5th May 2020
Please see the documents below for the newest transition statements for ELC-p1 pupils and P7-S1.
Midlothian Council ELC to P1 Transition Website Statement (1)
Category Archives: P7
Spring activity ideas for the holidays
Hooray for the holidays! Although it does feel very different. We all hope that you are staying safe and healthy. There will be no official classwork set on Google Classrooms, although there may still be the odd fun activity. We have, however, put together a whole school Spring learning grid (click the link below) with some ideas to keep your creative juices flowing and for some fun family time if you run out of ideas.
Stay safe
All Loanhead Staff
P7 Info W/B 30.3.20
Hi all,
I hope everyone is safe and well in this difficult time.
This is just a short post to remind children to check into Glow and Google Classroom for daily tasks this week. A new task board has been put up today.
Next week is the Easter break so no new tasks will appear in that time.
If anyone has problems logging in, please email me at:
S.Brunt@mgfl.net
Many thanks,
Miss S Brunt
Summarised inspection findings 2020
Inspection of Loanhead Primary School and Nursery ClassMidlothian Council
Please be advised that the Summarised Inspection Findings (SIF) have now been published on our website and are available from this link:
https://education.gov.scot/education-scotland/inspection-reports/reports-page/?id=3483.
Dear Parents…
Dear parents,
You might be inclined to create a minute by minute schedule for your kids. You have high hopes of hours of learning, including online activities, science experiments, and book reports. You’ll limit technology until everything is done! But here’s the thing…
Our kids are just as scared as we are right now. Our kids not only can hear everything that is going on around them, but they feel our constant tension and anxiety. They have never experienced anything like this before. Although the idea of being off of school for weeks sounds awesome, they are probably picturing a fun time like summer break, not the reality of being trapped at home and not seeing their friends.
Over the coming weeks, you will see an increase in behavior issues with your kids. Whether it’s anxiety, or anger, or protest that they can’t do things normally – it will happen. You’ll see more meltdowns, tantrums, and oppositional behavior in the coming weeks. This is normal and expected under these circumstances.
What kids need right now is to feel comforted and loved. To feel like it’s all going to be ok. And that might mean that you tear up your perfect schedule and love on your kids a bit more. Play outside and go on walks. Bake cookies and paint pictures. Play board games and watch movies. Do a science experiment together or find virtual field trips of the zoo. Start a book and read together as a family. Snuggle under warm blankets and do nothing.
Don’t worry about them regressing in school. Every single kid is in this boat and they all will be ok. When we are back in the classroom, we will all course correct and meet them where they are. Teachers are experts at this! Don’t pick fights with your kids because they don’t want to do math. Don’t scream at your kids for not following the schedule. Don’t mandate 2 hours of learning time if they are resisting it.
If I can leave you with one thing, it’s this: at the end of all of this, your kids’ mental health will be more important than their academic skills. And how they felt during this time will stay with them long after the memory of what they did during those weeks is long gone. So keep that in mind, every single day.
Stay safe. x
From all of us in the Loanhead Primary Community
19.3.20 NEW update from Midlothian council regarding school closure
The following statement was sent to schools this evening. At the bottom of the statement are links to parental guidance and advice which will be very useful in this time. We will keep you updated as, and when, we know anything else.
All schools will be closed to Primary Pupils and S1-3 Pupils with the following exceptions:
· Saltersgate School will remain open to support our children with severe and complex needs. The Head Teacher will be in contact with individual families outlining the individual arrangements which will be in place.
· All Secondary Schools will be open to S4-6 Pupils only in order to complete any SQA mandatory coursework and assessments prior to the published deadlines. Please refer to individual High School Websites for further updates. We are planning a phased approach to distance learning however priority will be given to S4-S6 to begin with.
· We are now focussed on planning for the families of staff belonging to the following groups key worker groups: Emergency Services, NHS, Health and Social Care Partnership including Care at Home, Teachers and Council Staff who have requested assistance with Childcare in order to ensure that we deliver critical services. This requested provision will be delivered through 4 secondary and 4 primary schools acting as Hubs. Individual Schools will be in touch with the individual families to alert them to the arrangements which will be put in place.
· Free School Meals: We are currently working with catering services in order to finalise arrangements for the distribution of food for children entitled to free school meals and further information will be communicated as soon as plans have been finalised.
Public health advice and guidance should continue to be followed for staff and pupils with underlying health conditions and self-isolation.
As you will appreciate there is significant planning needed to move this forward and we will continue to update our website to keep you informed.
You can listen to the Deputy First Ministers announcement at this link:
https://news.gov.scot/speeches-and-briefings/statement-on-covid19-managing-the-impacts-on-scottish-education
Andrew Sheridan
Schools Group Manager (ASN & Inclusion)
Guidance for parents and carers in the event of school closure due to Coronavirus
COVID-19 Information and links for parents/carers
When the school closes on Friday, pupils will be sent home with learning packs for the next week which should be done at home. The weeks to follow (except for holidays) will involve digital learning via Glow-Google classroom. Our staff have varied experience with this and we all learn and teach differently both in the classroom and online. We appreciate your support, patience and understanding during this time.
As well as digital learning passwords, this letter was sent home on 18th March to give information about how to access Glow and Google Classroom within Glow. Digital Learning Letter 18.3.19 Pupils/Parents have teacher emails and can contact their teacher during school hours. If you have any technical issues or questions please contact Mrs Hinton who will try her very best to help you. k.hinton@mgfl.net
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A list of websites that you can use to support learning can be found in pupil packs or Click here
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Midlothian Speech & Language Therapy Department offer a weekly telephone help line, for parents and professionals to ring us to discuss any concerns they have about a child’s speech, language and communication skills.
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P7 Update Re: School Closure Friday 20th March 2020
Hi all,
It’s a very sad and emotional time for us all with school closing indefinitely from Friday lunchtime. I understand that P7 are very anxious and upset about missing out on the final term and all the fun events planned. I am too!
Mrs Donnelly has assured P7 that IF schools do not reconvene before the summer holidays ( obviously no-one knows yet what will happen week to week in the future) then pupils will have an opportunity to come back to Loanhead Primary after the summer break to have their Leaver’s send-off. No-one wants P7 to simply leave tomorrow and not have a chance to say farewell properly and have proper closure leaving primary school.
Children have the chance to get their red hoodies signed today and tomorrow .
When at home in term time, can P7 please log into Glow daily to complete their online lessons. Please also check this web page weekly – I’ll try to update for Mondays each week and keep you posted.
I can be contacted through my email : S.Brunt@mgfl.net I will be working from home and available during school hours.
Finally, can I just take this opportunity to express how much I have enjoyed teaching this class for nearly two years. There are so many talented, enthusiastic and creative pupils in this group. But most of all, I will always remember, all the daft chats and laughs we have had along the way!
I really hope everyone gets through these unusual and unique times safely and healthily.
Thanks for all your support,
Miss Sara Brunt