Information for Parents

 

We are all aware of the problems posed by the outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19). We would like to assure you that at The Grange Therapeutic School we are taking the necessary steps to protect our community and are continuing to follow official guidance from the government.

We are currently open to a reduced number of pupils, those children whose parents are keyworkers as set out by the government. We running a structured timetable of academic lessons on both the lower and upper school sites. We want to thank all staff for their superb hard work in keeping the school running. Both the Spinney (Lower School residential house) and the Manor (Upper School residential house) are open to residential pupils.

Our Therapist are in school each day and are available to support pupils and families during these challenging times, if you would like support please request a call back by emailing the main school office email address on: office@knossington.rutland.sch.uk

For those pupils who are self isolating and continuing to work from home, we have provided work packs that will support curriculum lessons. Completed work will be collected during the week beginning 27th April and new offline packs of work will be provided where required. We will call before hand to arrange the safe collection and passing on of new work.

Just to keep you informed, all teaching staff have now completed training for our online platform, Acorn Digital Learning (ADL). This is our online classroom that children can access from home and be taught in real time. At some point over the next few days, you will be emailed with log in information for your children. It is all done through the online platforms Zoom and Canvas which are really easy to use but support will of course be provided.  We are currently offering lessons in English, please contact Emma Cresswell, Head of English via email ecresswell@knossington.rutland.sch.uk and Maths, please contact Nick Conlon, Head of Maths via email nconlon@knossington.rutland.sch.uk

Please find below a number of online links to learning activities that can be completed online

 

The Great Isolation Activity book

Download here

A Book for Children about Coronavirus

Axel Scheffler has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. Published by Nosy Crow, and written by staff within the company, the book has had expert input: Professor Graham Medley of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine acted as a consultant, and the company also had advice from two head teachers and a child psychologist.

The book answers key questions in simple language appropriate for 5 to 9 year olds:

• What is the coronavirus?
• How do you catch the coronavirus?
• What happens if you catch the coronavirus?
• Why are people worried about catching the coronavirus?
• Is there a cure for the coronavirus?
• Why are some places we normally go to closed?
• What can I do to help?
• What’s going to happen next?

 

Lower school

 

English

From Monday 6 April, children’s publisher Puffin will be airing 20-minute storytime episodes, every weekday at 3:30pm on their YouTube channel as well as on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The sessions will include readings and draw-alongs with authors and illustrators, designed to get kids joining in at home. As Puffin is known for classics like Charlotte’s Web, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Roald Dahl’s The BFG, we’re expecting exciting things!

We also recommend ‘The Boy Who Made the World Disappear’ as many other books you can access from  https://www.worldbookday.com/world-of-stories/

 

The Book Trust

 

Maths

Carol Vorderman free maths lessons

 

Other subjects

  • Twinkl
    • Twinkle have an offer in place to help parents in the event of school closures due to the Coronavirus. If you’d like to take advantage of one of their codes please head to www.twinkl.co.uk/offer and follow the instructions. Please also share this advice with friends during the Coronavirus lockdown.
    • The Twinkl teams have been working hard to put together free Home Learning Packs for each primary year group. Each pack contains resources to help with distance learning. Click here to visit Twinkl
  • Blocky Games
    • Blockly Games is a series of educational games that teach programming. It is designed for children who have not had prior experience with computer programming. By the end of these games, players are ready to use conventional text-based languages. Click here to visit Block Games
  • Scratch
    • Scratch is a programming language and an online community where children can program and share interactive media such as stories, games, and animation with people from all over the world. As children create with Scratch, they learn to think creatively, work collaboratively, and reason systematically. Click here to visit Scratch

 

PE

Every day at 9am on Youtube, Joe Wicks, otherwise know as “The Body Coach” does a live P.E lesson for all children stuck inside while the UK is under lockdown. The first session, which took place on Monday [23rd March] was followed by over 2 million kids (and a fair few parents).

Lasting for 30 minutes, the class using principles of high-intensity workouts to get children moving in their living rooms. To get involved, go to Joe Wicks’ YouTube account here.

Age: 7+

 

Wellbeing

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust have developed a self-care kit for primary school aged children which is aimed at looking after their emotional health and wellbeing during this time.

