Keep up to date with all the news happening in the school at the moment. Articles are added during the week. Parents are encouraged to check regularly. Our weekly bulletin, emailed directly to parents, summarises content for the week.

• Parent and Carer Drop-In is now online-Thursday 22nd October-9-10am

  Wed 07 Oct 2020 C Chadwick

  The half-termly Parent and Carer drop-in will be held on Thursday 22nd October between 9:00am-10:00am.

  If you would like to speak to myself, SENDCO, or Mrs Reehal, Learning Mentor, about any aspect of your child's learning or well-being, please contact us to reserve a time slot:

  sendco@fielding.ealing.sch.uk

   

   

  

• High School Transition for Year 5 and 6 Parents

  Tue 06 Oct 2020 Office

  Ealing's Parent and Carer Forum are holding a Zoom Coffee Morning for parents who have questions about High School transition.

   

  This is open to all parents and carers of children in Year 6 and Year 5, and may also be useful for those in Year 4.

  
  Please see attached flyer for more information.

  

• Booking for October half-term holiday club now open.

  Mon 05 Oct 2020 Clare Haines

  Booking for October half term holiday club is now open. Please navigate to 'wraparound care' on McAS to book. Booking open until 12th October at noon. Click below for more details

  • October holiday club 

  

• October is Black History Month

  Mon 05 Oct 2020 Corinne Tate

  October is Black History Month in the UK, an event that has been celebrated for more than 30 years.

  The events of 2020 have increased the importance for Black history to be shared more widely – particularly in schools. The increased prevalence of The Black Lives Matter movement in the media will likely to have been noticed by many children.

  Talking to children about racism and the Black Lives Matter movement will likely involve facing some really uncomfortable realities like inherent biases or prejudice.

  At Fielding, our Values-based ethos equips children with an ethical vocabulary with principles that guide behaviour. Our work actively promotes fundamental British values of democracy, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those from all faiths, backgrounds and cultures. 

  During this month, and beyond, we weave key themes of: respect, discrimination, racism and prejudice through a rounded programme of assemblies, lessons and class discussion; which promote children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, enabling them to develop their own moral and ethical compass to guide what is right and what is wrong.

  The BBC have developed some fantastic Black History Month resources which we will use to support our curriculum throughout the year. Click here to view them. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/curations/black-history-month

  

• Accessing your parent consultation appointment on Teams

  Fri 02 Oct 2020 Clare Haines

  Thank you for booking your parent consultation meeting through MCAS. Your child’s class teacher knows what timeslot you have booked.

  At your appointment time please logon to Teams, using your child’s email and password.

  For step by step details on how to access the meeting please click on the link below

  • How to access parent consultation meetings on Teams

  Some useful guidance if needed:

  • How to find my child’s Microsoft teams details
  • How to log on to Microsoft team video
  • How to use Microsoft teams video calls

  

• Parent governor vacancy

  Fri 02 Oct 2020 Peter Dunmall

  The Governing Board is seeking nominations from parents to fill a parent governor vacancy. Governors each focus on different areas of responsibility. An interest in, or experience of, safeguarding and child protection is especially welcome. However, this should not stop any parent from applying if you have the wish and commitment to be a governor. Parent governors are appointed for a period of 4 years. 

  Why become a governor?

  The Governing Board holds school leaders to account, provides support and challenge whilst setting the strategic direction of the school.  

  How much time will I need to give?

  All governors, including parent governors:

  • attend 4 full governing body meetings each year, held in the evening for about 2 hours;
  • become a member of our Resources or Pupils & Achievement committees which meet 6 times each year, typically alternating breakfast and evening meetings, each for about 2 hours;
  • visit the school during the day, ideally once or twice a term, to gain first-hand knowledge of the school, usually for 1-2 hours. While visiting, governors usually work with a school leader focusing on their area of responsibility;
  • undertake training courses to improve own skills and knowledge about school governance.

  During the coronavirus pandemic, meetings are held by video conference call.

  We know that there maybe uncertainty in life and own jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Board works flexibly to meet the needs of its volunteers.

