COVID UPDATE
Dear Parents and Carers
Happy New Year!
I hope you were all able to have an enjoyable Christmas holiday although I do imagine that COVID has impacted you all in some way over the break.
There have been some changes to guidance recently and I am currently in the process of updating our Whole School Risk Assessment which I will share with you via the school website once completed.
The main amendments to guidance are as follows:
- The self-isolation period for someone who has tested positive has now changed. Individuals may now take LFD tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete the full 10 days of self-isolation and may return to school on day 8 providing both tests were negative and you no longer have a high temperature. You should then continue to take LFD tests on day 8, 9 and 10.
- If you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive you should arrange to take a PCR test and then take daily LFD tests for 7 days but can continue to attend school unless you get a positive result or become symptomatic.
- Where possible, pupils in Year 7 and above should wear masks whilst in school. This is an action we recommend however we understand that for some of our pupils, it is not possible. As we are unable to practise social distancing in most of our classes due to the needs of the children, staff will also be wearing masks in the classroom in addition to communal areas.
- Visitors to school will be very limited and only essential visitors allowed into the school building whilst staff and pupils are there. All Annual Reviews and other meetings should take place remotely.
- Ventilation is key and I am encouraging classes to keep their windows open. Therefore, pupils are able to wear additional layers of clothing to school during this period.
My ultimate priority is to keep the school fully open however I must consider the health and safety of each class if staff absence increases. Today, we have 10 staff members absent from school which is already proving challenging for some classes. Therefore, it is imperative that we all follow the guidance contained within our risk assessment to attempt to curb the potential transmission across school.
I thank you for your support on this matter and will keep you updated.
I now can’t wait to walk through school and see all of the children after a two week break. I have missed them all.
With the warmest of wishes
Kate