Dear Parents/ Carers,

We are delighted to announce that our school is participating in a new Relationship Education program for Catholic primary schools, titled Life to the Full. You may hear your child coming home talking about this and we want to give you a brief overview of this new programme and what will be taught in the lessons.

As you may be aware, Relationship Education should have become statutory for all primary schools from September 2020, but due to COVID 19, this has now been extended to the summer term of 2021. The Life to the Full programme is based on ‘A Model Catholic RSE Curriculum’ by the Catholic Education Service which was highlighted as a work of good practice by the Department of Education. Therefore, we have confidence that the programme will be fit for purpose in supporting the growth and development of your child.

Life to the Full is an entire platform of creative resources that will engage, inform and inspire our children and, you as parents. This includes interactive video content, story-based activities, employing a wide range of teaching tools, original worship music and an accompanying programme of classroom prayers. In addition, there will be an online parent platform so that you, as parent and carers, can engage with the teaching and deepen the experience for your child.

To access the online parent platform please visit:

www.tentenresources.co.uk/parentportal

School Username: st-oswalds-l13

School Password: vanilla-flavour

 Programme Structure

In Life to the Full, we will be following a three-stage structure which is repeated across the different learning stages:

EYFS is aimed at Nursery and Reception;

Key Stage One is aimed at Years 1 and 2;

Lower Key Stage Two is aimed at Years 3 and 4;

Upper Key Stage Two is aimed at Years 5 and 6.

Within each learning stage, there are three modules which are based on the Model Catholic RSE Curriculum. The programme adopts a spiral curriculum approach so the learning will develop and grow, with each stage of education building on the last.

Module One: Created and Loved by God

Created and Loved by God explores the individual. Rooted in the teaching that we are made in the image and likeness of God, it helps children to develop an understanding of the importance of valuing themselves as the basis for personal relationships.

Module Two: Created to Love Others

Module Two: Created to Love Others explores the individual’s relationship with others. Building on the understanding that we have been created out of love and for love, this unit explores how we take this calling into our family, friendships and relationships, and teaches strategies for developing heathy relationships and keeping safe. This religious understanding is then applied to real-world situations relevant to the age and stage of the children.

Module Three: Created to Live in Community

Module Three: Created to Live in Community explores the individual’s relationship with the wider world. Here we explore how human beings are relational by nature and are called to love others in the wider community through service, through dialogue and through working for the Common Good. In the first Unit, Religious Understanding, the story sessions help children to develop a concept of the Trinity. In subsequent sessions, we apply this religious understanding to real-world situations, such as the community we live in, and through exploring the work of charities which work for the Common Good.

Each Module is then broken down into Units of Work.

The following link will provide you with additional detailed information regarding the content and structure of the Life to The Full programme including the non-statutory sexual elements.

https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/parent-consultation-tool-primary/

If you would prefer your child not to participate in the non-statutory sexual elements of the programme, please let school know through the school email marking it Life to the Full.

office@st-oswalds.liverpool.sch.uk

Yours faithfully,

Mrs. Walsh

Headteacher

Life To The Full Parental Letter

Dear Parents & Carers,

I wanted to write to thank you all for the wonderful response to the letter from the local authority asking families to rethink any child care arrangements you have, in order that we can keep the numbers of children in school down. St Oswald’s has approx. 24% of our children in school currently, this is in comparison to 20% nationally. I think it is important to keep reminding ourselves of the reason’s schools were closed to all but essential key workers supporting the covid response and vulnerable children, and that we all need to support the fight against this horrible virus by sticking to the rules. I know that life is really hard for everyone at the moment, and children are not feeling great stuck at home away from their friends, but please God it won’t be for much longer and I look forward to full school reopening in the not too distant future.

Remote learning is going really well with the vast majority of children logging on daily or working through paper packs. The staff are always on the learning platforms to help and support and have been very impressed with the children’s’ work at home.

