Primary School (Reception class) application deadline: 15th January 2021
We have some places available in our Reception class for September 2021. If you have a child born between 1st September 2016 and 31st August 2017, then do not delay in making an application to Chagford Church of England Primary School. Please pass on this message to parents you know.
You can apply online at www.devon.gov.uk/admissiononline or if you have any access issues, please call the Education Helpline on 0345 1551019 or email admissions@devon.gov.uk.

Our lovely friends at MED Theatre are offering free places for Chagford School children. 

​Friday 8th January 2021
 
Dear Chagford Families,
 
Well done everyone, we made it through this week!
 
Thank you for being patient while we organised platforms and resources for home learning, free school meal packages, updated our risk assessments in line with government directives and made the complex in-school arrangements to cater for the children of key workers and vulnerable families. I know there have been a lot of emails this week, and a lot of information to digest. On behalf of the whole team, thank you for your understanding, kind words and positivity; it is much appreciated.

Dear Parents,
​
We hope you are well and adjusting to the new routines. Our staff are working hard to ensure that children receive their logins for Google Classroom as quickly as possible, so that children can access their learning remotely and interactively. Our Trust is also being proactive to issue devices for children in families eligible for Pupil Premium in order to support remote learning. Eligible children in Years 5 and 6 have already been issued with Chromebooks, with additional devices for those pupils in Yr-Y4 being followed up today.

​Dear Parent / Carer,
We wrote to you yesterday about delaying the start of term until Thursday.
I am sorry to be writing to you again so soon on this subject. However, as you may have seen, the Prime Minister has last evening announced a new national lockdown because of rising infection rates of Covid-19 and to try to prevent the further spread of the virus. 
As part of this, all primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in England, including our school, Chagford Church of England Primary, are to be closed from today until at least the end of half term in February, except for children of key workers or vulnerable children. Nurseries are able to remain open.
From today:
If you or your partner is a key worker, or if your child is classed as vulnerable, then the school will remain open, as now, and we look forward to seeing them in school today and beyond as normal for teaching and learning. If you are a critical worker and have not completed the survey issued yesterday evening, please let us know. 
As you know, we have worked incredibly hard since the start of the pandemic in March to keep our school as safe as possible, and I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of some of the safety measures in place at our school: 
o   Everyone is expected to remain in their allocated bubbles 
o   Students are encouraged to wash their hands regularly throughout the day 
Please note we are trying to work with windows open in classrooms for ventilation. As the cold days have returned, and with the need for ventilation in mind, pupils may need a few more layers of clothing, such as sweatshirts, tights or leggings underneath skirts or plain fleeces without a hood or large brand logos. We would like the children to come in school uniform for their sessions and arrive at their usual time slots from last term. They will either need to bring a packed lunch or will be given a school packed lunch.
For all other pupils, our school is closed until at least the end of the February half-term. High-quality remote learning will be provided to make sure they continue to receive a consistent education. We know that this places pressure on you at a difficult time but your support in helping your child engage with the remote learning packs as much as possible is so important and we are very grateful for it. Teachers will be contacting you via class blogs and email with details of the learning for each day. There is a high expectation that all children will complete home learning tasks, attend live lessons and submit work back to teachers for feedback. 
We will continue to stay in touch with you on this matter, and about your child’s education. However, if you have any questions, or if you require any support relating to these new arrangements, please email tpenny@chagford-primary.devon.sch.uk
I would once again like to take this opportunity to thank you wholeheartedly for your understanding and ongoing support in helping us to manage this unprecedented situation. Please continue to take care and to stay safe.
Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth Underwood and Tara Penny
Executive Headteacher       Head of School

Here is a copy of this letter for download

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope that you and your family had an enjoyable Christmas, notwithstanding the Covid-19 restrictions that we are all living with.
As you know, we have worked incredibly hard since the start of the pandemic in March to keep our schools as safe as possible, and that work has continued over the Christmas holiday period. I would like to thank our incredible staff for their commitment and professionalism, which has seen many working over the holidays.
My letter today includes important information relating to your child’s return to school this term.
Due to the current coronavirus conditions, we have taken the decision to delay the full return of all pupils to school until Thursday 7th January. 
As you may be aware from recent news, guidance for schools has been rapidly and frequently changing over the past couple of weeks. Delaying our full return will allow us additional time to ensure our risk assessments and health and safety measures are comprehensive and up-to-date, in line with all of the latest guidance from Public Health England and the Department for Education.  The situation is fast-moving, and if there are any further changes to our full opening plans or dates, we will keep you informed. Indeed, there are set to be further announcements by the Prime Minister at 8pm this evening, which may further affect our plans.
For Tuesday 5th January and Wednesday 6th January, most pupils will have remote learning. However, we will have on-site provision available for pupils classed as vulnerable and for the children of key workers.  
This means that:

• If your child is classed as “vulnerable” or if you or your partner is a key worker, then your child will return to school on Tuesday 5th January. 
• If your child is not classed as “vulnerable” and if neither you nor your partner is a key worker, then your child will not return to school until Thursday 7th January. Your child is expected to engage fully with their remote learning during this time so they keep up with their education. I will of course let you know if there are any changes to this date, particularly given the impending announcement from the Prime Minister this evening.

A reminder of the definitions of ‘vulnerable children’ and ‘key workers’
Vulnerable children are those who:

• Have a child in need plan or child protection plan
• Are looked after by the local authority  
• Have an education, health and care (EHC) plan and have been determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely or more safely met at school
• Have been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by the school or local authority, including children who are:

• On the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services
• Adopted
• At risk of becoming NEET (‘not in employment, education or training’)
• Living in temporary accommodation
• Young carers

Key workers are those who work in:

• Health and social care
• Education and childcare
• Key public services (including the justice system, religious staff, charities delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting) 
• Local and national government who are involved in delivering the coronavirus response or essential public services
• Food and other necessary goods
• Public safety and national security
• Transport
• Utilities, communication and financial service

Please complete the survey below if you are a critical worker. Please email me directly if you are in the vulnerable category and wish your child to be in school. I am very sorry for the short notice, but if you can do this today that would be incredibly helpful. 
As before, a great deal of planning and risk assessment has gone into ensuring that our school continues to be as safe as possible for pupils and staff, in line with latest Government and Public Health England guidance. We will continue to take decisions in the best interests of our pupils and staff, working with you and keeping you informed every step of the way.
We will be in touch tomorrow as to how to access remote learning. We are moving towards all KS1 and KS2 children having access to Google Classrooms, but we have had some technical hitches today. 
In the meantime, thank you for your continued support and understanding as we all deal with these challenges together. Please do continue to take care and stay safe.
Yours sincerely,
Tara Penny                  Elizabeth Underwood 
Head of School            Executive Head 


https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=kG0HO7J4vUqeBcIPJiicRq65m3QRRsxIl7MqPXy_mOVUNElSQThJMENCUEhaMUNFUDQzRkVXQVI2WS4u


Fill | Survey of Chagford CE Primary School Critical Workers: January 2021
If you are a critical worker please complete this questionnaire, having read the accompanying letter to parents regarding the move to blended learning on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th January 2021. This will help us plan for school-based education of critical workers' children over the next 2 days. All other children will have access to blended learning in accordance with our Three Hares Remote Education Plan. Thank you.
forms.office.com

​4th January 2021

Dear Chagford Families, 

I am sorry to be writing to you again so soon on this subject. However, as you may have seen, the Prime Minister has announced a new national lockdown because of rising infection rates of Covid-19 and to try to prevent the further spread of the virus.