As term marches on with Half Term next week, so do changes to the routines we have become so used to since lockdown was announced...
As term marches on with Half Term next week, so do changes to the routines we have become so used to since lockdown was announced. We do look forward to welcoming back children in Pre-School, Reception and years 1 and 6 on the 1st June and I hope you have been able to watch the videos sent out recently which explain how the school will be managing this phased return.
Undoubtedly, due to the restrictions in place and guidance to which we must adhere, the school day will look very different for pupils but most importantly, they will be back in familiar surroundings with their peer group and teachers. There are still a great many arrangements to make and with Government edicts arriving almost daily, we will be working throughout half term to make sure the school is a safe but still welcoming environment.
I know that I probably speak for us all when saying that by the end of each day, despite having been flat out for hours, there still remain a number of tasks unfinished and that there just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day. We are very mindful of the pressures placed on families at the moment which only increases our gratitude for, and appreciation of, everything you are doing to deliver CAPP at home and ensure that Edge Grove pupils remain engaged in their learning and are making excellent academic attainment and progress. For many children in maintained schools, and some independent schools too, this certainly is not the case and they will most definitely be falling behind and not prepared adequately for the new academic year or future Senior school transition at 11+.
We know, of course, that an Edge Grove education is not just about academic success and progress, with pastoral care and personal development playing equally important roles in every pupil’s school journey. It is for this reason that we have extended our Flourish programme to include daily pupil focuses and weekly support for parents together with a continued emphasis on acts of kindness and consideration. However, these focuses and activities are not intended to be time dependent or simply another school task to be ticked off each day like learning spellings or tasks on Mangahigh. They are far too important to either be rushed or dismissed as a chore. Instead, rather than feeling overburdened by yet more work from school, we want families to see the Flourish focuses as preparation for successful future lives and therefore something to be enjoyed, cherished, valued and seen as long term personal developmental goals. If time is short and pressured, please feel free to dip into the Flourish programme as and when you are able, choose areas which you, as parents, feel are particularly relevant or important for your children and return and revisit as necessary. They are there to support our pupils and families whilst school is closed but also to guide our children’s personal development which is a continuous, sometimes demanding and certainly an ever-changing process. I shall continue my journey around the school site for the daily videos this week which despite the terrible camera work and production values are, I hope, enabling pupils to remain connected with school as much as possible. My best wishes for the week ahead and an enjoyable Half Term break.
Best wishes Ben Evans