Welcome to James Cambell Primary School
I would like to warmly welcome you to our school. At James Cambell Primary, we aim to make a positive difference to the children’s lives. All the dedicated staff at the school are passionately committed to our children’s education. Through stimulating and engaging lessons, we aim to ensure that the children make great progress in all subjects, as well as giving them a wide variety of opportunities and experiences which makes their time at school exciting and develops them as the successful and resilient citizens of the future. |


![]() 26th February 2021 Dear Parents/Carers, Covid 19 testing for pupils who do not have symptoms (asymptomatic) I am writing to you as your local Director of Public Health to let you know about the increase in Covid-19 testing in the borough. Owing to the number of Covid-19 cases locally, we are carrying out a programme of asymptomatic testing (for people not experiencing any symptoms). These tests will help to reduce the risk of people without symptoms unknowingly spreading the virus to others in the community. To keep schools safe and protect the wider community, I am encouraging all pupils who are attending school to get a test. This is particularly important as we prepare for all children to return to school from 8th March. I strongly encourage anyone they live with to get a test also to make sure that anyone who may be infectious does not come to school with the virus and potentially start an outbreak. How do I book a test if I don’t have symptoms? Go to the government website https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test where you’ll be asked some questions. Select the following options: • NO to essential worker • NO to having symptoms • NO to being part of a trial or pilot • YES – My local council or health protection team has asked me (or someone I live with) to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms. You can book your whole family by choosing ‘add family members’. I can’t get to a testing centre, can we get tested at home? Yes, you can ask to receive your test by post. When you are making your booking, answer ‘Yes’ to ‘Is the person who needs a test part of a trial or government pilot project’ and select the option that says ‘The person is taking part in community testing’. What should I do if my child, or someone in our household, tests positive? If you receive a positive test result, have symptoms of Covid-19, or if you’ve had contact with someone who has, self-isolation is the only way to guarantee you won’t pass the virus on to others. If you have to isolate, you should start the 10-day self-isolation period straight away. My child has tested positive recently, do they need to take another test? If your child has tested positive in the last 90 days, they should not take another test as the dead virus may still show in their system, even if they have recovered. What if my family is already self-isolating? If you’ve been asked to self-isolate by the NHS Test and Trace Programme or by our Public Health team you can still get tested by ordering a home testing kit. You still need to complete your period of self-isolation, even if you test negative as symptoms can take 10 days to show. More information can be found on the government’s website. Thank you for your support during these difficult times. By working together we have seen a massive reduction in the number of cases in Barking and Dagenham since January. Covid19 is still taking people’s lives, but your continued efforts will help us stop the spread. Yours faithfully, Matthew Cole Director of Public Health |

Is your child due to start school in September 2021? If your child was born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017, they can start school in September, and you should have applied for their place by Friday 15 January. If you missed the memo, don’t panic, there is still time and you can apply by visiting www.lbbd.gov.uk/school-admissions. It’s important to know that getting your child a place at school is not an automatic process, so you still have to apply, even if they are already at a school nursery or they have a brother or sister at that school. If you need to apply, head to the school admissions page now. You can also check out this video to help you through the process. |

Please click the button below to go to our Home Learning Page
JOIN US ON THE 4TH MARCH 2021

World Book Day is celebrate worldwide to recognise the scope of books which are seen as a link between the past and the future, a bridge between cultures and generations. We love World Book Day at James Cambell Primary! Please click on the picture above to see what’s happening for World Book Day at James Cambell School. |

Today, Tuesday 9 February is Safer Internet Day – it is an opportunity to reflect on how we use our computers and smart devices and we how we can keep safe. What can you do for Safer Internet Day? Click on the picture above to find out.
London Youth Games – Weekly Challenges
![]() London Youth Games are running these challenges throughout the term to help our students stay active during lockdown. WEEK THREE CHALLENGE is JUMPING JACKS. All information for you is on this link below: https://www.londonyouthgames.org/virtual-games/lyg-school-games-fitness-challenges/ Parents or pupils can submit their score directly to London Youth Games via the ‘submit your score button’ on the website link above. Pupils can practice as many times as they want but must submit their best score by midday on Friday at the latest. Barking and Dagenham will get points for every score submitted. After WEEK 2 we are in 9th position on the Leader board (out of 33 London boroughs). We can move up the Leader board simply by getting more of our pupils to submit their score. The borough with the most points at the end of the spring term will be the winners. |


