School Closure: 14th December 2020

 Monday 14th December 2020 

Dear Parent/Carer 

Covid-19 This morning, I received the news that a staff member has tested positive for Covid-19. This case is directly attributable to the recent cases over the weekend after a detailed contact tracing exercise. 

After completing the contact tracing exercise for the member of staff, who remains asymptomatic, it is clear that the number of affected students and staff make it untenable to keep the Academy open this week. 

Therefore, after seeking advice and support from Public Health England, I am taking the decision to close the Academy at the end of the day today until Monday 4 January. Parents may collect their children from the Academy site through the day if they wish. The Academy will keep all students who cannot be collected during the day and they will travel home by bus as usual. 

This decision has not been taken lightly. I have tried, against the odds, to remain open in line with government guidelines but events of the past few days have overtaken us. The online curriculum for all year groups is already in place via the school website for this week and we will make contact about additional remote learning opportunities as soon as possible.

Live Learning for Isolating Students

Sunday 13 December 2020 

Dear Parent/Carer 

Covid-19 and remote learning/live lessons for all isolating students As I write to you early on a Sunday morning, it is fair to say that the past 36 hours have been most challenging for our academy. 

My senior team and I worked through the day yesterday to secure the safety of our students and families for the coming week and the festive break. We go again today to ensure that all home learning is updated for tomorrow for so many of your children. 

It is my intention that all staff who teach Years 10 and 11 will offer live lessons on Microsoft teams to those year groups from tomorrow morning following their normal timetable and timings. Students in those years should receive lesson invitations ready to follow their normal timetable for the four days of this working week. 

Remote home learning will be available by 9am tomorrow morning for all affected students and will be published on Frog as usual. If students cannot access the live lessons in Years 10 and 11, they should complete the home learning instead and submit it to their class teachers in the usual manner. 

Year 7 students should follow the remote home learning plan which will be published in the morning. All students in Years 8, 9, 12 and 13 who may be self-isolating should do the same for their respective year groups and courses. 

James M Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, once said “Always be a little kinder than necessary.” In the past 12 hours, I have been made aware of one of our families who are affected by Covid19 receiving abuse via social media and messages. This must end immediately. I ask for parents who may know this family to ensure their children do not engage in such acts. Parents should also refrain from this please. It is not how the SRPA family should go about its business. It is not necessary and, whilst frustration may have taken hold, this situation is best left with me. I am already in close liaison with the relevant authorities who will take their own view.

'School's Out' for Jamie's Bubble (Year 7)

Saturday 12th December 2020 

Dear Parent/Carer I am writing to you because we have been advised by the LCC Health Protection Team to send home some children from Years 7, 8 and 11 as three students have tested positive for Covid19. This is with immediate effect and for a duration of 14 days since last their contact. 

I have been informed over the last 24 hours that a family whose two children, in years 7 and 11, were in school until Friday 11 December, have tested positive. There has also been a positive case in year 8. 

On the advice of the Health Protection Team, children who have had contact with these youngsters need to self-isolate for 14 days since the last contact. The new regulations do not come into force until Monday when we revert to a ten day isolation period. 

Students do not need to be tested unless they become symptomatic and their household do not need to self-isolate unless they get symptoms. 

However, as close contacts are more difficult to identify in the cases of the year 7 and 11 students, I am closing those bubbles in full with immediate effect with the support of Public Health England. In addition, all students who travel to and from the Academy on the 9199 Skellingthorpe bus must self-isolate and will have received a letter already. I realise that this will be worrying for many of you but I have been left with no choice given the circumstances at hand. 

All parents affected will be notified individually if their child should remain at home. 

We are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. 

The number of children who have been in direct prolonged contact with the confirmed case will have received an individual letter and will be staying at home for 14 days since their last contact with the child, which was on Friday 11 December for years 7 and 11. For year 8 students, last contact was on Wednesday 9 th December. Therefore they should stay at home for 14 days from last contact and, due to the Christmas break, they should return on Monday 4 January 2021. 

The school remains open and your child should continue to attend if they remain well. 

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19  If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/askfor-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. More information can be found regarding testing here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works 

All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.

Jamie to Stay at Home til 4th December

 26th November 2020 

Dear Parent/Carer I am writing to you to because we have been advised by the LCC Health Protection Team to send home some children from Year 7 as one student has tested positive for Covid-19. This is with immediate effect and for a duration of 14 days since last contact. 

