WINNERS! 2020 Love Local Awards: Star School

Acomb Primary School

• From the moment of closure they have been super, sending the kids home with their own ‘home learning’ packs and providing reception children with daily learning videos and tasks. The teachers faces and reliability has been an absolute blessing in these uncertain times!
• I have been so impressed with the amount of communication we have received from school. They have been so clear with their policies during the difficult time of lockdown, and put our worries at ease. They have remained open for key workers and the online engagement and learning which have been provided for home learning has been great. What I have been particularly impressed by is my daughter’s teacher has popped by to offer encouragement (at a distance) as she was finding it hard, provided additional and alternative learning tools and followed this up with a further phone call & emails to see how she has been getting on. We receive a newsletter each week & pupils work is showcased in this which is a massive boost to them. I loved this school before all this happened in the world, and the work and effort which they have done has just gone to further show how excellent it is.
• Lots of good resources on Tapestry for Year 1, regular stories from staff, and great access to free online resources (is access to books). Newsletter from school have emphasised their understanding of how challenging things are and the need to do more then home school with children. They have been open and approachable about the challenges of returning to school for Reception and Y1.
•  Enabling the children to sing on zoom, and enjoy a time together
•  Reunited the children in a positive way to sing and share stories

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All Saints

• Teachers going above and beyond. School so organized throughout this chaos!
• They have asked students and teachers how they are coping in anonymous questionnaires. They have adapted to giving students voluntary projects which has massively improved my daughters mental health and sense of well-being. The work is regularly marked and often different learning needs are met with tutorials that are audiovisual. Teachers answer emails. We are so happy our daughter is able to attend this school.

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Applefields School

• Applefields have remained open and taking the most vulnerable kids to school. Without this so many parents would have struggled as welll as the kids who thrive on normality and routine! The teachers have been amazing and never complained!
• They have gone above and beyond to look after and keep all staff, pupils and families safe.

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Appleton Roebuck Preschool

• Before lockdown the teachers travelled round delivering craft packs to all children to help keep them busy. During lockdown the staff posted videos online of them reading the children’s favourite stories, and also set weekly challenges with a certificate for each child when they achieved it. The staff weren’t daunted when early years settings were set to reopen, they have returned and reopened on 1st June, spending a lot of their own time preparing and cleaning the building in advance. I really can’t think of anywhere else that I would trust to look after my child as well as they do.

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Archbishop of York Junior School

• They have provided support, calls and advice to help guide us through this uncertain time. My son looks forwards to Mr Greens weekly timetable quiz and has enjoyed his phone calls and cards from school.
• Arch Bishop of Yorks Junior school, the teachers have worked so hard at focusing on the children’s wellbeing

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Bishopthorpe Infant School

• Because they put the children and staff at the forefront of everything they do. Online learning resources are exceptional and specific to each year group.

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Bishopthorpe junior school

• So positive & supportive

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Bootham School

• Students have continued with full timetable. Work set online, and lots of “FaceTime” contact with teachers and fellow students. Bootham’s outlook has continued to be positive and extremely caring, which has been picked up by the kids. Nothing has been too much trouble.

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Carr infant school

• Such a lovely school. Ringing parents to check what we need, providing useful weekly plans of work, replying to kids via class Dojo to comment on their work and praise them.

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Carr Junior School

• Excellent support and learning provision throughout lockdown. Packs provided and a great system on Google classroom. Weekly google hangouts per class and calls from the teacher. Weekly newsletter and provision for those without tech. Open for key workers.
• The work supplied by the school each week had been amazing to try and keep learning going.
• They have been open throughout for key worker children and then to vulnerable and year 6 children. They have provided a huge amount of support to the children both with learning and all round support. They have provided weekly home learning packs, the year 6’s were able to bring home their chrome books, we get weekly phone calls from the teachers, we also have weekly google video calls with the teacher and class. The support is endless. Huge respect to them for their incredible hard work and also the compassion shown to the children and their families.
• They have been working wrap around hours for key worker children, opening their doors from 8am until 6pm Monday to Friday. They even worked through Easter! They have been offering plenty of activities for the children to do while also being socially distanced.

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Clifton green primary school

• For all their hard work with communication during lockdown and the fantastic work the teacher has been setting.

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Clifton with Rawcliffe Primary School

• Keeping parents updated daily and great support online as well as looking after key worker children.
• As soon as schools closed, CwR school had a plan in place to provide home learning activities. It was great to have something to do at home straightaway to distract all of us from the lockdown situation. There has been regular communication throughout the lockdown period from the headteacher and the staff have followed through with everything he said they would do. The partial reopening of school after half term was well-organised and the staff have all been amazing!
• Right from the beginning of lockdown, Mr Herbert, headteacher has provided us with regular updates to keep us informed on what has been happening at school (often on a daily basis) as well as being on hand to answer any questions & provide support to parents & children. The school has ensured that the children have had the right amount & right level of home learning work & have provided feedback & dojo’s to encourage them, as well as teaching key worker children & vulnerable children in school. Some of the teachers have taken the time to record video messages to their classes & read stories to share with the children. Other teachers have shared weekly photos of the what the children have been doing at home so that they can see photos of their friends. The teachers are always there if we have any queries or if the children just want to say hello. During the school holidays they have suggested baking & art & craft activities to keep the children entertained. The whole school has helped to keep the children in good spirits throughout this difficult time & it has been very much appreciated. They have all worked extremely hard during term time, school holidays & bank holidays & I hope they are all able to have a well deserved break during the summer holidays & spend some time with their own families.

