Lockdown Reflection/Transition Resources

Picture News have provided some Lockdown Reflection/Transition Resources.

Looking at children’s experiences during this period, this can be completed at home with families. It can be used to support any transition for children who are returning in June but also as a reflection for the past few months and looking ahead to the next school year.

Story: Reflected on and sharing with others our experiences during the pandemic.

Question: What have you learned about yourself from your lockdown experience?

Download: Emotion roller coaster Proforma [PDF]

Download: Lockdown Reflection – June 2020 [PDF]

Download: Lockdown Writing Proforma [PDF]

Download: Picture News Special Resource – Lockdown Reflection [PDF]

New Telephone Support Line

Did you know there is a new telephone support line, available to anyone aged 16+, for those who are experiencing stress, worry, and/or low mood as a result of the Covid-19 situation. It is open to both the general public and NHS staff, who may be feeling overwhelmed.

We have attached two information posters about the support line. The support line is staffed by the Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and is available 8.00am to 8.00pm every day; providing:

  • A listening ear.
  • A chance to share how you’re feeling.
  • It can offer information, self-help materials and signposting toward other helpful services and organisations.

Please note this is not an emergency line, if someone is in need of urgent support they should ring the 24/7 urgent mental health support line on 0151 296 7200.

Half Term Provisions

Information has been published on the Liverpool City Council website updating parents with no alternative at all of a limited availability of holiday provision. Please see below.

Hubs for primary-aged children

The hubs are closing on Friday 22nd May 2020 and will not reopen. Provision will be offered from your child’s primary schools from Monday 1st June (at St Oswald’s Primary School this will be from Monday 8th June) for vulnerable pupils and key workers. Please check your child’s school website for details.

We are incredibly grateful for staff who have worked in or supported the hubs across the city.

Half term provision for primary aged children

During the half term period from Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May (please note that St Oswald’s Primary School will have a half term period of Monday 25th May to Friday 5th June) there will be a limited number of places for primary aged children ages 5 to 11. There are a limited number of 72 places available for children where there are 2 key worker parents both working out of the home at the same time next week.

North: Rice Lane Farm. (20 places) – open 9.00am to 4.00pm – available Bank Holiday Monday if sufficient demand. Cost: £20 per day per place.

Central: Out of this World, Joseph Lappin Centre. (up to 32 places) – open 8.00am to 6.00pm – available Bank Holiday Monday if sufficient demand. Cost: £20 per day per place.

South: Five for Families (Speke). (20 places) – open 9.00am to 4.00pm – available Bank Holiday Monday if sufficient demand. Cost: £30 per day per place.

Places are only available in exceptional circumstances. Places will be allocated on prioritised need for key critical workers and first come first served.

Please email: Judith.Boyce@si.liverpool.gov.uk; to discuss a place.

Staff who have worked in all types of education settings for the last 3 months need a break during half term and some will also be working to prepare their school for opening to key workers children and vulnerable. Employers, including those of key workers should also recognise that their staff need a break. As above we will do all we can to accommodate those with no alternative options.

Primary schools

All primary schools are closed for the half term during the half term period from Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May (please note that St Oswald’s Primary School will be closed until Friday 5th June and reopen on Monday 8th June). They will reopen for their own vulnerable children and key workers. Please check your child’s school website for details.

Secondary Schools

Provision continues to be available for vulnerable children and key workers from your child’s school. Please contact the individual school and check their website for details.

There is no half term provision for secondary aged children.

Special Schools

The majority of special schools are closed during the half term period from Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May. Palmerston, Redbridge & Princes are offering some support to their own families. Special schools will reopen on Monday 1st June for vulnerable children and key workers. Please check your child’s school website for details.

Care for nursery and early years children

Keyworkers who need to secure child care provision as their usual provider is not open or does not plan to open need to contact the Family Information Service on 0151 233 0499 or 0151 233 0495 or email EarlyYears@liverpool.gov.uk who will identify a provider for them.

View a list of private, voluntary and independent childminders and nurseries that remain open.

Mr Hegarty Letter

Dear parents and carers,

Like you all, I am aware that we are living in very troubling and uncertain times. I sincerely hope and pray that all your families are safe and well.

I am extremely grateful to the staff in our school. Not only has the school been open as a hub every day, including some back holidays, but teachers have also been providing information and resources for all our pupils. I am sure you are aware, through the media that we are still in a situation of some considerable confusion regarding the potential phased reopening of schools. Even as I am writing this, it appears that the situation is changing daily if not hourly.

As Chair of Governors I have kept in regular contact with the school and we, as a Governing Body have been holding regular meetings via Zoom.

There are many factors for staff and governors to consider regarding the current situation which is primarily focused upon ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone in school. In addition to the many difficulties all schools face, St Oswald’s is one of the largest primary school in the country with a split site and a very challenging layout.

Being very honest with parents, one thing that can be confirmed, is that however our phased re-opening is managed moving forward, school will be a very different place during this unsettled period. It is highly unlikely that children will return to their class teacher or teaching assistant and may be separated from friends.

