Newsletters

MESSAGE FROM MRS JONES

Dear Parents and Carers

I would like to thank the  parent community for adhering to the Covid procedures we still have in place, and safeguarding of all of us.  

As you would have seen from the letter sent out to parents at the end of last week, we are still keeping our Covid procedures in place until such a time that we feel comfortable lifting them. 

If your child is unwell and you are unsure whether they should be in school, please feel free to contact the school office for some advice, or speak directly to a health care professional.  

We are all looking forward to World Book Day on Thursday 3rd March!  Lots of staff will be dressing up as well as the children.  We also have a special menu on Thursday which you will see when you go online to book your child's lunch via Eduspot.

Thank you to all parents for their continued support.

Mrs Jones
Headteacher

SCHOOL MEAL PRICE INCREASE

(Years 3 to 6)

Due to unprecedented increases in the costs of raw materials and food inflation, along with rising staff costs, increases in supply logistics costs which include factors such as transportation and energy increases, the cost per meal of the school meal service will be increasing from £1.95 to £2.00 per meal per day.  

This price increase will take effect from the 1^st April 2022.   

The cost of the lunch service will continue to include the selected hot meal, along with freshly baked bread and unlimited salad bar, along with a choice of fruit, dessert or cheese and crackers.

Children eligible for free school meals will continue to receive their free school meal and the costs of the increase will be met by the funding received from the government. If you believe you may be entitled to free school meals, please contact Mrs Scott in the school office, who will be able to run an eligibility check.

The cost of school meals at Vaughan has remained consistent for the last three years and been held at £1.95, however due to external market forces and increasing costs, this is no longer possible.  Despite the 5 pence per meal increase, we believe £2.00 per meal still offers excellent value for money.

'WE ARE VAUGHAN' FRONT COVER DESIGN COMPETITION

‘The Diversity Group ran a competition on return to school at the beginning of the Spring Term, launching an initiative to produce a book that represents the school community.

After selections from some recent external visitors, the winners were announced in assembly and have been presented with their prizes.

I am sure that parents will join me in congratulating both pupils in Year 1 and 6 and their wonderful efforts in creating the front and back cover designs for a beautiful legacy.  Congratulations Pravan and Oana!

OPERATION OUCH!

We are pleased to report that a new series of Operation Ouch! started on Monday 28th February.   

This series was filmed last year and children from Vaughan (current Year 6 children) feature in the new series so take a look and see if you recognise anyone! 

If you don't manage to watch it at the scheduled time, you can catch up on iPlayer. 

Parents’ Safeguarding Forums

Wednesday 9^th March 2022 @ 10am and 6:30pm

What is safeguarding?  What do schools have to do?  Why?

If you would like to find out the answers to the above questions as well as much more besides, please come to our first Parents’ Safeguarding Forum!

Miss Rogers, the school’s DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) will present an overview of safeguarding.  This will include explaining what it is, what’s involved, why schools do it and what it looks like at Vaughan.  There will also be a Q & A session at the end for you to ask any questions.

Please join her at either 10am or 6:30pm.  The meetings will be via Zoom and these details will be sent out nearer the time.

She looks forward to seeing you there! 

FUNDRAISING

The school has raised the following in respect of the various recent charity events:

• Show Racism the Red Card - Badge Sales: £108
• Show Racism the Red Card - Non-Uniform day: £406
• Save the Children Xmas Jumper: £255

Thank you to all the families who have contributed to these worthy causes! 

TANG SOO DO

For over 30 years a Martial Arts class has been held for the children of this school (from age 6) every Thursday evening during term time.  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 during term time at 6.15 pm to register.  Please ensure your child is wearing comfortable clothing.  

KICK-UPS FOOTBALL CLUB

On Sunday 3rd April a new football club is starting at Vaughan from 1-3pm. 

If you would like more information or to book a free trial session, please contact them directly on 07798 922844 or email kickupssportsacademy@hotmail.com.

KEY MESSAGES FROM WELFARE

COVID UPDATE

COVID is still very much with us and any children displaying symptoms should not be coming to school.  Symptoms include cough, high temperature, loss of taste and smell.  We are still asking parents and carers to book a PCR test for their child with any of these symptoms, before they return to school.

We have also been advised that new symptoms have been recognised of the new Covid variant, Omicron.  These are sniffles, headache, sore throat and achy muscles.  If your child experiences any of these symptoms, please can you do a lateral flow test for them, and if that test is positive, then there is no need to follow up with a PCR test, but they will need to isolate for 10 days (unless they receive two negative lateral flow tests on day 5 and day 6).  Please see the chart below to help understand the isolation period:

Please also remember that we have a 48 hour policy for sickness and diarrhoea.  This means that we ask parents to keep their child at home for 48 hours after the last time their child has vomiting or diarrhoea.  This is to minimise infection to other members of the school - children and staff.

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.

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.