March 2020 Elderbank Supported Learning Newsletter

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Elderbank Supported Learning Newsletter

March 2020

Communication

Many thanks to all of our families for keeping in contact with
us throughout this term using our communication diaries,
switches, evisence, letters and phone calls. This helps us to
best support your child and share information between home
and school. Thank you to our families who came to our
‘Welcome Café’ last month. It was great to meet you and hear
more about your child!

If you have any worries, questions or suggestions please
contact Mrs Karen Watson our Principal Teacher or Miss Louise
Farrell our Depute Head Teacher as we are always happy to
help.

Our Term 3 Achievements

This term your child has been very busy working towards
their new targets. All children are working on their
personalised tray activities each morning and are participating
in fun learning contexts in the afternoons. This term we are
enjoying learning through our Circus context.

All Supported Learning classes participated in a Supported
Learning Burns Celebration and a Valentine’s Afternoon. All
children rotated around different classes to participate in a
variety of engaging activities with different staff members –
it was lots of fun!

Finance Education Week was also a great success! Thank you
to our families who attended our Breakfast Blether. Our
children have been learning about money and role play in shops
within their classes.

During Book Week last week, all Supported Learning classes
enjoyed having Primary Seven children visit their classroom to
read stories, discuss books and play with your child. More of
these opportunities are planned for next term!

Lunchtime

We are delighted that all of our children in Supported
Learning are currently eating lunch in our dining hall alongside
their class peers. We have also been lucky that the weather
has improved recently and we have been able to play outside
most days.

Health and Wellbeing

In Elderbank we want to ensure that your child is healthy,
safe and well at all times. Occasionally, we may contact you if
your child is feeling unwell or has had an accident. If a child
bumps their head and a lump or cut appears
we will phone and ask you to collect your
child early so you can get them checked by a
medical professional and closely monitor
them at home. If your child is sick or has
diarrhoea in school, we will ask you to collect your child and
keep them off school for 48 hours after their last episode of
sickness or diarrhoea to avoid spreading germs. This is in line
with the NHS Guidelines. We appreciate your support with
this. This week we have been focusing on hand washing in the

morning and at key points throughout the day. We are
encouraging children to cover their nose when they sneeze
and cover their mouth when they cough.

As you are aware we are continuing to take advice from the
relevant National Agencies and North Ayrshire Council
relating to the Coronavirus outbreak.

We have already increased the frequency of handwashing and
supported the children to ensure they are washing their
hands thoroughly.

We have spoken to some carers about concerns over sensitive
skin. The soap being used is the same soap as we have always
used. We believe some sensitivity is because of the
frequency and perhaps some young people were not using as
much of the soap previously. Some pupils have chosen to use
their own sensitive products and they simply carry this with
them and use it to wash their own hands. We have reminded
pupils this is not to be shared.

If there are to be any changes to School and Early Years
opening you will be informed directly from the school via text
message and the school app. Please make sure if you have
changed your mobile number or your email that you contact
the school on Monday 16th March 2020.

If your child requires to self-isolate please contact the
school office. You will be asked the reason for the self-
isolation. Please respect that we require to record this
information.

We had planned an Easter Café and swimming sessions, but
these are currently postponed due to the current Coronavirus
outbreak and evolving situation.

Next Term look out for …

Invitations for upcoming ‘Team Around Your Child Meetings’
will be issued before Easter to arrange a date in term four to
meet and discuss your child’s strengths and next steps.

Please keep Thursday 14th May free to come and meet with
our Supported Learning staff to discuss the progress that
your child is making.

Rebound Therapy

We are delighted that we have booked for eight additional
staff members to be trained in Rebound Therapy on the 2nd
and 3rd April 2020.

Dates for your diary
Thursday 2nd April Reports Sent Home
Friday 3rd April In-Service Day – no children in school
Monday 6th April – Friday 17th April Easter Holidays
Monday 20th April Children Return to School
Monday 4th May School Holiday
Friday 8th May School Holiday
Thursday 14th May Parents’ Evening
Monday 25th May School Holiday
Tuesday 26th May In-Service Day – no children in school
Thursday 18th May Supported Learning Sports Day
Friday 26th June School finishes for the Summer Holidays