Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Heatree 2021 - Day 1

  Mon 18 Oct 2021 Mrs Hibbert

  After a somewhat wet walk to the coach, we travelled to Heatree, in the pouring rain, arriving at 12 O'clock.  After lunch and a familiarisation, we travelled to Tamakelie Island to rescue the Tamakelie bird's eggs which had been stolen by pirates. We were team building and getting to know each other.  

  We returned to the accommodation at 4pm and found out where we were sleeping and who our roomies were.  We then had time to get unpacked and to carry out some serious duvet wrestling before a fire drill and then dinner.  Home cooked lasagne, garlic bread and salad was followed by homemade apple crumble and custard!  We went back to our rooms to make sure that they were ready for inspection before going down to our Rec Room and taking part in an inter-room general knowledge quiz.  

  Homemade cherry shortbread was supper before we went and got settled for the night.  Lights out at 9.00 and lots of whispering until 10.....  Day 1 complete

  

• September 2021 Revised Arrangments

  Fri 03 Sep 2021

  Dear Parents/Carers,

   

  With the children due to return to school on Tuesday 7^th September we have been reviewing our arrangements in the light of the continued high levels of Covid in Plymouth. In an amendment to my letter at the end of last term, we will be keeping to the gate system we used last year for drop offs and collections rather than the school playground as we had hoped, although the start of day time and collection time will be the same across the school.

   

  Nursery and Reception:      Arrival between 8:45 and 8:55am at the nursery gate.
  Collection will be at this gate at 3:10pm. Me2 will be a 9am start at this gate.  Reception pupils will have been notified by their teacher of their exact starting date.

   

  Years 1 & 2:                         Arrival at the Camden Street entrance: between 8:45 and 8:55am. Collection is at 3:10pm at the same gate.

   

  Years 3 & 4:                         Arrival between 8.45 and 8.55am and collection at 3.10pm using the top playground gate.  

   

  Years 5 & 6                           Arrival between 8:45 and 8:55am and collection at 3pm using the main entrance gate, the one by the green wall which leads to the school office.

   

  As with our arrangements last term, please do not arrive early or congregate in groups outside school.

  
  Parents will not be able to enter school grounds without an appointment for the time being but please do ring us if there is anything you need to discuss with us. Teachers can also be communicated with via Class Dojo.

   

  We look forward to seeing you all again.

   

  Yours faithfully,
   

  B. Shillaber

• Children's University

  Thu 22 Jul 2021

  The Children's University is running Summer Competitions.  Hopefully this will lead to a relaunch in September as we get back to normal.

   

  Please see their flyer, below.

  

• Further details for September

  Wed 21 Jul 2021

  Dear Parents/ Carers,

   

  Further to my letter last week I am writing today to confirm staffing details with you for the year ahead. Although it has not been possible to meet the new teacher this term we are hoping that, restrictions allowing, we can offer an opportunity for you to meet your child’s new teacher on Wednesday 8^th September between 3:15-3:45. More details about this will be sent out nearer the time.

   

  We are delighted to welcome some new teachers to our team. Mr Ratsey has been working with our Year 2 class recently so will be known to those of you with children in Year 2 and Miss Clement is joining us from Mount Wise Primary.

   

  The classes for September will be as follows:

  Nursery: Mrs Travers (with Miss Bennett in the ME2 area of the Nursery)

  Reception: Mrs Lovejoy (From the last week of the Autumn Term Miss Knox will be returning to school)

  Year 1: Mr Ratsey

  Year 2: Mrs Kelly

  Year 3: Miss Crowther

  Year 4: Miss Price

  Year 5: Mrs Foster and, every Friday, Miss Clement

  Year 6: Mrs Hibbert

   

  SENCO: Mrs Organ.   In addition to her SENCO role at Mount Street, an amazing opportunity has arisen for Mrs Organ to be seconded to another school within the LAT for a few days each week during this academic year. Mrs Organ will be with us at the end of each week and Salisbury Road at the beginning of each week. Whilst at Salisbury Road, Mrs Organ will be in daily contact with us so any messages related to SEND you wish us to pass on can be done so via email or in person through either Julie at the front Reception desk or myself. The email address is the usual Mount Street one:
  reception@mountstreetpri.co.uk

   

  The timings for the school day and arrangements for drop off/ collection each day were sent out in last week’s letter, via email, a copy of which is on both the website and the Facebook page.

  Wishing you a good Summer and we look forward to seeing you again in September.

   

  B.Shillaber

• Arrangements ffrom 19th July and from September

  Sat 17 Jul 2021

  17^th July 2021

   

  Dear Parents/ Carers,

   

  We are coming to the end of what has been another very challenging school year for everyone, and we’d like to thank you for your patience and support, particularly during these last few weeks of term. We appreciate your patience and understanding, particularly when messages are sent late at night regarding next day arrangements. Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of track and trace notifications and our Arbor system, which developed a glitch and wasn’t sending information to all year groups despite it appearing as if it was. Having worked with Arbor we are hopeful that this glitch has now been resolved.

   

  It would appear that with the return of a member of senior staff we will be able to open next week to some classes for the final three days of term. At this time we will have staffing levels that will allow us to reopen safely for Years 3, 4 and 5 on Monday.  Year 6 will also be able to return from Tuesday. Should this change we will communicate immediately with you. I realise this will be disappointing for children in other year groups but we have to have safe staffing ratios throughout the school day. The safety of children has to be paramount.

