Hello everyone,

We have seen an increase in positive COVID cases across the school this week and I thank you for carrying out daily LFD testing where your child has been identified as a close contact.  The symptoms we are seeing are wide ranging and generally not the 3 main symptoms. Common symptoms in our pupils are a runny nose, tummy ache, head ache, sickness and sore throat.

We really do understand how difficult it can be for you to arrange childcare if your child is ill but we ask you not to send your child to school or nursery if they are unwell. Thank you for your support with this.

Mrs Johnson

News from Severn Loop

Dear Friends around Severn Loop,

February Loop 2022

Happy February (almost)! I hope you are all well. Please find attached the February Loop (our monthly newsletter). It is Forest Church this coming Sunday (Albrighton, 3pm)- all are welcome! The instructions are below…

                What to bring

Do wrap up warm and bring wellies/ walking boots. We are really grateful to the Downes family for their hospitality. Joe Downes is going to lead us in a walk/ talk around the farm, where we’ll learn about sheep farming. As always, there will be the opportunity to do some free-range exploring around the church, and a craft or two for those who are so inclined…. if it’s raining we can use the church for those who would rather stay in one place!

Please bring your own picnic. We will eat in the Monkhouse Granary (by kind permission of the family) where there will be a kettle to make a hot drink. I’ll bring tea bags etc, and have ten mugs – so do bring your own if you would like to.

                The Plan

We will be flexible, depending on who comes along, and we also want to keep things fairly informal. Here is an outline of the afternoon:

3pm- Opening prayer and welcome from Hannah, with an introduction from Joe Downes (Albrighton Hall Farm)

3.15-3.45pm- Activities, which will include the option of a farm tour/ walk, some exploring and crafts (both around and in the church)

3.45pm- A worship service in the churchyard, where we will be planting a tree together to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee- Sunday is the day itself!

4pm- Picnic Time in the Monkhouse Granary

                 Directions

Heading out from Shrewsbury take the Ellesmere Road out of town. At the Ellesmere Road Roundabout, take the Wem road (A528- still the Ellesmere Road too!). Continue for a mile or so, and the road enters Albrighton. When you see the church on the right, indicate right, and turn into the lane (signposted Albrighton Hall Farm/ Monkhouse Granary/ Church car park). Turn immediately right again for the church car park. We will meet there!  The postcode is SY4 3HP. 

Caregivers are responsible for their children at all times, I will bring a First-Aid Kit and the Risk Assessment will be available to look at. We do have cover if it’s rainy- so please don’t be put off by the weather!

With love, prayers and blessings,

Hannah x

Autism West Midlands – FREE Webinars:

For parents, carers and professionals throughout the region, watch “live” or via an automated link to watch a replay.  Click on the links to find out more including registration details –

Understanding Autism – Friday 18^th February 9.30am-10.30am

https://autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/understanding-autism-webinar-west-midlands-18feb22/

Autism and Anxiety – Friday 4^th March 9.30am – 10.30am

Bookings open soon – please check the “events” section of our website

How Autistic People Process Information – Friday 18^th March 9.30am-10.30am

https://autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/how-autistic-people-process-information-webinar-18mar22/

         HALF TERM FAMILY EVENT 

Attingham Park – Tuesday 22^nd February 10am – 12pm

https://autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/attingham-park-walk-for-shropshire-families/

         WEEKLY Zoom Advice slots – every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

For those who would like some face-to-face contact, we are offering this virtually via video appointments. Zoom works well on mobile phones. To book a 45 min advice appointment with a specialist autism advisor please book via our shop

https://autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/online-autism-advice-shropshire/

         Virtual Support Group for Parents – Wednesday Mornings 10am-11am & Wednesday Evenings 8pm-9pm – NOW 1^st and 3^rd Weds of each month

From the New Year, we moved our online support groups to twice a month via the Zoom platform. This is an opportunity to talk with other parents, share ideas, and offer support.

