Newsletters

Message from Mrs Jones

Welcome back to the 2nd half of the Autumn term.  I hope you all had a relaxing half term break.  

I would like to remind parents and children about safety before and after school in the roads around the school.  We have had reports that safety is being compromised when crossing some roads, particularly at the junction of Pinner Road and Pinner View.  Children who are walking alone have been seen crossing the road without looking first.  Please remind your child if they are walking alone of the Green Cross Code.  Thank you.

Also, we have had an increase in the number of complaints from local residents regarding some parents illegally parking their cars when dropping off and collecting their children from school.  One such complaint relates to the private car park in Blenheim Road.  Please remember that this is a private car park for residents only and it is clearly signposted as such.  In order to avoid a Penalty Charge Notice, please be considerate of where you park each day.  Thank you.   

Lastly I would like to thank all the parents and carers who met with their child's teacher before half term for our online Parent Consultation meetings.  We hope you found it useful.  Thank you for your patience as we navigate a new system of online meetings!   

Mrs Jones

STAND UP TO RACISM

We would like to thank parents for their support of the recent Stand up to Racism non uniform day.  Between contributions for non-uniform and the badge sales we have managed to raise a staggering £638 for this charity which will help fund anti-racism education for young people and adults across the UK.

LIBRARY COLLECTING MILK LIDS

North Harrow Community Library are currently collecting milk lids in order to raise money for Air Ambulances.

If you would like to help, please collect any milk lids you have and drop them into the library where you see this collection point.  

The BIG PTA RAFFLE 2020

Bring a little sparkle and festive cheer this year!  

WIN up to £5,000

£3 ticket enters you in all 12 draws

• Help support Friends of Vaughan
• Tickets cost just £3
• 12 chances to win up to £5,000
• Tickets are limited so once they're gone ... they're gone!

To buy tickets, visit: bigptaraffle.co.uk and search for: Friends of Vaughan

Don't delay - tickets are limited

ONLINE TUTORS - KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE

Guidance for Parents & Carers

Every year, private tutors help children catch up with missed work or address area they are struggling in, or with extra-curricular activities.  Lockdown has led to major growth in this area, especially online, and this is expected to continue.

A tutor might be employed by a school, the government National Tutoring Programme, or parents searching online or taking recommendations.  But anyone can become a tutor, so what do you need to do so your children can learn and stay safe?

The following poster will help parents and carers know what they can do to keep their children safe against a background of rising online abuse during lockdown. Parents and carers may have justified concerns and feel ill-equipped to check, but with a few simple steps, you can play an important role and have peace of mind.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

The emotional wellbeing of children is just as important as their physical health. Good mental health allows children and young people to develop the resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them and grow into well-rounded, healthy adults.  At Vaughan Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils, staff parents and carers.  We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and, at times, anyone may need additional emotional support.

All children can experience ups and downs in their life and some unfortunately have to face significant life events which will affect their mental health and wellbeing.  In 2017, about 1 in 10 children aged between 5 and 16 had a diagnosable mental health need.  This can have a huge impact on the child’s experience of life, their relationships and their achievements at school.  To this end, the Department of Education acknowledges that “in order for children to succeed, schools have a role to play in supporting them to be resilient and mentally healthy”. 

At our school we:

• help children to understand their emotions and feelings better       
• help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
• help children socially to form and maintain relationships
• promote self-esteem and ensure children know that they count
• encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’
• help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks.

To support this, we have two Learning Mentors who all children across the school can access in times of need.  As an integrated part of the learning support team within Vaughan, the aim of the Learning Mentors is to work with children and their families to help them manage times of change or difficulty, and that they are supported to reach their potential or access support when they need it.  They also work to ensure that children learn how to maintain positive mental health, what can affect their mental health, how they can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and where they can go if they need help and support.

Some of the issues a child may experience which become a barrier to their learning could include:

• Anxiety, worries and low mood
• Difficulties at home
• Behaviour
• Issues concerning bullying/friendships/social anxieties
• Dealing with bereavement/loss 
• General disaffection and disengagement from learning 
• Worries about transferring from primary to high school 
• Difficulties with organisation

Our Learning Mentors offer mentoring and support to individuals, groups, teachers, parents/carers and families.  We also work with other schools and outside agencies, helping to construct a support network. 

They are here to provide non-judgemental and confidential support to all our pupils and their families.  The aim is to help them overcome any social, emotional or behavioural barriers which may be getting in the way of their learning and positive behaviour.  Our aim is to promote resilience and coping skills for life’s ups and downs. 

Early intervention for young people with emotional, behavioural or social difficulties can help prevent mental health problems becoming more serious in the future or developing in the first place.

