Rainbows Say: ‘Let’s All Be Well!’: 31 March

31st March 2020Michael McGeary

Rochelle Nestor, a teacher at St Margaret Clitherow in South Bank, explains why rainbows have been appearing in windows throughout Europe as a defiant symbol of hope during these difficult days…   

Starting in Europe, the “Let’s All Be Well” movement is a message of hope to all with the simple symbol of a rainbow. It is, of course, a sign of the sunshine that follows the storm, the hope that all will be well. 

For us, as believers, it reminds of God’s presence and promise, not just after the storm, but through it. “I now set my bow in the clouds and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth” (Genesis 9:13). After the flood, there was the rainbow.

At St Margaret Clitherow, teacher Melissa McCarthy saw this rainbow campaign was in motion and suggested that on our last day together we might create rainbows to take home and pin up in our windows to encourage passers-by. 

Many schools did the same and children brought home their rainbows of hope – or have made them as part of a home learning activity since – so that now, families are enjoying going “rainbow spotting” during their walks. 

Not since World War 2 and the blackout curtains has something become so commonplace in the windows of UK homes. 

But that was a necessary action for safety and survival and had undertones of fear. The rainbow is different. It spreads cheer, hope and togetherness.

Moreover, putting it up is a choice and, therefore, it shows we are unified, most of all, in choosing to hope.

And so, to paraphrase St Julian of Norwich, “Let’s all be well, and let all be well, and let all manner of things be well.”

Our picture shows Mrs Rochelle Nestor with Anisia and Nathaniel and their rainbow.

Schools Praised For ‘Sustaining Catholic Education In Difficult Times’: 27 March

27th March 2020Michael McGeary

Diocesan director of schools Kevin Duffy has written to all schools to thanking them for the work they are doing to support our community during the coronavirus crisis.  

Following on from Bishop Terry’s pastoral petter last week, I just wanted to issue a further note to reaffirm our deep and sincere ongoing gratitude to you and your teams for the work you are doing to sustain Catholic education in these difficult times.

It really is quite humbling to read your social media posts and the beautiful messages you are giving the children and young people you serve.

The reassurance that things will return to normality again is incredibly important for young minds to hear particularly from people they trust and believe.

Our children and young people are at best confused and unclear about what is going on but in some cases quite frightened and uncertain.

A regular word from their school and their teacher provides enormous reassurance and comfort to their young minds and, despite your own personal concerns and worries, from what I am reading online you are doing this in amazing ways every day.

Like you, my daily prayers are always dedicated to those who work in, serve and attend our schools and their extended families as we ask the Lord to stand with us in this time of great need.

You have truly been called to serve the church’s mission as members of our diocesan schools family and we are blessed to have you.

Speak soon and stay safe,

Kevin Duffy
Diocesan Director of Schools   

 

Family Prayer Sheet For Fifth Sunday Of Lent: 26 March

26th March 2020Michael McGeary

Our lead lay chaplain Angela O’Brien has put together our first weekly prayer sheet to help families pray together while we’re unable to go to Mass.

We hope you’ll be able to use the activities to help both children and adults grow in faith at this time.

Click here to download the prayer sheet

Click here for a list of Masses in our diocese being live-streamed this weekend

How To Apply For Free School Meals: 26 March

26th March 2020Michael McGeary

As many people’s work circumstances change because of the effects of COVID-19, Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust is aware that some children may be in need of free school meals for the first time.

Families who receive certain any of the following benefits are eligible for free school meals.

  • Universal Credit – with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400.
    • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
    • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
    • Income Support
    • The guarantee element of Pension Credit
    • Child Tax Credit – with an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 (with no Working Tax Credit)
    • Working Tax Credit Run-On (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
    • Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Registering for free meals could also raise an extra £1,320 for your child’s primary school or £935 for your child’s secondary school to fund valuable support such as extra tuition, additional teaching staff or after school activities. This is known as the Pupil Premium Grant.

This additional money is available from central government for every child whose parent is receiving one of the benefits listed.

To check if your child is eligible, please complete this form.

Once you have filled it in, return it to any member of staff at your school so the school business manager can process your application for you.