I cannot praise highly enough the hard work, courage and dedication of every person working in the School. All members of the senior leadership, teachers, administration staff, support staff, catering service and our cleaning team have all contributed to a fantastic effort that has kept those attending safe.  I think that as this week we saw #thankateacherday it is fitting to thank, not only the teachers, but everybody involved in the smooth operation of our hub.

The staff are greatly missing each and every one of our precious school family. However, I am sure you will all agree that the safety and wellbeing of our children and staff has to remain our absolute priority.

I hope you all keep safe and well.  I would ask that you keep our school community in your prayers as we continue to work together during these unprecedented times.

Mrs Walsh will keep you fully informed of developments as the situation develops.

Kind regards,

Tony Hegarty
Chair of Governors

Download: Mr Hegarty Letter [PDF]

The Largest Online Art Lesson!

We are attempting to break the #GuinnessWorldRecord for largest online art lesson with Rob Biddulph and Art World Records. Please join us on the 21st of May at 4pm.

Register individually on www.artworldrecords.com to receive the link to the stream.

Wowfest Lockdown

WOWFEST LOCKDOWN! STORY TIME

Join local and national artists and authors for WOWFEST’s storytime! Something for children 0-7 years (But all are welcome! Old or young).

13th May

It’s Storytime with Natalia Rojas (0-7 years) at 11am on 13th May! Natalia will be reading her book “Every Family Is Different”.

Learn more > https://bit.ly/2T0pTlD

15th May

Check out the next generation of young spoken word artists, rappers, grime artists and lyricists breaking out through WoW’s Life of Grime project at 3pm on 15th May!

Learn more > https://bit.ly/2WpMavh

Sign up > https://bit.ly/2xVWbad

19th May

It’s Storytime with Glamrou (0-7 years) at 11am on 19th May! Join Glamrou for a story time all about a little fish growing up in the warm Egyptian seas.

Learn more > https://bit.ly/2xVXaqV

20th May

It’s Storytime with Jude Lennon (0-7 years) at 11am on 20th May! Join local author Jude Lennon as she reads from her latest children’s book ‘That’s Our Home!’

Learn more > https://bit.ly/3bwSDZS

22nd May

There’s a Wowfest reading and Q&A about Sharna Jackson’s “High-rise Mystery” at 3pm on 22nd May. The perfect ‘whodunnit’ for children aged 8+.

Learn more > https://bit.ly/3cr9v5p

26th May

It’s Storytime with Natalie Reeves Billing (0-7 years) at 11am on 26th May! Natalie Reeves Billing will be reading from her new book ‘My Mummy is a Monster’ a book written to help struggling families communicate in the Coronavirus crisis and beyond.

Learn more > https://bit.ly/3bs4YOT

27th May

It’s Storytime with Travelled Companions (0-7 years) at 11am on 27th May! Join them for an interactive story adventure. A Red Hood, A Glass Slipper, Some little Elfs and a Big Bad Wolf!

Learn more > https://bit.ly/2WQnvyR

Hub Closed on Friday 8th May

Please note that the St Oswald’s Primary School Hub will be closed this Friday 8th May 2020 for primary-age pupils whose parents are key workers.

You can check the latest information for schools that will be open on the Liverpool City Council website.

External Link: https://liverpool.gov.uk/communities-and-safety/emergency-planning/coronavirus/childcare-hubs-and-education/childcare-hubs-for-key-workers/

Thank you.

First Holy Communion Masses 2020

Dear Parent/Carer,

We began the “With You Always” preparation journey in both parishes earlier on this year, with a view to the children of our parish receiving their First Holy Communion in June 2020. Unfortunately, on the 23rd March, the country went into lockdown, and we have been in that position ever since. This has meant the introduction of tightened social distancing, as well as the closure of all non-essential buildings, including all Churches with their related sacramental programs.

The ongoing lockdown has had a very profound knock-on effect to the parish life within our communities, including the preparation and reception of Holy Communion for 2020. I have had to make a difficult decision regarding the reception of First Holy Communion.

Due to the uncertain future at the moment; the unknown timescale of the lockdown, and the continuing social distance measures that will probably still be in effect after the lockdown, the receiving of First Holy Communion for all Year 4 children within our parishes in June 2020 be deferred until 2021. This means that there will be no First Holy Communion Masses taking place this year. I know this news is sad and disappointing, but I do hope you understand the reasons why I have made this difficult decision. Hopefully, in September, we will be able to re-start the “With You Always” preparation course for Holy Communion, with a view for the First Holy Communion Masses taking place in Spring 2021.

I will be in touch in the new school year to let you know the updated timeframe and how the preparation course will take shape. Please do keep safe, and I hope to see you all soon.

God bless.

Fr. Liam Collister (Parish Priest)

Picturepath – Free Tool

We wanted to write to you to let you know about a great resource that is being offered for free during this current lockdown.

Picturepath is an online timeline tool that helps children with Autism and other educational needs to manage their daily routines without getting stressed. They have had great feedback from SENCo’s, parents and SEND children who’ve been using Picturepath to help them adapt to home learning during the Covid-19 lockdown. Because of this they’re wanting to support more schools and families with SEND children by offering Picturepath for free for the rest of the academic year. Links to the parents app are below:

Apple App Store – https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/picturepath/id1339643269

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.acorn.picapp&hl=en_GB