Victoria School
"Working Together for Success"
Victoria School
Working Together for Success
Latest News
See here for the latest news and updates
-
Safety when collecting children from school
Tue 30 Jun 2020For the safety of children, parents and staff (both COVID-safety and traffic safety) we respectfully request that parents do not cluster around the entry door when waiting to collect children in the afternoon and that you maintain a 2m distance from all other people while waiting. Please queue from the left of the front door back towards the steps that lead to the upper car park. Thank you. -
Photographs of school to help transition
Tue 30 Jun 2020You can now find some photographs of the main areas of school (kindly taken by Sue Facey for new Year 7 students) on our website in the 'Key Information' section:
https://www.victoria.bham.sch.uk/photos-of-our-school/
Each class will also be sending home photographs of their room and staff for next year to help students with the transition back to school in September (all being well).
By putting all of this information together we hope some of our learners will understand more about what to expect or be able to remember what school actually looks like after so long away!
-
Physiotherapy helpline
Mon 29 Jun 2020I have just been advised of a better phone number for the Physiotherapy Advice Line now and during the Summer holidays. It is:
465 4461
You will be answered by a qualified physiotherapist who can assist with your physio enquiries.
-
September 2020
Mon 29 Jun 2020Please find following a letter about our plans for September 2020. As frustrating as it might be, our plans are entirely reliant on whatever new government advice is at the time. It is still 9 weeks until school resumes for the new academic year in September and much may change during that time. Please keep your eye on this website and download "The School App" to get updates as and when they are made.
Dear Parents and Carers
Thank you: Firstly, I would like to thank you all and acknowledge your amazing efforts over the past 3.5 months since the government announced that schools were to shut down to help control the spread of the Coronavirus.
It has been a difficult period of time with so many unknowns, frequently
changing information, needing to stay at home, so many shops and services closed, some schools and respite facilities closed and the constant worry about the health of yourselves and those you love. Unfortunately, a number of families in the Victoria community have been touched by the death of loved ones during this period. Our sympathy goes out to them all.
You have all done a truly amazing job of supporting your families and continuing their education by implementing the learning activities sent out from school. Some of you who are, or whose children are deemed to be extremely clinically vulnerable, have now been advised to continue shielding at home until the end of July, about 6 weeks longer than originally indicated. We know that this must be hard but because people who are clinically extremely vulnerable would be hugely at risk if they did catch COVID-19, it’s a precaution that is well worth taking!
Known cases of COVID-19: While a small number of children and staff have presented for COVID testing, there has been only one confirmed positive case and that was right at the beginning of the pandemic in the second last week of March when one pupil tested positive. Thankfully, that young person is now fully recovered.
iPads & Laptops: We have loaned many iPads and some laptops out to pupils to facilitate their learning at home. We have also used bursary funds to buy similar equipment for some of our 14-19 year old students. All ICT equipment will need to be returned to school when pupils and students return in September.
Physiotherapy Equipment: After consultation with parents, school staff transported many pieces of physiotherapy equipment home so that you could continue to implement the very important regular programmes of positioning and postural support. Please try to make time to continue these programmes throughout the Summer holiday. The equipment will need to come back to school in September.
Summer Holidays: There are no plans to open Victoria School during the Summer holiday. Quite a bit of building and maintenance work that was to have been completed at Easter has had to be postponed until the Summer holiday so the school is ready for the start of the new school year. Teachers will also cease making their weekly calls to you at this time.
If you need nursing advice during this time, contact the School Nurse Holiday Cover team on BCHNT.holidaycoverssnteam@nhs.net
For Physiotherapy advice, call Allenscroft Children’s Centre on 0121 466 4710.
For wheelchair repairs, call Rosscare on 0121 328 0227.
The Prescription Line is 0121 466 4727.
