School Updates Thursday 7th May 2020

Dear Parents and friends of Instow,

We hope you have been receiving our emails, as well as a phone call saying hello to you and your children. We just want to make sure everyone is alright and coping with the variety of home schooling you are all doing.

If you have any internet issues or internet safety issues please do follow this link for advice: https://parentzone.org.uk/parents

Our teachers, support team and pre-school team have all been getting better acquainted with Zoom meetings in order to stay connected and we are having a good time creating a mini video to send to the children soon! Lots of giggles!

If you are a key worker, or if your child is on an EHC plan and has no underlying health conditions, please book any keyworker days on the Google Booking form: https://www.instowcps.co.uk/news/detail/instow-key-worker-quesionnaire-post-easter/

Tomorrow is, as you know, a bank holiday celebrating 75 years since VE Day. If we had been in school there would have been so much we would be teaching the children and I know many of you have really engaged with this topic at home. Please do take a photograph of you all together at home and upload to the Seesaw or Tapestry site to share with us at this important historical time.

I must say I have been deeply moved by a video poem doing the rounds called The Great Realisation - a bedtime story where the Dad talks about the values that we end up realising what is important in 2020. Deeply thought provoking! Here is link if you haven't seen it: the Great Realisation by Tom Foolery

We are yet to find out details around any type of phased return to school; as soon as I know the Government plans, our Governors and senior leaders will let you know how this will be implemented. I am working with other local headteachers and the County Advisers to ensure we are supported.  In the meantime, please email for learning support to class1support@instowcps.co.uk ; just change the class number for other class email addresses.

Mrs Harvest, our Learning Mentor, is also available for any learning support or well-being help and advice. Please email her on learningmentor@instowcps.co.uk and she will endeavour to return your message as soon as she can.

Please find attached the planning support for you to pick and choose from for Weeks 5 and 6, starting from next Monday 11th May. Our theme will be Heroes and Heroines, with a lovely range of activities and learning opportunities for you to create as a family or for the children's studies at home. We have also included some wonderful STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) ideas for home projects; specific maths (dice and money) guidance over two weeks. The STEM sheets should be dated 4th and 11th May (accidentally had a 27th April date on one!).

Please don't force your child with any studies; pick and choose pleasurable activities from the planning support for your guidance. I will probably send the paperwork over two emails.

Remember that we are all thinking of you and hoping to see you very soon! Happy VE Day tomorrow! We'll join you to clap for our hero carers tonight and celebrate peace in Europe founded 75 years ago tomorrow! 

Planning has been sent via Parentmail.

With virtual hugs

Mrs Knight and team xx