I was informed at 10.15am this morning that a child who has not been in school since Thursday 19th November, has since tested positive. 

A number of children have been in direct prolonged contact with the confirmed case and since their last contact with the child was on Thursday 19th November, they should stay at home for 7 days and return on Friday 4th December. 

Your child has been identified as one of those who may have had contact and therefore will need to stay home with immediate effect. 

On the advice of the Health Protection Team, only those children who have had contact with this youngster need to self-isolate for 14 days since the last contact – they do not need to be tested unless they become symptomatic and their household do not need to self-isolate unless the contact gets symptoms. 

We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This email is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. 

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19 If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/askfor-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. More information can be found regarding testing here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works  

All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’. 

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stayat-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid19-infection 

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. 

If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online. 

If you are eligible for Free School Meals, please contact the Academy if you would like to collect a meal from the Academy during your child’s period of isolation. 

Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community. 

If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period. 

Decided to put the Christmas Tree up early - why not?

All the Christmas Bears are home

 

General Update - Covid17

1 November 2020 

Dear Parent/Carer General update – Covid-19 As half term comes to an end and we return tomorrow to a seven week half term, I am writing to you with my latest update. 

It is clear that the country stands on the edge of a precipice in relation to soaring coronavirus infections. Fortunately, we have seen a smaller infection rate in Lincolnshire comparative to other authorities but, despite being relative, the rate locally continues to rise. 

Covid-19 As I write, the infection rate in North Kesteven has risen yet again, as has the national average. When I last wrote to you, there were 107 cases per 100,000 people. It now stands at 132 cases. The national average is 149, which has also risen dramatically. What is more concerning is the infection rate in Lincoln itself. This now stands at 280 cases per 100,000. The last time I wrote it stood at 178. 

As a result of the above data and the impending national lockdown, I will be strengthening our Covid security measures from this week. Whilst this mainly affects only staff, it is prudent to share this with you all. 

Firstly, our risk assessment has always been clear. Parents should not attend our site under any circumstances without an appointment. Whilst I am incredibly grateful to the overwhelming majority of parents who have supported us with this so far this academic year, despite several communications from me, this has been routinely ignored by a small group. If you do not have an appointment we will not be able to meet with you. Please ring ahead so that we may try to accommodate you. We will also be ensuring that we only meet face to face from now on in the most serious of circumstances. This is being done to protect all students and staff at the Academy. 

You will have seen in the press that the national lockdown will see us remain open as normally as possible. For this to happen and be successful, we will need your support as infections continue to rise. We will not see the benefit of any lockdown for at least a fortnight so I need to ensure that the site is, and remains, Covid-secure. This is a mammoth task on a daily basis so please help us to help you keep your children in school until Christmas without disruption. 

From today, all meetings will revert to virtual settings. I will be holding no staff briefings except via email and all teacher meetings will revert to Microsoft Teams, even if the meetings are internal only. This is to ensure we can comply with the Rule of 6 amongst adults, especially as infections continue to rise. 

In addition, I will be sending all staff home by 4.30pm each day so that site staff and my cleaning team can have the full run of the site to double down on any areas which need deep cleaning or urgent maintenance. This will not be negotiable and staff will be expected to comply. 

Any site tours that were booked in will be postponed and rearranged for after the national lockdown ends. I want to ensure that I limit all forms of risk in every scenario over the next month. 

It is only with this level of meticulousness that we will be able to continue to provide the service we offer. I expect that students and parents will see little or no change to the service we offer as this is our core aim. 

If any parents have any concerns at all, please contact us at the Academy using the email address COVID@srpa.co.uk. This will make it directly to me where I will be able to help and will do my best to prioritise your concern. 

During Wave 2 of the virus, we will stand our posts for all students until such time as someone turns the lights out and advises me that I must close the Academy. It is the right and proper thing to do. Rest assured we will battle on, but, it is a battle. My staff are moving mountains but they are world-weary, even after the half term, as we have been preparing for the coming half term and its various challenges. We will need you to be understanding and to support us in what will be a massive task. Where possible, we will remain as ‘normal.’ Where this isn’t possible I will tell you. In the meantime, we will continue to offer you the best of ourselves to ensure we leave no student behind and serve our fine community to the best of our ability. 

