COVID-19 Information

Dear Parent / Carer -

I just want to update you about our wider opening plans.  We will open for Year 1 children from Mon 8 Jun.  This will be on a rota basis.  We will phone Year 1 Parents this week to talk about our plans and see what you think you will do.

Thanks DHIA

Re-Opening

Please see letter on the website on the front page on the left hand side or in the More Tab, Parents Info, Letters re Re-Opening after Prime Ministers Announcement, please take the time to read this, many thanks DHIA

Below you will find a link to a useful video, which parents may wish to watch with their children, explaining to them the current situation around Corona Virus. The video attempts to explain in a child friendly way why the children are unable to attend school and visit family and friends at the moment. We hope you enjoy it and find it helpful.... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DlOGKpMNs4&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop

Hello children, parents and carers!

We hope you have had a good Easter and have been enjoying some of the good weather!  The staff have had a nice time but wish we were getting ready to start the Summer term together.  We are missing you and we thought you might like to see some of the things we are doing in our time at home.  Watch this video and you will see lots of familiar faces.  I wonder how many faces you will recognise?  I think some of you will know them all! You might even recognise the song - sing along if you do! :)

Stay safe and take care! 

Child's Teacher Contacting you Next Week

Next week your child's class teacher will be giving you a ring just to say hello - it maybe a No Caller ID, but please pick up, thanks DHIA

Booklet of Resources / Support

There is a booklet of resources / support for any age, which can be download, which you might find helpful. It's on the school website, under Home Learning Section.

Home Learning Activities - See Home Learning Section

Children - some smashing Home Learning Activities today on DHIA Website https://www.diamondhallinfantacademy.co.uk/

Can you do the Year 2 Geography Quiz , or take a look at out school on Google Earth Reception Challenge.  Reception staff want to see your aerial view plans.  Follow Nursery's Science Session with Miss Anderson.  I loved 'Tate Paint ' - Yesterday - A link from Year 1.  Have a look at my Spring Picture.  Cannot wait to see your 'Tate Paint' Pictures.  Just save and send on email to enquiries@diamondhallinfantacademy.co.uk

Hope your are enjoying the Bedtime Stories by our school grown ups.  I loved the 'Rabbit, The Dark and the Biscuit Tin' last night.

 
Mrs Collingwood 
Head Teacher

Hello everyone 

I really hope everyone is well and finding things to do at home. 

From Monday 30th March staff will be posting daily activities on our website for children.

You will find the posts under the Home Learning tab. Click on the year group for your child.  Each day there will be an activity of link for each year group.  The new activity will be available from 10.00am each weekday morning.

Also from 6.00pm each evening the children can listen to a familiar school adult share a bedtime story.  This will be posted under Home Learning tab. 

At the present time school can be contacted from 8.30am to 10.00am each week day morning for any queries (0191) 5640222.

We are thinking about you all, take care and stay safe.

S Collingwood

Head Teacher

Year Group Activities

Reminder that year group activities are on the website for today.

Daily Activities

Daily Activities / Bedtime Story - on the School Website under Home Learning Tab, thanks DHIA

Key Worker Information

Following much confusion over the last few days regarding Key Workers and sending children to school, we would like to clarify that you should not be sending your children to school unless this is absolutely necessary. The message from the government is clear, unless your work is critical in the response to Coronavirus and you have no alternative care for you child, then please keep your child at home. If you have previously asked us to care for your child and you no longer require the place as you have managed to make alternative arrangements, please ring the main school office and leave a message on the school's answerphone to let us know.

Free School Meals

A national supermarket voucher scheme for those entitled to means tested Free School Meals is being rolled out. These vouchers will only be available during the normal term time and will not be available over the Easter break. We therefore need an email address to send the voucher to you. Please email enquiries@diamondhallinfantacademy.co.uk with a working email account which you have access to, to enable us to do this.

If you are not currently entitled to Free School Meals but think that you should be, please see the the criteria below.

Your child might be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Applications can be made via the Sunderland Family Portal:  https://emsonline.sunderland.gov.uk/CitizenPortal_LIVE/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fCitizenPortal_LIVE%2f

If you aren’t sure if you are eligible, please contact one of the Free School Meals team on 0191 561 1417 or email them:  freeschoolmeals@togetherforchildren.org.uk

Parent/Carer Information

We have been informed by other local schools, that some parents are receiving emails stating the following: 'As schools will be closing, if you are entitled to free school meals, please send your bank details and we will ensure you are supported'. We would like to confirm that this is a scam and if you do receive an email like this, please delete it immediately. Thank you. School Office

Temporary Closure 

During the period of temporary closure, school phones will be answered on a daily basis from Monday 23rd March between 8:30am and 10:00am.  Please ring in with any queries / advice/ support you need on (0191) 5640222.

Gov UK has provided an updated list of key worker categories. This is the link to that information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

If you feel you may come within the key worker categories and require key provision at school please contact us. In the first instance if it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.  However if a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker then we will have a key provision available with school staff.

Please ring school (0191) 5640222 if you wish to talk about this and request provision.

During school closure the enquiries mailbox will be checked daily and you will get a timely response.  Please use the email address to ask any non urgent questions or request advice / support.

enquiries@diamondhallinfantacademy.co.uk

Parent / Carer Supervision

Reminder to all Parent/Carers, you MUST NOT leave your child/children on the year without supervision at all times. Thanks.

Driving around school

Reminder - all Parents/Carers to be extremely careful when parking and driving around school. Our children are very small and are not easily seen. Thanks.

World Health Day

World Mental Health Day was held on Thursday 10^th October 2019.  All children in school took part in different activities throughout the day, exploring and learn more about Mental Health and Wellbeing in an age appropriate way.

Children had the opportunity to: 

• Listen to and read different stories
• Recognise and talk about different feelings
• Learn about the 5 ways of Wellbeing (Connect, Keep learning, Give, Take notice, Be active)
• Discuss who they can talk to if they need help and how they can help others.

It would great if you can talk with your child about what they learned in school on World Mental Health Day.

More information to support parents can be found on our school website in the Academy Info Tab called Mental Health/Wellbeing Section.

Bookbags

Please can Parent/Carers remind their children daily if there are letters / money etc in their bookbag, please hand these to their class teacher. Thanks.

Parent/ Carer Addresses

Please can Parent/Carers ensure that school has the correct address for their child, as letters etc can be posted to the home address. Thanks.

Pierced Ears

If your child has their ears pierced, please ensure they ONLY wear stud earrings and not hoop earrings to school. Thanks.

School Menu

The school menu is on the school website should you wish to view.

If you click on the tab at the top:

• More
• Parents Info
• School Meals

Safety Around Dogs

We have talked with the children about how to keep safe around dogs.  Please look at the leaflet brought home by your child.

NSPCC

NSPCC came to talk to us about keeping ourselves safe.  We learnt that if anything makes us feel sad or worried we should always 'Speak Out and Stay Safe'.

School Mobile App

DHIA have a new school mobile app. Flyers have been sent home but should you need instructions to download this app, please see the website front page - Letters, or the school app - Letters Home icon....