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• CEO blog - First steps

  Fri 29 May 2020 Mrs Kate Brunt
   First steps

  On Monday, we will be welcoming back our nursery and pre-school children followed by our Reception and Year 1 children from 8^th June and our Year 6 children from 15^th June. I know that many of you will be feeling anxious about this so I want to reassure you that the health, safety and wellbeing of all our pupils and staff is my priority. Planning for this next stage has been done within the framework of the latest advice from Public Health England and we have worked strategically with the local authority and DfE to implement a specific and robust health and safety plan and to carry out rigorous risk assessments. On a practical level, children coming into school will be grouped into small ‘protective bubbles’ of no more than 15 children, areas will be cleaned regularly, children and staff will wash their hands regularly throughout the day and PPE will be provided if needed. As we take these first steps towards a return to school-based learning, our focus remains very much on the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of all our children and staff.

  We look forward to seeing some of you on Monday and to getting our Rivers family back to some kind of normality as soon as is safely possible.

  Stay safe and stay in touch,

  Kate Brunt

  CEO

• CEO blog - Kindness

  Sat 23 May 2020 Mrs Kate Brunt
   

  This week is ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’ and it couldn’t be more timely. We know that good mental health is central to our ability to cope with and recover from this crisis. However, unsurprisingly, this long period of lockdown and the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic has affected the mental health and wellbeing of us all, including our children. This year, the theme for the week is kindness, which seems an appropriate choice in the current circumstances. I’m sure that we can all think of numerous acts of kindness going on in our communities right now as we shop for elderly neighbours, keep in touch with relatives who live alone, donate to food banks, and much more. But the power of kindness doesn’t stop there – showing kindness to others has a positive impact on our own mental health and wellbeing too. In other words, by being kind to others we are also being kind to ourselves, which is just as important.

  Another date to note this week was Wednesday 20^th May, which was ‘National Thank A Teacher Day’. It was wonderful to see so many of you showing your kindness by sharing pictures, videos and messages online. I want to join you in saying a huge thank you to every member of the Rivers family for their amazing work, not only during these challenging times but all year round.

  Finally, I wish you all a relaxing half-term break. Be kind to yourselves - try to switch off and enjoy the sunshine.

  Stay safe and stay in touch,

  Kate Brunt

  CEO

• CEO blog- 15.5.20

  Sat 16 May 2020 Mrs K Brunt

  Moving forward

  I’m sure that, like me, you were all listening to the prime minister’s speech on Sunday evening as he set out the government’s plans to ease the lockdown over the coming weeks and months. I know that the announcement about the proposed phased return to school from 1^st June for primary children will have been met with mixed feelings by many of you. I want to reassure you that the safety of everyone in our Rivers family remains my priority as we move forward.

  During the next few weeks, we will continue to work closely with the DfE and Worcestershire Children First to make sure that we can open our schools safely. We are receiving regular advice from the DfE about how to implement the necessary policies and procedures for social distancing and regular handwashing. I will, of course, continue to update you as and when new information becomes available and/or the situation changes.

  I continue to be awed by the efforts staff and parents/carers are making to ensure that our children are continuing their learning during this uncertain time. Thank you everyone - I realise the time and energy involved in making this happen and I am proud and humbled to be a part of such an amazing community.

  Stay safe and stay in touch,

  Kate Brunt

  CEO