Dear Parents,

 

I hope everyone has managed to enjoy the Easter weekend and been able to bathe in the sunshine.

 

Although we are still officially in the ‘Easter Holidays’, there are a couple of things to consider as we prepare for the start of the next term, even though it now seems highly likely that the current government restrictions will continue beyond the review point later this week:

 

Free School Meals: Although we hope that the government furlough schemes are supporting our families where they are not currently able to work, we are aware that the current situation is likely to be causing hardship for many. We are encouraging ALL families to sign up to Derbyshire’s Free School Meal checking service as once you are on the system, it will make a monthly check to see if your child/children are eligible. By doing this, if something changes in your family’s circumstances, the entitlement to free school meals should be picked up as quickly as possible. As you may already know, this would mean that whilst the schools are closed, families will receive shopping vouchers in lieu of the meals in school.

 

The process is really simple and the only thing you may need to have ready is your National Insurance number – just click on the link below and the whole thing should only take a couple of minutes. You will notice, at the link, that Derbyshire are also recommending that EVERYONE signs up for this service, even if they think that are never going to be eligible for Free School Meals:

 

https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools/your-child-at-school/meals/school-meals/free-school-meals.aspx

 

If you have any problems at all, please get in touch via the email info@wirksworth-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk and we get back in touch with you as soon as possible.

 

Emergency Childcare Hub: On Thursday, we will be organising staffing rotas for The Hub of Gell schools.  If you require this service, could you please complete the booking form attached, or reply to this email, by 5pm Wednesday 15^th April so that we can plan for next week. If you know further ahead than next week, please let us know this as well. I have also attached the pupil information form for you to complete if you haven’t used The Hub so far.

 

Enjoy the rest of the Easter period and remember that we sent a lot of Easter activities in the last email and on the school website that might be of interest if the children are getting restless!

 

Kind regards,

 

Isabel Webb

Headteacher

Wirksworth Junior School