As we are staying at home, I thought I’d share some tips and ideas with you about how to manage screen time for your children. I have added in some guidance here from internetmatters.org that give you ways of managing screen time during these very strange times.

As well as this, you have probably heard of some of the apps that seem to be benefiting from the Government guidelines to stay at home, including Houseparty and Zoom. In case you aren’t sure about them, or if you haven’t downloaded one yet, have a look at the guides below.

Houseparty Review

Zoom Review

It goes without saying that despite the School not being open, we still expect all of the children to adhere to the School’s Acceptable Use Policy. Do have a read, it can be found in the front of the homework diary! Don’t forget to #bekind

We were so pleased to hear how many of the children watched our virtual assemblies this week. Mr Searson’s first assembly was viewed over 500 times on Monday alone! We have received lots of lovely photos of the children watching in the mornings, and we will be in touch after Easter, before the beginning of term.

It has made our week to see so many happy, smiley faces as children study at home this week! It is a wonderful way for us to stay connected and the teachers have loved seeing what the children are doing at home.

Here are some fantastic examples of the children working from home.

Miss Winkworth challenged the children to create parachutes at home as part of their Science work – look at the results! 🪂 #ScienceatHome #StayAtHome #RemoteLearning pic.twitter.com/pMOqj3h2EO

— Beaudesert Park (@beaudesertpark) March 26, 2020

…And even more!

Please keep sending them in!

What a variety and also what brilliant work the children have been creating from home. These include some wonderful artwork, a viking diagram, a homemade board game, a Spring collage, sketches of animal tracks, a daffodil dissection, models of the solar system and more parachute tests!

All of the teachers are really excited to see the work the children are doing at home, especially Miss Snow, who is happy to be emailed images of any artwork the children are making, even if it’s not linked to the work that’s being set!

We have received some lovely videos and photos of our musicians practising!  It has been so encouraging to hear from those who are using the time to play their instruments at home. Mrs Saunders would love to see and hear some of you playing your instruments – here is a message from her:

Let’s keep making music & sharing with one another @beaudesertpark #powerofmusic #BPSCommunity pic.twitter.com/uzLEj9qOq4

— Music at Beaudesert (@BeaudesertMusic) March 23, 2020

If you have a video or picture that she can upload to the @BeaudesertMusic Twitter page, please add them to this folder.

Last week the senior art club created postcards with messages of support for some of the residents of The Cotswold Home in Burford, where Ms Dismorr’s mother works as a nurse. The cards were delivered on Sunday and were met with delight, as you can see in the photos shown, with examples by Sophie and Georgie.

The Lidstones have also been busy this week delivering vegetable boxes to their vulnerable neighbours, of course with gloves on and at a safe distance. We’re told mum will have a wheelbarrow next week to help the whole village… good luck girls!

Mrs Danks in our Nursery has been doing some baking for a friend who is working as a doctor in A&E. One of our Beaudesert families, the Hargitays, decided to help Mrs Danks this week and left a package of chocolate chip muffins and some colourful thank you cards! We are so pleased to hear more families have been in touch and offered to help Mrs Danks with her baking.

Time for a Blue Peter moment! Our Art Department will announce an art challenge in the Summer term, but in preparation we would like children and parents to save their loo roll tubes… watch this space.