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Competition - It's a Fact!

Mon 19 Oct 2020

IT’S A FACT!

A competition for primary age children to produce a poster that explains how important it is to follow the Coronavirus rules in Birmingham to the theme of ‘It’s a fact!’

Early years and primary aged children in Birmingham (11 and under) are tasked with producing posters or pieces of artwork that explain to their families, their friends and the wider community how important it is that everyone in Birmingham follows the national guidance as well as the local restrictions that are in place:

Wash hands: keep washing your hands regularly for 20 seconds.
Cover face: wear a face covering in enclosed spaces.
Make space: stay at least 2 metres apart - or 1 metre with a face covering or other precautions.
In Birmingham you must not socialise with anybody outside of your household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place.

Schools remain open and it is really important that everyone respects the measures schools have introduced to keep everyone safe.

Children should be encouraged to reflect on why the rules are in place and how important it is for everyone to play their part in keeping Birmingham safe.

How to enter

Children should produce a poster or painting/drawing that helps communicate the message that everyone in Birmingham should be following the rules together to keep us all safe. These should be sent to the council where a judging panel (including Director of Public Health, Dr Justin Varney) will decide on the winning entries.
Winning entries will be used on the council’s social media channels to help communicate the messages about following the rules.
Prizes for winning entries will include vouchers and personalised face coverings.
Entries must be received by no later than Wednesday 4th November 2020.
Entries should be sent by email to education@birmingham.gov.uk (photos or scans should be taken of the entries).

Competition terms and conditions

1. The competition is open to children in Birmingham aged 11 or under

2. One entry per child will be accepted. There is no restriction on the number of entries received from schools.

3. The closing date for the competition is 5pm on Wednesday 4th November 2020.

4. Winning entries will be those deemed by the judges to have captured why Birmingham needs to follow the rules in the most engaging way.

5. Birmingham City Council reserves the right to reproduce and utilise in whole or in part the entries submitted by children for information and publicity purposes.

6. By entering, each school agrees to secure parental agreement and authorises the use of names of the establishment to which it belongs and the names of participating teachers and pupils in any information or publicity activity linked to this competition.

* Parents, please send entries with your details and with permission to the email address:education@birmingham.gov.uk

7. Schools must indicate any entries where there is not permission secured for any aspect of the entry.

*Parents, please ensure you provide permission when sending entries.

*OL – parents are requested to send permission directly with competition entries.

Travelling to School

Tue 13 Oct 2020

For any parents and pupils using public transport to travel to and from school and looking for additional information, updates to transport guidance can be found at here: Travel Guidance

Free School Meals

Tue 13 Oct 2020

Dear Parents,

If your child is entitled to a Free School Meal and your child is self-isolating, school can provide a lunch pack for the time absent from school. If you would like to make use of this service, please contact the school office who will be happy to arrange this for you. Please note, this does not apply to Universal Infant Free School Meals. Vouchers are no longer available.

Best wishes,

Miss McDonald

October Risk Assessment Review

Tue 13 Oct 2020

Dear Parents,

At Our Lady's we are continually reviewing our best practice and procedures. Currently, our risk assessment and procedures are helping us to enable all bubbles to remain open. In reviewing the document we have taken into consideration many factors including parent concerns. Some alterations have been provided by the Local Authority for all schools and others have been amended by us from developing greater knowledge of day to day risks regarding Covid 19.

A copy of the reviewed risk assessment is available on the September Opening page.

Best wishes,

Miss McDonald

National Online Safety Certified School

Wed 07 Oct 2020

With changes to online working and support for children, Our Lady's Staff and Governors have completed extensive training to ensure everyone remains safeguarded online. Thank you to Mr O'Shea for helping to organise the training for everyone.

St. Paul's School for Girls virtual open evening

Thu 01 Oct 2020

Please click here for St. Paul's School for Girls virtual open evening. Attached are the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) and Catholic Practice Form that is a requirement for the school. Please note that these are required even if you have siblings who go to St. Paul's and must be returned to St. Paul's by 31st October

From Birmingham With Love

Fri 25 Sep 2020

From Birmingham with Love

The challenges of COVID-19 and the lockdown have led to some really tough times for fa

milies this year. The From Birmingham with Love campaign is available to help: www.birmingham.gov.uk/love

Cllr Kate Booth, Cabinet Member for Children’s Wellbeing at Birmingham City Council, said: “We know that a lot of people have faced some especially challenging times due to the pandemic. But there is help is out there so we urge parents to pick up the phone, click on a link or send an email to access the things that will really make a difference to them and their families.”

Here is the full list of the most used services and support available now, which might make life a bit easier for many:

Online parenting course. We’ve pre-paid for every parent in Birmingham to access a parenting course, worth up to £88. Access code is COMMUNITY.
Mental health support. In these difficult times we have to look after our mental health:
- For young people aged 11-25 — Kooth
- Children and young people aged 0-25 contact Pause on Tel 0207 841 4470 or email
- For urgent help call Forward Thinking Birmingham on Tel 0300 300 0099.
Financial help. If you’ve lost your job, or are struggling for food or rent:
- Food, fuel or help with white goods if in crisis at Local welfare provision
- Help with rent Discretionary Housing Payments
- And food banks across Birmingham.
Domestic abuse. For women and children affected by domestic abuse please see guidance or confidentially contact Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid. For Men, please contact Respect.
Problems with drugs or alcohol. A new, discrete app called Staying Free is available. To speak to someone call Change Grow Live.
Bereavement support. It’s a terrible time to lose a loved one — you can get help, call 0121 687 8010 or go online to the Cruse website.
Early help for families. If anyone needs more help, then please contact one of our ten voluntary sector local leads.