In the words of Margaret Thatcher, “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”

Daddy Couldn't Resist.....

Pumpkins

 

The best we could do for Halloween

 

Jamie still loves his bears.....

 

School Uniform Shopping

Did we leave it tooo late? I think it's stressful at any time of the year.

Due to the current climate we had to queue to get into Uniform Direct but, once we were in, we simply handed over our list and someone bagged it up for us and we left £103 lighter!  As we are not allowed to try any clothes on currently, we got home and realised they had given us a PE jumper that was way too large, so back on the website!

Next was Sports Direct for PE related equipment.  I would like to say it was like Harry Potter in Diagon Alley but it wasn't at all. Trainers, socks, shin pads, mouth guard.  Not sure Jamie is going to use any of this stuff!!  Another £35.

Luckily we did get some 'secondhand' shirts and trousers, which helped with the uniform, but on top of this we also had to get a pencil case, drinks bottle / sarnie box, compass, protractor, pens and calculator.

And don't forget new Clarks shoes!

First Day at Secondary School

 

The 'New Normal' when going to the Cinema

 

We went to see 'Onward', which I really liked.  We watched it at Kinema in the Woods.  It was set out so family 'bubbles' sat together and then there was a row in between.  You would have thought it would have been more relaxing, however it only takes one child to scream throughout the film to disturb everyone!

Long awaited catch up with the cousins

 

A little trip to Cleethorpes

 

Play Date!

 

Can you spot Jamie?

 

Frontline Combat Afternoon

Thank you to Alfie's mum for organising an afternoon at http://www.frontlinecombat.com/ They had a fantastic time......

Leavers BarBQ

Usually the leavers would have had a full school assembly with all parents and staff.  However, due to the current situation it was decided the school would have a BarBQ for year 6.  I volunteered to help.  I wanted to be there on their last day.  I think everyone had a good time.  Some of the girls got a bit tearful.  There was certainly a lump in my throat at the very end....

Letter from the Headmaster on their Last Day

Dear Parent/Carer

Ten days of THANKS – Day 8

Our eighth THANK YOU of our ten days of thanks goes to a whole year group who have been such a pleasure to have at Ling Moor – the Year 6 of 2019/20.

This group of wonderful young people has impressed so much since they started in Reception but their Year 6 year was one that really showed how superb they are as Ling Moor Learners and members of our Ling Moor Family. Throughout the course of the year they have shown themselves to be role models of the highest standard. They have been so focused and so passionate in their learning but what is most impressive is their ability to do this whilst looking after each other and supporting each other.

The summer of Year 6 should be a real passage of rights for our oldest year group as they get ready for secondary school. Sadly for this group, much of this magical time has been robbed by the need to go into lockdown. We are so lucky that we have had the opportunity to work with them for a short period of the summer term and throughout this period, we have been again deeply impressed by their maturity and resilience. On the day they returned to school following lockdown they brought a warmth and energy that made Ling Moor feel a little like normality. They are a truly special group and the secondary schools that they are going to are very lucky to have them.

In what is their last day of Ling Moor, we wish them a fond farewell and the greatest of luck for their future. We know they are going to be successful and cannot wait to hear of the magic they create.

John Sisman

Headteacher

Last Day in Uniform....

I can feel the tears coming already.....

One Year Since My Party....

.......and for a lot of those who attended its been one year since I have seen them.  Hope we can have another party very soon......

Photo's for Ling Moor Journey....

Mummy is getting tearful already.  Jamie's teacher has asked for some photo's to be sent that show his journey through the school.  I spent an hour or so this morning going through the photo's on this blog to find some to send to school....

Happy Birthday Grandad (78 years young)

Today it was Grandads birthday and also the first day that a lot of pubs were allowed to open (with restrictions) in England.  So, we asked a few of our close pals to come and social distance within the garden. I think we were better behaved than some of the London pubs we saw on the news later that night.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAN!!

Leavers Day Letter

Dear Parent/Carer

This year we say goodbye to a phenomenal bunch of children. We are so proud of their maturity, dedication to being successful and wonderful ability to care for each other. It is with great disappointment that we are unable to have the usual leaving celebrations for the children but we do want to make their final day at Ling Moor really special.