Covid-19 tests recommended for all
children at school
15th January 2021 Dear Parent/Carer, Covid-19 tests recommended for all children at school We strongly encourage all children who are attending school to have a Covid-19 test. This follows advice from Barking and Dagenham’s Director of Public Health. Every member of staff at James Cambell is now tested on a weekly basis and this helps to reduce the risk of infection to everyone in the school community. If all the children at school are tested as well then we can reduce the risk further. The national restrictions mean that all children who can stay at home should stay at home. The school is therefore open only to vulnerable children and to the children of key workers, where no alternative childcare arrangements are available. To book a test for a child at school go to https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test and select the option ‘My local council or health protection team has asked me (or someone I live with) to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms’. Stay safe! With best wishes, Joe Wilson Headteacher |
11th January 2021 Dear Nursery Parent/Carer, The Government has changed its guidance on the opening of nurseries in primary schools. It has now asked schools to provide the opportunity for all children to attend nursery, not just key worker and vulnerable children. It is your choice whether or not you would like your child to attend nursery. The nursery will be open in the mornings only. If you do decide you would like your child to return, please email or telephone the school (our contact details are above). We will need to know this in advance of your child returning so that we can put in place the appropriate provision. We would be very happy to discuss this with you before you make a decision. The school remains closed to all other children with the exception of vulnerable children and the children of key workers. Yours faithfully, Joe Wilson Headteacher |
How you can make contact with us
MySchoolApp

Click on the link below to find out how to download and use this. https://myschoolapp.co.uk/parents-page/
Facebook & Twitter

We are also on facebook
Class Dojo

Why we are using Class Dojo at James Cambell Primary:
It is easy to use with a child-friendly interface
It can be used to track and share house points with parents and carers
Teachers can share work with pupils
Pupils can share their learning with their teacher
It can be used to upload photos and write comments
It celebrates the children’s learning individually and this can be extended to sharing learning with the whole class class.
It is an effective home school communication tool which can be used to support home learning
Posts can be translated into 35 languages
Click on the link below to go to the Class Dojo website.
https://www.classdojo.com/
SCHOOL START AND END TIMES
Dear Parent/Carer, School start and end times in the Spring Term We are making a few changes to the start and end times for some year groups after Christmas. The times are as follows: ![]() There will be no change in the location of the entry and exit gates for different year groups. The gates will be closed five minutes after the start and end times – this should allow time for parents with a child in more than one year group to be able to walk to the different gates. Please try to arrive promptly. If you arrive after the gate has closed, you will need to go to the main school reception. Joe Wilson Headteacher |
Breakfast and After School Club

Remote Blended Education Overview
Type of RBE: | Closing Gaps | Self-isolating, but well | Lockdown |
---|---|---|---|
Rationale: | To provide additional learning strategies to close gaps. | To provide an education for pupils who cannot come to school because they are self-isolating but well. | To provide an education for pupils when there is a lockdown situation. |
Role of School: | The school will be open to all pupils. The school will teach pupils in their classrooms how to access additional support materials via Class Dojo and offline. | The school will continue to teach pupils attending school. The school will provide pupils at home with learning activities via Class Dojo. | If a year group or class are sent home, the school will provide online and offline daily lessons/learning activities ( 1xEnglish, 1x Maths, 1x other subject). The school will continue to teach key workers and vulnerable pupils. |
Role of Pupil | Access Class Dojo and complete the activity to practice skills or prepare for future learning. | Access the link on Class Dojo to a range of learning activities. The child may receive a message via Class Dojo, phone or email. | Access the daily links on Class Dojo and complete all the daily learning activities. The child may receive a message via Class Dojo, phone or email. |
Role of Parent/Carer: | Support your child to access and complete an activity. | Set up a routine that supports your child to access and complete the activities whilst they are self isolating. If your child becomes ill please inform the school as you would normally do. | Set up a routine that supports your child to access and complete the activities daily. If your child becomes ill please inform the school as you would normally do. |