Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School

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

• Children's Mental Health Week 1-7th February 2021

  Thu 28 Jan 2021 Miss Musa

  Next Week is 'Children's Mental Health Week'. Here are some screen free activities that you may want your child to take part in...

  https://www.ramjs.lancs.sch.uk/covid-19-exercise-and-keeping-active/?fbclid=IwAR26ToRVagtZ2NJQs_Dk2uwA0RZjAifWDrAjVH9CnNmI07ItQfzhI6RsbsU

• Home Learning

  Tue 26 Jan 2021 Miss Musa

  Dear Parents/ Carers,

   

  We just wanted to say well done to you all! Week 4 and we are all beginning to feel the strain and from what we are seeing on Facebook, Twitter and the news, we are not alone!

   

  We are always inspired by the level of support we have as a school community and the enthusiasm we are seeing from our amazing pupils. Despite a huge expectation nationally to provide an exhausting amount of schoolwork, you continue to keep wowing us with all the amazing contributions we are seeing via Seesaw.

   

  We know this time is hard; juggling work, managing home life, dealing with the unpredictable weather- it all takes its toll on us emotionally and physically and we simply wanted to say 'Thank You' for all you are doing to work with us to keep your children safe and help them learn.

   

  Whilst life is so uncertain, remember to be kind to yourselves. You're doing the best you can right now and we understand that there may have been too many take away meals, a few extra hours in front of the TV or you've spent most of the day in your PJs; all of this is ok!

   

  We know that we’ve got high expectations and we set a lot of work each week. All we ask is that you do your best. Please do not let schoolwork put extra pressure on your child. Everyone’s circumstances are very different and we appreciate that.

   

  If you need support, a chat or a cry, we are here! We have our Virtual Coffee morning running weekly and all the staff are on hand to help where we can.

   

  Take care, stay safe and remember we think you are all doing amazing!

   

  From the RAMJS team.

• Virtual Newsletter 22nd Jan 2021

  Fri 22 Jan 2021 Miss Musa

  Please click the link for this week's newsletter

   

  https://youtu.be/jkgqVoefESc

   

• Weekly Meeting for families

  Thu 21 Jan 2021 Miss Musa

  Dear Parents/ carers,

  Louise (our family supprot worker) is holding a Zoom meeting every Monday at 11am. This will give you the opportunity to discuss any issues or ask questions or just to have a chat.

   

  Here are the codes

  9879797

  passcode 4LVrB7

   

  Hope you can join us! :)

• Home Reading

  Wed 20 Jan 2021 Miss Musa

   

  Wednesday 20^th January 2021

   

  Dear Parent / Carer,

   

  Home Reading

   

  Reading together at home is one of the most important ways in which you can help your child. As you share books, you are helping improve their reading skills and understanding of the world as well as showing them how important and enjoyable reading is. If you have any spare time, please, please read with your child. Please read the eBooks on the Oxford Owl website or any other books you have at home. Each child has a password for this which has been shared on Seesaw.

   

  If you are not sure of the appropriate tier of Oxford Owl texts for your child to access, please contact your child's class teacher via Seesaw. This is the link to the

  Oxford Owl website - https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/

   

  We are aware that life at home during lockdown can be filled with love and laughter but there are also times when life can be a little stressful. Please try to find 5-10 minutes each day to read with your child as this will be beneficial in helping your child become a more fluent reader.

   

  We have devised an online form for you to complete; this is replacing the Reading Record whilst your child is at home. Please endeavour to complete it when you hear your child read. Completing this form will help us identify where and when additional support is required. The link to the form is below and we will send it via a text message too.

   

  Key Stage 2 Home Reading Form

   

  https://forms.gle/NmfnEPJiKbbKtA6w8

   

  Virtual Library

  The Oak National Academy has worked in partnership with the National Literacy

  Trust to develop a Virtual School Library.

   

  Every week a popular children's author or illustrator will provide your child with free books, exclusive videos and their top three recommended reads.

  Having access to a school library is really important for your child. School libraries nurture a love of reading that can enrich children’s literacy skills, academic achievements and mental wellbeing.

   

  Oak National Academy’s Virtual School Library will complement existing school libraries and will ensure that your child will have access to the magical world of stories all year round, whether they are learning at school or at home.

   

  The Oak National Academy has worked with brilliant publishers and inspiring authors and illustrators to ensure that the books and activities in their Virtual

  School Library will support your child’s wellbeing through reading.

  Below is the link to the Virtual Library.

   

  https://library.thenational.academy/

   

  Any questions or queries, please contact your child’s class teacher via Seesaw.

   

  Regards,

   

  The RAMJS Team

   

   

• Virtual Newsletter 15th Jan 2021

  Fri 15 Jan 2021 Miss Musa

  We have completed a virtual newsletter this week to make it a little more interactive. See who our stars of the week are and hear about the fantastic work children have been doing.

   

  Click here to listen to it...

   

  https://youtu.be/03-fTqhG1ME

• Year 3 and 4 Covid Closue

  Tue 12 Jan 2021 Miss Musa

  Unfortunately, there has been a confirmed case in the Key Worker provision for year 3 and 4. As a result, the children and staff who attended this provision on Friday only, need to now isolate. 

  Due to staffing issues, there will be no Key Worker Provision for year 3 and 4 this Friday only.

   

  As a precaution, they have been asked to isolate until the 18th January, returning to school on the 19th January. This guidance has come direct from the government via the DFE.