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Copmanthorpe Primary School

• They have really focussed on the children’s well-being throughout lockdown. They were quick to put online learning in place and set a wide range of activities whilst also making it clear that there is no commitment and well-being is the priority. More recently, teachers have phoned and spoken to both parents and children regularly and whole class catch up chats have taken place on zoom. The school have really gone above and beyond to help, particularly the news that children will start the next academic year in the same classes and same rooms to aid everyone’s transition back to school. We can’t thank them enough.
• We have felt so supported by school through lockdown. The online schooling has been brilliant too. Lovely community feel within the school. Very much a STAR SCHOOL with STAR TEACHERS & STAFF!

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Crayke Primary School

• All the staff have worked incredibly hard throughout lockdown and been so accommodating and understanding in such difficult times. I have been overwhelmed with the amazing communications they have continued to give parents, and the care and commitment they have to all the children. The head Mrs Jackson and all her staff should be very proud of all they have done and continue to do. A big thank you to you all!
• New appointed Head Teacher Mrs Judi Jackson just taken on head teacher roll, In Jan 2020 . Herself has taken on this role with commitment, hard working , going that extra mile through out the whole of lockdown ..herself and ALL her amazing Team , care , accommodating, helpful , outstanding planning and 101% going that extra mile each time, as a single mum my son has been at school through the whole of lockdown still to this day now .. I nominate !! Xx
• Our new head teacher only had 10 weeks in her new role as head before COVID hit and she has supported families alongside her amazing staff team though this terrible time. She has her own family and despite that continually kept positivity, community and kindness for parents, children and thoughout. The whole school deserves this award
• They have allowed for my daughter to attend school full time, as she has been working with an Early Years specialist. The communication and personal support has been absolutely above and beyond with distanced face to face information as well as email support. The teachers have been so welcoming and have accommodated for all needs. They have been a vital support to my family. My father in law has died from corona virus during the pandemic. They have supported my family in a more personal way than I would ever imagine. My daughter lives going to school and finds everything she has done engaging and fun. The school had a rainbow day and are doing sports days every Thursday and Friday for the keyworker children too. THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I can’t thank them enough. The head teacher and teachers have wired non stop throughout the pandemic, they least they deserve is recognition for their hard and caring work.

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Dringhouses Primary School

• All the staff worked tirelessly throughout lockdown ensuring that the school provision for home learning was provided. Daily updates on the online journal full of ideas and videos to help us parents at home. The teachers were always at the end of the telephone, working through half term and Easter holidays to support the key worker children. Absolutely fantastic school who show an immense amount of care for their pupils and parents! Absolutely outstanding!!
• Even before lockdown was announced the school were putting in plans for our children to learn from home and support was provided for parents at what was a very stressful time. The school have been absolutely amazing and have gone over and above at every opportunity. My children have received regular phone calls from their teacher and a card though the post was a lovely touch. We are also in regular contact through an online closed group and both children and parents get support and encouragement on a daily basis. At what has been a very difficult and strange time the school have pulled out all the stops to bring some normality for the children and to continue their learning in a fun and creative way. We have been kept informed of all the governments announcements along the way and how the school is adapting and changing to meet these guidelines at what is often very short notice. So far we have survived lockdown and it is all down to the amazing efforts of every teacher and all the support staff at the school. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Keep up the good work
• From the start of lockdown they have been genuinely supportive – planning work, setting up new facebook groups so the whole school and individual year groups can keep in touch, ringing each family at least every 2 weeks. At the point when they were allowed to welcome more classes back, they have worked incredibly hard to make it a positive experience for those that return, and to maintain the quality of support for homelearning. The teachers seemed genuinely pleased to see those pupils that they could.
• Have been fantastic during lockdown. Keeping all familes up to date and reassuring us all. Sending all the home work and adapting so fast to alot of online learning. Teachers have rang my children during lockdown and also sent postcards. They have quickly set up Facebook groups for online bed time stories, music classes and many lessons. Since opening up to more of the school the teachers have all been amazing at supporting each individual children and keeping them safe. Message from little girl. Thank you for helping us learn, get exercise from Jack Harman, helping us write and see my friends who I have really missed.
• I rang the school in tears at the end of week 2 in lockdown to ask for their help. My husband and I, both NHS keyworkers, were struggling to work and care for/homeschool our boys. We were anxious about sending the boys to school, despite it being open to keyworker children, as the extent of how the covid virus was going to spread was totally unknown and I felt like a failure as a mum not being able to care for my children myself. The first day we arrived at ‘lockdown’ school the boys were made to feel so wanted and welcome. The teachers made the effort each day to also check in with my husband and I to see how we were doing. We appreciate every day of hard work, kindness, positivity and creativity. My children are very lucky to have made some really happy memories with the school throughout this challenging time. On top of this they continue to provide a homeschool curriculum that is so varied that each child would find something to capture their imagination each week. Watching Mrs Clarke freestyle on the recorder as she walked around South Bank will always be a lockdown Facebook highlight!

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Dunnington Primary

• For Providing excellent online home learning resources and great support
• Great communication and brilliant remote schooling provision.

