News

The Government has given further guidelines to help those who require free school meals during the Summer period.

Any child currently in receipt of benefits-related free school meals or who becomes eligible during the summer term is eligible for the Covid Summer Food Fund.

Schools should continue to accept and verify free school meal applications up until the end of the summer term.

With the announcement of further non-essential shops opening from today 15th June 2020. 

Parents might be planning to go to the school uniform shops. 

You might have a child who is moving to a new school or starting a new school, or like most children during this lockdown period they have outgrown their current uniform and you need to buy some additional top up items.

The local uniform shops in Derby are open and have got social distancing procedures in place. 

You can also visit the school uniform websites beforehand. Some uniform shops are offering a click and collect service. 

Remember you can also buy school uniform from most large supermarkets.

Please read the new Government Guidance published today 11th May 2020.

If you would like to get involved VE Day and mark the day at home. This website has some great ideas from baking to making bunting.

Have a look :

A quick news article to help parents and carers during this time on how to homeschool children. Advice on:

• what can parents and children actually do
• how can i support my child
• what resources are available
• out of the classroom
• when will chidren return to school
• how much should we be doing

BBC Bitesize has opened its doors today. Over the past two weeks it has devised a range of lessons, resources, videos to help support parents who are homeschooling. They will bring three new lessons everyday with videos, content and activities.

Collaborating with teachers and education specialists, it will offer 14 weeks of curriculum based learning for kids across the UK.

Renowned physicist, Professor Brian Cox will bring science lessons to life as he covers topics including the solar system, force and gravity.

Sergio Aguero, Manchester City’s star striker, turns his attention to numbers as he sets about getting kids across the country counting in Spanish.

And former MP, Ed Balls continues the number theme as he goes back to his political roots in economics to deliver a KS3 maths class.

Danny Dyer, EastEnders actor and direct descendant of King Edward III, delivers the facts on another historic king, Henry VIII as he brings history to KS1 pupils whilst Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker will also be dropping into Bitesize Daily lessons.

Sir David Attenborough, known the world over for his natural history documentaries, is also set to be involved, helping youngsters to learn about the oceans, mapping the world and why animals look the way they do.

In week one students will meet; Mr Burton (Educating Yorkshire), Ms Webb (Primary), Mr Brown (Secondary), Ms Armit (Secondary), Mr Mycock (Secondary) and Mr McPartlin of Britain’s Got Talent fame.

They will all front daily lessons available from 9am each week day on BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button.

The National Offer Day for Infant and Junior applications is 16 April 2020.

This article outlines many different topics to help parents with their home schooling such as - 

• what should the priorities be for someone home educating
• how can i get a routine together 
• what should i do if i cant help my child with something specific 
• am i doing enough/too little 
• I don't ave internet access - what can i do 

Last week ministers said qualifying families could claim shopping vouchers of £15 a week per child in term time.

Now the scheme will be extended in England over the two-week holiday. Unions said the move would help prevent children going hungry, as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove confirmed over the weekend that the vouchers would continue to be paid over the Easter holidays.

A Message from Derby City Council

If you need support with general tasks, or can offer help to vulnerable people, get in touch with the Derby COVID Community Response Hub.

Weekly shopping vouchers worth £15 to spend at supermarkets while schools are closed due to coronavirus.

Announcement from the Government :

Children eligible for free school meals will benefit from a national voucher scheme allowing them to continue to access meals whilst they stay at home.

Schools can now provide every eligible child with a weekly shopping voucher worth £15 to spend at supermarkets while schools are closed due to coronavirus.

Schools can continue to provide meals for collection or delivery themselves, but where this is not possible, the scheme will allow schools to provide vouchers to families electronically, or as a gift card for those without internet access.

The vouchers can be spent on food at a range of shops including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose and M&S, with the Department working to get more shops to join the scheme as soon as possible.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

I recognise that the unprecedented action this Government is taking to protect the country from coronavirus, including closing schools, is dramatically affecting the lives of many families.

I want to thank schools for the support they are continuing to provide to families during such uncertain times.

No child should go hungry as a result of the measures introduced to keep people at home, protect the NHS and save lives. That’s why we are launching this scheme to make sure children who usually benefit from free school meals still have access to healthy and nutritious meals while they are not attending school.

Parents will receive the voucher through their child’s school, which can then be redeemed online via a code, or sent to their house as a gift card and used at supermarkets across the country.