Newsletters

MESSAGE FROM MRS JONES

It has been a great start to the new academic year with the children returning enthusiastically to school life at Vaughan.  A special 'well done' needs to go to our new Nursery and Reception pupils who have settled extremely well into Vaughan and are positively engaging with all the new challenges around them.

There have been a number of parent information sessions already this term and I would like to reassure all parents that these will continue to take place.  For those who have attended, I hope that they have been a source of support in helping you to understand more about the provision in school and how we can work in partnership.

The gradual return to normality has been encouraging, even with a few blips in the road, and as a school, we're hopeful that we can make further strides forward in the next half term and across the rest of the academic year.  Ultimately, we want full engagement with the community and to be able to put on all the additional provision and events that are part of the Vaughan community.

We appear to be on the right track at the moment and due to everyone working hard to keep to the procedures in place, things are looking promising.  When we are able to make additional changes, parents will be informed in due course.

Please remember that if your child is unwell then they should stay at home to recover and the school should be informed by 9am on each day of absence. 

In the meantime, I would like to thank all parents for their continued support and wish all of our families a great half term.

Mrs Jones

If you have concerns regarding a child’s safety and wellbeing during the summer break, below are services that will be able to help you.

During holiday time and the weekends, you can contact Harrow Children's Services by calling:

SUPPORT AND ADVICE FOR CHILDREN

If you have a worry or need some support and a trusted adult cannot help, you can contact the following organisations for help.

• Childline (0800 1111, www.childline.org.uk) – This is a confidential service for children and young people. No problem is too big or too small and they’re there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about. Or you can have a 1-2-1 counsellor chat online.
• NSPCC (0808 800 5000, www.nspcc.org.uk)
• Harrow Children Services - 020 8901 2690.
• Harrow Children Services – Emergency out of hours 020 8424 0999
• Police – in case of an emergency - 999

Year 6 only

• Kooth – Kooth is a web based confidential support service available to young people. Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and wellbeing support. 
• Kooth offers young people the opportunity to have a text-based conversation with a qualified counsellor.
• Counsellors are available from 12noon to 10pm on weekdays and 6pm to 10 pm at weekends, every day of the year on a drop-in basis.  You can access regular booked online counselling sessions as needed.
• Outside counselling hours’ young people can message the team and get support by the next day.
• When you register with Kooth, you will have support available now and in the future. Support can be gained not only through counselling but articles, forums and discussion boards.  All content is age appropriate, clinically approved and fully moderated.

To find out more visit www.Kooth.com where you can register and find out more about the service.

You can also view a short video about the service at:

https://vimeo.com/318731977/a9f32c87de   

LOST PROPERTY

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Please ensure that ALL items your child brings to school are labelled with your child’s name and class – e.g., coat, school clothes, P.E. kit etc.  This will help us return lost items to children!

AFTERNOON NURSERY PLACES

We still have some spaces in our Afternoon Nursery.  If you have a child who is Nursery age (born between 1st September 2017 and 31st August 2018) or you know someone who is interested, please speak to the school office for an application form.

JEWELLERY IN SCHOOL

Please remember that if your child wears earrings, they should be studs only, no hooped or dangly earrings are allowed in school. 

Please also remember that earrings should not be worn to school on PE days and long hair should be tied up on PE days. 

Thank you.

RESPONSIBLE PARKING

This is a reminder that parents and carers should not be parking on the double yellow lines outside the school AT ANY TIME.  

We have had a number of complaints from our neighbours regarding this (along with photos of offending vehicles!) and so we feel a gentle reminder is needed. 

Thank you for your consideration and support.  

TANG SOO DO

For 30 years a Martial Arts class has been held for the children of this school (from age 6) every Thursday evening.  The class runs from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm. 

The class is organised in conjunction with the “United Kingdom Tang Soo Do Federation”.  Training is given under strict supervision and techniques taught include hand and foot skills, sparring, free-fighting and self-control. 

The instructor is Master Meakins and the fee for each lesson is £3.00.  The students will join the Tang Soo Do Federation and take the examinations for the coloured belts.  This will, however, incur fees. 

If your child is interested in signing up, please come along with your child on any Thursday evening (including school holidays) at 6.15 pm to register.  Please ensure your child is wearing comfortable clothing.

SCHOOL LUNCHES

If your child is absent from school and you wish to cancel a pre-booked meal on Schoolmoney/Eduspot you can do this in advance by logging into Schoolmoney/Eduspot via the website or the app on your phone before 12 midnight the day before.

