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School Toolkit Team
World Autism Awareness Week
Many schools will be taking part in various activities to help support World Autism Awareness Week which is from Monday 29th March to Sun 4th April 2021.
We have a section which has several links, resources and networks that can help you as a parent/carer who may have a child who has autism.
We also wanted to share this letter from Chris Packham who is supporting the campaign.
https://portal.schooltoolkit.org/uploads/files/Chris-Packham-Letter%20(1)%20(1).pdf
Secondary School Virtual Tours
Are you still deciding which secondary school to send your child? The deadline is fast approaching, apply online before October 31st 2020.
We have uploaded virtual tours from the secondary schools in Derby in one place for you to go through with your child.
Please have a look - Click here
What parents need to know about schools in the Autumn Term.
Most of our children would have gone back into school or starting school this week. This guidance from the Department of Education helps parents understand how schools are prepared to welcome back children safely and what you can do to help schools. Click here
COVID Summer Food Fund
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.
The eligibility criteria for free school meals can be found at apply for free school meals.
Deadline for ordering
Schools must order the voucher at least one week before the summer school term ends, and it will be issued to the family within 7 days unless schools have specified a distribution date further in the future. For example, schools closing on 17 July must place orders for all vouchers by 10 July.
These dates are in place in recognition that schools operate to different term times and that school offices will be closed in the summer holidays.
If a school receives a claim for an eligible child after the final ordering date of at least one week before your school term ends but before the start of the school’s summer holidays, it will be possible for the school to place an exceptional order for that child via the Edenred system.
During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Government is temporarily extending eligibility to include some groups who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF). See guidance for the temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups for more information.
School Uniform Shops
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 have a look at our Uniform section for further information. Click here
Details on phased wider opening of schools, colleges and nurseries
Please read further guidance issued by the Government. Click here to read.
Phonics Learning for 12 weeks.
The Department of Education has started a 12 week child's phonics learning programme on You Tube. Follow the sessions by clicking on the link here.
Primary School Admissions - National Offer Day
The National Offer Day for Infant and Junior applications is 16 April 2020.
- If you apply online, Derby City Council send emails on 16 April notifying you of the outcome of your application.
- If you apply by post or over the telephone, Derby City Council send decision letters by second class post on 16 April.
- If you are happy with the offer, you do not need to do anything else - the school will contact you.
- If you are unhappy with the place offered to you, please Derby City Council and they will advise you what you can do next.
- You are strongly advised not to decline the place offered to your child unless you have been offered a place in an alternative school. If you do not accept the place offered, your child may not have a school place for September 2020, leaving you liable for prosecution by the Education Welfare Service (EWS).
- You can accept or decline the place at a later date if your child is offered a place at an alternative school from the waiting list or as a result of any successful appeal or late application you may make.
Waiting lists
If you have not been offered a place at one of your preferred schools, your child will automatically be put on the waiting list. All oversubscribed schools have to maintain a waiting list until December 2020. Derby City Council maintain waiting lists for most schools for one academic year. If you wish for your child to remain on the waiting list, you must contact Derby City Council by 31 July 2020.
How to appeal
If you have been refused a place, you can appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel. The panel is completely independent of the schools and the Council.
Details on how to apply can be found on our School admissions appeals page.
BBC - How can parents help with home schooling?
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
Click here to access the BBC news article