Headteacher’s blog

Family learning classes available now – art, maths, science, E-Safety

Family Learning courses are due to start in the new few weeks. We have some spaces left on a few courses so I wanted to share with you the courses parents can still book on. The courses are all free (parents need to tick the “free due to Covid” box when booking on). All courses have a maximum of 18 places so parents need to book their places as soon as possible:

https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20437/adult_and_family_learning_courses

 

Art to Support your Wellbeing for Parents 

 

Maths in the Early Years

 

Art to Improve your Self-Awareness for Parents

 

Maths in Key Stage 2 and 3 for Parents

Maths in Key Stage 1 for Parents

 

English in Key Stage 1 for Parents

 

Science in Key Stage 1 and 2 for Families

 

E-Safety for Parents – Keeping Safe Online

 

Cook with your Teenager for Parents and Teens

 

Any questions please let me know,

Jessica Harris

Family Learning Manager

Adult & Community Education Manager

People Directorate

Phone number: 01905 844322

Email: Jharris5@worcestershire.gov.uk

Website to book courses: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/courses

Facebook: @adultlearningworcestershire

Twitter: @WorcsAdultLearn

Adult Community Learning Team phone number for any enquiries: 01905-728537

 

Relationship Education

At LHPSN we know that we are not only responsible for teaching children real-world skills, such as reading, writing, and mathematics, but we are also responsible for preparing children for life after school. That’s why we provide relationship lessons in school which follow the PSHE curriculum set out in England using a scheme called Jigsaw. The purpose of PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) is to help children realise who they are as people and successfully find their place in the world.
This term we are learning about healthy relationships and aim to help children identify how they relate to other people and to appreciate their value in a world that is constantly changing. Relationship education focuses on developing the key knowledge, skills, and qualities to prepare children for life and work. It will help children to live healthily, safely, productively, and responsibly in order to become sociable, active and productive members of society.

Welcome back to the summer term.

It was lovely to welcome everyone back in the sunshine this week, I hope everyone had a safe and happy Easter break. It is wonderful that restrictions are easing and we are now able meet outside in groups of 6 people, or two households. The school risk assessment (version 9) remains firmly in place and this can be found on the Covid 19 Information tab on the school website. We ask that all members of our school community continue with the key behaviours of washing hands, wearing face coverings on site and making the most of the school grounds to socially distance as we know this will help stop the spread of Covid-19 and ensure we can keep our school safely open for all. We continue to watch the government guidance as we really hope some of our usual summer term events can resume, once we know what we can and can’t do, we will update you.

Alvechurch United U9’s Lockdown Message

Look carefully and see if you can spot some of our Year 3 and Year 4 pupils 🙂 They are sharing an important message – stay home, protect the NHS and save lives in a very unique way.  

Coronavirus – A Book for Children

Axel Scheffler has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. Published by Nosy Crow, and written by staff within the company, the book has had expert input: Professor Graham Medley of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine acted as a consultant, and the company also had advice from two head teachers and a child psychologist.

The book answers key questions in simple language appropriate for 5 to 9 year olds:

• What is the coronavirus?
• How do you catch the coronavirus?
• What happens if you catch the coronavirus?
• Why are people worried about catching the coronavirus?
• Is there a cure for the coronavirus?
• Why are some places we normally go to closed?
• What can I do to help?
• What’s going to happen next?

We want to make sure that this book is accessible to every child and family and so the book is offered totally free of charge to anyone who wants to read it. However, we have suggested, at the back of the book, that families might make a donation to help our health service if they find the book useful: https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/.

Kate Wilson, Managing Director of Nosy Crow, said:

“We were very aware that many parents and carers are struggling to explain the current extraordinary situation to children, many of whom are frightened and confused. We thought that the best thing we could do would be to use our skills to produce a free book to explain and, where possible, reassure children. We asked Axel, whose work is so familiar and so loved, to illustrate it. He was happy to do it, and did it extraordinarily quickly. Meanwhile, having heard Professor Medley interviewed by the BBC, we looked him up and wrote to him, and despite his huge workload, he reviewed the book over a weekend, and we were able to incorporate his suggestions, together with those of two head teachers and a child psychologist, into the final version of the book. We hope it helps answer difficult questions in difficult times.”

Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo, said:

“I asked myself what I could do as an children’s illustrator to inform, as well as entertain, my readers here and abroad. So I was glad when my publisher, Nosy Crow, asked me to illustrate this question-and-answer book about the coronavirus. I think it is extremely important for children and families to have access to good and reliable information in this unprecedented crisis, and I hope that the popularity of the books I’ve done with Julia Donaldson will ensure that this digital book will reach many children who are now slightly older, but might still remember our picture books.”