If you would like to join either of the support groups, please email the team at shropshire@autismwestmidlands.org.uk

         Advice and support

We continue to offer advice and support over the phone and via email. Parents/carers and professionals can contact our small team directly to arrange an appointment please call:

Mon, Wed, Fri              – Wendy Cowton            07900784186

Weds, Thu, Fri              – Emma Hegenbarth      07881109480

Tue, Wed, Thu             – Dawn Lewis               07706309382

Email                             shropshire@autismwestmidlands.org.uk

Helpline                          0121 450 7575

Hello everyone,

Thank you to everyone who has arranged a PCR test for their child, if they had one of the 3 main COVID symptoms, and for regularly testing using LFD tests  as requested. We have had several positive cases in school over the past fortnight so by carrying out testing you are helping reduce the risk of transmission.

News from Severn Loop

Dear Friends around Severn Loop,

Hello everyone,

I hope you are keeping safe and well and that you had a good Christmas and New Year.

Please see below our latest Covid-19 risk assessment and we thank you in advance for taking the time to read this. Please note this was written before the changes to PCR testing were issued today (Wednesday 5th) but our procedures remain the same.

Remember...if a pupil has symptoms they should not attend and must get a test. Also, if a parent or sibling tests positive, pupils should not attend until they have also had a test and received a negative test result. This will reduce the risk of transmission and help us keep Covid out of school and nursery – thank you.

Bicton COVID-19 Risk Assessment V23 04.01.2022

We ask that all children have a lateral flow test before returning to school or nursery this week. This will help us to keep all our pupils, staff and families safe by helping to identify any asymptomatic cases and reducing any risk of transmission.

If you do not have any lateral flow tests at home, we can provide you with a test to carry out at the start of the day on Thursday. Providing your child does not test positive, they can then come into school or nursery and they will not be ‘marked’ as late on this occasion.

We thank you in advance for your support with our safety measures.

Best wishes,

Mrs Johnson and staff x

Hello everyone,

Thank you for all your support over what has been a very busy few weeks. We cannot begin to tell you how grateful we are for all of your efforts in helping us get to the end of term safely!

Christmas Fair update

It was so wonderful to see so many of you at our Christmas Fair on Wednesday and thank you for sending in donations if you were unable to attend. Monies are still coming in to FOBS for sweets and selection boxes but so far it looks as though we raised approximately £1500! This is an AMAZING effort and we would like to thank everyone who bought raffle tickets, sweets, selection boxes and who came along on the day and supported the event.

A huge thank you goes to FOBS who have worked tirelessly over the past few weeks – you are all amazing! Thank you as well to parents who worked hard to source prizes for the raffle, who made gifts to sell at the Fair and who came along and helped on the day.

Governing Body news

Please see below our latest Governing Body newsletter.

governor-newsletter-Dec 2021

Daily testing of close contacts for COVID-19 – updated guidance for schools

Adults who are fully vaccinated and all children and young people aged between 5 to 18 years and 6 months identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, are now strongly advised to take a lateral flow device (LFD) test every day for 7 days.

We request that all children take a lateral flow test before returning to school or nursery on Thursday 6th January 2022. All our staff will continue to test at least twice weekly when we return to school.

Grab a jab at the Darwin Shopping Centre

Details of walk-in clinics in Shropshire where you can get booster jabs and vaccinations are here

The pop-up vaccination clinic at the Darwin Shopping Centre in Shrewsbury will be open 7 days a week in the run up to Christmas.

Shropshire Council has been working with NHS partners to extend the opening hours of the clinic to support the national COVID-19 booster campaign, and help offer booster jabs and vaccinations to 160,000 people by the end of December.

The clinic will be closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day but will re-open on 27 December.

And finally (and what you’ve been waiting for…!)

Even though we couldn’t invite you into school for a Christmas performance, we hope the children’s Christmas video makes you smile as much as it has us. PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THE VIDEO with anyone outside Bicton School and Nursery and it MUST NOT be uploaded to any social media or messaging platforms. Thank you for adhering to this.

We wish you the most wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year.

Take care and stay safe,

From Mrs Johnson, staff, governors and all of our amazing children! xx

Christmas fair update 13.12.21

Hello everyone,

Please see this week’s newsletter below. Children have also been given a paper copy today.

Weekly News and Christmas events 10.12.21

If you are coming to the Christmas Fair on Wednesday, please use the car park at the village hall once the school car park is full and avoid parking on Bicton Lane.

