Claiming Free School Meals

Under the Government scheme, Free School Meals are no longer free for all children when they enter Year 3. A formal claim must be made to receive free school meals. If you are receipt of any of the following your child is eligible for free school meals:

• Universal Credit with a household income of less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• Income-Based Jobseekers' Allowance
• Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit, not entitled to Working Tax Credit and household income less than £16,190
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Working Tax Credit 'run on' – the payment you receive for a further four weeks after you finish work

If your child is currently eligible for free school meals, that eligibility will be protected until Universal Credit is introduced (expected March 2022) even if your circumstances change. If your child is still in education on this date, they will be eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary) they are in.

For more information contact:  AREA EDUCATION OFFICE, 44 UNION STREET, ACCRINGTON, BB5 1PL.  TEL: 01254 220710

If your child is eligible for free school meals, the school receives additional funding known as Pupil Premium to support their progress and development and to ensure they receive a broad curriculum. Even if you child prefers packed lunches, we urge you to apply if you are eligible. It may be that your child is eligible, but you choose not to make a formal claim for a meal. It is crucial that we are able to report on all children who are entitled to free school meals, not just those who actually take the free school meals. This is worth over £1000 per pupil to school.

Our management information system ensures privacy concerning free school meals status.

In these uncertain economic times, we would like to support our families as much as possible. Many of you have informed us that you have good quality second-hand (or occasionally completely unused) school uniform that you no longer have use for. Tesco community scheme have very kindly donated some brand new uniform to sell.

We would like to sell these items at minimal cost to support our families. From Monday 25 November, please bring the following good-condition items to school:

• Green Haworth school jumpers
• Grey/black school trousers
• Grey/tartan Green Haworth skirt
• White polo shirt
• School shoes
• White P.E. t-shirt
• Black P.E. shorts
• P.E. pumps
• Wellies
• Green Haworth tie
• Green Haworth book/P.E. bag
• Any coat

We will hold a ‘uniform sale’ in the school hall at 2:30pm next Friday 29 November.

Snow Procedures

Procedures for school closures: In the event of school being inaccessible to vehicles from Willows Lane, I will make a decision on whether to close the school.

If snow has fallen overnight, listen to Radio Lancashire (95.5 FM/855 MW) for regular updates of which schools have been closed.

If school is closed, parents with a mobile phone registered on the school system will receive a text message to explain. I will endeavour to make this judgment as early as possible so that parents have not begun their journey to school. Please share this message with any friends or family as some parents have their phones turned off at certain times of the day.

A message will also be displayed on the front page of this school website.

In the event of heavy snowfall during the school day, members of staff will text all parents to explain that school is closing and pupils need to be taken home.

As the weather forecast is showing the first signs of snow, I would like remind parents of procedures for school closures: In the event of school being inaccessible to vehicles from Willows Lane, I will make a decision on whether to close the school.

Our parents have always been aware of the unique weather conditions that we have at Green Haworth and how quickly they can deteriorate. I will endeavour to make a decision as early as possible. This relies on feedback from members of staff who live in the Ferngore and Green Haworth areas.

If snow has fallen overnight, listen to Radio Lancashire (95.5 FM/855 MW) for regular updates of which schools have been closed. If school is closed, parents with a mobile phone registered on the school system will receive a text message to explain. I will endeavour to make this judgement as early as possible so that parents have not begun their journey to school. Please share this message with any friends or family as some parents have their phones turned off at certain times of the day.

In the event of heavy snowfall during the school day, a text will be sent to all parents to explain that school is closing and pupils need to be taken home. Please bear in mind that school has to consider the safety of parents, staff and visitors as well as ensuring that children should be able to arrive at school and leave school in safety. Please ensure that school is aware of any updated phone numbers so all parents are contactable at any time of the school day.

A message will also be displayed on the front page of the school website: www.greenhaworth.co.uk.

Please note that if you have a child who is currently in their last year at primary school (Year 6) then you must apply for a secondary school place by Thursday 31 October 2024. This is a national statutory deadline and late applications will not be dealt with alongside those which have been received by the closing date.  Late applicants may therefore be disadvantaged in terms of receiving an offer for one of their preferred secondary schools. You are now required to apply on line at https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/apply-for-a-school-place/starting-secondary-school/ . If you have any further queries about this process or would like to use our computers to apply on-line, please make an appointment to see me.

The following local secondary schools are holding their open evenings on the dates shown:            

FREE WEEKLY DINNER PLANS

We know how hard times are at the moment so the folks at FiveDinners.com – online meal planning service - have decided to give away FREE lifetime memberships to try and help you save money on food shopping and reduce the mental load of deciding what to eat every night. There’s no catch or restrictions, simply full access to our meal plans to make your dinnertimes a little easier and cheaper.