   

  If your child is isolating, they can access their work via seesaw.

   

  Thank you once again for your support during these challenging times; it is greatly appreciated.

• Support for Parents and Children to support with anxiety during Lockdown

  Fri 08 Jan 2021 Mrs Nickson

  Strategies for parents

  • Re-establish routines with your child, including earlier bedtime and getting up each morning in plenty of time. Be mindful that your child may find the first few days/weeks at school very tiring but this will be a short-term issue whilst they rebuild their stamina for learning

  • Work with your child to set goals and targets for what can be achieved each day - this might be school work 'targets' and social 'targets'
  • Talk to your child about what they are looking forward to / anxious about in terms of returning to school – the 'stress bucket approach' may be useful
  • Remember simple steps to try and reduce anxiety resulting from the COVID19 pandemic such as:
    • Limiting news coverage o Increasing contact (safely) with others outside of your household
    • Build in times of the day for a treat – a hot bath, a walk, a game you enjoy
    • Use exercise, games, films, etc to distract your thoughts
    • Sharing of worries – consider writing a blog or diary

  Useful resources for parents and children to use at home to manage anxiety

  • https://www.annafreud.org/media/11459/7waysanxiety.pdf - strategies for broaching anxiety with children and young people
  • Ideas for Calming activities to undertake at home – may help pupils with anxiety
  • Apps such as Chill Panda, Worrinots and ThinkNinja may help children manage their worries and anxieties
  • Guidance produced by the government for parents on supporting children and young people's mental health

• Xbox's and Play Stations can support remote learning

  Thu 07 Jan 2021 Mrs Nickson

  We can confirm that you can access the Seesaw App via an Xbox or a Play Station if they are connected to the internet. Hopefully, this may help you to increase the digital devices you have available in the home.

  Thank you so much for all the work that we are seeing coming in...Children, you are Super Stars ⭐✨🌟✨⭐ and Parents and Carers you are amazing 🧡🧡🧡

   

  The RAMJS team is working tirelessly behind the scenes to try and get as many resources available to you.

   

  💛💚💙Together Ribbleton we are stronger 💛💚💙

• Remote Learning Information

  Tue 05 Jan 2021 Miss Musa

   

  Remote education provision: information for parents

  Dear Parents/ Carers,

   

  This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to parents and carers about what to expect from remote education now local restrictions require children to remain at home.

  A pupil’s first day or two of being educated remotely might look different from our standard approach, while we take all necessary actions to prepare for a longer period of remote teaching.

  What should my child expect from immediate remote education in the first day or two of pupils being sent home?

   

  Work will be set via seesaw. The class teachers will set up daily registration meetings with their class via zoom. If your child does not have access to the internet, a work pack will be provided. This needs to be returned to school on Friday and will be marked the following week once it has been quarantined.

   

  Following the first few days of remote education, will my child be taught broadly the same curriculum as they would if they were in school?

   

  We teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in school wherever possible and appropriate. However, we have needed to make some adaptations in some subjects due to resource issues etc.

   

   

  Remote teaching and study time each day

  How long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day?

  We expect that remote education (including remote teaching and independent work) will take pupils broadly the following number of hours each day:

  Primary school-aged pupils

  3 hours minimum

   

  Accessing remote education

  How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?

   

  All links to these resources are offered via Seesaw when appropriate- Zoom Youtube learning videos Purple Mash Times Table Rockstars

   

  If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support them to access remote education?

  We recognise that some pupils may not have suitable online access at home. We take the following approaches to support those pupils to access remote education:

   

  Paper work packs will be provided if no device or internet access is available

   

  How will my child be taught remotely?

  We use a combination of the following approaches to teach pupils remotely:

   

  Pre-recorded teaching by class teachers (online lessons) Recorded teaching (e.g. Oak National Academy lessons) Activities and work packs provided via seesaw reading books pupils have at home commercially available websites supporting the teaching of specific subjects or areas, including video clips or sequences

   

  Engagement and feedback

  What are your expectations for my child’s engagement and the support that we as parents and carers should provide at home?

   

  All children are expected to try their best with the activities provided with support from parents where possible in this current situation. We understand that these are very challenging times, and we are mindful of adding extra pressure to families. We would like to see children trying to engage and if they encounter any issues, they should inform class teachers so we can support them where necessary.

   

  How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work and how will I be informed if there are concerns?

   

  Staff members will be monitoring engagement via Seesaw. For any children who aren’t engaging, phone calls and zoom calls will be made. Children who are receiving work packs will return them on Fridays so that feedback can be given the following week via seesaw or email where possible.

   

  How will you assess my child’s work and progress?

  Feedback can take many forms and may not always mean extensive written comments for individual children. For example, whole-class feedback or quizzes marked automatically via digital platforms are also valid and effective methods, amongst many others. Our approach to feeding back on pupil work is as follows:

   

  Daily marking of work completed on Seesaw Weekly marking of work packs that have been sent home

   

  Additional support for pupils with particular needs

  How will you work with me to help my child who needs additional support from adults at home to access remote education?

  We recognise that some pupils, for example some pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), may not be able to access remote education without support from adults at home. We acknowledge the difficulties this may place on families, and we will work with parents and carers to support those pupils in the following ways:

   

  Zoom meetings via Seesaw Telephone call support Support via Seesaw Work packs will be accessible to children with SEND.

   

  Many thanks for your continued support.

   

  With kind regards,

   

  Mrs F Nickson

  Headteacher