This week is Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme is ‘Express Yourself’.  Childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk have free resources to explore with children and young people what it means to express yourself, which can be adapted for use in school, for home-schooling, online lessons or independent learning. 

February is LGBT+ History Month, celebrating the lives and achievements of the LGBT+ community. It is also intended to raise awareness of, and combat prejudice against the LGBT+ community. Stonewall have developed guidance and resources packs for use from Reception to Post 16.

There are details on the Council’s website of online events and exhibitions in the borough that we can all engage with. To find out more visit: LGBT+ events and resources.
 

On Wednesday the Prime Minister has announced that it will not be possible to resume face-to-face learning immediately after the February half-term and instead hopes it will be safe to commence the re-opening of schools and colleges from Monday 8th March. This is in response to the national public health data and pressure on NHS capacity.

If the Government achieves its target of vaccinating everyone in the four most vulnerable groups with their first dose by 15th February then those groups will have developed immunity from the virus around three weeks later, that is by 8th March. It is for this reason that we hope it will therefore be safe to commence the reopening of schools from Monday 8th March.

Education settings, as well as students, parents and carers will be given at least two weeks notice to prepare for a return to face-to- face education.

If you do not have access to a fixed broadband connection at home the Department of Education is providing help for disadvantaged children to get online using free mobile data increases or 4G wireless routers. This scheme temporarily increases data allowances for mobile phone users on certain networks or provides a wireless device to provide internet access at home.

Please contact the school office by telephone or email to admin@downderry.lewisham.sch.uk if you think you may be eligible for this scheme.

Lewisham Music will be continuing their Zoooom Choir as we start the new year, focusing on songs which raise spirits and inspire, bringing the joy of singing directly into the children’s homes.

The choir is FREE, live and interactive, with lots of musical fun, activities and singing.

Zoooom Choir will start: Tuesday 11th January for children in Year 2-4 at 4.30pm & Friday 14th January for children in Year 5-8 at 4.30pm.

In order to take part, parents need to sign up at www.lewishammusic.org/zoooom-choirs/.

We are awaiting a supply of devices from the DfE to support children with remote learning. Supply will be limited and distribution prioritised. We have also secured and are awaiting delivery of SIM Cards with 30GB of data to distribute to children who most need access to the internet to support home learning.