Alternatively in the event your child is ill first thing in the morning you must email the school on the first day of absence before 9.00 am to attendance@vaughan.harrow.sch.uk  stating the reason for the absence and requesting for a refund for their school lunch. 

All orders are sent to the kitchen and the food is prepared, therefore this charge will remain billable to parents, unless the request is received in writing before 9.00 am on the first day of absence. 

PUPILS WITH ALLERGIES/INTOLERANCES

All children with an allergy/intolerance must have a Health Care Plan.

However, if your child has an allergy or intolerance and has a hot meal at school (Breakfast Club, lunchtime or After School Club), you will be required to complete documents for the catering company so that they can ensure that your child’s dietary needs are met.

You can download the documents from the catering company on the school website here.

When completed, please return to the welfare team.

The school will send this information securely to the Catering Company's Area Manager who will liaise with their Nutritionist.

If your child no longer has an intolerance or allergy, the catering company will require confirmation from a medical professional for their records.

ACHIEVEMENT OF THE DATA PROTECTION AWARD

Following the Data Protection annual independent audit by Judicium Consulting, which took place in late July, we are pleased to announce that Vaughan Primary School has achieved the School Data Protection Award 2021.

This award recognises high standards of data protection and security in the workplace and learning environment.

School leadership are thrilled that the work to develop such good data practice, particularly given the challenges of implementing new remote learning systems during lockdown, has been recognised and externally verified. 

AUTUMN IDEAS FROM FUN KIDS

It's October and as the weather turns, Fun Kids – the UK's children's radio station – is here with some indoor and outdoor activities ??

Here is a sheet packed full of ideas for things to do at home this Autumn:

KEY MESSAGES FROM WELFARE

Medical Conditions and Health Care Plans

If your child has a diagnosed medical condition, a Health Care Plan needs to be completed (if we have not got one already). It is important that the school are aware of any medical conditions.

If there are any changes to a child’s existing medical condition and/or a new medical condition emerges, parents/carers need to complete a new Health Care Plan.

If we do not receive a new or updated Health Care Plan, your child will be unable to attend school.  If we do not receive medicine (as outlined in your child’s Health Care Plan), your child will be unable to attend school.

The Health Care Plans are available on the school website here.

Epi pens

If your child uses an epi-pen at school, please can you provide three epi-pens so that we can keep one in the lunch hall, classroom and welfare.

Asthma

The Harrow School Nursing Team advise if any child has been prescribed an inhaler for either asthma or viral induced wheeze, they should be reviewed annually.  That can be done by either the GP, practice nurse or respiratory team. The school requires a copy of your child's latest Asthma Plan for their records.

If you require any further information, please contact Welfare on welfare@vaughan.harrow.sch.uk.

Inhalers

Please ensure that inhalers are kept in their original packaging with the child’s name and instructions.  We also require an age appropriate spacer together with the inhaler.

Inhalers for children in the Junior School

If your child uses an inhaler, please can you provide a third inhaler so that we have a spare one available.

Medication

If your child is prescribed medication which has to be administered at school, please complete a consent form which can be found on the school website with clear instructions.  It must come via the school office or alternatively, call Welfare tel: 0208 427 7222 Ext 2 and arrangements can be made to collect from outside the school office.

Any medical queries, please contact Mrs O’Rourke or Ms Goodspeed in Welfare.

Free check ups

Please be advised that children are entitled to:

• Free NHS Prescriptions
• Free NHS Dental Treatment
• Free NHS Sight Tests

We do encourage families to have regular check-ups.  Please check https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk for further information.

Medical appointments during the day

And lastly a reminder about medical appointments.  If your child has a medical appointment during the school day, please remember to email attendance@vaughan.harrow.sch.uk with the details and with proof of the appointment.  We do ask however, that appointments during the day are kept to a minimum and that you book appointments for outside of the school day.  Thank you.

HARROW FOODBANK

Further information is available from the following website:
https://harrow.foodbank.org.uk/

TERM DATES

School will close at 1.35pm on the last day of each term
(please see separate letter sent regarding the end of the Autumn term)

Afternoon Nursery will be closed on the last day of each term.

After School Club finishes at 4.00pm on the last day of term. 

Please do not book holidays for during term time as these will not be authorised.  If you wish to request leave from school, please complete a Request for Leave form and email it to attendance@vaughan.harrow.sch.uk for Mrs Jones' attention.