  Find out more about the role of school governors and the skills required:

  • National Governance Association, What do governors do? 
  • Governance skills
  • Arrange to talk to Peter Dunmall, Head teacher for an informal chat.

  Every governor is not required to have competence in every skill.

  How to apply

  Parents can nominate themselves or another parent (if they are willing to be named):

  1. check you are eligible to nominate or be nominated as a Parent Governor, Election of Parent Governors;
  2. complete the Nomination Form;
  3. return the completed form to the school office by hand, pupil post or Royal Mail by Friday 16th October at 3.30pm;

  • electronic nominations and/or emails cannot be accepted.

  If more nominations are received than vacancies available, then a ballot will be organised to select the new governor.

  Once appointed, all governors are subject to an enhanced check by the Criminal Records Bureau and other suitability checks, including providing an enhanced DBS certificate. 

  

• Understanding MCAS Balances

  Fri 02 Oct 2020 Clare Haines

  Where can I find out if I have a credit or debit balance?

  1. Log on to MCAS use the desktop version
  2. Look at the ‘Outstanding payments’ box. If you have an outstanding payment it appears here.
  3. If nothing is showing in this box you do not owe anything.
  4. You may however have a credit because childcare vouchers or a Laser credit have been applied to your account. To find this click on the ‘More’ button top right of the outstanding balance box.

  This will show your credit balance and where it currently sits (ignore the ‘add to basket button)

  • Step by step guide

  All Laser balances have now been added to the system, we are in the process of just finalising the last few outstanding vouchers to the system. All credit has been added to childcare 3.30-4.30 as this is our 'holding' space for any credit balances. We will transfer this balance to other clubs and childcare as you book.

   

  

• EMS instrumental tuition

  Fri 02 Oct 2020 Maria Neil-Smith

  EMS instrumental lessons start next week (wk beginning 5th October). Please click here to view the timetables and inform your child of their lesson time and venue. Details of the safety measures we have in place are in the terms and conditions on our website. If you have any queries regarding instrumental tuition please email music@fielding.ealing.sch.uk

   

  

• Contingency planning, COVID page updated for key workers

  Fri 02 Oct 2020 Clare Haines

  We have been busy contingency planning for the scenario where we have to close due to local restrictions. In guidance published yesterday the Government have written that schools will close only in exceptional circumstances  as set out in the Department for Health and Social Care’s COVID-19 contain framework.

  Getting prepared

  In the event of  local restrictions where schools are asked to close we need to be prepared. If you are a key worker,  please could you read our updated Key Worker section on our COVID page.

  • COVID-19

  

• PTFA New Committee members needed, AGM Mon 12 October

  Thu 01 Oct 2020

  As you will have seen from previous PTFA news items, fundraising activities were cut short last year, although we did manage to raise circa £27,000. That money helped pay for the outstanding facilities, trips and opportunities that our children all enjoy including £12,500 for the ongoing kitchen garden costs, £7,000 for the Library Resource Service for every teacher as well as school trips, new library books and even teas & coffees for the staff room.

   

  Thanks to your constant support, Fielding’s facilities are the envy of other schools and we should be incredibly proud of the tireless efforts by our hardworking group of parents.
  
  Unfortunately a number of dedicated PTFA committee members are now stepping aside.  We rely on volunteers to run the PTFA and the majority have full time jobs. We understand these are tough times, but if you believe in helping enrich the education of our children and have even a small amount of time, we are on the look out for a Vice-Chair, Co-Secretary, Co-events Coordinator and some parents to help support central activities.
  
  Even if you are unable to volunteer, please come along to show your support at our AGM on Monday 12 October at 8.30pm.  We'll be setting out our agenda for the next 12 months - as we still have commitments to pay for certain school activities. We would love to hear your ideas, feedback and suggestions on fundraising. It is also an opportunity to hear about some of the exciting new events we have planned.  Register to attend via Zoom at: https://bit.ly/33dUuS8

   

  Any questions on the roles, please contact Nolan, PTFA Chair on fieldingPTFA@gmail.com