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Elvington C of E Primary School

• They have been great from the start of this, keeping all parents updated on a regular basis about what is happening. They have been sending out some amazing tasks and YouTube videos for the children to do at home and also reassuring parents to not feel the pressure to make sure all of these are done. Their main priority through all of this has been the health and well-being of the children. They have been there at all times for any questions being asked by parents. All parents received a phone call from the head at the start of lockdown to make sure everyone was well and to reassure parents that there was on pressure to complete all school being sent out. We also this week received a phone call from our children’s teachers to see if everyone was ok and to have a little chat with the children. A big well done to them all for helping us to get through these very strange times. Thank you x
• They have gone above & beyond with keeping in touch with the children. The Head Teacher even phoned around all the families to check how the children were & how the families were.

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En Pointe Dance School

• Amazing school with amazing teachers, they have helped my daughter succeed in so much including securing a place at a vocational ballet school full time.
• An absolutely amazing dance school, the teachers and students are inspiring, encouraging, so helpful and we love it!

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Escrick Primary

• The school have communicated in the lead up and throughout lockdown, being open and honest about the challenges they were facing. Since my daughter went back to reception, I’ve been really impressed with how everything has been managed and what could have been a scary experience for a 4 year old became an adventure.

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Fishergate school

• Fantastic materials. The whole school stayed together, learning, supporting each other and being kind. Weekly zoom, weekly asembly, daily high quality lessons. It couldn’t have been better!

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Haxby road enhanced resource provision unit

• Having children with additional needs such as autism is challenging for any school. Haxby road ERP make it look easy. They are always there with a kind smile to help and they teach our children as if they were the only child they had to worry about. Exceptional is not a big enough word. During the pandemic they have creatively tried to help support vulnerable children and their families and their doors have not closed. Thank you to them all from the bottom of our hearts x
• They cater for a wide variety of additional needs at the school. Throughout lockdown we have had weekly lengthy phone conversations with my daughters teacher and she has chatted away to my daughter as well. They created fun videos to engage the children (no generic lessons would work for these children, so everything was tailored to each individual child), left us voice messages and comments encouraged us to upload what we had been doing as well and responded by copying the activities themselves ( even the fully grown adults) or adding positive comments. My daughter couldn’t wait to go back (she suffers from anxiety and trauma from a previous academic setting and has Autism)- so this is a real turn around and a true reflection of how brilliant they are and how much she missed them.
• They have been extremely caring and nurturing with my child since he has been there and also very understanding. My child has been happy with his time there and I cannot thank them enough for all the support they give both my child and me

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Haxby Road Primary Academy

• to all the staff at Haxby Road they have all gone above and beyond throughout even checking in on us through the holidays.
• Being supportive and keeping in contact
• amazing school, get letters and updates each week
• Haxby road has forged forward without missing a blink in their approach to supporting parents and the children with homeschooling and time away from school.
• Haxby Road Primary Academy have been absolutely amazing during the pandemic. They have sent work, checked up on us through phone calls and through the online platform. My daughter was upset one day so she had her own phone call. The school comments on every single piece of work that gets sent into school. They offer so much encouragement to the children and parents. I have emailed for extra ideas and had a response straight away. The communication is outstanding and as a parent I have felt very informed. The school always goes the extra mile for every child that attends.
• My children like many have missed their school, their routines and their friends. But as a parent I have missed my daily chats with the teachers, the parents in the playground, the buzz of the school, the assemblies, the pta fundraising events. The teachers have been amazing keeping in touch speaking to the children weekly, setting activities etc. And I know how hard school have worked to provide updates and information to all parents as well as confining to engage the children
• the school have been absolutely brilliant throughout lockdown I managed to keep my kids at home for the first 11 weeks and they sent plenty of things to do with them and phoned us once a week to check in with us.i had to send them back into school 3 weeks ago due to extra hours at work and they have absolutely loved being back at school.
• The school have kept parents informed of everything happening during the pandemic.
• The whole school approach has been extremely supportive. They all rallied quickly and efficiently to develop new systems to ensure all the kids where supported during this time. I’ve been able to speak directly to my sons teacher, assistant teachers and the administration team. We have also had support via email from the pastoral care team and should I have needed it they were on the end of the phone. One teacher even collected a prize posted to my child at our old address and hand delivered it. My son’s class teacher has been amazing, setting work on an app, making phone calls to families, recording weekly stories and just generally being there for her kids.
• They consistently go above and beyond, not only in academic standards but pastoral care and community feel. All four of our kids love it. Excellent school!
• They have been brilliant with my older 2 children in terms of work set and communication. They also let my youngest (who is not due to start in their nursery til September) go for an afternoon when both me and her dad has to work. Her normal nursery was closed.
• they have been open throughout lock down supporting vulnerable children and families of key workers. They are also providing support for families at home helping with home schooling checking on emotional wellbeing and so much more.
• They have done everything they could of during lockdown for my children to continue to learn
• They have supported everyone all the time, in school and at home. What a school community!
• They’ve gone above and beyond to accomadate key worker children, including working good Friday and Easter Monday and worked right through Easter and half term.

