Our first pictures of rainbows in windows have come in today. Many thanks to Hollie, Christa and Morven. I also did one to inspire you all. Keep those pictures coming – kerrie.laird@glenurquharthigh.org.uk
#rainbowsinwindows
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Checking-in
We have now been closed for a week and we hope all our families are doing okay and adapting to their new routines and situations. I’ve had check-ins with some of the older children through Google Meet and we’ve been meeting each morning as a staff in this way to catch up. This has been truly excellent! It has been great to see the children relaxed and having some fun as well as, remembering to get outside and keep active. We’d like to thank you all for your continued support throughout these difficult times and for coming together in true Glenurquhart style – Guiding, Uniting and Promoting Success!
We are keen to hear from all families though and have been thinking of a way that we can see how everyone is doing. As such please can you take a moment to answer the two questions below and email your response to your class teacher. This lets us check-in with all families and those who we do not hear from will be our main priorities to get in touch with going forward.
- How is it going for you and your family?
- How have you found the work set this week?
Key Worker Hubs
The Council has been working at pace to set up centres for the children of key workers.
Anyone who has applied for a place at one of the key worker hubs in the Highland Council area will be contacted by the end of today (Wednesday 25th) with confirmation of the arrangements that have been put in place.
The centres are expected to be hosted at the following schools: Millburn Academy and the IRA in Inverness; Dingwall Academy; Portree High School; Lochaber High School; Ullapool Academy; Golspie High School, Noss Primary and Miller Academy.
These centres will be staffed by volunteers drawn from Council staff, all of whom will have been checked to ensure that they are enrolled in the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme (PVG). Please note the following key points about allocation of places in the Hubs for the children of key workers:
- Please be aware that the number of places we will be able to offer in the Highland Council area is limited and so not everyone who has requested a place will get one. We need to prioritise for those directly involved in addressing the health crisis linked with Covid-19 and others involved in the associated emergency response. However, we will be working hard to increase capacity over the coming days and weeks.
- Requesting a place in a Hub should be a choice of last resort. You should only request a place when you have exhausted all other possible means of providing childcare for your child(ren) while you are at work. The Scottish Government has issued public health advice about this and expects parents/carers to have explored all other options, such as using partners who are not key workers, using older children to supervise younger children, seeking changed shift patterns to avoid the need for childcare and so on.
- Children of key workers in age groups 0-5 will be placed in nursery settings and wherever possible, will remain with their existing childcare providers.
- The hubs will not replicate a school setting. Children will be expected to bring in the work and materials that have been allocated to them through their own school and they will be supervised whilst they work though these. Where practical and safe, age appropriate activities will also be arranged. Social distancing and health and hygiene practices will be in place – albeit in recognition that with young, energetic, children this will be a challenge to maintain at all times.
- It remains the case that home is the safest place for everyone, including children.
The most recent government information on Key Workers can be found here: https://news.gov.scot/news/supporting-coronavirus-key-workers (external link)
Energy Advice during COVID19
https://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/12425/energy_advice_during_covid19_outbreak
If you have a pre-payment meter you are encouraged to try to keep at least 14 days’ worth of credit on your meter(s) in case you need to self isolate. Please see the link above for further details.
Highland Council Helpline
https://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/12424/highland_council_helpline_now_up_and_running
See the page above for details of the free helpline to give assistance and to collect details of individuals and community groups looking to provide volunteering support during Covid19.
Free School Meals Scam
Please be aware that you should not share bank details with anyone through text/phone. Highland Council will not ask for bank details as proof of ID to receive free school meals.
Early Years Activities
If you are looking for activities for younger members in your families then a great blog to follow is bumps2bairns who are doing a daily activity for helping young children learn at home through play.
You can also subscribe for a daily email using the “follow” button if you wish. This will arrive every weekday morning with a new idea for play, learning and fun
Rainbows
I’m sure many of you have seen these popping up to add joy (Orange Cog – Emotion Word) to those around the country. Emotion Works have set a challenge to create a rainbow, post it in your window then share a picture. If you would like to join in, please email your pictures to me – kerrie.laird@glenurquharthigh.org.uk and I will share them on our News feed and in the Twitter site.
Epic Books
To access this for free, you need to sign in to the educators/students site (not parents) and use the class code which is at the front of jotters or emailed to you. You should not be asked for credit card information etc. in this way.
Contacts
Please be aware we are experiencing difficulty accessing the school email address from home at the moment. If you wish to get in touch, please contact staff GMail accounts (ending @glenurquharthigh.org.uk) or, with myself on kerrie.laird@highland.gov.uk or kerrie.laird@glenurquharthigh.org.uk
Many thanks
2019/20 ~ News 