Have a good weekend and stay safe x

Greetings from Severn Loop

Dear Friends of Severn Loop,

Severn Loop Christmas service 2021

December Loop 2021

Hello everyone,

We have had a very busy week in school and it was so wonderful to be able to visit the pantomime on Wednesday and see the children (and staff!) so excited! We have a few things going on in school next week and we thank you in advance for your support.

Christmas jumper/outfit day and Christmas lunch

On Wednesday 8th December, the kitchen are serving Christmas lunch and we would like all children to come to school wearing a Christmas jumper/sweatshirt. If they don’t have one, please don’t buy one – we are happy if they wear anything festive!

Children’s Christmas gift shop

Next week, from Tuesday onwards, our Christmas gift shop will be open for children to visit to purchase a gift for a family member. They will visit in their classes during school hours. If your child would like to purchase something for 50p – £2, please send the money in with them in a labelled envelope/purse from Tuesday onwards.

Co-op Christmas tree decorations

Thank you for the fabulous response to the Co-op tree decoration competition. They are collecting them from us on Monday afternoon so if your child has not yet brought in their decorated wood slice, please make sure they do so on Monday morning.

Donations for Christmas Fair

Thank you for all the donations sent in for the gift shop and the Christmas Fair. If you still have any bottles or other items you wish to donate for the raffle or tombola, we will happily take them off your hands!

Grab a jab in Shrewsbury

Last weekend’s pop-up vaccination clinic at the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury was such a success…we’re doing it again!

You can grab a jab on Saturday at the Shropshire Local unit on the top floor of the shopping centre between 9am and 5pm.

You can get the 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd dose, or the booster if you are eligible. 12-15 year olds can also get a jab but must be accompanied by a parent or carer.

Please be aware that vaccines will be given on a first come, first served basis. The clinic may close early if all vaccine has been used.

Open letter from Shropshire Council

We, alongside our neighbours in Telford & Wrekin and NHS colleagues, have written an open letter to residents.

We’re asking you to play your part in supporting our health and care services ahead of what is set to be an incredibly challenging winter.

The demand already this winter is unprecedented and is expected to get worse before it gets better.

Your actions and decisions can make a big difference.

Click here to read the full letter and find out how you can help.

And finally…

Thank you for all your support over recent weeks, especially if we have contacted you to arrange a PCR test for your child. We know the testing centre has been very busy this week but hopefully by getting children tested, we can keep everyone safe and well leading up to the end of term.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Johnson x

Hello everyone,

Christmas Fair – Wednesday 15th December

We are excited to be able to hold a Christmas Fair in the last week of term and we thank you in advance for any donations you are able to make – see poster below.Thank you for all the donations received so far.

Christmas poster

As we are receiving things for the FOBS raffle and for the children’s Christmas gift shop as well, it would be helpful if you could let let us know what the donations are for when sending things into school.

Nearer the time, we will be sending out more information on the COVID-19 measures in place on the 15th. This will include adults wearing a face covering (unless you are exempt) and a request for adults to do a lateral flow test before arriving – this is so we can keep everyone safe and well.

Dinner money

Please can you check your catering purse on sQuid, as there are a large number of catering purses which are low or have a negative balance. Some infants are also ordering a carton of juice/milkshake with their lunch and teachers do not have access to children’s accounts so cannot check if parents have paid for a drink. We ask that negative balances are cleared by the end of this term and we thank you in advance for doing so.

Grab a jab this weekend

If you’re out Christmas shopping in Shrewsbury trying to grab a Black Friday deal on Saturday, you can also grab a jab.

There is a national focus on getting as many people vaccinated this weekend ahead of the festive period, whether it’s the 1^st or 2^nd dose, or booster if you are eligible.

The Shropshire Local unit on the top floor of the shopping centre will be hosting a pop-up vaccination clinic between 1pm and 5pm.

12 to 15 year olds can get the 1^st dose if they are accompanied by a parent or carer.

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt hospital near Oswestry is also offering the vaccine. Click here for more details.

Information about Rock Project

Rock Project School Newsletter

Have a good weekend x