On another note, next week is the last week that our Home/School liaison officer Mrs Hyland will be working in St Oswald’s, she has been snapped up by the mental health team in Alder Hey, a real testament to her skill. Mrs Hyland has been an essential part of our safeguarding and pastoral support team since 2011, so has worked with hundreds of our families. I know that those who have had a direct relationship with her will join me in congratulating her on her new role but also thank her for all the love and support she has given our community.

We are currently recruiting for someone to fill her position in school but those are big shoes to fill!! I will keep you updated when we employ a replacement.

Mrs Hyland wanted to say a goodbye herself so I have attached her letter below.

Mrs Hyland’s Leaving letter

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are one month into this third lockdown and we want to acknowledge all that you are doing for your children. Throughout this time exceptional demands have been placed upon your shoulders.

We have been identifying different groups of workers who have shown incredible service and commitment during the pandemic – they deserve our thanks. But nothing replaces your role as a parent or carer. You provide your children with love, support and care. These are the most important things that help children develop and grow through challenging circumstances. Thank you and well done!

This is particularly difficult for those of you who have to juggle child care, remote learning and work pressures. That is why we will continue to call for government to provide better financial support for our workers and those who have suffered job losses during this time.

Keeping yourselves and children safe is so important. That is why we keep reiterating the advice to stay at home if you possibly can and follow the rules of hands – face – space. We also encourage you to get tested and take up the offer of the vaccine when it is your turn.

It is also important that you reach out if you need support. There is always someone available and ready to listen and help. There are some useful resources here: https://www.cultureliverpool.co.uk/parenting-through-covid-19/.

Once again, thank you so much , and please keep you and your loved ones safe.

Councillor Wendy Simon – Acting Mayor of Liverpool

Councillor Barbara Murray – Cabinet member for education

Thank You Letter from Liverpool City Council

We are hosting a FREE webinar for teachers, educators, parents, or
anyone who might be struggling with the reality of home-schooling
during this ongoing lockdown. We will be addressing parent guilt,
managing expectations, and building resilience. We want you to leave
this webinar feeling action focused and empowered to create a culture of
optimal wellbeing in your lockdown environment!

Please see attached

Wellbeing for Teachers

Liverpool City Council
Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1AH
T: 0151 233 0480

DATE: 29th January 2021

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced his hope for schools to begin to reopen for
all pupils from 8 March. Liverpool City Council is committed to ensuring that schools are
the ‘first to open and last to close’; but there is a long road ahead of us and we must not
drop our guard.

We fully appreciate the pressures and difficulties that a national lockdown places on you
and on your children. We do not underestimate how hard it might be for you. However, it is
our joint effort that will help save lives.

We want to remind you that all of us, including children and young people, should stay at
home unless absolutely necessary. You should only send children into school or college if
there is no way they can safely stay at home and learn remotely. If there is an adult
working at home or able to take leave from their non-critical job, please think twice before
sending your child to school.

It is important that we keep the numbers attending schools and colleges as low as possible.
We must allow those who really need to be in school to have access to a place. At the
moment, some schools are unable to support safely the number of children wanting to
attend.

Please consider the needs of children who cannot safely stay at home. Many schools and
colleges are able to offer part-time places, and this can mean that schools can offer more
places to children who need them most.

Teachers are working incredibly hard to adapt to providing remote learning. Our teachers
have adapted to this new way of learning remarkably quickly and effectively. They have
been phenomenal, and deserve our full respect.

Schools are using a wide range of approaches to remote learning and are sharing good
practice with each other. Remote learning does not need to be online or ‘live’ but if it is, it’s
important that you follow the school’s protocols and expectations.

In the meantime, the plea to everyone is to continue following the rules – such as hands,
face, space – to get virus levels as low as possible. Please get tested regularly if you have
to leave the house for work or education, and accept the offer of the vaccine when your turn
comes.

Liverpool City Council
Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1AH
T: 0151 233 0480
E: steve.reddy@liverpool.gov.uk W.liverpool.gov.uk

29.01.2021 letter from SR and MA