Open Letter To SEND Pupils And Families: 24 March

24th March 2020Lisa Gosnay

Vicky Ford MP

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families
Sanctuary Buildings 20 Great Smith Street Westminster London SW1P 3BT
tel: 0370 000 2288 www.education.gov.uk/help/contactus

24 March 2020

Dear colleagues,

This is an open letter distributed through as many of our partner organisations as possible. I would be grateful if you could circulate it as widely as possible to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), their parents/carers and families, and all others who support them.

This is an unprecedented, uncertain and testing time for all of us due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It is particularly challenging for children and young people with SEND, their families, and those who work tirelessly to support and care for them.

This is why, over the past week, we have made announcements and issued guidance about how we will meet the needs of children and young people with SEND during this challenging time. As the Minister responsible for SEND, I wanted to write to let you know that we are committed to doing everything possible to support you during this difficult time.

We are working in partnership with many organisations, including the National Network for Parent Carer Forums and the Council for Disabled Children, to make sure we are focusing our efforts in the right places. In all our decisions, the needs of SEND children and young people and their families and carers, and safeguarding these vulnerable groups, are at the forefront of our minds.

The Government published guidance about supporting vulnerable children on 22 March. It includes a number of frequently asked questions and is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-onvulnerable-children-and-young-people. We have also published new guidance that provides household isolation advice for children and young people who live in residential settings, and the staff that support them. This guidance is available at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-onisolation-for-residential-educational-settings.

The guidance on supporting vulnerable children states that local authorities, nurseries, schools, special schools, colleges and other training providers should undertake a risk assessment to establish the individual needs of each child or young person with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. This assessment should incorporate the views of the child or young person and their parents. This will inform the decision about whether they should continue in school or college, or whether their needs can be met at home safely.

If needs are best met at schools or colleges, we will support their school or college to meet their needs, wherever possible. For those on SEN support, schools, colleges and local authorities have discretion to use the same risk judgement to decide whether home or school is the safest setting for these children. It is, however, important that as many children as possible remain at home during this time in order to help reduce transmission rates.

On 19 March, the Government introduced new legislation into Parliament, in the form of the Coronavirus Bill (‘the Bill’), in response to the outbreak (https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2019-21/coronavirus.html).

Our overwhelming aim for SEND, through the Bill and the proposed changes to regulations that are to follow, is to balance the needs of this vulnerable group to receive the support they need with managing the demands on local authorities and health bodies to respond to this outbreak. As a result, we have included in the Bill temporary emergency powers to enable us, where necessary, to modify the legal requirements on local authorities in fulfilling their duties in relation to EHC plans.

In practice, this will mean that where a local authority is, because of the outbreak, unable, for example, to put in place stated provision, they will need to use their reasonable endeavours to do this, but won’t be penalised for failing to meet the existing duty as set out in the Children and Families Act 2014. These emergency powers will only be exercised for the shortest period and where necessary, and will be regularly reviewed. We will also be seeking to amend regulations on the timescales for EHC plan processes where this is appropriate because of COVID19. I want to reiterate that these decisions are not taken lightly but I believe strike the right balance in these difficult times.

I encourage you to keep up to date by regularly checking the gov.uk webpages, and raise awareness of the DfE Coronavirus helpline we have established for local authorities, providers and parents to get information on the latest Government advice. The number is 0800 046 8687, and lines are open 8am-6pm (Monday – Friday), and 10am – 4pm (Saturday and Sunday).

I realise that the impact of these extraordinary circumstances on this group of children and young people can be particularly acute. This is why I have asked the Council for Disabled Children, in partnership with Contact, to ensure that their websites and forums regularly update both families and services on information, which is available to support them. I have also asked them to collate any questions and queries from stakeholders so that we can maintain as many routes of contact as possible into Government to ensure our actions continue to be focused on prioritising where help is most needed.

The challenges we are now facing serve to further highlight the importance of ensuring the system of support for children and young people with SEND is as effective as possible in the future. Rest assured that completing our review of the SEND system remains a priority for me and for the Government. In light of the current situation, we will think carefully about the right way and timescale to do this. Right now my focus, like yours, is on managing the current situation and keeping vulnerable children safe and supported.

