See here for the latest news and updates

• Full School re-opening in September

  Fri 17 Jul 2020 Julie Fardell

  The 2019-2020 school year has now come to an end. It has been a most unusual year because of Coronavirus, and we are sorry that children have not been able to celebrate their end-of-year assemblies, their Prom (although the virtual Prom was magnificent!) and the many other special activities that usually mark year's end. I pay tribute to you as parents and carers for all your hard work in caring for and educating your children with remote lessons from the school or via the internet, or around part-time school attendance. I pay tribute too to all of our teachers and support staff - both educational and non-educational, who have kept the school functioning throughout this difficult time.

   

  \in accordance with government requirements, the school will re-open to all pupils in September. The first day of attendance for returning pupils and new pupils in year 1 and above, will be Thursday 3rd september. New Nursery and Reception children will have been given their first attendance date.

   

  School is from 9am to 3pm. Children can arrive from 8.50am. Parents collecting children in the afternoon are asked to arrive at 3.20pm.

   

  The School Transport Service will be operating as normal.

   

  We will have additional hygiene precautions in place with extra cleaning, hand sanitisers and frequent hand-washing in place. Classes have been arranged in "bubbles" to minimise contact between groups. We will maintain social distancing as mush as possible and staff working with children for personal care will wear PPE.

   

  You can help us y having only one adult accompany children into school and by clearing the foyer area as quickly as possible. Please observe social distancing if needing attention at the school office. Please wash your children's hands before they leave for school in the morning and as soon as they get home.

   

  Your child MUST NOT ATTEND school if they have any illness or Coronavirus symptoms. If they become ill at school, you will be required to collect them as soon as possible.

   

  The situation continues to change rapidly and I will keep you informed as the situation changes.

   

  If you have been loaned laptops or iPads from school, please return them on the first day of your child's attendance.

   

  We look forward to welcoming all our pupils back in September!

• Prom Thanks from Chair of Governors

  Fri 17 Jul 2020 Clare Mills
  Dear Andrew,

   

  I have just spent a wonderful time watching all of the fabulous speeches for our Leavers of the Class of 2020.

   

  I would like to thank you, Judi and all of the team for making a great occasion for our young people even in these unusual circumstances. As ever, Victoria School has done its students proud.

   

  It was great to hear where they will all be going and to know that they are all fully prepared for their next steps out into the world.

   

  I would like to wish them all the best in their new ventures and look forward to hearing about their progress.

   

  Much love to all involved.

   

  Clare Mills

   

  Chair of Governors 

• Letter to Parents and Carers from Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council

  Fri 17 Jul 2020 Ian Ward

  16 July 2020

  Dear parents and carers

  The vast majority of Birmingham schools have been open to some pupils throughout the coronavirus outbreak and almost all have welcomed back significant numbers of additional pupils since the beginning of June. Last month the government set out its plan that all children and young people, in all year groups, will return to school full time from the beginning of the autumn term. We support this plan and are keen that all Birmingham children return to school. Many pupils will not have attended school full time for several months and we know that some families may have concerns about their child returning to school. As we approach the end of the summer term, we are writing to reassure you about the safety measures that schools will be putting in place so that you can be confident when your child goes back to school in September. The safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff is the highest priority for all Birmingham schools as well as the council. Every school will be undertaking comprehensive health and safety risk assessments as part of their planning for all pupils to return and will make sure that everyone is safe at school. To manage the risks that remain from coronavirus, you will find that things will be a bit different when your children return to school in September. Your child’s school will be in touch with you to set out the changes that it is making and we would encourage you to carefully read any communication you receive about new arrangements and contact them if you have any questions. When they return in September some children will be asked stay within specified separate groups (or bubbles) and others will be asked to maintain distance between individuals. The government’s guidance recognises that younger children may not be able to maintain social distancing so it is likely that for younger children the emphasis will be on separating groups, and for older children, it will be on distancing. Your school will set out how this will work. Your child’s school may also introduce new processes for drop off and collection. If they do this, it will be to help keep groups apart as they arrive and leave school and will not reduce the amount of time that is spent teaching. New hygiene arrangements 2 will be introduced and schools will ensure that all children wash their hands immediately when they arrive and frequently during the school day. Families can support this by: • ensuring that anyone who has coronavirus symptoms, or has someone in their household who does, does not attend school. This means if your child, or someone in your household, has symptoms you should not send them to school • engaging with the NHS Test and Trace process so that cases can be identified and action taken. This means if your child develops symptoms, you should arrange for them to get a test and you should inform your school of the results of that test We are hugely grateful for the commitment and dedication school staff have shown over the last few months and we know that they are really looking forward to welcoming back all children in September. Schools have worked really hard to put new arrangements in place so children can return safely and we would ask you to support them by observing any new measures that schools introduce. Regular attendance at school is vital for not only children’s education but also their wellbeing and wider development. We know that children have missed being with their friends and teachers and will be looking forward to returning to school in September. We hope you have a restful summer break.

