Keep up to date with all the news happening in the school at the moment. Articles are added during the week. Parents are encouraged to check regularly. Our weekly newsletter, emailed directly to parents, summarises content for the week.

• Burnside Christmas Window

  Tue 30 Nov 2021 Headteacher

  Burnside Christmas Window Display 

   

  This half term our Key Stage 2 children have been working hard in their Art Lessons. Our specialist teacher, Mrs Tweddle has taught a range of art techniques which have been used to make a whole host of Christmas artwork. The work is exceptional and highlights what a valuable asset Mrs Tweddle is to our curriculum. 

   

  The children's work is displayed in the front window of the Cramlington Hub (the hub is situated next to Concordia Leisure Centre). It is well worth a visit.

   

• Staff Babies

  Fri 26 Nov 2021 Headteacher

  Two teachers are expecting babies. Mrs.Stewart and Mrs.Mawhinney are pregnant. Congratulations! We are delighted to share their news.

   

  • Mrs. Stewarts  baby is due to be born January. Mr Kindley ( current supply teacher)  will continue to teach her class for the remainder of the academic year.
  • Mrs Mawhinney's baby is due in the Spring. We will share teaching cover arrangements near to the start of her maternity leave.

   

  Meanwhile, I am sure you will join me in congratulating them.

• Covid Important Update

  Wed 24 Nov 2021 Headteacher

  Currently 26 pupils and 3 staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since Monday 22^nd November. 7 classes now have at least 1 positive case (some more) in the last 10 days:

  RMW, 1R, 1M, 3L, 3T, 5S, 6C.

   

  As previously stated we have always operated the school under amber control measures. We want to reduce the risk of infection transmission and keep as many pupils as possible attending school.

   

  We are trying to take steps to reduce risk of infection while keeping as much the same for pupils as we can. 

   

  For parents, this means:

  1.   be extra cautious and alert to any changes in your child's health.

  If you see symptoms of coronavirus, stop sending your child to school and check with a PCR test;

  2.   strict social distancing while on the school site, wear a mask when on the school site when dropping off and collecting your children, avoid visiting the school office;

  3.   wash hands as soon as pupils arrive at home after school.

   

  In school, this means:

  · We will seek agency (supply) cover and then fall-back on our own Higher-Level Teaching Assistants to cover teacher absence;

  · childcare organised into year groups within a larger group, as much as possible;

  · increasing hand-washing for all pupils on arrival, around break-time, before food and after lunch;

  · classrooms ventilated with windows and doors open;

  · additional deep cleaning of classrooms;

  · increasing cleaning of all high-touch surfaces during the school day;

• Children In Need

  Mon 22 Nov 2021 Headteacher

  Thank you for your kind donations. We raised £360 for Children in Need.

  

• Thank you for testing

  Mon 22 Nov 2021 Headteacher

  On Friday we sent a letter to Year 5K children from Public Health asking them to take a PCR test. 

   

  Thank you, as clearly many of you took the test and hence this morning we have been updated regarding positive test results.

   

  The school admin team are sending alerts out to classes with positive COVID cases in them. 

   

  The guidance state that if 10% of a class tests positive then AMBER measures should be put into place. We now have 4 classes on Amber, however we have operated with AMBER guidance since returning in September.

   

  Amber suggests the following which you are aware we have done since September

  • Children will be taught in class bubbles
  • Children will clean their hands on entry and regularly during the school day
  • Lunch will continue to be eaten in class bubbles either in the hall or in classrooms
  • Whole school assemblies will not take place
  • Whole school singing will not take place
  • Maintain appropriate cleaning and ventilation
  • staff will continue to test twice a week
  • send information when a case is reported to us
  • Conduct enhanced deep cleaning in classes with higher numbers of positive cases
  • Conduct PE lessons outside when possible
  • Moving all meetings/consultations to online platforms whenever possible 
  • Reverting to sharing some of our Christmas celebrations with you online

   

  Please assist us by

  • Observing social distancing guidelines when dropping off and collecting your child.
  • Wearing a face covering when on the school site.
  • Being watchful for changes in your child's health and testing where necessary.
  • Not sending your child into school if they have any of the COVID symptoms.

   

  I completely understand that the measures we are taking are out of sync with the national guidance but I am attempting to do everything possible to ensure the children's education is as undisrupted as possible. 

  I am in regular contact with Public Health and should they want me to send specific letters to particular year groups, I will do so immediately. 