I know that by working together, we can ensure that children and young people with SEND receive the support they need during this difficult time.

Yours sincerely,

Vicky Ford MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families

Bishop’s Letter Tells Of ‘Pride’ In Our Schools

20th March 2020Michael McGeary

Bishop Terry has written a special pastoral letter to all who work in and support schools throughout the Diocese of Middlesbrough, speaking of his pride in them and assuring them of his prayers…

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I write today to offer my sincere thanks and my thoughts and prayers for you, our Catholic family of schools, as you continue to work for the good of those you serve during the national crisis the country faces.

I know that to support those providing care and treatment to others, those keeping supply chains open and essential services to the most vulnerable, you have been asked to provide a safe place for their children at our Catholic schools.

To maintain such a vital service for the children of these “key workers” will require extensive planning from the part of those that lead our schools and trusts but crucially the continued commitment and dedication of those who have been called to serve in their Ministry to teach and work in a Catholic school.

I am immensely proud to see Catholic schools playing such a leading role in this time of national crisis, a time when we once again see Catholic schools living out the values that underpin our faith.

Understandably, we will all be feeling anxious and uncertain in what are unprecedented times, but it is precisely in these times that our faith provides the support and reassurance that Christ walks with us in good times and bad.

You and the work you do remain in my thoughts and prayers.

Yours in blessed hope,

Rt Rev Terence Patrick Drainey

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

17th March 2020Dan Jackson

Tuesday 24th March 2020

Initial enquiries must be made directly to schools.

 

Further Messages

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Respiratory Team Message

 

Dear Parents and Carers, 

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

I would like to update you as to where we stand as a Trust with regard to Coronavirus. The situation is ever changing by the hour but I would like to issue the following update. Currently our schools remain open and in full operation. 

We will continue to keep you informed of any further updates and changes. In the meantime there are several measures which schools have put in place to help minimise risk and spread of infection.  

Excursions, assemblies, travel, concerts and other events such as parents days/evenings have already been cancelled to limit exposure in line with government recommendations. 

 

ILLNESS

We ask that you are vigilant and responsible and if your child is feeling unwell and displays symptoms (high temperature, prolonged cough) they are to stay at home and self-isolate for fourteen days.

Your school will send children home if they are showing these symptoms. 

 

HANDWASHING.

Public Health England advise that handwashing continues to be extremely important and vital to minimise the spread of the infection.  Staff, children, pupils, students and families will be reminded to wash their hands for 20 seconds more frequently than normal.

Staff will also be reminding pupils to avoid hand to mouth contact.  

 

SOCIAL DISTANCING

We are also employing a social distancing strategy in order to minimise risk and in the best interest of pupils, staff and our community.

 

EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS

At this time all external examinations are scheduled to run as normal. We will update

you as a matter of urgency if more information comes to light on this matter.

 

CONTINGENCY PLANNING

We have ensured all schools have the necessary contingency plans in place for any unexpected closure and supporting learning through online platforms and contact. 

 

PLEASE INFORM YOUR SCHOOLS IF YOU HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR MOBILE NUMBERS.

 

We ask for your support at this time. This is a situation that is ever changing and unprecedented and the safety of our pupils, staff and families is our priority. Our aim is to keep things as normal as possible for our pupils but to also educate, in an age appropriate way, about how to stay safe and healthy, whilst also minimising any fear or panic that may arise.

 

Thank you once again for your continued support and understanding and please keep the sick and vulnerable within our community in your prayers at this very difficult time.

 

Kind Regards

 

Hugh Hegarty CEO 

NPQH | M.Sc. | PGCCGC | B.Ed. Hons.| CTC 

Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust

 

UNICEF Award For Middlesbrough School

5th March 2020Michael McGeary

A Middlesbrough school has earned praise from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) after being judged worthy of receiving the coveted Silver award for respecting children’s rights.

St Augustine’s Catholic Primary in Coulby Newham was commended for embedding the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child throughout its policies, practice and culture.

Headteacher Martin Macaulay said: “Student voice has always been strong in the school, but our Year 6 teacher Joanne Nicholson, supported by all the staff, has taken this to another level by engaging with UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Awards.