The kit covers lots of topics, including staying healthy, handling emotions, letting go of worries and staying connected, plus some fun things to do whilst at home. There are breathing exercises, advice on conversation starters, a postcard that can be filled in with a message to family member or friend they are missing and much more.

It can be downloaded (completely free of charge) from the Health for Kids

Download our ‘Health for Kids: Looking after yourself’ kit

 

Upper School

 

English

We recommend ‘Snowflake AZ’ for the KS3 and KS4 students, as many other books you can access from https://www.worldbookday.com/world-of-stories/

 

Maths

 

 

Science

 

 

Other subjects

PE

Every day at 9am on Youtube, Joe Wicks, otherwise know as “The Body Coach” does a live P.E lesson for all children stuck inside while the UK is under lockdown. The first session, which took place on Monday [23rd March] was followed by over 2 million kids (and a fair few parents).

Lasting for 30 minutes, the class using principles of high-intensity workouts to get children moving in their living rooms. To get involved, go to Joe Wicks’ YouTube account here.

Age: 7+

 

 

Wellbeing

 

Oak National Academy

Oak National Academy (ONA) online platform has been launched to help parents homeschool their children.

So what is the new education portal, how do you access it and what age range does it cover?

What is the Oak National Academy?

From Monday April 20, parents, pupils and teachers can access 180 lessons a week for every year group from Reception through to year 10

Oak National Academy

 

Safeguarding

Below are some useful safeguarding websites for pupils and parents:

o CHILDLINE 0800 1111 A free and confidential helpline for children and young people in the
UK. Lines open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
o NSPCC, Advice, guidance, help support or to take action on your behalf if you have concerns
about a child who is either being abused or at risk of abuse. 0808 5005000
o SAMARITANS e-mail jo@samaritans.org or telephone 24 hours 116123
o CRUSE BEREAVEMENT CARE www.cruse.org.uk
o TALK TO FRANK www.talktofrank.com Confidential drugs information and advice 24 hours a
day. Telephone 0300 1236600
o MIND Confidential help on a range of mental health issues. Telephone 0300 1233393
o YOUNG MINDS is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional well being
and mental health of children and young people and empowering their parents and carers.
You can find a confidential parents helpline, information about their campaigns, their
publications and help and guidance for children and young people. They also advise
professionals including teachers, school nurses, social workers and counsellors.
o LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE WEBSITE for children and parents www.leics.police.uk/kidsandteens
o INTERNET MATTERS www.internetmatters.org
o BBC PARENT ONLINE: KNOW YOUR CHILD www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/a-z/
o PACE http://paceuk.info/
o CEOP http://ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
o BARNADOS www.barnados.org.uk/what_we_do/our_work/sexual_exploitation.htm
o SAFER INTERNET DAY www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers
o EDUCATE AGAINST HATE https://educateagainsthate.com/
o KIDSMART INFORMATION FOR PARENTS www.kidsmart.org.uk/parents/
o FAMILY LIVES (BULLYING UK) CYBERBULLYING www.bullying.co.uk/cyberbullying
o INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION www.iwf.org.uk
o YOUNG STONEWALL www.youngstonewall.org.uk

Support for families

Benefits and Financial information

Universal Credit – Information for Partners on Coronavirus

Essential information on Coronavirus has been issued on the Understanding Universal Credit website – https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus/. The page contains information about coronavirus and claiming benefits. It will be updated regularly with information on what to do if someone receiving benefits is affected by coronavirus.

It has information on what to do if people are in work and not claiming benefits, with sections about sick pay eligibility and how to apply for Universal Credit – https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit – and/or New Style Employment and Support Allowance – https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/eligibility. It also has information for those already claiming UC who may need to self-isolate and re-arrange appointments with work coaches.

For more information about any aspect of UC, including how to make a claim, visit the homepage – https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/.

UC Guide Finder

Information about UC can be found on GOV.UK. There are lots of detailed guides covering specific topics which provide additional information to help claimants, landlords, stakeholders and advisers who support our claimants.

It’s not always easy to find the information you need, so we’ve published a ‘Universal Credit guide finder’ which provides links to all the current guidance available to make it easier for you. You can find it on the first page of the Helping someone claim section on the Understanding UC website – https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/helping-someone-claim/how-to-use-this-section/