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Headlands primary haxby

• Been helpful at every stage and supportive and not put us under pressure

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Hob moor school

• Hob moor have gone above and beyond to support all pupils across lockdown, they have done over 500 pavement visits to children delivered bags of hope, food parcels, toys, chrome books, and lots more to support the children over this scary period
• The school staff have gone above and beyond to make sure familes have been supported during a really challenging time. They have delivered food packages, treats for the kids, resources for learning and loaned equipment for keeping little ones entertained. They have been kind and cheerful throughout under the most difficult circumstances and we’re incredibly grateful to them.
• The well-being team have gone above and beyond to support hundreds of families over lockdown. They have provided support in terms of phone calls to parents, food parcels, activity packs, and have visited every child across both hob moor oaks and hob moor primary to check on the children, keep morals up, give bags of hope with goodies and have remained open for many key worker children over school holidays and bank holidays. Staff have gone the extra mile to support each and every student !
• Whole School federation for the support staff have given to every pupil and web team did pavement visits to all pupils.Over 500!children
• Always there for their students
• The well-being team at hob moor school have gone above and beyond to support their pupils and parents over lockdown! They have delivered resources such as toys, laptops, worksheets, etc as well as food parcels to many homes to help when money has been tight.
• They have gone above and beyond to support their children over lockdown and given unprecedented levels of support to families over lcokdown. They have delivered food parcels each week to many families to keep them going when times were though

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Huntington primary academy

• Fantastic supportive school who care about their pupils

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Huntington School

• Being very supportive with home learning.
• Setting up home learning for all year groups before full lockdown happened was amazing. Form tutors ringing to check up on us all has been great too and such a lovely touch when they are busy. The video that was done to show yr10 and yr12 what they’d be faced with when they returned to school was genius and stopped a lot of anxiety at a stressful time.

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Knavesmire Primary School

• Honest and open, they really care about the children – great values really put into practice.
• I don’t know how I’d have coped without their support. From regular messages from the teachers, heads and office staff, to Mr Cooper hand delivering our free school meal vouchers, from weekly videos from the teachers to the kids to personal phone calls to see how we are doing, I felt incredibly supported. The office staff have been amazing with responding to panicked queries and awkward questions. Miss Crosby made me cry happy tears after I told her that I was struggling with my mental health and didn’t know how I would get my son to do any home learning, by replying in full sympathy and reassurance that no learning sent by the school was compulsory, and that our emotional wellbeing is most important. Can’t thank them enough for everything they have done and are still doing.
• Just a can do attitude and a positive approach to tricky times see their twitter feed for countless examples.
• Making school as enjoyable as ever and never showing any of the stresses and strains (I’m sure they must have felt at times) to the children.

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Lakeside Primary Academy

• Constant info sharing and support
• For providing key worker childcare and taking wonderful care to make life as “normal” as possible.
• I have children in Years 2 and 5 and all the staff at Lakeside have been amazing during lockdown. They have set work every day via Google Classroom, given feedback, set fun quizzes and generally tried to keep things as normal for the children as possible. It has been such a help that the work has come directly from the school rather than me trying to teach stuff! Thank you!
• They have been amazing during lock down, provided work, phonecalls, messages to the children. I know they have had a few children back in school and accomadated who they can! I think they deserve this and hope they get other nominations.

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Linton on ouse primary school

• They’ve work so hard to make sure the children still going into school are having fun, feeling happy and having a great day.

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Lord Deramore’s Primary School

• Not just a school, but a great family. They even have a sensory room dedicated for the children to have some calming time when they need it.
• They’ve managed to maintain contact with the parents and children – balancing giving us things to do whilst prioritising their (and our) mental health.

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New Earswick Primary School

• Amazing support checking in on families the online home schooling has been amazing too. They have kept in touch with their children by doing online stories…..zoom chats……Sending lovely cards and memory keepsakes.

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Northern Dance Academy

• Sarah and her team have gone out of their way to provide as many online dance classes as possible over lockdown. Sarah herself even continued staying in contact with as many parents and members of her dance school as possible despite herself being in hospital for some of that time. She and her team have worked tirelessly for weeks on end and with no dance studio. That definitely deserves an award!

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Number Fun Live – Dave and Cheeky Monkey Dave, Cheeky monkey and the team at Number Fun produced and excellent 1/2 hr programs daily on YouTube which encourage my P2 daughter to count, learning, sing, dance and have fun with. Number learning and facts.

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Our Lady Queen of Martyrs holgate

• I have terminal Cancer and every week the school calls us. They have offered us support and given work for my son. They make sure we have all we need. They do this for all the students. The calls aren’t about home schooling it’s about supporting you and caring. It’s made such a difference to us as a family

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Park Grove

• The home learning sent out has been fantastic and so helpful. When I had a wobble during lockdown they were very supportive at building up my morale and encouraging me.

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Patricia Veale School of Dance

• From the onset of lockdown PV School of Dance, and our fabulous Kelly Clarey, have continued to run online dance classes for all ages from the comfort of the children’s homes. Thus enabling them to continue to pursue their passion, dance with their friends, express themselves, maintain confidence, spend time with their adored dance teacher, feel valued, supported and loved through this difficult period. We are so blessed to have Kelly and the school helping to keep our childrens’ minds healthy, happy and active when everything else around them is falling away – it can only be of great benefit to them in the future. And #dadsdancingday was fabulous – testimony to Kelly’s draw and children’s adoration of the art form, that had so many Dads dancing with their children in celebration of Fathers’ Day yesterday 20th June 2020!! Kelly is an absolute superstar ⭐

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Poppleton Ousebank primary school

• For no nonsense, clear communications throughout; sensible decision making; working together as a team within the school; valuable and consistent work allocation within a relaxed framework.
• Thank you for the great mix of home learning activities and for the telephone calls, which have meant the world to the children.
• We have received weekly activities and guidance to help our children progress, keep a link with the school and a sense of still belonging to the school community. You tube storytime, phone calls, art activities, challenges and ideas for fun activities are just a few examples.