  

• PUBLIC HEALTH - COVID

  Fri 19 Nov 2021 Headteacher

  Today I have sent the children in Year 5K a letter from Public Health England. Please be aware the letter is only for the children in Year 5K due to now having higher cases in this class.

  There is no need to worry as COVID numbers in most parts of the school are now very low. We will of course continue with all the precautions for the whole school which are as follows

  • Children will be taught in class bubbles
  • Children will clean their hands on entry and regularly during the school day
  • Lunch will continue to be eaten in class bubbles either in the hall or in classrooms
  • Whole school assemblies will not take place
  • Whole school singing will not take place
  • Maintain appropriate cleaning and ventilation
  • staff will continue to test twice a week
  • send information when a case is reported to us
  • Conduct enhanced deep cleaning in classes with higher numbers of positive cases
  • Conduct PE lessons outside when possible
  • Moving all meetings/consultations to online platforms whenever possible 
  • Reverting to sharing some of our Christmas celebrations with you online

   

  1. Please assist us by observing social distancing guidelines when dropping off and collecting your child.
  2. Wearing a face covering when on the school site.
  3. Being watchful for changes in your child's health and testing where necessary.
  4. Not sending your child into school if they have any of the COVID symptoms.

   

  I truly believe that working together we will continue to get through this challenging time. 

   

  

• Senior Mental Health Lead At Burnside

  Fri 19 Nov 2021 Headteacher

  COVID has been a very challenging time for us all. There has been a significant rise in the number of parents approaching us to discuss mental health concerns they have about their children. In response to this and to enable us to provide support, Mrs Akram is embarking on a training programme with the safeguarding alliance to develop her skills further and become our Senior Mental Health Lead in school. 

   

  Her role will be to further develop the well-being practices already in place, to support and provide training for her colleagues and work closely with our experienced SENDCO, Miss Lloyd.

   

  She will further develop her knowledge of the range of agencies parents/carers may turn to for help and support. Whenever possible she will also be there to simply be a listening ear, which in itself can be extremely useful.

   

  For those of you that don't know Mrs Akram, she teaches in Year 2 and has worked at Burnside for over 20 years.

• Anti Bullying Poster Competition Winners

  Fri 19 Nov 2021 Headteacher

  Mrs Akram collected all entries for the Anti Bullying poster competition today and selected a winning entry from each class. She had an extremely difficult job as the standard of entries was so high. Well done everyone!

  The competition winners will all receive a book voucher on Monday.

  

• Please remember to bring ID

  Fri 19 Nov 2021 Headteacher

  Please remember to bring ID if collecting your child from the school office during the school day. Although the admin staff know a lot you by name and sight they do not know everyone due to COVID which has meant many of you haven't been into school very often. 

   

  Although you may know the office staff well and they know you well, if someone you don't know is covering office you will be required to show ID. So it is always best to bring some form of ID with you.

   

  If you have informed us a relative is coming during the day to collect they will also need to bring ID which corresponds to the name you provided. 

  
  I know it may seem impersonal but the children’s safety is our priority. Bringing ID can save time as it means we don't need upload details from our systems and then proceed to ask you random questions to verify your identity.

   

  Thank you in advance for your support
   

• A COVID Snapshot

  Wed 17 Nov 2021

  A COVID Snapshot Wednesday 17th 2021

  As you are aware we contact parents via The School APP when we receive confirmation of a positive COVID case in your child's class. This is to allow you to be extra vigilant and monitor your child's health and that of your wider family. 

   

  I thought it would be useful to let you know where we are currently, so the list below details where we stand today on positive COVID cases.

   

  *Please note things change on a daily basis

   

   

  Class	Number of COVID cases
  Nursery	1
  Reception RB	0
  Reception RWM	0
  Year 1M	1
  Year 1R	0
  Year 2T	0
  Year 2A	0
  Year 3L	0
  Year 3T	0
  Year 4G	1
  Year 4MW	0
  Year 5S	4
  Year 5D	0
  Year 6C	2
  Year 6BM	1

   

  6 classes now have at least 1 positive COVID case. In classes where cases are high, we typically see cases rising quickly.

  As most cases at this time appear to be in the Upper Key Stage 2 building. This building will be deep cleaned tonight and I ask for parents with children in Upper Key Stage 2 to be extra cautious and alert to changes in your child's health. It would be beneficial to ensure your child washes hands as soon as they arrive home.