Posted on: October 21st 2020

Important letter from the Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

Many thanks to you all for positively supporting the return to school for all our pupils. We have remained meaningfully open for eight weeks and remain optimistic about moving forward. I just wanted to take the end of this half term to thank you all for your support and highlight some important issues that will support our return in November.

We are delighted that our attendance has remained good this term and that we have seen an increase in the past two weeks. We are also seeing less absence during the school day, with less children visiting welfare. Thank you for your continued support in ensuring pupils do not come to school if they have COVID-19 symptoms. As half term approaches please continue to be vigilant:

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID-19

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.

Further information is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home.

If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.

Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia).

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/.

If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms or they are worsening, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.

How to stop COVID-19 spreading

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19:

Do
• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• wash your hands as soon as you get home
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards.

Further Information

Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ and we will of course continue to keep you updated on the status of this situation as, nationally, the number of cases becomes greater.

If your child does receive a positive test over half term please contact us as soon as possible on our School mobile: 07517 130652

Year 8 and 9:

After half term Year 8 will finish at 3pm and Year 9 at 3.10pm. This will ensure the year group bubbles do not mix on leaving our site.

Forgotten items:

After half term we will not be able to accommodate the delivery of forgotten lunches, PE kits, water bottles or other items. Unfortunately, we do not have the staff available to deliver these items across all our year group bubbles.

Masks & Equipment:

We strongly advise that all pupils carry and wear a mask into school and in our communal corridors and lunch areas. Please use the half term to ensure your child has a mask and the following equipment:

Mask
Sanitiser
Fully stocked pencil case
Full water bottle
Full uniform and PE kit

Remote Learning:

We will be doing everything we can to remain safely, positively and meaningfully open. However, it is really important that your child knows, and understands, how to access remote learning should there be a partial lockdown, the need to self-isolate, or a national requirement to complete remote learning.

Many thanks for your continued support. I wish you and your families a safe and restful half term.

Yours faithfully

Jo McKeown
Headteacher

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