Telford and Wrekin have been amazing delivering meals this week: we work with some wonderful teams.

Update from them:

We continue to deliver Free School Meals to those who children who are eligible around the borough.

Thank you for everyone’s positivity and understanding yesterday as we try and get the logistics in place to support families in our local community.

First of all we would just like to remind everyone that these meals are for only those who are eligible for a Free School Meal due to their financial circumstances.

They are NOT the Universal Free School Meals which your child may receive on a usual school day if they are in reception, year 1 or year 2.

You can check if you are entitled based on your income here: https://www.telford.gov.uk/…/school_m…/9/free_school_meals/2

To ensure we get this system running as smoothly as possible in the current situation we’d like to remind people:

▶️Please wait until 2.30pm to report if a meal has not been received.

▶️If you sent us a Facebook message, voicemail or email yesterday please note our team are picking these up you do not need to contact us again about the same issue.

▶️Report any new issues you may have (i.e. missing meal, change of address) via email on freeschoolmeals@telford.gov.uk. Please provide us with your name, the name of your child who is eligible, your telephone number and address, and your child’s school.

▶️If you do need to call us and you leave a voice mail please leave as much detail as possible so we can act quickly based on the information you have provided. We are trying to avoid making call backs where possible to save time.

▶️This is a momentous task delivering over 5,000 meals each day therefore we are not accepting menu or meal requests other than dietary requirements. Our priority is to ensure that all child who are entitled receive their food.

▶️If your financial situation is changing and you feel you may now qualify for a free school meal based on your income you can read the criteria and apply here: https://www.telford.gov.uk/…/school_m…/9/free_school_meals/2

Thank you again for your support – it really does help the teams behind the scenes.

Please find a link to a newsround article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52008734

I thought this may be a lovely thing to do with your children.  Perhaps use it as an opportunity to reassure your child that at this challenging time we have lots of people who are working incredibly hard to help us.  We can’t see people to thank them but small gestures like this ‘make a difference’ and bring community together.

I look forward to hearing applause around Newport on Thursday evening (26th March) at 8pm.

Thinking of you all.  Mrs M x

If you aren’t receiving emails please check daily on the class pages https://newportjuniorschool.org.uk/home/parents-area/classes/

Parents have also complained about printing: I have asked staff to design activities that do not involve printing.  Children should be able to work from the slides into their book/on paper.  Your children will be used to doing this in school.

Staff are doing their very best to keep these coming out to you and to try to support you.  This will not be a perfect system, we have never done it before and we are all doing our very best in difficult times.

Thank you for your support.

If any children have drawn, painted, collaged or crafted a rainbow to place in their front window I am happy to receive pictures and I will post them on the website!

Remember to spot Rainbows if you take your daily exercise offer: please be careful and remember to distance yourselves.

xxxxx

Following tonight’s announcement I would like to urge all families to reflect on whether it is essential to send their child to school.  These are tricky times with lots of pressures but we are being told to stay at home.  Please help to support the health of school staff and their families.

Thank you for your support.

Many of you will be aware that we have been working closely with the Rylands Nursing Home on Forton Road.  We have been taking groups of children to visit every few weeks doing a range of activities: singing, craft, board games and reading for example.

Obviously these visits have ceased at the moment which is especially sad for the residents.  Myself and Wendy from the Rylands wondered if NJS children would like to write to the care home or draw a picture and send it in?  Don’t worry if its not this week: it would be great if we could send them throughout the isolation period.  Their address is: 74 Forton Road Newport shropshire TF10 8BT.

This is a great opportunity to ‘make a difference’ NJS!

Mrs M x