School life has adapted to the varied challenges of the pandemic

Deputy headteacher at Micklehurst All Saints CE Primary School, Sarah Jarman, took up her role last September and reflects on a new school year that has been like no other...

This school year has been an unusual one for all and as the new deputy headteacher at Micklehurst All Saints CE Primary School, it was not perhaps the transition into the role that I was expecting. 

Despite the circumstances, the entire school community has made me feel extremely welcome and I immediately felt part of the team. 

Having worked at my previous school for ten years, I felt ready to take the next step in my career and was looking forward to sharing my expertise as well as learning from a new school community. 

During my initial visit to Micklehurst All Saints, I was instantly struck by the warm and welcoming ethos of the school and its bright and engaging learning environment. 

In my prior role as assistant headteacher and English lead, I was able to develop a real passion for English and had worked hard to promote a lifelong love of reading.

It was clear from the first time I set foot in Micklehurst that this was the perfect place to continue developing this passion and hopefully share some of my knowledge along the way - I was thrilled to have been offered the position and eagerly awaited September’s arrival!

Upon starting any new role, establishing relationships from the outset is crucial and I would have loved to have been able to meet all of the children and their families and get to know the entire school family. 

However, as we have found ourselves working in ‘bubbles,’ unable to gather the whole school together and without the hustle and bustle of the morning playground routine, this has been somewhat of a challenge. 

Just as all schools have had to adapt in recent times and our children have had to embrace new ways of learning, I have looked for different opportunities to build relationships with children, colleagues and families and allow parents, particularly of the children in my own Year 5 class, to get to know me. 

During the most recent lockdown, we have looked at new ways to embrace technology in order to deliver statutory high quality home learning.  

Communicating through videos has now become a well-established school routine. For many teachers, including myself, the prospect of filming daily videos was somewhat daunting, but as the weeks have gone by, we have adjusted and perfected our on-screen personas and now look forward to this daily interaction with children and parents at home. 

As a new member of staff, this platform has proven invaluable as a means of communication and a way to get to know families. 

All of our teachers are providing daily instructional videos to support those learning at home, as well as some interactive sessions, where the children can communicate with their teachers and their peers. 

Sarah Jarman, deputy head teacher at Micklehurst All Saints CE Primary School

I have particularly enjoyed leading live online Times Tables Rockstar battles, where the children at home and those in our school bubble have battled head-to-head to achieve mathematical Rockstar status. 

In addition, we have tried to continue with as many of our weekly celebratory routines as possible, including our Friday ‘Star of the Week’ and certificate assemblies that are now shared on our online platform.

Teachers have also made welfare calls to those children working at home and have endeavoured to keep lines of communication as open as possible.  

Whilst this can never be as rewarding as the face-to-face interaction we are accustomed to and now long for, it has proved invaluable in terms of keeping children motivated and supporting their mental health and well-being.  

Following feedback from our recent home learning parental survey, and in consultation with our Governing Body, we have recently introduced ‘Well-being Wednesday’ afternoons for all children and staff in school and at home. 

This initiative encourages children to turn off their screens and embrace the opportunity to choose activities designed to support their mental health and well-being. 

They have each been provided with a menu of wellbeing activities that range from things like making dens to going for a walk or bike ride with their family or even eating something delicious! 

In school, children have enjoyed well-being activities such as craft sessions, playing board games and baking. 

The afternoons have proven a real success and we have loved seeing pictures of children enjoying taking part. Members of staff have also participated in valuable well-being activities for themselves. 

Since September, I have marvelled at the ways in which this school community has adapted to the challenges that the pandemic continues to present. 

At no point has the opportunity to mark an event or celebrate our children’s creativity been missed, whether that has meant using the green screen to produce our school Nativity for all to enjoy or hosting a socially distanced whole school Carol Service in the playground! 

I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity to take the next step in my career at Micklehurst All Saints CE Primary School and am extremely grateful for the warm welcome I have received; I am now looking forward to a time when I can immerse myself even further into the entire school community. 

Read more from the Tameside Reporter

Click here for more of the latest news

Click here to read the latest edition of the paper online

Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy of the paper