Financial Assistance: Information on the Government Family Fund can be found here:
The Northfield Community Hub can be contacted by phone or email on 07516 918 133 ((M-W) or 97951 346 327 (Th or F) or northfieldfamilies@northfieldcommunity.org
What will school look like in September? This is a very hard question to answer because we do not know how government advice will change over the course of the next 2 months. The government has announced that all schools will re-open to all pupils in September. It is our plan that all children will be able to return to school when school resumes in September. However, depending on social distancing rules at the time, we may not have space for all pupils to be in school at once. In this case, a rota system will be set up. We have already been advised by the Department for Education, that primary pupils do not need to socially distance. If no social distancing is required, we will be able to accommodate all learners to return to school.
Returning pupils will resume school on Thursday 3 September and new pupils will be informed of their commencement date during their transition sessions.
At this point, we do not know whether the NHS will have returned school nurses, enteral feeders and physiotherapists to schools. If social distancing is still required, the capacity of school transport will continue to be severely limited. Mileage payments continue to be available to those parents who transport their own children. To apply, please email travelassist@birmingham.gov.uk
In the first half term (until October half term break), we will be focusing on transitioning all pupils back to school, with an emphasis on supporting their mental health and wellbeing. We will also be assessing pupils to determine their knowledge and skill levels after a 5 month break from full education. For those who use postural and positioning equipment, physiotherapists will need to measure and weigh children and check equipment to ensure that it is still the right size for the pupil, or have it adjusted or replaced as necessary.
In the second half term (October to Christmas), we will be focusing on core subjects: English, Maths and Science, together with the Victoria Priority Subjects of Communication, PSHE and Positioning & Postural Management. This is because these are the highest priority areas for Victoria pupils and also to enable classes to remain in “bubbles” to limit the spread of infection, if that is still required.
Hopefully in the Spring term, we will be able to return to full curriculum provision.
We do not yet know whether lunchtime clubs and after school clubs will be able to be run. This will depend on government advice at the time.
If “bubbles” and/or social distancing are still required, this means that play and break times will need to be staggered, lunches eaten in class groups, and group events such as assemblies and plays, delivered virtually, rather than face to face.
All of this planning is subject to government guidance as it changes in response to the pandemic.
For as long as it is recommended, staff will continue to have access to personal protective equipment (PPE) for situations where they need to work in close proximity to pupils, for example in personal care.
Communications between home and school: We are desperately trying to both reduce costs and protect the environment, by using less paper. Therefore, the website and associated App will be the main means of communication from September 2020. If you have not already done so, please bookmark the school website at www.victoria@bham.sch.uk and download “The School App” from your App Store onto your phone or other device so that you will receive notifications when new
information is added to the website. Text messaging will
also be via the website so it is essential that download the App.
We will only be sending out hard copy information to those families
that do not have the internet or a device. If you are in this situation, please
advise the school office on 0121 476 9478.
Farewells: Farewell to those young people who will be graduating from Victoria School in July. We wish you well in all that the future holds, and hope that you take a little bit of Victoria in your hearts to remind you of your years here.
A small number of staff members are leaving at the end of this school year. We thank them all for their service to the children and families of Victoria School and wish them well for the future.
They are: Lisa Lewis (retiring)
Vanessa Attewell (retiring)
Katie Tombs (relocated out of the area)
Louise Sperin (family responsibilities)
We also wish all the best to Robyn Murphy and Sarah Trueman-Jones who are both going on maternity leave.
Congratulations: to Jenny Reid-Lees who has been permanently appointed as Head of the MSI Department. Congratulations also to Jade McIntosh who has successfully completed her induction year as a newly qualified teacher (NQT) and to Jodie Glover who has been awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Lauren Tate and Louise Hancocks have been promoted to the post of Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA).
Annual Pupil Reports: This letter accompanies your child’s annual report. I hope you enjoy reading these reports in their new formats and celebrating your child’s successes. Should you wish to discuss your child’s report with his or her class teacher, please phone the school on 0121 476 9478 or email the teacher or main office on enquiries@victoria.bham.sch.uk to request an appointment.