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Poppleton Road Primary School

• Amazing head teacher and all teachers and staff, weekly phone calls, continuous reassurement for the parents to focus on child’s mental health and not to worry about schooling, the reception staff delivering lunches to local kids in need, staff hand delivering star awards, weekly zoom storey time, encouragement from teachers
• Best school in York really supported us through this terrible time.
• Cannot praise the school enough in how they’ve dealt with this situation. From weekly phone calls to check in on the children, zoom assemblies, teachers reading stories to the kids, supplying loads of home learning material, delivering food parcels to families in need all while looking after the key worker children at school and making sure they are having a nice time.
• For been amazing throughout the lockdown! Keeping parents informed, class pages up to date with work for the kids to do and genuinely having the children’s best interests at heart!! They have followed guidelines to allow the allocated year groups back and so grateful my of my children has fallen into this category.
• For just being brilliant and supportive right from the start.
• Mrs Glover and her amazing team at Poppy Road have ensured that, whilst the key workers’ children have been safe in their care, all the children at home have been included and loved. With Zoom assemblies, phone calls from teachers, delivering wow certificates and prizes to our doors. We have been kept updated on a daily basis and can’t wait to be back there 😍
• So supportive in this time
• Such a friendly, hard working school.
• The school has been amazing during lockdown Keeping in touch with the kids & parents. They make every child feel.special
• The school have gone beyond and above over the last few months. Amazing communication between the school and parents and I have felt nothing but compassion and support. My daughter has loved her weekly phone calls from her teacher. The children have still felt part of the school community with weekly zoom assemblies, special wow videos to the children and even a virtual sports day. As the children have returned to school it has been done with such kindness and reassurance that there has been no worries or anxieties. A truly special and dedicated school.
• The teachers there are amazing they’ve been doing a fantastic job !!
• They have called each week to see how my son is during lockdown. My son returned to school this week as I’m a key worker and they have been so supportive. My son was really nervous about what school would be like in the current times, but they showed him what he needed to know and by the end of the first day his worries had all gone. The headteacher- Mrs Glover is fantastic as are all the staff. So proud to be part of such a wonderful school.

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PQA York

• For being there without fail week on week throughout lockdown

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Queen Ethelburgas

• The phenomenal online teaching
• Always be in there to support and encourage their students

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Ralph Butterfield School, Haxby

• I have been hugely impressed by the support and communication from Ralph Butterfield school during these difficult few months. They have sent regular communications and provided regular contact including one to one calls from the teachers which is greatly appreciated. They have shown great understanding of individual circumstances providing plenty of work for those who require this along with reassurance for those who are unable to work to a regular schedule. The children welfare and mental health has been their main priority and this is so nice to see. Having been open throughout for key workers children they have been working hard to ensure the children’s safety and also provided good communication and reassurance for the phased return of the younger years and year six following the changes earlier in June. Mrs Clarke and her fabulous team have been truly brilliant.
• Such lovely teachers and staff who are all working so, so hard. Keep up the good work guys! 😊
• They have been so supportive for children still attending school and those who have been at home. Any concerns they are always there for support for family’s.

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Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy

• They’ve been on hand throughout this lockdown. Not only sending home learning but also checking in with the children and parents to offer words of support, encouragement and most of all praise!

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Sand Hutton Primary

• Superb efforts throughout lockdown & re-opening of school.

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Sheriff Hutton Primary School

• They have been fantastic, informative through every stage of COVID and have gone above and beyond, teachers hand delivered every child a pack consisting of note books, colouring pencils, handwriting pens, and haribos to show they were still thought about even though they aren’t at school. They have done zoom chats, mini spelling and handwriting videos, and ran competitions to keep the kids going. Amazing work by all there.
• All staff have gone above and beyond to support the children and their families throughout this tricky time
• Fantastic communication & care throughout. The staff have been brilliant at looking after us all & making sure the children have fun at home, with competitions & videos & fun work. The staff have worked tirelessly & always have a smile on their faces, even when they may not have been smiling inside.
• Great communication throughout, keeping parents worries at ease.
• Sheriff Hutton primary school are a small local school. The staff have work extremely hard to ensure that all the children feel connected to each other and the teachers. From the teacher putting together a hello video for all the children with all the staff to the hard work of the teachers giving parents all the tools they need to try and encourage the children to do some work at home without any pressure. All the children, staff and families are so proud of our school that shines bright even through the strangest of times
• The school has been absolutely wonderful during this time of uncertainty and we could not have asked for a more caring, professional and patient staff. We’ve had clear and thorough communication throughout, but it’s also been full of understanding and reassurance so that children and parents have always been aware of the current situation and what it has meant for them. I’m sure its not been easy at all, but the school has always conducted itself with grace, warmth and professionalism. Aside from this, the learning activities and resources have been wonderfully creative, challenging and fun. We’ve had whole school projects, competitions and little challenges to complete which have made us feel part of the school and village community at a time when we could have easily felt isolated. We especially loved the “waving hello” video which was a compilation of clips of the school children waving, all edited together to share round. A lovely thing to watch, and our children were absolutely thrilled to see their friends’ and teachers’ smiling faces. Well done Sheriff and thank you!

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St Olaves

• The teachers have gone above and beyond to get work organised, they have been so incredible and supportive

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St Oswald’s Primary School

• I feel this school has gone above and beyond when supporting their pupils through this difficult time. I know how hard the staff have been working to ensure the children still receive an engaging education whilst many have had their own children learning from home too. They have also strived to ensure all pupils have been offered a chance to spend some time with teachers from their year groups before the Summer with ‘Wellbeing Mornings’. This type of organisation isn’t easy Whilst maintaining social distancing but staff have all pulled together to make it happen.

