Latest News

Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Phased Re-opening

  Mon 08 Jun 2020

  The Fab 50!

  We currently have 50 children who have returned to school, this is across Reception, Year 1, Year 6 and our key workers. The children have settled so well and we are delighted to have them all back and continuing with their learning.

   

  School is very different for the returning children, they have different teachers and different support staff; they may be in different classrooms and not have the same freedom to interact with their friends.

  What is the same, is a staff who care deeply for our children and a drive to give the children who return, the best day we possibly can. We will continue to set home learning on our website and via active learn for all children who are not in school.

   

  Bubble group

  Once we have confirmed the number of children attending, each child will be placed in a “bubble” This is a smaller group of children with 2 members of staff, this may not be their usual teacher. We are capping our bubbles to 10 children. 

   

  Arrival and collection

  We have put the following drop off and collection arrangements in place:

   

  Arrival time:                           Reception: 9:15 am, Year 1: 9:00am

  Collection time:                      Reception 12:00pm, Year 1 12:15pm

  This is for the first 2 weeks whilst all our youngest children settle into the new rules and systems. Due to the limited movement in class, we do not believe it will be healthy for children to arrive into 6 hours of formality.

  From w/c 29^th June children will leave at;

  Year R: 3:00pm, Year 1 3:15pm.

   

   

  Friday afternoons - school closed

  On Friday afternoons the school will close to all as it has done all year, apart from the children of key workers, to enable a deep clean.  During this time the teachers will be planning the work for the following week.

   

  Friday collection time:           Reception: 12.00pm, Year 1: 12:15pm

   

  One Way System and Social Distancing

  There will be a one way system which will start from the main gates. IN the morning, after a settling period, no parents will be allowed onto the playground. For home time collection, we will allow parents onto the playground but will not be opening the gates until the end of the day, this will reduce the gathering. Social distancing reminders will be on hand and staff will be there to guide you. 

  We kindly ask that only one adult drops and collects their child.  Please observe the 2 metre social distancing.  There are stickers on the ground to help with this. Please do not stop to talk to other parents on the site. Staff will not be able to answer questions at the door as it will stop the flow into the classroom.  If you have a question, please email the school office.

   

  Breaks & Lunchtimes

  We will have arranged a timetable which enables each bubble group to have a break and lunchtime, but not mix with any other bubble. 

  Universal free school meals will NOT be available to children until w/c 29^th June, when they return full time. From the 29^th June, the school kitchen will provide a packed lunch if required.  Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a hot dinner.  Children will take their packed lunch home with them on Fridays. 

   

  Prior to lunchtimes, all desks in the classroom will be cleaned as children will be eating their lunch inside.  They will then have a playtime outside and fun activities in the classroom during their lunch hour.

   

  If your child is entitled to a benefit based free school meal, the vouchers will continue for the first 2 weeks. If your child has returned to school, the vouchers will stop from 29^th June and your child will be provided with a packed lunch at school.

   

  School uniform

  The children are not required to come in normal school uniform. We require all children to come into school in sporting clothes. Jogging bottoms, leggings, shorts. Full length T-shirts and a warmer top if cold. NO JEANS or FASHION ITEMS. It is not non-uniform, it is a sporting focus. We ask that the children wear clean clothes every day, this reduces the contamination risk to your family and the children in school.

   

  PPE

  Children will not be permitted to bring disposable face masks into school. If a mask needs to be worn due to the use of public transport, the mask will be removed upon entry into the grounds and disposed of into the bin provided. Fabric masks should be removed and placed in a sealed bag. A different mask should be used for return journeys. The school cannot provide face masks for pupils who travel on public transport, our stocks are very limited and this is not something we can support.

   

  Curriculum

  The children will be learning the curriculum for the summer term.  We will be assessing the children to identify any catch up needed.  Priority will be given to phonics and reading in Reception and Year 1.  With a maximum of 10 in the family group, the children will have a really great experience.

   

  Equipment

  We will be providing every child with their own equipment, including a pencil, rubber and ruler which will be for their use only.  Please do NOT send any equipment into school. We DESPERATLEY need our reading books back, these will be collected and disinfected, no books will be going home.

   

  Water bottle and healthy snack

  Please send your child’s water bottle and ensure it is named.  They will have access to this on their desk throughout the day.  The children are welcome to bring in their own healthy snack. We will NOT have cups as we can’t guarantee they will be cleaned before another child tries to use them.

   

  Suntan lotion and caps

  Please apply suntan lotion to your child before coming to school and send them with a cap with their name in it.  