Our Learning Mentors are Alison Fink and Debbie Perschky who, between them, have many years’ experience working at Vaughan and have both worked in different roles, supporting children throughout the school.  Both Alison and Debbie are Level 3 Safeguarding trained and part of the safeguarding team.

Alison Fink

Alison has an MSc in CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) for Children and Young People from UCL/Anna Freud Centre.  She has further training in Mindfulness and delivers it to both groups and individual children.  Alison also facilitates anxiety and mindfulness workshops for parents and has experience in delivering parenting groups and courses.  She also provides CBT outreach work to other schools. 

Debbie Perschky

Debbie has a particular interest in children’s mental health and has contributed with the charity Young Minds on their Amplified project as a Parent Advisor.  She has a Level 3 qualification in Counselling Skills for Working with Children from Place2Be and is a trained Crisis Counsellor.  She is an Advanced Facilitator for Drawing and Talking Therapy which encompasses one-to-one and group work and also sand tray work.  Debbie also plans and delivers the NSPCC PANTS/FGM awareness programme.

Our school website also provides a wealth of information regarding mental health and wellbeing. There are lots of resources, tools and top tips for families to use as well as links to other organisations.

HISTORY AND SCIENCE OF VACCINES

One of our parents kindly informed us of something he has been involved in relating to vaccines.  Mr Fehavari, who has a child in Year 1 and Year 4, is an immunologist and has been involved in designing and coordinating an interactive website/timeline on the history and science of vaccines.  The timeline is pitched at a general audience although it’s likely to be a little too advanced for most of our pupils, however many parents may find it of interest.  It does also contain a couple of child-accessible animations on how vaccines work and how they’re made.  Please find the relevant links below.  Parents may be interested as it touches on many of the issues we’re facing at the moment:

Timeline (the animations are embedded into this):
https://www.nature.com/immersive/d42859-020-00005-8/index.html

The animations can also be found separately on YouTube:

How vaccines work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SKmAlQtAj8&t

How vaccines are made:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t_mQwTY4WQ

KEY MESSAGES FROM WELFARE

Flu immunisations: Reception to Year 6 - Thursday 26 November

This vaccination is recommended to help protect your child against flu. Vaccinating your child will also help protect more vulnerable family and friends.  With COVID-19 in circulation it is more important than ever to reduce the number of those becoming ill with flu this winter to help protect them and the NHS.  It is a free and a simple spray up the nose.  The consent process is electronic this year and will be emailed to you shortly along with full details on how to complete the process will be given.  Please complete the form and return via email to the Immunisation Team as soon as possible.

While COVID-19 is in circulation, the healthcare team and school will follow guidelines to ensure children are safe when being offered the vaccine.

Medical Conditions and Health Care Plans

If your child has a diagnosed medical condition, a Health Care Plan needs to be completed (if we have not got one already). It is important that the school are aware of any medical conditions.

If there are any changes to a child’s existing medical condition and/or a new medical condition emerges, parents/carers need to complete a new Health Care Plan.

If we do not receive a new or updated Health Care Plan, your child will be unable to attend school.  If we do not receive medicine (as outlined in your child’s Health Care Plan), your child will be unable to attend school.

The Health Care Plans are available on the school website here.

Epi pens

If your child uses an epi-pen at school, please can you provide three epi-pens so that we can keep one in the lunch hall, classroom and welfare.

Asthma

The Harrow School Nursing Team advise if any child has been prescribed an inhaler for either asthma or viral induced wheeze, they should be reviewed annually. That can be done by either the GP, practice nurse or respiratory team. The school requires a copy of your child's latest Asthma Plan for their records.

If you require any further information, please contact Welfare on welfare@vaughan.harrow.sch.uk.

Inhalers

Please ensure that inhalers are kept in their original packaging with the child’s name and instructions.  We also require an age appropriate spacer together with the inhaler.

Inhalers for children in the Junior School

If your child uses an inhaler, please can you provide a third inhaler so that we have a spare one available.

Medication

If your child is prescribed medication which has to be administered at school, please complete a consent form which can be found on the school website with clear instructions.  It must come via the school office or alternatively, call Welfare tel: 0208 427 7222 Ext 2 and arrangements can be made to collect from outside the school office.

Any medical queries, please contact Mrs O’Rourke or Ms Goodspeed in Welfare.

Free check ups

Please be advised that children are entitled to:

• Free NHS Prescriptions
• Free NHS Dental Treatment
• Free NHS Sight Tests

We do encourage families to have regular check-ups.  Please check https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk for further information.

Medical appointments during the day

And lastly a reminder about medical appointment.  If your child has a medical appointment during the school day, please remember to email attendance@vaughan.harrow.sch.uk with the details and with proof of the appointment.  Thank you.

TERM DATES

School will close at 1.35pm on the last day of each term

Afternoon Nursery will be closed on the last day of each term.

After School Club finishes at 4.00pm on the last day of term.