We have decided that on Wednesday 15th July, we will be holding the very first (and perhaps last) ever Ling Moor Year 6 water fight, BBQ, shirt signing disco party. All aspects of the day will be planned so the children are able to socially distance. We would like the children to come in non-uniform in the morning bringing with them a school shirt that they can have signed. Throughout the morning, the children will have an opportunity to sign their friend’s shirts. We will also be holding a moment of shared celebration in the morning where we all come together – a final star of the week assembly. Sadly, we are unable to invite parents or children other than Y6 into our assembly as we would normally do due to the guidance currently in place.

In the afternoon we will be providing a BBQ for the children (there is no need to bring or purchase lunch for this day) followed by a disco/water fight. If your child would like to take part in the water fight, please can they bring a change of clothes (including footwear) and appropriate water squirting devices (a clean washing up liquid bottle always worked well!)

We are very much seeing this as the last day of school for our Year 6 children and we would like to welcome parents onto the playground from 3.15pm until 3.30pm where we will be saying a few words to the children. We would like to say goodbye to those of you who will not be back as well. If we could have your time for 15 to 20 minutes on the school field, it would be much appreciated.

The Wednesday seems like a natural day for the children to finish Ling Moor so the last official day for our Year 6 children will be Wednesday 15th July. We do not expect Year 6 children in school on the Thursday and Friday. Many of you have volunteered to come and support the afternoon and we would welcome you to join us. If you could arrive at the Academy at 12.30pm, that would be really helpful.

Happy Fathers Day......

.....to the best Daddy ever.....xxx

Mummy's Been Cooking Again......

Zoom Parties

During lockdown we have continued to organise some form of quiz every Saturday or Sunday night between a number of friends via Zoom. This has shown how little tech knowledge I have - or more likely that I need a new laptop that can cope with such things as lockdown evenings with pals....

We have used and WhatsApp to send questions and photos for the quizzes across the lockdown void. I didn't wash my hair for 5 weeks and only gave in because everyone was going to see me via zoom.  The winners each week had to then organise the quiz for the following week

This week, for a change, it was an attempt at Bingo.  Well done Cawkwell's for organising - and winning.  We all owe Cobbs a Chinese, once we can get out to order / pick up / whatever!!

Jamie and his Bears......

School Letter - 18th May 2020

Dear Parents and Carers - Reception, Y1 and Y6 Opening Letter 

For those of you who have children in our Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 classes who wish for your child to return to school, we are now at a point where we can release details of how we are going to approach the re-opening of Ling Moor.

 Year 6 will return to school on Monday 1st June
 Year 1 will return to school on Tuesday 2nd June
 Children in our reception classes will begin to return on Wednesday 3rd June

These dates are of course subject to the latest government advice. Together with this letter are various forms that outline the processes and steps that we need to put in place.

This includes: - Smaller class sizes. - The potential to spend time with a different teacher. - Differing start time and collection times. - A limit to one adult per family collecting each child. - An insistence that siblings who are not in school do not come onto the site at drop off or collection times. - An agreement that if a child displays any symptoms they will not be brought to school and the school will be informed. - An adult ready and able to collect children should symptoms become apparent to school staff. - Strict adherence to the social distancing measures put in place at collection and drop off times. - Full acceptance of the class grouping that your child has been placed in. - Full support of the behaviour expectations that exist in the Academy including an expectation that if children do not follow the social distancing expectations set out by staff, parents will be fully supportive of the Academy sanctions.

If your child is eligible to return to school, you will receive an email that outlines the arrangements to enable your child to attend. Within the letter it will ask you to confirm whether you intend to send your child to school. We will then be able to organise our groups and communicate with you the group your child will be in. The groups will be allocated and are non-negotiable. Once we have organised our groupings, we will email you to confirm the teacher that they will be working with and arrangements for communicating with the teacher working with your child as parents will not be able to meet with teachers before or after school.

Many of you will be disappointed that our usual before and after school provision is not available. This is entirely the choice of the Academy. When you read the detail in your child’s year group letter, the reasons for this should be obvious. We are working with the Bubbles team to see if we can organise before and after school provision and this is under constant review. It is important to remember that all children who are not in either Reception, Year 1 or Year 6 must not come into school unless they have previously been in school as part of our emergency provision. For these children, we will continue to provide learning resources for home, encourage online learning and begin a system of opportunities for children to come in and change their reading books. We will also have learning packs available for all children should parents wish to collect them at designated times. We are planning on extending this provision through the summer holidays should parents wish to access it.