   

  Punctuality

  We have arranged specific window times for each bubble to arrive to ensure the smooth transition of children to their class and help with social distancing.  It is essential that children do not arrive earlier or later.  Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate children if they arrive late. 

   

   

   

  School Communication

  The school is closed to visitors, please contact the school office by email enquiry@brookfields.bham.sch.uk or phone 0121 675 1897 and the office staff will be happy to assist you. We will allow 1 parent into the office to collect FSM vouchers and pay dinner money, long conversations are not possible and an appointment will need to be booked.

   

  Maintaining a safe school environment

  I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the preventative measures the school has put in place in order to minimise the spread of infection.

   

  As per the advice from the government, the following actions for infection control remain in place:

   

  • Displaying coronavirus infection control measures information posters around the school

   

  • Encouraging good hygiene by promoting the importance of hand washing for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap in the following circumstances:

   

  • Before leaving home
  • On arrival at school
  • After using the toilet
  • After breaks and sporting activities
  • Before eating any food, including snacks
  • Before leaving school
  • At regular intervals throughout the day

   

  • Ensuring pupils and staff understand that they must cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away and wash hands thoroughly using ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’.
  • Ensuring frequently touched objects and surfaces are cleaned and disinfected more regularly than usual.
  • Ensuring staff stay at home for a period of seven days if they develop symptoms of coronavirus and access a test as soon as possible.

   

  As an important part of our school community, I would ask that you continue to encourage good infection control practices, such as thorough hand washing, at home and keep your child informed about the things they can do to discourage the spread of infection.

  In line with the current NHS and government advice, you should keep your child at home if they develop coronavirus symptoms for a period of seven days.

  Where symptoms continue after seven days, or begin to worsen, you should call 111. If someone in your child’s household has symptoms, your child must self-isolate for 14 days from the day the other person’s symptoms started. This is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear. More information regarding symptoms and actions can be found on the NHS website (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/).

  If you think your child may have been exposed to or has coronavirus, or if your child receives a positive test result for coronavirus, please contact the school on 0121 675 1897 at the earliest opportunity.

  The main symptoms are:

   

  • High temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
  • New, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

   

  Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.

   

  There are clear guidelines from Public Health England if there is a suspected case of coronavirus.

   

  What happens if a child becomes unwell at school?

   

  • If a child shows symptoms at school, they will go to the medical room, with appropriate supervison, and we will ring their parent and ask them to collect their child.
  • If it is a member of staff they will be asked to go home.
  • The child or teacher with the symptoms will be asked to go for a Covid 19 test.
  • If the test is positive we will inform all the parents of the children in that bubble and ask them to stay at home for the next 14 days.

   

  This week we have been preparing for the return of the children to ensure their wellbeing and give them the best possible education.  This has included a thorough risk assessment and staff receiving training on Covid-19 awareness

   

  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact school.

   

  Thank you for your continued support.

   

  Kind regards,

   

  Mrs. S. Lees

   

  Head Teacher

   

• We Miss You!

  Sun 17 May 2020 Mrs Lees
  We Just wanted to show you all that we are missing you and hope that everyone is safe and well.

  

• EVERYONE join the 30 minute art lesson with Rob Biddulph & break a Guinness World Record

  Thu 14 May 2020 Brookfields

  AT HOME?

  LEARN TO DRAW AND BREAK A WORLD RECORD WITH ROB!

   

  WHEN? ON 21ST MAY, 4-4.30PM

   

  Learn to draw with World Book Day author and illustrator, Rob Biddulph, break the Guinness World Records title for the largest online art lesson ever and raise money to fight COVID-19!

   

  Find out more here - https://www.artworldrecords.com/lesson

• Nursery places

  Wed 29 Apr 2020 School Office

  If you have a child who will be aged 4 between September 1st 2020 and August 31st 2021, please apply for your nursery place now.

  Brookfields' Nursery is a 15 hour Nursery that operates over 5 days. This provision will be either morning or afternoon, we have not decided at this point, as it will depend on our numbers.

  Please collect an application from the school office and return ASAP. Thank you.

• Study Books

  Wed 29 Apr 2020

  We have taken delivery of the home study books for all children. We have text all parents and we are thrilled with how many of you have rushed down to school, observed all social distancing rules and collected the books to support your children.

  We have an English and Maths work book for every child.

  Please visit the school office between 9:30 and 12:30 to collect them.

  

• Summer Term

  Fri 24 Apr 2020

  Dear Parents,
  
  Welcome to the start of the summer term. This is certainly a very different way for it to begin. We hope you and your families are well and had a lovely Easter. The weather was kind to us and it was great to see the sunshine. We were keen for the children to have a rest from school work over the holiday period, (and parents too!).
  