   

  Given our present circumstances we are keeping our current restrictions in place until the end of term. Children will remain in class bubbles and staggered start/ arrival times will continue .

   

  Whilst I am disappointed not to be able to be open for all classes, I am pleased that we are in a position to remain open for many classes and are able to say a proper goodbye to the children on site, particularly our wonderful Year 6 who will be leaving us on Wednesday to move onto their secondary school education. From those of us who will still be in isolation at the end of term we wish them every success in the future and thank them for the contribution they have made to Mount Street. For those not able to return I wish you a safe, happy holiday and look forward to seeing you again in September.

   

  Looking forward to next term, the children are due to return to school on Tuesday 7^th September and, as a result of the lifting of restrictions, we will be able to return to our pre-Covid timings and start of day/ end of the school day arrangements. These are as follows:

   

  For years 1,2,3,4,5 and 6

  • The top gate will be opened at 8:45
  • Parents are asked to bring their children onto the lower playground to wait for the teachers to open the classroom doors.
  • All children need to be in class by 8:55.
  • Gates will reopen at 3pm and parents will be able to collect their children from the lower playground at 3:10.
  • Children will be dismissed from the classroom doorways , one at a time, as and when the teacher identifies the person who has come to collect each child

   

  For ME2, Nursery and Reception

  • The Early Years gates will open at 8:45 and close at 9:00.
  • Parents should bring their child into the Early Years playground where they will be greeted by the class teacher or a member of the Early Years staff
  • At 3:00 the gates will re-open and parents are asked to wait in the small playground next to the Early Years gate to collect their child.
  • The children will be dismissed one at a time by the class teacher, as and when they identify the person who has come to collect each child.

   

  Children will no longer be in ‘class bubbles’ although, having found that the playgrounds space is more beneficial to children in smaller groups, we have decided to continue with staggered breaks and lunch times for the time being. Children will also be encouraged to wash their hands thoroughly at regular intervals.

   

  In the event that restrictions do have to return we will revert back to the staggered start/ collection times and class bubbles currently in place. Other measures will include:

   

  • using different entrances and exits for different year groups
  • increasing the cleaning taking place at school
  • windows and door will be propped open to maintain airflow / ventilation

   

  In the event that such restrictions are necessary, we will notify you of any changes required.

   

  We look forward to seeing you all again. In the meantime, have a lovely summer.

   

  Yours faithfully,
   

  B. Shillaber

• Covid Absence: A quick guide for parents/carers

  Mon 21 Sep 2020
  

• September arrangements

  Wed 22 Jul 2020

  Dear Parents/ Carers,

   

  We are coming to the end of what has been a very challenging school year for everyone, and we’d like to thank you for your patience and support during this last term.

   

  Now, we need to look forward to next term. The children are due to return to school on Wednesday 2^nd September and the school will be open to all children every day. We know that some of you will be anxious about your children returning and we would like to reassure you that we will be taking many measures to minimise the risk to children and staff. These include:

  • parents keeping their children at home if they are ill
  • active engagement with NHS Test and Trace system
  • keeping the children with their year groups at all times to reduce their number of contacts
  • using different entrances and exits for different year groups
  • staggering break and lunchtimes
  • ensuring the children wash their hands thoroughly at regular intervals
  • increasing the cleaning taking place at school
  • windows and door will be propped open to maintain airflow / ventilation
  • staggering start and finish times for school

  Nursery and Reception: Arrival between 8:45 and 8:55am at the nursery gate.
                                    Collection will be at this gate at 3:10pm. Me2 will be a 9am start at this gate.
  Years 1 & 2: Arrival at the Camden Street entrance: year 1 – 8:45am & year 2 - 8:55am.
                    Collection is at 3pm for year 1 and 3:10pm for year 2 at the same gate.
  Years 3 & 4: Arrival between 8.45 and 8.55am and collection at 3.10pm using the top playground gate.  
  Years 5 & 6 Arrival between 8:35 and 8:45am and collection at 3pm using the top playground gate.
  
  Please do not arrive early and congregate in groups outside school but arrive during the ten-minute slot each year group has been given. At the end of the day, please follow distancing rules and follow the one-way system to collect your child/ren.
  Parents will not be able to enter school grounds without an appointment so please do ring us if there is anything you need to discuss with us further. There are some FAQ (frequently asked questions) which have been sent to you with this letter which will give you more information.

  We are really looking forward to seeing you all again. In the meantime, have a lovely summer.

  Yours faithfully,
   

  B. Shillaber

   

  UPDATED FAQs are posted in the Parents Information section of the website

   

• Advice for parents and carers looking after primary school children

  Fri 22 May 2020
  Here is some new Government Guidance on how you can help your child continue their education during coronavirus

• Half Term week and June 1st

  Fri 15 May 2020

  Dear Parents/Carers,

  The week beginning the 25th May is Half Term week.

   

  During this week our current Salisbury Road provision will be closed on Monday 25th, Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th May. We will reopen the provision for key workers and vulnerable children for two days on Thursday 28th May and Friday 29th May and again from Monday 1st June.

   

  We are still finalising plans for the return of Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 from June 2nd and will notify you of these plans in due course.

   

  Wishing you all a good weekend,

  Ms.Shillaber

• June reopening Survey

  Thu 14 May 2020
  If your child is in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 or Year 6, please find a survey here.