Headteacher’s Welcome Message

We wish you a very warm welcome to the Birkwood Primary School website and hope that by using this site you will get a picture of our vision, aims and the values we uphold.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming our children and their families back to school in September.

• All children from KS1 and KS2 will be welcomed back to school on Wednesday 2^ndSeptember.
• EYFS children (Nursery and Reception) will be part of a phased return, and parents/carers have been informed of their child’s start date.

It is quite possible, that the past few months have been the most stressful many of us have ever experienced in our lives.  I am immensely proud of the way we have come together as a community during this time.  The dedication of those working in school and those who have been working at home, is evident across the community.  The relationships with our children and their families has really shone through and the number of positive comments has been quite overwhelming. 

It will be very different and a bit strange in school to begin with, but we are all here to help and support the children to settle in.  The priority for us will be assessing the children’s academic, social and emotional needs through running open creative activities, by talking, playing and enjoying the broad curriculum such as PE, Music, Art/ DT and topic. Including personalised emotional/social support for children who need it. (Click here to see link to Operational Return to School Action Plan).

A priority is also to keep our children, staff and community safe.  Therefore, we have undertaken a thorough Risk Assessment in order to minimise risk. (Click here to see link to Risk Assessment)

Our school will continue to be a caring, supportive and family orientated community where we encourage our children to ‘be the best that they can be’.  This is achieved by us having an exciting and relevant curriculum that meets our children’s needs and is underpinned by our School Logo ‘Inspire, Cherish and Achieve Together.’

Our high quality learning environments include a Trim Trail on the large playing field, a purpose built children's kitchen, so that they can cook as part of their learning in Science, Maths and Literacy.   Thanks to Big Lottery Grant and Tesco ‘Bags for Help’ funding, we also have a community and sensory garden area where children grow vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs.  In addition, we have a potting shed and poly tunnel, thanks to Community First Grant funding.  

Our strong and committed Governing Body have made the decision to keep class sizes as small as possible in Foundation Stage in order to ensure high quality support for our youngest children.

We also have outstanding provision in our Early Years Foundation Stage Unit with 2 mini-ICT suite areas and excellent outdoor provision.

Due to the demand for places at our school, we had to convert our Library into a classroom, so we bought and converted a Double Decker Reading Bus into an exciting Library resource which the children love, although there will be limited use in the Autumn Term.

We are very proud of our school community; if you would like further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

With best wishes,

Mrs Julie Allen MBE
Headteacher

Learning Packs during School Closure for Covid-19

We have delivered Learning Packs to all of our children throughout week commencing 20^th April 2020.  This is to cover the next half term (Summer 1). 

This information is also included in the Information / Curriculum Overview tab.

School remains open, please contact us if we can support in any way.

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A childrens guide to coronavirus

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Coronavirus : Latest update (11/05/2020)

Dear Parents/Carers,

I’m sure you will have heard the Prime Minister’s announcement last night indicating that the government believes it may be in a position to implement a phased re-opening of schools from the 1^st June.  He said that this is likely to start with children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.  This is part of the government’s conditional plan.

I am sure this has caused anxiety and worry and you have lots of questions. At the moment, school remains closed for all children, other than those of key workers and those who are categorised as vulnerable.

We are awaiting further guidance from the Department for Education before we make any decisions.  We will need clear guidance to plan how it is possible to socially distance in school and keep our children, staff and families safe.

You know we will do what is best to keep our children, staff and community safe. 

Thank you and we will get through this together.

Julie Allen MBE

Headteacher

Coronavirus : Latest update (20/03/2020)

Clarification re: Key Workers

Revised guidance was received at 3pm today regarding Key Workers. As it currently stands:

Children with at least one parent or carer who are identified as critical/key workers by the government can send their children to school, if required.

Please contact school: 01226 710447 / j.allen@birkwood.org.uk if you require childcare.

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Corona Virus Update 03 04 20 

Dear Parents/Carers,

We hope you are all keeping safe and well and observing the guidance:

Stay at home

• Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
• If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times
• Wash your hands as soon as you get home

Do not meet others, even friends or family. You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

We are missing you and our children very much. Just to update you on a few things:

Free School Meals vouchers of £15 per child have been sent home to parents/carers where we have an up-to-date email address, this was checked by school staff last week. Those without email, E-vouchers were posted First Class on Wednesday 1^stApril.

We are also going to be sending additional vouchers to cover families during the Easter holidays ~ so, you should receive a £15 voucher weekly per child.

If you have not received a voucher and you feel that you are entitled, please contact school on 01226 710447 or: 

https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/children-families-and-education/schools-and-learning/free-schoolmeals / Alternatively contact the Local Authority on: 01226 787787 Option 3.

No lunches will be prepared in school from Monday as all families are now in receipt of FSM vouchers.  If your child is attending care in school, please provide them with a packed lunch. We will provide snacks and a free breakfast for those attending from 8 – 8.30am.

School intends staying open during the Easter holidays, including Bank Holidays, for vulnerable children and those of key workers who have been identified, thanks to our school staff.

On the last day, Friday 20^th March, we had Channel 4 Dispatches in school filming.  If your child/ren were in school, then you should have received a text asking for permission for them to be in the film.  It is due to be broadcast on Wednesday, 8^th April at 9pm.

These are very difficult times when we must look after each other, that’s a real strength of the Birkwood Family and one that I am very proud of and I know our staff and governors are too.

Please stay safe and well … ‘until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hands’ … the children know this from when we sing our Gaelic Blessing.

With love and best wishes to you all,

Julie Allen MBE

Headteacher

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Daily Live Activities

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Previous updates

Corona Virus Financial Hardship 30 03 20

Update 20 03 20 7.30am

Cornonavirus Contingency Plan 20 03 20

Curriculum support for parents in the event of school closures

We wish you a very warm welcome to the Birkwood Primary School website and hope that by using this site you will get a picture of our vision, aims and the values we uphold.

Our school is a caring, supportive and family orientated community where we encourage our children to ‘be the best that they can be’.  This is achieved by us having an exciting and relevant curriculum that meets our children’s needs and is underpinned by our School Logo ‘Inspire, Cherish and Achieve Together.’

Our high quality learning environments include a Trim Trail on the large playing field, a purpose built kitchen, so that children can cook as part of their learning in Science, Maths and Literacy.   Thanks to Big Lottery Grant and Tesco ‘Bags for Help’ funding, we also have a community and sensory garden area where children grow vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs.  In addition, a potting shed and poly tunnel, thanks to Community First Grant funding.

Our strong and committed Governing Body have made the decision to keep class sizes as small as possible in Foundation Stage in order to ensure high quality support for our youngest children.

We also have outstanding provision in our Early Years Foundation Stage Unit with 2 mini-ICT suite areas and excellent outdoor provision.

Due to the demand for places at our school, we had to convert our Library into a classroom, so we bought and converted a Double Decker Reading Bus into an exciting Library resource which the children love!

We are very proud of our school community; if you would like further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

With best wishes,

Mrs Julie Allen MBE
Headteacher