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St Paul’s CE Primary

• What hasn’t our little school had thrown at us in the last 12 months ? The pandemic has just topped it all! Our acting head miss Waite has been amazing and deserves recognition. You could say she was thrown in at the deep end. The rest of the staff are amazing and have kept the children blissfully unaware of the problems they were facing. They deserve our gratitude and this would be a perfect way. My children can’t wait to return to school as it’s such a happy little place to be. We are one big family. Our village school in the city. They go above and beyond for one another personally, while always being extremely professional. Something that is unique for us as parents as I’ve never been told of the parent and teacher bonds we all have. They are there for us as much as the children. Miss Waite is doing everything she can to keep the school running as normal and calm as we, parents, children and teachers are used to x x
• Dedication to education. Online marking in real-time. A wide range of topics and tasks for the kids to complete. The school has also been collecting food and games to distribute to those families who are struggling financially due to the current situation.
• Because they have been brilliant during lockdown and are working really hard for all the children
• They’ve been great with varied online learning posted daily. Weve had speedy responses if weve ever needed any support (maths!!!). The communication has been fantastic, with regular emails about how the school is making changes and what to expect. I have been very impressed with how they have handled everything and feel they are accessible if any additional support is needed.
• For being such a lovely, welcoming school, which treats all of its students with the same recognition and respect. Providing the best service it could possibly give and achieving great results through the current covid 19 pandemic.
• We miss all the children being able to go to school in their normal setting. Miss Waite and all the staff however have been incredible at keeping in contact with all of the schools pupils and in creating an engaging and easy to follow ‘home school’ routine. We think you’ve done an AMAZING job and would have found the whole experience so much harder without the excellent support from school, so thank you! School have gone above and beyond!
• After a tricky start to the school year with no head teacher, Miss Waite stepped up as acting head teacher and alongside her fabulous team of teachers they have kept smiles on all the children’s faces. The communication during COVID 19 has been second to none and have kept the children well-being very close to their hearts. My little girl has now returned to school and I couldn’t be more proud of how the school has dealt with everything thrown at them. They definitely live up to the school motto ‘ a place to belong’
• Because even before COVID 19 it had been a difficult year. But the staff of this small school have really rallied and done their best, including choreographing a video of the teachers singing and dancing to tell the children their are missing them. They have also set a variety of inspiring lessons to be completed at home with a huge amount of support and their ‘open door’ policy although via email and phone calls has been there.
• They have worked so hard to provide work and feedback during lockdown. They’ve also been great at keeping parents informed with news, updates and guidance.
• They have sent home work via Google classroom that has been excellent quality, supportive of the children and enabled the children to stay in touch with themed weeks. Thank you for being there and being such a positive force at this time.
• Our little ‘village school in the city’ has had so much to contend with in the past year, even without lockdown! All the teachers and staff have been amazing during this time, putting the needs of the children at the highest priority as well being open and honest with parents. Can’t praise them highly enough!
• Our children joined the school last year and have been accepted and nurtured fantastically. Their support throughout lock down has been amazing. Regular emails to our children, encouraging feedback on all their work, a good variety of work and topics for the kids to get stuck into and great support for the children if they have needed it. We\’ve been so impressed!
• The school works really hard to support their pupils and parents. It is a small school and promotes a really strong sense of community. The leadership team has done a phenomenal job this year in an increasingly difficult set of circumstances. They are constantly promoting activities that benefit the local food bank and struggling parents.
• My granddaughter started in Reception in September and I can not speak highly enough of all the hard working staff Within weeks the school was minus their head teacher but Miss Waite the deputy head stepped up and has been inspirational bearing in mind what she has had to cope with during this academic year. All the staff are so caring and it was always a delight to see how happy all the children are to attend this lovely school when I have dropped off and picked up. The school prides itself in being a family community school and I am proud to nominate them for this award
• For going above and beyond in ensuring that they are constantly present in the lives of my children, for providing balanced routine and structure during unprecedented times. For being ever present in the online classroom, if my children have questions or difficulties, they have been quick to respond and reassure, which has allowed me to maintain my own work commitments. For providing positive feedback each time my child submits work, encouraging them to keep trying their best. For providing ‘work’ that is about achieving balance and not just academic excellence. Wellness activities, as well as more academic pieces of work.
• They have always provided a great supportive environment for our children and have dealt so well over past few months
• AMAZING SUPPORT throughout all of this! We have great work set and comments on everything submitted. They staff have been amazing for our girls at home whilst working in the school too. So proud to be part of the St. Paul’s family!
• Always caring about its pupils, parents and staff even when most of us are at home. Have provided plenty of materials for home schooling by more importantly always caring about our health and wellbeing too.
• For pulling and working together during the last few months to provide their students with everything they needed to carry on their school work, from the actual work set, to the support and encouragement given.

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St Paul’s Nursery School

• Because they’ve supported the children with online classes, stories, songs and activities to do at home through the ClassDoJo app, and have been marvellous supporting the children back in recently, would have been so hard without their support.
• St Paul’s Nursery School have kept in touch with parents, carers and children every day since lockdown. At the beginning of lockdown they set up an app called ‘Class Dojo’ and have been posting activities every day for the children to take part in if they want. It’s been a lifesaver for us because they’ve provided us with some great ideas and also give fantastic and supportive teacher feedback. They have also checked in with us to see which school our children will be going to, and if we’ve needed any help with anything through lockdown. It’s really made a difference and kept up morale!