  Home Learning
  
  The teachers have been working hard to prepare new learning activities based on the work the children would have been doing in school. Each year group has uploaded work to the school website and will continue to do this daily. In addition, on Monday this week the Department for Education (DfE) launched some new learning resources which will support you and your child with home learning. These include BBC Bitesize (bbc.co.uk/bitesize) which deliver 3 new lessons daily and the Oak National Academy (www.thenational.academy) which provides video lessons each week for all year groups.

  When schools closed, we were not sure how long this would be for. All children were provided with a 2 week resource pack, along with exercise books, stationary and reading books. We have a full portfolio of online learning, but we are aware that not everyone has access to the internet or that there are multiple children in the house. With this in mind, we have ordered English and Maths work books, these will arrive in school next week. We will be calling each year group and requesting a member of the household collects the books for all children in their house. The work will consolidate much of the learning from Autumn and Spring, and allow for independent work alongside the online activities.
  
  As schools will continue to be closed for the foreseeable future, the DfE has released guidance on helping primary school children continue their education. It states that no-one expects parents to act as teachers or provide activities and feedback that a school would. Parents and carers should do their best to help children and support their learning.
  
  In terms of structuring the day for children it recommends:
  
  Get up and go to bed at the same times each day
  
  Have regular meal times
  
  Have regular breaks
  
  Make time to be active – children are used to regular play and lunchtimes.
  
  It is important to try and maintain a routine. The suggested timetables for each year group can help with this.
  
  Key Workers
  
  The school is open to the children of key workers and this will continue for this term until the school reopens to all pupils. If you are a key worker and have no alternative child care, please contact the school. 
  
  Reception Intake 2020
  
  The offer of places for our Reception intake for September 2020 was sent out by the Local Authority on April 16th. We are delighted that we have so many siblings joining us. Currently we still have a few spaces left in Reception and Nursery, please contact the school office to request an admission form. We are looking forward to welcoming the children into school and will send out details of the induction when school reopens to all pupils.
  
  Keeping in Touch
  
  This week our teachers have been calling all their children. They have loved hearing what the children have been getting up to and offering any support and guidance. Parents are welcome to seek advice about the work set by contacting the class teacher via email or please ask during the phone calls which take place at least fortnightly. If we can help you in any way please do not hesitate to email enquiry@brookfields.bham.sch.uk
  
  We are certainly missing you and look forward to seeing you when the school reopens.
  
  Take care and stay safe.

  Mrs Lees and the Brookfields' Staff

• URGENT - KEY WORKER INFORMATION

  Fri 20 Mar 2020

  Dear Parent / Guardian,

   

  You will be aware that the Prime Minister has announced plans for schools to remain open where possible to provide childcare for children of key workers and those who are most vulnerable. This includes children who have a designated social worker and/or who have an EHCP. Therefore, along with our other CREATE schools we are trying to gather as much detail as possible to ensure we are fully prepared. We are asking parents to read the information below, if you consider yourself a key worker and need your child to attend school. 

   

  Please be aware, the government has stated that the best place for the children is to be at home, not with vulnerable relatives. Wherever this is possible, please use this option.

  Key Workers:

  Health and social care

  This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.

  Education and childcare

  This includes nursery and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach.

   

  Key public services

  This includes those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting.

  Local and national government

  This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies.

  Food and other necessary goods

  This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines).

  Public safety and national security

  This includes police and support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic), fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas.

  Transport

  This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.

  Utilities, communication and financial services

  This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and

   

  The deadline for requesting a place is Friday 20th March by 2:00pm. We will assume that parents who do not reply are able to arrange childcare if their child is not at school.

   

  This is an emergency facility only and we must reduce social interaction. If our staffing numbers decrease to an unsafe level, due to infection or isolation, then we may no be able to offer provision.Thank you for your continued support.

• Corona Virus Update

  Thu 19 Mar 2020

  Dear Parents/Carers,

  Re: Coronavirus update – school closure to most pupils

  Following on from my last update, I’m now writing to let you know that we have now been instructed to close the school to almost all children after this Friday until further notice.

   

  As advised by the government, we will do all we can to stay open for the children of key workers (e.g. NHS staff, police, others in frontline services) and children with certain needs.

