See here for the latest news and updates

• Enteral Feeders back on deck tomorrow

  Thu 03 Dec 2020 Julie Fardell
  More good news - Children who receive enteral (Tube) feeds can return to school tomorrow. This does not include those children who are isolating (LOR, LJA, RKH and MSI Unit) or those who require regular suctioning. We are still awaiting confirmation from Birmingham Complex Care and NHS School Nursing Service as to when those children who require regular suctioning can safely return to school.

• COVID 19 - Good News!!

  Thu 03 Dec 2020 Julie Fardell
  Great news - no new COVID cases for 3 days now and those who have been isolating are beginning to return.

• PE at Home Advent Calendar

  Wed 02 Dec 2020 Helen
  There are some ideas of things you could try saved in the PE section of Home Learning - adaptations will need to be made for some children.

• Parents Sensory Festival - Hirstwood Training

  Wed 02 Dec 2020

  Victoria staff recently participated in Hirstwood training and feedback was very positive. Tickets for this event are £12.50.

   

  'The live Festival will take place on Saturday 5th December 2020 and although we want you to be there we know that it’s not always possible. So the sessions will be recorded where possible and available to watch online until the evening of 12 December 2020.'

   

  More information and how to book is on:

   

  https://hirstwood.com/parents-sensory-festival/

   

• Face Coverings to be used on School Transport fby pupils aged 11 and over unless exempt

  Mon 30 Nov 2020 Department for Education

  Updated guidance on the use of face coverings when travelling to school or college

  Face coverings are an important measure in reducing the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19), particularly in enclosed spaces. Children aged 11 and over are required to wear a face covering on public transport in England, unless exempt for health, age or disability reasons.

  From 2 December, in accordance with advice from Public Health England, children and young people aged 11 and over must wear a face covering when travelling on dedicated transport to secondary school or college, unless they are exempt.

  Schools should support local authorities in promoting the use of face coverings when travelling to and from school or college and help them to resolve any issues of non-compliance where appropriate.

  The ‘Hands. Face. Space.’ campaign urges everyone to continue to wash their hands, cover their face and make space to control infection rates. The NHS has released a ‘Hands. Face. Space.’ video that may be a useful resource when communicating the importance of wearing a face covering on transport directly to children and young people.

  Further information on face coverings can be found in our guidance on transport to school and other places of education: 2020 to 2021 academic year.

• COVID Update 30/11/20

  Mon 30 Nov 2020 Julie Fardell

  We have had a further 3 staff test positive to COVID. All are from MSI. The total now stands at 14 staff and 2 pupils. The classes affected are LOR, LJA, RKH (all in 14-19) and the MSI Department.

   

  Isolation for the first bubble (LOR/LJA) will come to an end later this week and for MSI early next week.

• COVID Update 27.11.20

  Fri 27 Nov 2020 Julie Fardell

  We now have 13 positive cases in school - 2 pupils and 11 staff across the MSI Unit and 14-19 classes: LJA, LOR and RKH, with some pupils and staff from LBW also isolating due to exposure to potentially infectious persons prior to their symptoms occurring.

   

  REMINDER: Please observe social distancing and wear a mask if you are at school to drop off or collect a child. Do not attend if you or a household member are unwell, have COVID symptoms or are awaiting a COVID test.

   

  Hands - Face - Space

   

   

• Be Empowered Workshop – Early Support Programme for SEND Parent Carers

  Thu 26 Nov 2020 Kate Thompson

  Every Wednesday evening from 6pm-9pm for 6 weekly sessions

  Starting Wed 6^th Jan 2021, and then continues on Wed 13^th Jan, Wed 20^th Jan, Wed 27^th Jan, Wed 3^rd Feb and finishes on Wed 10^th Feb 2021

   

  We warmly invite you to join in a series of evening online workshops that have been written and led by trainers who are parent/carers of a child with additional needs themselves.

  These workshops are for parent/carers of children and young people of any age, with any additional need, following diagnosis. They are an attempt to support parent/carers through times of change and at whatever stage of the journey participants may find themselves.

   

  If you are interested in accessing these evening workshops online, you will need to have a laptop/computer/smartphone with a camera. 

  Please note, due to increased demand we may not always be able to offer places automatically. If you are placed on a waiting list, you will be offered a space on a future set of workshops this academic year.

  Please apply by completing and signing the attached booking form and consent to either

  Sarah Adams (Early Years Inclusion Support)

  Sarah.Adams@birmingham.gov.uk    Tel: 07827 082751   

  or Oenca Fontaine (Parent Engagement Consultant)  Oenca.Fontaine@birmingham.gov.uk

   

  Deadline for receiving bookings is Friday 11^th December 2020!

   

  https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/victoria-school/UploadedDocument/7a8dc778a0504d138fcc89562d8eb1c2/online-evening-bew-booking-form-jan-feb-2021.docx

• COVID update (and Christmas decorations!)

  Thu 26 Nov 2020 Julie Fardell

  We have had 2 further staff test positive to COVID today, bringing the total to 9 staff and 2 pupils, all within the MSI Department and LJA/LOR Bubble in 14-19. Several staff and pupils are awaiting test results. Public Health advice continues to be that no further action is needed beyond closing the affected Bubbles for the isolation period and deep cleaning the areas they have used at school.

   

  On a lighter note, we feel that we all need some Christmas cheer to brighten up this worrying time so the Christmas tree will be going up in the Hall on Monday and the "Tele-Shopping Quality Victoria Christmas Market will be going ahead". The  children will still enjoy Christmas Dinner and the Play and Pantomime will be shown by Zoom. 

   

  If you are looking for something crafty to do with your children at home, additional red and gold home-made decorations would be welcomed for the tree.

   

  Stay safe and well.

• COVID Uppdate

  Wed 25 Nov 2020 Julie Fardell
  We now have 9 positive COVID cases at Victoria - 2 pupils and 7 staff.

  They are all contained within 2 bubbles: MSI and a bubble of 2 14-19 classes: LOR and LJA.

  2 Bus routes are also cancelled with pupils, drivers and guides self-isolating as the 2 children had each travelled to school on transport on Friday.

   

  Public Health England (West Midlands) advice continues to be that because all positive cases are within the 2 isolated bubbles, we do not need to take further actions other than to deep clean the classrooms and shared spaces that these classes have used.

   

  Interestingly, the range of symptoms has been diverse and not the usually recognised COVID symptoms. One child is completely asymptomatic. Fortunately, none seem to have severe symptoms.

   

  I am very grateful to the office staff at Victoria who have been absolutely magnificent in keeping records of affected individuals, close contacts and isolation dates as well as contacting parents to explain why their child needs to isolate.