Please note that parents are not permitted to enter the school building at any point including the front desk area. If you need to contact the administration staff, please only call or email. In order for any pupils to return to school, we must work together and follow the systems put in place at the Academy. Your support of the measures outlined will mean that we can ensure that more children can attend school and we can gradually move to a point where the whole of our Ling Moor Family can be back together again. Kind regards John Sisman Headteacher

The Dog has Got in the Fridge....

….and he is eating all those Easter Eggs that should have been gone weeks ago.....

Lincoln City Promoted!!!

Happy Easter

Ten Years Since Noah's Christening

Ten years ago today we were proud to become godparents to Jamie's cousin Noah:

Thursday 9th April 2020 (Pinched from FaceBook)

Just so WE NEVER forget..... Thursday 9th April 2020 🗓

Prime Minister Boris Johnson started lockdown on the evening of 23rd of March 2020 🚫

On the 5th April he was admitted to hospital after 10 days self isolating with the Corona Virus 🧪

On the 6th April he is in intensive care with deteriorating symptoms 🩺

The Queen addressed the nation at 8pm on 5th April 👑

Excel now known as NHS Nightingale and will be a hospital for up to 4,000 patients, most of whom are on ventilators. Similar venues being used in cities across the country. Opened by Prince Charles at 11am on 3rd April 🏥

Community support groups established, to support the vulnerable, elderly, immunocompromised and people in enforced isolation due to exposure, in their community 🧓🏻👴🏻

Petrol ⛽️ price close to home 🏡 was £1.02.

Schools closed on Friday 20 March. 🏫Remote learning in place 🎓

Self-distancing measures required ☹️

Tape on the floors at grocery stores ❌ and others to help distance shoppers 🛒 (2 mtrs) from each other.

Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors 🏬

Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed 🚫 People who can work 👩🏻‍💻👨🏻‍💻 from home 🏡

Parks 🏕 trails, entire cities 🏢 closed or restricted to locals only in their bubble.

Entire sports ⚽️ 🏉 🎾 seasons cancelled.

Olympics postponed to 2021. 🔵🟡⚫🟢🔴

Concerts 🎫 tours 🚌 festivals 🤹🏻 entertainment events 🎭 cancelled 🚫

Weddings 👰🏼🤵🏻 family celebrations 🥳 holiday gatherings 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 even funerals ⚰️ cancelled 🚫

No masses, churches ⛪️ are closed 🚫

No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, then 10 or more. Now, Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home bubble ⚗️

Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and all other TV networks are on in every home daily now 🎬

Children's outdoor play parks are closed 🎡

We are to distance from each other. Shortage of masks 😷 gowns 🥼 gloves 🧤 for our front-line workers.

Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill 🤒 in many parts of the world.

Refrigerated trucks for the dead outside hospitals in the USA 🇺🇸 Italy 🇮🇹 Spain 🇪🇸 China 🇨🇳 and more.

Panic buying 🛒 sets in and we have limits on toilet paper 🧻 disinfecting supplies, paper towels, staple foods 🥗 hand sanitizer 🧴 Flour is hard to get because the packaging comes from China 🇨🇳 and borders are closed 🚧

Manufacturers 🏭 distilleries and other businesses 🏢 switch their lines to help make visors, masks 😷 hand sanitizer 🧴 and PPE 🧤

Fines are established for breaking lockdown rules 🤑

Stadiums 🏟 and recreation facilities overseas open up for the overflow of Covid-19 🦠 patients.

Public Park 🏕 areas turned into caravan parks for stranded tourists to self isolate 🚐

Press conferences daily from the PM 👱‍♂️ and other government 🏛 officials. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths ⚰️

Government 🏛 incentives to stay home. Barely anyone on the roads 🛣

People wearing masks 😷 and gloves outside 🧤

Essential service workers are terrified to go to work 👮🏻 👩🏻‍⚕️ 👲🏻

Medical field workers 👩🏻‍⚕️ are afraid to go home to their families 👨‍👧‍👦

45526 deaths globally so far.

This is the Novel Coronavirus 🦠 (Covid-19) Pandemic, WHO declared March 11th, 2020.

One day it will show up in my memory 💭 feed, and it will be a yearly reminder that life is precious and not to take the things we dearly love for granted 💕