https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice

 

Dear parents and carers,

In light of the recent weather forecast, we would like to inform you about how we deal with any severe weather, especially snow, which may affect the school.

Each day of any severe weather the leadership team in school will make an assessment about whether it is safe and practical to open the school to pupils. This decision will be made as soon as is possible in the morning.

You will be informed by our text and email service if the school is to close. It is therefore vital that you inform us if you have changed your mobile number or email address. We will also post the information on our school website.

If you do not hear anything from us, the school will be open.

Please be assured that we would only decide to close our school in exceptional circumstances where the safety of your child is the primary concern. On occasion this may be due to the availability of teaching staff who travel some distance to reach school, rather than purely conditions for pupils getting to school.

As you will understand if the school is closed then there will be no breakfast and after school club.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Kind regards,

Mrs Leila Naldrett

Year 5 Sailing

The Island Trust have kindly arranged to come to Gatehouse on Thursday 19th January 2023, straight after school to give a presentation to families.

We look forward to welcoming you all.

Places are still available.

https://www.theislandtrust.org.uk/

https://www.gatehouse.devon.sch.uk/attendance-matters/

Green Letter - Where a child's attendance is giving the school cause for concern an attendance letter will be sent advising the parent that their child's attendance has dropped below 96%.

If attendance continues to drop, the schools Family Support Worker will contact the family to help and support.

Amber Letter - If a parent has already received a green letter and their child's attendance continues to fall to below 93% an amber letter will be sent inviting the parent to attend a meeting with member(s) of the attendance team to try and work out if the school can support the family in any way to improve the child's attendance.

We will also enquire if the child has an ongoing medical condition that the school can help and support with should the absences be due to a high number of days due to illness and medical appointments.

Red Letter - This letter is sent if you have already received a green and amber letter and your child's attendance has continued to fall to below 90%. At this point your child is considered a 'Persistent Absent' pupil. The Education Welfare Officer may be contacted to seek advice and be involved.

Continued low absence, for reasons not deemed acceptable by the school or the Education Welfare Officer will be dealt with by the EWO. If you, as the parent/carer, do not follow any plan or contract set out by the officer you may be fined or served with a court summons.

Medical Absences / Illness

If absences are due to illness or medical and the level of attendance of the child is becoming a concern the school will send a soft medical letter advising parents of their child's attendance record and identifying how many sessions / marks are due to medical / illness out of the possible amount attended. They will be reminded to obtain medical evidence where possible.

48 Hour Sickness Rule

DIARRHOEA AND VOMITING

Diarrhoea and/or vomiting commonly affects children and can be caused by a number of different germs, including viruses, parasites and bacteria. Infections can be easily spread from person to person, especially in children.

If your child is sick at school, we will ask you or your emergency contact to take your child home. They should not return for 48 hours to the school premises, since the last episode.

Thank you for your understanding and support with this. Further guidance on infection control may be found on the Public Health England website.

Applications for school places for September 2023 closes on 15th January 2023.

If you have not had the opportunity to visit the school and would like a tour please email admin@gatehouse.devon.sch.uk and we would be delighted to book you in.

To apply for a school place visit:

https://www.devon.gov.uk/.../apply-for-a-primary-school.../

Please share with family and friends that have a child due to start school in September 2023.

A BIG thank you to the PTA for donating Christmas hats to the whole school - the children are absolutely delighted with them! The children will be taking their hats home on the last day of term, as they will be used in school next week for Christmassy activities!