public Health - June 2020

  Wed 10 Jun 2020

  Ruth Tennant, Director of Public Health, has written a letter for all parents and carers on the wider reopening of schools with some important reminders.

   

  Click here to read the letter.

• Wider opening of Greswold

  Fri 22 May 2020

  Dear Parents/Carers,

   

  You will be aware from government announcements that there is an aspiration for wider opening of schools and I thank you for your patience in receiving further information from Greswold as to what this may look like.

   

  At Greswold, all of our thinking, planning and decision making requires the appropriate balance of 3 principles which are:

  1. Our ability to welcome children back
  2. The safety of all onsite and their families
  3. Staff wellbeing in order to deliver sustainable education and care

   

  At Greswold, we will continue to offer full time care for vulnerable children and those of key workers whose child cannot be safely cared for at home. In addition, we have set our priority groups as Nursery and Greswold Greyhounds where children take their main 15 hours, Reception and Y6. Based on a thorough risk assessment and following our 3 principles, Greswold is working towards welcoming back children in those priority groups initially for two days per week (Monday and Tuesday OR Thursday and Friday) from week commencing 8^th June. It is hoped that the same arrangements can be made for Y1 pupils from week commencing 15^th June.

   

  Our plans focus on children being placed into self-contained groups called bubbles of up to 15 children with an appropriate staff member (not necessarily their class teacher) who will facilitate learning to mirror the home learning provision. Each group will have a designated base (not necessarily their usual classroom) indoors. The children will remain in their self-contained bubble for the entirety of the school day including lunchtimes. Lunches will be eaten in the designated base and should be provided from home in Y6 and Nursery but will be provided for by our catering team for Reception and Y1. Learning outdoors and outdoor play will be encouraged within a designated space but mixing with other groups will not be allowed.

   

  Ultimately, I know from parents who have contacted me that the key question is ‘is Greswold a safe place for my child?’ and I want to reassure you that a thorough risk assessment has been conducted which includes detail on:

   

  • Preparing the site
  • Creation of temporary teaching groups (bubbles)
  • Promotion of good personal hygiene
  • Promotion of good respiratory hygiene
  • Cleaning
  • Social distancing including classroom layout, movement around school, use of shared areas such as halls.
  • Protective measures including shared use of resources
  • Reducing contact point activities e.g. activities to cease, doors which can remain open
  • Dealing with suspected cases
  • Controlling other building users
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needed for staff
  • Emergency procedures
  • Staff shortages
  • Impact on physical and mental health
  • Staggered drop and pick up to avoid congestion
  • Practical considerations including minimising items from brought in from home and removal of requirement to wear uniform

   

  I am now asking parents of children in N, R and Y6 to complete a survey to indicate whether you intend to send your child to Greswold for two days per week from 8^th June and Y1 from 15^th June.  I understand that some parents will have interpreted government guidance as full time education on site from 1^st June but we will only welcome children back when it is safe to do so and the risk assessment demonstrates that for Greswold the safest way is for 2 days. Please note we are unable to offer, at the moment, before and after school club, 30 hour childcare or childcare on the other 3 days a week.

   

  To aid our planning it would be helpful to have responses to our survey by Thursday 21^st May. You will need to complete a separate survey for each child. Please know that this is not a commitment but an indication for us. Further information will follow next week.

   

  Yours faithfully,

   

  Karen Scott

  Headteacher