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Straylands Nursery

• They have welcomed my child back with open arms and have been so amazing for the little people who have struggled with the changes – first no nursery, then back.

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Sutton on the Forest Primary

• For making the transition back to school so welcoming. Mrs Pye and all the teachers have worked so hard to follow the guidelines, without making back to school scary and intimidating.

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The Minster School

• I would like to nominate all the Teachers, TAs and Support Staff at The Minster School. Once the Government announced school closures, they worked all throughout their Easter Holidays to draw up an online curriculum and they have done a brilliant job successfully moving everyone onto distance learning in virtual classrooms, just in time for the start of the Summer Term. The children are all well occupied between 9am and 4pm and it means the world to them to have some sort of structure and normality in their lockdown lives; as well as being able to see each other and their teachers every day. Most importantly though, I wanted to nominate (and THANK) them, because for the past three weeks, they are doing all this hard work, knowing that they are about to lose their jobs due to the school’s unexpected closure at the end of the Summer Term. I can’t imagine how overwhelmed they must be with thoughts of redundancy, job search or possible early retirement (while some even have children in the school, so they’ll also have to find them new schools) – yet they are marching on with their online classes as if nothing happened and if anything, they are the ones who offer support to the children and their parents, helping everyone to deal with this situation. A big massive Thank You and an informal recognition for all their hard work under these most challenging and desperately sad circumstances is the very least they deserve…

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Tockwith C of E Primary

• Absolutely fantastic response by the school, daily lessons, zoom calls, group work online, shout outs, just brilliant support and learning for the kids during lockdown!

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Wheldrake with Thorganby primary school

• A school with distinctiveness, full of amazing people! Staff go above and beyond for the children. The heart of our village community.
  Wheldrake with Thorganby primary school Amazing teachers doing everything they can for the children. They have made home schooling as painless and possible and the children have felt supported throughout.
• An amazing staff team lead by a great headteacher keeping us up to date. Amazing communication and going above and beyond to accommodate all.
• During lockdown the school have been outstanding. Not only did they prepare the children & parents for home schooling by providing them with work packs, they have also provided lots of on-line support & phone calls. The weekly communication emails have been extremely helpful & reassuring.
• During these very difficult times the school have continued to put the children’s well-being and happiness at the centre of everything they have done. Staff have gone over and above to create an online community for the children to interact with their teachers and peers creating some exciting and innovative activities. Staff have been responsive to the changing situation and always provided excellent levels of information to parents keeping us up to date with developments. The transition back into the classroom has been brilliant for my daughter and her classmates, they are enjoying being back and have adapted incredibly well to the changes with the support of the teaching staff.
• Every single teacher has gone above and beyond during lockdown and have made things so much easier for us parents. They have all been so amazing and supportive.
• Excellent support with home learning during lockdown!
• Fantastic support from all members of staff since the start of lockdown. Teachers have supported children’s learning and have had a fantastic focus on well-being. They really have gone above and beyond to support children and parents, including online resources, phone calls and a daily recorded assembly from the headteacher Miss Shaw.
• For going above and beyond to support the children through this difficult time – thank yoy
• Have worked so hard to ensure all key worker kids have felt supported and safe
• So Supportive and Always thinking of the children. They have been amazing.
• Switching to online learning couldn’t have been easy but the support the school have provided to the children has been incredible. Daily good morning messages has ensured routine and voice comments on work has really made my little boy smile.
• The huge effort they have put into supporting the children to study at home has been amazing. From daily video clips to say good morning and goodnight, to recorded maths and english lessons so they see their teachers online. And it isnt just the core subjects that are being covered, there are fabulous interactive music lessons, lego challenges and weekly topic activities too. As parents I don’t know how we’d do it without them xx
• The staff at the school have been amazing throughout the covid 19 pandemic. They have kept us informed, answered queries and questions and worked tirelessly throughout lockdown. Even though they must have been under quite considerable stress themselves, they put so much time into ensuring that the kids got the most from being at home. And now reception are back, they have continued to do that minimising the stress for our son returning in such different circumstances.
• They have been so fantastic over lockdown. Providing an incredible amount of work to do and so much support.
• They’ve gone above and beyond to support families and provide key worker support. As many children as possible as back in school, safe and having a fab time.
• What a wonderful school. Everyone has come together to ensure that the children have been able to go back to school in such difficult time, to the extent that the children didn’t notice. They have been wonderful throughout lockdown! Providing love and support to children and the families! What a school!
• Within days of lockdown taking place the teachers had full curriculum up and running online in a safe and secure environment (Seesaw). The village has a large number of key workers and so on top of working one week in three in Key Kids Club over every normal week They’ve also worked every holiday despite many of them having their own families and childcare issues. My kids have barely suffered for not being at school because of the learning plan and activities set each week and day. We have had 2 welfare calls from our twins teachers, they comment on at least two pieces of work the kids have done each day usually highly personal audio messages and all whilst now doing “normal” school. They have been an absolute inspiration in what is achievable with kindness, positivity and get it done attitude. In the village we live in (Escrick) not one parent has a good word to say about what the school has done for its pupils in these times and that is a very stark contrast to how much Wheldrake with Thorganby have truly cared and made it happen in the most difficult of circumstances. Great leadership and a truly amazing bunch of teachers.