Professor Graham Medley, Professor of Infectious Disease Modelling at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said:

“This pandemic is changing children’s lives across the globe and will have a lasting impact on us all. Helping children understand what is going on is an important step in helping them cope and making them part of the story – this is something that we are all going through, not something being done to them. This book puts children IN the picture rather just watching it happen, and in a way that makes the scary parts easier to cope with.”

You can download a copy of the book here (or, if you have trouble with that link, here) – or watch Mrs Williams read it below:

The Great Easter Bake Off

If you’re looking for an Easter cooking activity why don’t you try this? All you need is some chocolate, any type of crumbly cereal, cake cases and then anything you like to decorate like chocolate eggs, mini chicks etc. They are very quick and easy to make as well as delicious as a treat to eat! 
 
Here is Mrs Williams and two of her baking assistants to show you how to make them. Enjoy! 
 

Rainbow

Archie and Amber wanted to brighten up everyone’s day at school by showing you their rainbow collage which is their drive so if passers by see it, it will make them smile.
We hope you are all keeping safe and well and Archie and Amber both look forward to seeing all their teachers and friends soon.

Online Resources to Support Home Learning

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Over the last few days, we have come across lots of online resources that are available to support children’s learning at home during the unprecedented times. This list is by no means exhaustive, nor are we promoting anything in particular, but we thought we’d share some of them with you. All children have different learning styles and interests – maybe something below will click! We will also update our learning packs on the class pages as time goes on.

With very best wishes from the staff of Lickey Hills PSN.

https://www.themathsfactor.com/ THIS IS GREAT!! Carol Vordermann is offering free access to her great website for maths offering games, challenges and daily lessons to support learning. There are motivational medals to earn too… Also lots of fun times tables games at https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/times-tables . Finally – great online, live lessons and follow up activities from Gareth Metcalf at http://www.iseemaths.com/home-lessons/

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/ – Fantastic resources and games for reading, writing, spelling and maths.

Some lovely reading opportunities to share at https://www.storylineonline.net/

https://www.literacyshed.com/home.html Go to The Literacy Shed for some great ideas for story writing. The Literacy Trust have developed a fantastic portal of resources for families – go to https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/ . Also there’s a list of virtual author activities at https://www.weareteachers.com/virtual-author-activities/

Joe Wicks – The Body Coach is running a daily workout, Monday – Friday at 9am. https://www.thebodycoach.com/blog/pe-with-joe-1254.html?fbclid=IwAR13SHNgsUZEGLVRZYjbFzTf8PDAJvD4I8BxOASuWkVmjSNI6fsKHP1vs40

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zhyb4wx (KS1) and https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zxsvr82 (KS2) to practise your Spanish skills

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/mar/23/10-of-the-worlds-best-virtual-museum-and-art-gallery-tours The Guardian published 10 of the World’s best virtual museum and art gallery tours – but this list is not exhaustive!! The Tate Modern, for example, will give you some ideas for really crazy art to try!!

https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/ Learn about all the animals around the world!

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/ for geography and science ideas and fascinating facts. https://bpes.bp.com/the-emperors-new-clothes Some great science activities on BP’s website for Primary children – including this fun activity to help the Emperor find the right clothes for each season!

More science fun at https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/collections/primary-games/1

COVID 19 Principles

Worcestershire’s schools and education settings will be trying to operate on the following principles:

 When it is safe for them to do so the best place for every child in Worcestershire is to be at home. This will help to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

 We will provide a safe place for the children of those workers critical to the response to coronavirus if their children cannot safely stay at home.

 Provision is limited and will only be sustainable in the coming weeks and months if people use this as an option of last resort

 Where only one parent/carer is a ‘critical worker’, please consider keeping your child/children at home with the other parent/carer

 Critical workers may need to provide evidence with ID or similar

 Provision may be at a different site to your child’s usual school

Corona Rap Homework

Listen to the fantastic Corona Rap homework made by some of our pupils from Years 2, 3 and 4 below…

  • Address

    Lickey Hills Primary School and Nursery
    Old Birmingham Road, Lickey
    Worcestershire B45 8EU.

     

    School is open 8:50am – 3:20pm.

     

    The Hive before and after school club 7:30am – 8:50am and 3:20pm –  6:00pm.

     

    Office opening hours 8:00am – 4:00pm Monday to Friday.

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