“They have provided a way of drawing student voice groups such as the Student Council, Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, the Chaplaincy Team and the Mini Vinnies all together under the umbrella of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“The convention has 54 articles and so many relate directly to our children’s everyday lives. They understand how simple things such as playground behaviour and attendance link to the right to play and the right to an education, as well as how our safeguarding arrangements link to the right to be protected from harm and to be safe online.

“Other articles relate more to global issues and our pupils have learned about children throughout the world who don’t have the opportunity to have an education because of poverty or having to go out to work.”

St Augustine’s Catholic Primary in Coulby Newham has been commended for embedding the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child throughout its policies, practice and culture

St Augustine’s Catholic Primary in Coulby Newham has been commended for embedding the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child throughout its policies, practice and culture

The UNICEF report on St Augustine’s says children understood that rights are inalienable, unconditional and universal, but that some children don’t have their rights met.

“Children, young people and adults collaborate to develop and maintain a school community based on equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation,” it says. “This includes learning and teaching in a way that respects the rights of both educators and learners and promotes wellbeing.

“Relationships at St Augustine’s are mutually respectful and caring. One child said, ‘It’s not like a school, we’re a family, there’s always a friend around to help.’

“Health and wellbeing are key drivers at St Augustine’s. Some groups of children and staff are Headstart trained and there is a weekly bereavement group where children can go to talk if they feel sad. A child said, ‘We can talk about mental health and what’s worrying us because we have a right to be safe and listened to.’

“Children unanimously agreed that they are treated fairly and quoted the example that if two children argued, staff would listen to both sides. A Year 6 child said, ‘People here focus on rights and respect and everyone is treated the same it doesn’t matter about their race or gender or anything else.’”

Mr Macaulay added: “The feedback in the report is fabulous and the real strength of what we’re doing is the way the children are driving everything.”

UNICEF outlined the steps St Augustine’s needs to take to earn its Gold standard, which the school has set its sights on winning within the next 12 to 18 months.

Skiing Plans Change But Dream Trip Is On

28th February 2020Michael McGeary

School and trust staff have pulled out all the stops to ensure Thornaby children don’t miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime skiing trip because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Twenty-nine year five children and five staff from St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School were due to set off this weekend for a week in the Italian resort of Claviere, situated near the border with France.

Even though Claviere is not in the area of northern Italy the government is currently advising UK travellers to avoid, the school decided against going ahead.

However, after an impressive effort led by headteacher Mark Ryan and supported by central services staff at Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust (NPCAT), alternative arrangements have now been put in place.

The group will fly out from Newcastle Airport on Sunday morning but instead of Claviere, they will spend the week in the resort of Les Des Alpes, 75 kilometres away in France.

Mr Ryan is delighted with the new arrangements, which mean he won’t have to tell the children the trip they’ve been looking forward to for months is off.

“It’s the chance of a lifetime for these children,” he said. “We provide this opportunity and subsidise the cost because we believe our children deserve the same opportunities any other children are given.

“Thanks to a lot of hard work from my staff and the help of NCPAT trust chief executive officer Hugh Hegarty and his team, the children are going to get more skiing in a better resort for the same money – and that’s great news for everyone.”

Mr Ryan, who has been organising residential trips for 25 years, says it was important not to panic and make a decision to cancel as an emotional reaction.

“Instead we’ve followed public health advice and advice from the government, assessed the risk and made proportionate, rational decisions,” he said.

“We’ve had to work unbelievably hard after months of planning, but the trust has given us amazing support and the travel agents have also been fantastic.”

This is the third year the school has taken children skiing and Mr Ryan says it’s great for pupils’ overall development.

“Our children are very proud to come from the North-East but this trip is about opening their eyes to some of the wonderful opportunities out there in the world,” he said.

“Children who’ve been before have loved it and come back more confident and starting to see themselves as able to travel and do exciting things.”

The trip is part of a rolling programme of offered to pupils in different year groups that includes annual visits to Carlton in North Yorkshire and a week’s residential in Holland.

Parents were invited to a meeting this afternoon (Thursday) to inform them of the new arrangements for the skiing trip.