• Thanks For The Memories!

  Fri 17 Jul 2020 Andrew

  As we wish all of our leavers farewell, some kinds words and a lovely video from Jack and his family...

   

  'Victoria is a place of fun, happiness & joy. As a parent of a child with a disability that is all you truly want. For your child to have the joy of being a child.

   

  There aren't really words that can express the gratitude or love that we have for Victoria.

   

  We hope you enjoy this short video as a token of our deepest thanks and appreciation...'

   

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUunYqsQuWI

   

   

   

   

• Leavers Prom

  Thu 16 Jul 2020 Andrew

  Last night was our leavers prom. Although we couldn’t be together in school to celebrate it as usual, our young people and their families had their 'Prom at Home' packs sent out and had an amazing time celebrating and watching together.

   

  The whole ceremony is now on a Youtube playlist at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhbv3N4MmQzV0BF2KwC_f-TboVGYqiy2T

   

  A big thank you to all the staff involved, it was a mammoth effort in putting it together.

   

  Most importantly, well done and good luck to all of our leavers this year. You have been amazing and we are going to miss you all.

   

• Free School Meal Vouchers

  Wed 15 Jul 2020 Pauline McKenna
  For families in receipt of free school meals, the unclaimed ecodes issued for the Easter period have been extended until 31 August 2020. This means that they must be redeemed for a supermarket voucher before this date otherwise the code will expire. Unfortunately it is not possible to reissue new ecodes for this period. Thank you

• Summer Home Learning Tasks

  Tue 14 Jul 2020 Andrew

  We know that lots of our families have been taking part in a variety of different home learning activities over the last few months and you have all been amazing.

   

  As we preapare to run a Recovery Curriculum for all students in September we would like all of our families to help us prepare for this by completing a fun and sensory wellbeing activity over the Summer which can be brought into school when we return.

   

  There are 2 tasks attached and we would love it if all learners could do both. They are activities which encourage you to get out and explore your garden or further afield if possible.

   

  We look forward to seeing everyone's amazing work in September.

   

  Have fun!

   

  

• Transport for West Midlands

  Tue 14 Jul 2020 Julie Fardell

  We have been asked to make the information at the following link available to parents. It relates to transport for September.

  http://www.tfwm.org.uk/schooltravel

• The Rainbow Hour and Books

  Tue 14 Jul 2020 Julie Fardell

  This Rainbow booklet has been designed as part of the Black Country Rainbow Hour Campaign which seeks to provide all children and young people with access to one hour of wellbeing and physical activity each day. This booklet provides a range of wellbeing and physical activities.

  This booklet will be updated regularly with new activities for each of the 7 rainbow strands. Fielding & Striking Activities Ball Skill Activities Move More Activities Outdoor & Nature Activities Mental Wellbeing & Mindfulness Activities Personal Challenges and Multi Skills Activities Themed Celebration and Creative Activities Red Fielding and Striking Activities Orange Ball Skills Activities Yellow Move More Activities Green Outdoor Activities Blue Mental Wellbeing and Mindfulness activities Indigo Personal Challenges/Multi Skills Activity Violet Themed Celebration and Creative Activities All activities within this Rainbow Booklet follow the concept of the 3C’s and are deliverable whilst following national guidance around social distancing: • Allowing Communication (helping with healing and coping). • Consistently applied to support young people’s need for routine and consistency. • Activities that give pupils a sense of Control which prevents them from being consumed by emotional reactions.

   

  www.activeblackcountry.co.uk

   

• PE at Home Cards

  Tue 14 Jul 2020 Helen

  There are now some new activity PE cards in the PE Home Learning section of the website https://www.victoria.bham.sch.uk/pe-at-home-cards/

   

  Each document has EYFS, KS1, KS2, Ks3 and KS4 tasks, they will need to be adapted for each young person but there are lots of ideas there.