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Wigginton Primary School

• For always being there for the children
• For staying in touch, checking in and keeping the children busy with great resources and links 🙂 The staff at Wigginton Primary School have done a brilliant job juggling home schooling resources alongside teaching key worker children and returning classes. Thank you.
•  It was so sad when all the schools had to close, but I cannot fault the support and communication the school has given us. In such uncertain time’s, they have been there every step of the way. Both for those children at home and those who have had to go to school throughout, so their key worker parents could look after the rest of us.
• Kept us going during homeschooling even during all the holidays and tried to have it fun….They have also kept open for key worker children and my son is loving being back at school every day for over 2 weeks now
• Reception class have been fantastic during this hard time, they have kept the children engaged in school work and have been very efficient in helping parents
• The staff have been amazing always happy to help and always available
• The teachers have worked tirelessly to provide resources for home school, regular feedback, positivity and enthusiasm to keep the kids engaged. I had some challenges early on but they helped with all my questions and giving reassurance.
• Wigginton Primary has been amazing throughout lockdown. The teachers have been really supportive and helpful to the children while they’ve been off school. They’ve been keeping in touch and providing supported home learning materials. They’ve also been excellent in communicating any changes that have been taking place and keeping everyone fully informed. All of the staff have been brilliant and I’m so happy that my children are a part of this school! Thank you Wigginton Primary!
• The staff at Wigginton school have been wonderful. Mr Peacock is a really great teacher and has written so many comments on my daughter’s work, with plenty of praise and encouragement. He has made her laugh a lot too! Miss Flude is so kind and is also a fantastic teacher. As well as commenting on every piece of work, she has written lovely emails to the class every week. I think they have both shown that they genuinely care about the children. We are very lucky that all the teachers and staff at the school are fantastic and are led by a kind and very hard working headteacher. It has been such a great team effort and I hope that the staff know how appreciated they all are!

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Woodthorpe Primary School

• They have done an amazing job getting our children back into school where possible. Happy children = happy parents !

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Yearsley Grove Primary School

• All staff have continued to work throughout this difficult time and have gone above and beyond both at school and at home for their children.
• All staff have gone above and beyond for the children since the beginning of lockdown. Teachers are working from home helping our children learn whilst also having to teach their own children too. All staff in school and so helpful. They’ve been brilliant.
• As me and my husband are both key workers our children have attended school through out lockdown. They have been amazing supporting us without a thought for there own safety always asking how we are and even rang us at home when I came back positive meaning we had to isolate for 2 wks !! I can’t thank them enough for everything they have done ( including looking after them after school hrs when my alarm failed post night shift ) you are all the unsung heroes of this pandemic and would love you to get the recognition you deserve x
• So supportive throughout lockdown. They have gone above and beyond to provide advice and support with home learning during lockdown. They have managed my daughter’s transition back to school wonderfully. It has been so smooth and it has been such a relief! I can’t praise Mr Walter and all the staff enough- thank you!
• The school have been fantastic at providing the children with a safe, happy and positive environment through this difficult period. I couldn’t be happier with the way the transition back into school for my reception aged child has gone. Thank you to all the staff who have been outstanding.

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York Stage School

• Each of them has given up their time to make short inspirational and educational videos and set tasks and challenges for each student. Then giving great feedback following. Then encouraging them to join in Zoom calls with other students and ‘guest speakers’.
• Amazing teachers

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York Steiner School

• Wonderful place for children to learn
• Brilliant school, brilliant education, brilliant community. Kind caring and progressive in its ideas.
• For providing an excellent service of childcare and for stepping up and meeting the online challenge! The online learning platform available for parents and children has been absolutely fantastic!
• For staying positive throughout the covid crisis and for appointing a board for very caring and generous trustees who supported me fully.
• Here at York Steiner School the support in this Lockwood process has been amazing. From letting us know at each step what is happening to the emotional support as parents in feeling held and supported. The content on Google Classroom has been an eye opener. The curriculum is so rich and full of interesting ways of learning and keeping the children capture from stories to, languages to mathematics and art. As a family we feel blessed to be part of an amazing community and under the care of teachers who clearly work really hard and support out children with love. My children could not wait to come back to school and even though its only been a few days they have loved every minute and especially seeing and connecting with their teachers again.
• The school has done their upmost to continue meaningful learning and support for all classes throughout lockdown. Inspiring and interesting projects and daily work on GoogleClassroom. Zoom lessons everyday with class teachers for my older child and lovely stories, songs and craft activities for my younger child in Kindergarten
• The school has really stepped up to the challenge of on-line learning and teachers have been supporting children and families throughout this crisis.
• The support from the school and my children’s teachers has been amazing. YSS is a tech free school, the teachers have embraced google classroom so the children can continue to learn their enriching curriculum, all relevant to the growing stage of my child both emotionally and physically. Daily stories read by both my children’s teachers that support their main lesson topic have been a lovely way to remain connected and has given a huge amount of comfort in these uncertain times. We have had numerous parent evening via zoom to keep our community connected and. It is evident that the teachers are working from morning into their evenings, weekends and through the half term holidays. I truly believe the school has been amazing!
• The teachers have worked so hard to provide distance learning that adheres to Steiner principles. They’ve kept close contact and shown so much care to the children.
• York Steiner School is a unique school where the children are at the heart of everything they do. Instead of a reliance on tech, they explore the world and learn in a more experiential way. Despite the difficulties lockdown posed to this style of education, the teachers have gone above and beyond to provide a full curriculum for children, ensuring a full and broad education for all. Well done York Steiner School!