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I think we all had a tear in our eye and a smile on our face as we saw our Year 6 children come back to school on Monday. Over the last seven years, we’ve watched these children grow into the wonderful young people that they are today. It is a real privilege to be able to work with them during these final weeks of their primary school lives. Even in normal times, this can be an anxious time for children in this year group and, as we know, these are anything but normal times! Their mental health and wellbeing will remain a priority over the coming weeks as we focus on fun transition activities to ensure that they are ready to meet the exciting challenge of secondary school.

Throughout this crisis, I continue to be amazed by the kindness and maturity of young people. This week, we have a wonderful role model in Marcus Rashford. What an inspirational example of a young person thinking of others and changing lives for the better!

Before I finish, I am delighted to be able to tell you that we will be opening holiday clubs in some schools across the trust during the summer break. Further details will be available very soon.

Well done everyone - another great week of learning! Have a lovely weekend.

Stay safe and stay in touch,

Kate Brunt

CEO

It was wonderful to welcome back our Reception and Year 1 children on Monday. I continue to be amazed by the energy and positivity of children, parents and staff. This week, I’d like to share a few of the many, many messages we have received that express this far better than I can:

“I didn't have a good day yesterday; I had a fantastic day” (EYFS child);

“I’m just REALLY enjoying school lately. I know it’s not the same as it was but it’s SO good” (EYFS child);

“His first day back at school has been his best day ever” (parent);

“I really appreciate everything you've done to keep my daughter safe” (parent);

“The youngest children in our school have been amazing. I cannot believe how resilient they have been and how calmly they came into school and just cracked on as if they had never been away” (teacher).

This week, we heard of a change in the government’s aim for all primary pupils to return to school before the summer holiday. As a trust, we continue to be creative and flexible in our planning to allow the maximum number of children to return to school safely.

Next week promises to be another exciting week with the return of our oldest children. We can’t wait for you to join us, Year 6!

Stay safe and stay in touch,

Kate Brunt

CEO

What an exciting week this has been for our Rivers family! On Monday, schools across the trust welcomed back pre-school and nursery children. It was wonderful to see the delight of children and staff as they were reunited after so many weeks apart. In one of our schools, the ‘Friends’ association donated bubble machines and the children walked and danced through rainbow-coloured bubbles in the sunshine as they made their way into school for the first time in ten weeks.

Of course, it’s not all about dancing through bubbles! We continue to prioritise the safety of our children and staff in the practical ways that I mentioned in last week’s blog and the bubble machines, whilst fun, were all about helping children to understand the ‘protective bubble’ strategy that we have adopted in our schools. Additionally, we continue to provide planning for those families who are home learning and, of course, we continue to provide school places for the children of key workers and vulnerable children.

The positivity of children, parents and staff this week has been overwhelming. We are all looking forward to Reception and Year 1 children joining us on Monday and keeping our fingers crossed that the sun joins us too!

Stay safe and stay in touch,

Bubbles

What an exciting week this has been for our Rivers family! On Monday, schools across the trust welcomed back pre-school and nursery children. It was wonderful to see the delight of children and staff as they were reunited after so many weeks apart. In one of our schools, the ‘Friends’ association donated bubble machines and the children walked and danced through rainbow-coloured bubbles in the sunshine as they made their way into school for the first time in ten weeks.

Of course, it’s not all about dancing through bubbles! We continue to prioritise the safety of our children and staff in the practical ways that I mentioned in last week’s blog and the bubble machines, whilst fun, were all about helping children to understand the ‘protective bubble’ strategy that we have adopted in our schools. Additionally, we continue to provide planning for those families who are home learning and, of course, we continue to provide school places for the children of key workers and vulnerable children.

The positivity of children, parents and staff this week has been overwhelming. We are all looking forward to Reception and Year 1 children joining us on Monday and keeping our fingers crossed that the sun joins us too!

Stay safe and stay in touch,