FiveDinners.com is an online meal planning service co-founded by author and TV chef Theo Michaels. To help with the cost of living crisis so many families and individuals are facing Theo has decided to offer their meal planning service for FREE!

Every week they publish a new meal plan with an automatically generated shopping list; set to your serving size so you know exactly what you need for the week ahead. It saves you time, money on food shopping and ultimately takes away the headache of deciding what to cook every night. You can even create and save your own meal plans choosing from hundreds of recipes.

Simply head to https://FiveDinners.com and click green Join button now.

Easter Break 

We have some free cycle session on over the second week of the Easter Holidays (11th April-14th April) in Lancashire. There are a variety of sessions available for all children and we can also offer free bike hire for these too. Below is what we have to offer but parents can find all our sessions and can book on using our Eventbrite link:

Preston-  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/go-velo-holiday-sessions-preston-44019825803

Clitheroe- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/go-velo-holiday-sessions-ribble-valley-59750575603

Scarlet Fever and Group Strep A Infections

The Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan, is closely monitoring the increased cases of Group A streptococcus (Strep A) and scarlet fever. As a Department, we are working closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), who are leading on the response.

UKHSA is reporting an increased number of cases of Group A streptococcus (Strep A) compared to normal at this time of year. There is no evidence that a new strain is circulating and the increase is most likely related to high amounts of circulating bacteria and social mixing.

What are scarlet fever and Strep A?

Scarlet fever is caused by bacteria called Group A streptococci (Strep A). The bacteria usually cause a mild infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics.

In very rare occasions, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive Group A strep (iGAS).

What are the symptoms of Strep A/scarlet fever?

Strep A infections can cause a range of symptoms that parents should be aware of, including:

If a child becomes unwell with these symptoms, please advise parents to contact their GP practice or contact NHS 111 (which operates a 24/7 service) to seek advice.

If a child has scarlet fever, advise they stay at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.

Encourage parents to trust their own judgement and if their child seems seriously unwell call 999 or go to A&E if:

Managing confirmed cases

Early years settings and schools should contact their UKHSA health protection team if there is an outbreak of 2 or more scarlet fever cases within 10 days of each other and the affected individuals have a link, such as being in the same class or year group.

Further information for staff on how and when to do this can be found here: Managing outbreaks and incidents – GOV.​UK (www.gov.uk)

If there are confirmed or suspected cases in an education or childcare setting, there is no reason for children to be kept at home if they are well.

How to help prevent Strep A?

To prevent the spread of Strep A, UKHSA advises children, young people and staff to implement good hand and respiratory hygiene practices.

For more information visit the UKHSA website or the Education Hub.

In light of the recent tragic incident in Solihull, please find attached this winter safety resource from the Royal Lifesaving Society UK. Parents may wish to use the resource by discussing the activities and advice contained within the booklet. 

Firework Code

Many of you will be thinking about attending a bonfire and firework display at the weekend.

Here’s a reminder from the fire service of how to keep everyone in your family safe:

 Fireworks should not be sold to any person under the age of 18

 Ideally attend an organised display

 Buy Fireworks with a CE marking

 Keep fireworks in a closed metal box

 Follow the instructions on each firework

 Light them at arm's length using a taper

 Stand well back

 Never go back to a lit firework

 Never put fireworks in your pocket

 Keep a bucket of water nearby if you are setting off fireworks in your garden

 Never throw fireworks

 Keep pets indoors

 Alcohol and fireworks do not mix and may lead to injury

The Food pantry

From Saturday 23^rd The Food Pantry will be launching a school holidays packed lunch scheme, residents of Hyndburn with young  children can call in and get a free packed lunch bag and food for the following week for the child’s lunches.

It will be different items every week but will include fruit and salad pots, dairy protein etc…

All they have to do is call in and children will be given a membership card –( just name and date visited ) and each week can bring their bag back to refill – if they don’t they can still get a refill in a brown paper bag.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1105479426479091/permalink/1665070453853316/

The Accrington Christians Together Foodbank is still open.

They are keen to be able to help families who are struggling to feed children at home or have recently found themselves out of work or furloughed. 

They are operating with a delivery service and food parcels can be booked by ringing The Food Bank on 0751024359. (They will ask a few questions over the phone, but referrals are not needed). Their main delivery day is Wednesday but they can do other days if a family is really desperate. 

They have been fortunate to have had several donations to support the foodbank during COVID – 19 .