Class Groups for September 2020: You will also find an information slip advising you of your child’s class for next year.
Best wishes: I trust that you will all enjoy a relaxing summer break and some great summer weather. I hope also, that as time progresses, the impact of Coronavirus on daily life will lessen.
Stay safe and well.
Yours sincerely
Julie Fardell
Executive Head Teacher
-
Parent event for yr11 transition support 30th June 2020
Fri 26 Jun 2020The local authority are running a free online event for parents of year 11 pupils with SEND to support with transition. The flyer is attached, the link to book onto it is:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/year-11-drop-in-for-parents-tickets-110764242832
-
Storytelling for children with SEND - "It'll be ok Mae!"
Thu 18 Jun 2020This is a collaborative story-telling project designed to help children deal with the stresses imposed by Coronoavirus. The first session is available next week.
-
Northfield Families - £150 grants
Thu 18 Jun 2020Many children, young people and their families are facing challenges as a result of Covid-19. Community organisations and support services are working together to meet local needs. We can support young people, families, schools and community workers with Information and a directory of local support available during the Covid-19 period (including food, wellbeing, debt, parenting and play) We can also help you apply for up to £150 resilience fund for your family. Please contact us at Northfield Community Partnership for more information about support and funds available for families and groups in the Northfield Area. Email : northfieldfamlies@northfieldcommunity.org Phone: Mon-Wed 07516918133 Thur-Fri 07951346327 -
Northfield Families - £150 grants
Thu 18 Jun 2020Many children, young people and their families are facing challenges as a result of Covid-19. Community organisations and support services are working together to meet local needs. We can support young people, families, schools and community workers with Information and a directory of local support available during the Covid-19 period (including food, wellbeing, debt, parenting and play) We can also help you apply for up to £150 resilience fund for your family. Please contact us at Northfield Community Partnership for more information about support and funds available for families and groups in the Northfield Area. Email : northfieldfamlies@northfieldcommunity.org Phone: Mon-Wed 07516918133 Thur-Fri 07951346327 -
Olympic and Paralympic Activities
Wed 10 Jun 2020Whether at home or school, we can still celebrate International Olympic Day. Held annually on 23 June, Olympic Day celebrates getting active and living the Olympic Values. Move, learn, discover and share to win with our #OlympicDay challenges!
Also... The Mascot Challenge Home Learning
https://www.getset.co.uk/resources/home-learning/the-mascot-challenge-home
Have fun!!
-
Home to School Transport - Allowance for Parents
Mon 08 Jun 2020HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORT: COVID 19
I am writing to you during very difficult times for families and their children during the Covid pandemic.
Providing the home to school transport provision during these times is also challenging especially because there is reduced capacity on the vehicles to ensure that we can maintain social distancing and that children can travel safe and keep safe. As more children start to attend school this summer term, we may encounter capacity difficulties in terms of vehicles, drivers and guides. We will of course reinstate transport as soon as possible ensuring that all risk and safety measures are in place for the children.
To help us with this problem I am writing to ask if any parents would like to volunteer to transport their child to and from school and receive a fuel allowance to cover the costs. The allowance is 0.45p per mile for two return journeys to and from school e.g. home to school is 6 miles each way, allowance is 4x 6 = 24 miles = £10.80 per day. If you take up this offer and volunteer it will not affect your statutory rights to transport provision and that the transport will be reinstated at your request, please give at least one weeks’ notice. The allowance may also be reviewed if new vehicle capacity becomes available. All the temporary arrangements will be reviewed at the end of the summer term.
I thank you in advance of any assistance you may offer. If you would like to volunteer, please complete the form below and return it to travelassist@birmingham.gov.uk
Yours sincerely
Mark Hudson
SEND Transport Manager
Mark Hudson
SEND Transport Manager
Education & Skills Directorate
Travel Assist
PO Box 16541
Birmingham
B2 2DD
Telephone: 0121 303 4955
email: travelassist@birmingham.gov.uk
Page 1 of 2
Next »