  We are waiting for the government to publish more information on what this means, but it would help us in the meantime if you could let us know if you think your child may fall into one of these categories. Please see mrs Lees, Mrs Cross or the office team, we will need proof of employment in the sectors named once they have been announced. We’ll be in touch again as soon as we are sure who this does apply to. Please note: we will not be able to allow children into school for parents who still have to work but are not on the list, this is mandatory. We understand that this will cause challenges to many parents, but this is now statutory guidance.

  All other children will need to stay at home, so we ask that you do not send your child into school from Monday onwards.

  Please note that this is a national closure – as you may have heard in the news – so while it is a challenging situation, we are not alone. We’ll re-open fully as soon as we can and will let you know when this is by group text and our website.

  What we’ll continue doing while your child is at home

  Your child’s learning is of course important to us, so we’ll continue to help your child to learn.

  If your child usually receives free school meals we will also be in touch with more information about how we will continue to provide this, with support from a scheme that the government has just announced.

  Steps so far:

  • Your child will have received a work pack, exercise book and pencil.
  • Your child will have at least 2 reading books – please take care of them, we need these books back!
  • There are 7 weeks of home learning projects on the website. This includes links to a variety of other websites that you can register with for free online learning. These websites tare free for parents to register with until the pandemic crisis is over. (Please read the terms and conditions – some may be limited time membership)
  • All children have been given their ABACUS log in, here your child can access maths activities set to them by their teachers. These will be reviewed by the class teachers.
  • All KS2 children have access to TT Rock stars, Study Zone and Accelerated reader.
  • KS1 children have access to NUMBOTS.
  • The school website has a new section called “Learning from home.” Please go to: www.brookfields.bham.sch.uk and click on “Children” on the home page. Choose your child’s year group.
  • Teachers will be adding activities and tasks daily to this page, please complete tasks in your exercise book.
  • Work will NOT be set daily during the Easter holidays.
  •  

  This is as much as we know right now and we appreciate your continued patience with as we deal with this ever-changing situation. We understand that this latest news will have an impact on you and your family and it’s far from ideal, but we’ll continue to keep in touch with any updates as the situation develops.

   

  Please check our website daily for activities for your children and information from the school.

   

  Please note: we will be calling children’s homes throughout the closure to keep in touch. This may be weekly or more regularly if support is needed.

   

  We understand that this is a worrying time for everybody. We urge everyone to stay calm and follow the government advice. This is updated daily at: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

  Or contact the DFE helpline:

  Phone: 0800 046 8687

  Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday), 10am to 4pm (Saturday to Sunday)

   

  Any child who is offered a place will still be subject to mandatory 14 day isolation if they get a temperature or cough, as is stated in the current guidance.

   

  And remember: if you or your child feels ill and you want to know what to do next, please use NHS 111 online.

   

  We wish you and all your family a healthy extended break and look forward to seeing you again soon.

   

  Best wishes,

  Mrs S. Lees

  Head Teacher

• Reception, Y1 and Y2 Parents - Letter from our Caterers

  Thu 24 Oct 2019 Brookfields

  Ref: FSM Entitlement

   

  Dear Parent,

   

  Since September 2014, the government has set aside funds for free school meals for every child in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.

  Research indicates that the provision of a healthy school meal every day can lead to an improvement in your child’s health, behaviour, motivation and ability to learn and achieve.

   

  In addition to these benefits, the meals are worth £437 per year per child. As these meals are being offered free to all Reception, Y1 and Y2 school children, that’s a saving that you are entitled to.

   

  Aspens Services Ltd is the company that provides your school meals. We have been operating since 2008 and our philosophy is simple - to provide quality, freshly cooked food, attractively presented and to a high standard.

   

  Our menus are prepared by our in-house dietician and are both delicious and nutritionally balanced. Our new Autumn/Winter menus are now available, a copy of which can be found on your school website, from your school office and even in your little one’s school bag!

   

  If you are not currently taking advantage of the free school meals, why not give them a try? Or, call us to discuss any concerns you may have. And don’t worry, special dietary needs can be catered for if advised in advance.

   

  If you are already benefitting from free school meals, I hope that your child is enjoying them. If, however you do have any concerns, please let us know.

   

  Yours faithfully,

  Vicky Taylor

  Aspens Services Ltd

• Birmingham’s biggest free summer holiday activities programme

  Thu 18 Jul 2019 HH

  Sign up to Birmingham’s biggest free summer holiday activities programme

  Families across Birmingham can now register for Happy Healthy Holidays this summer, where kids and teens can learn to cook and get active. This free holiday food and fun activity programme – led by Accord Housing – will be delivered at over 100 local venues in Birmingham. Sessions will include a healthy snack and meal.

   

  https://www.sportbirmingham.org/HHH