A huge 'well-done' to you all for getting through these last two extraordinary weeks. In keeping your children at home, you have all played your part in slowing down the spread of the virus that has brought the whole country to this unprecedented 'lockdown'.

Although not based at school, staff have been very busy providing activities and learning opportunities for your children and communicating with them via class blogs on Purple Mash. They have really enjoyed receiving emails from you, updating them about all the things your family are doing and the learning taking place at home. We are so impressed with the way in which you have engaged with the tasks set and have shared some of the work submitted on 'virtual display boards' on class pages.

Please remember - this is not home schooling. Schools and families were not given time to prepare for the situation we are in now, and it is not a situation we are in out of choice. Many of you are trying to juggle this with doing your job at home, and staff are trying to juggle this whilst having their own children and families at home! We are fortunate that we had good systems in place already and enjoy positive relationships with you, our supportive families, who are keen to get on board with continuing children's learning journeys whilst they are unable to be in school. We count our blessings for that.

This is home learning. You will find approaches, methods and styles that work for you and your children. Your home learning might be solely adhering to the timetables set, or dipping in and out of these activities and allowing your children time to play or be creative or you may have a family project of your own you are working on.  Whatever it looks like for you, whatever works for your family is whatever is right. As acknowledged in our school trinity; learning is not just the acquisition of knowledge, but the development of skills and a core set of values. Laying the table, helping cook dinner, weeding the garden etc are all valid learning opportunities too! You will be providing your children with skills for life right now.

Over the two week 'holiday' we would like to give you a break from the more formal learning ideas we have provided. You will find an 'Easter Holiday' page on the Home Learning pages with plenty of ideas for you to select from and class pages have been updated too.

We wish you a happy Easter and would love to hear some of your news via emails we have provided.