Dear Parent / Carer
I hope that this email finds you well.
I am writing with an update on our current situation and to ensure that parents know the proper process in case of symptoms of Covid. We ask students to continue testing twice weekly at home on a Wednesday and Sunday. If a child tests positive at home they need to be booked into a PCR test. If this is negative they can return to school, but if positive they will need to isolate. Home testing is for asymptomatic testing. If students are experiencing symptoms then regardless of an LFT test they should be booked into a PCR test and not return to school unless it is negative. If students start to display symptoms at school, parents will be contacted and asked to collect their child and encouraged to book a test.
As shared previously schools no longer operate a contact tracing service. In addition there is no self isolation period for close contacts of positive cases. NHS Test and Trace will make contact with anyone believed to have been in close contact with positive cases. They will be recommended to have a PCR test but are able to continue attending school even whilst awaiting a result. Please click here for the Government’s guidance on isolation.
In terms of the way that things run in school we have a contingency plan for what to do if cases rise. We continue to follow government guidelines with regard to cleaning and sanitising. Whilst masks should not be worn in class students are welcome to wear them as they move round the school. They are also encouraged to wash their hands more regularly and we would encourage parents to provide their child with a small bottle of hand sanitizer that they can use as they move around the site. Students at home who are well enough will be able to access work via google classroom. We will continue to adhere to DFE operational guidelines as we have done throughout. Should we need to reintroduce further control measures in line with these guidelines we will do so.
I am very grateful for parents’ ongoing support with these measures. It is important that students are not sent into school whilst demonstrating symptoms unless they have had a negative PCR test. This is the single most important thing that parents can do to continue to assist us and therefore their children.
As we are still operating in a pandemic we must stress the importance of only attending the school site if you have a booked appointment. Our school day starts at 8:45am and most staff are committed to teaching or supervision duty from this time and earlier. Staff are more than happy to meet with you but it must be by appointment only and so please expect to be turned away if you arrive without an appointment. If you are delivering forgotten items for your child such as PE kit or lunch, a table will be positioned in the foyer part of reception for you to leave the items – pens and labels will be on the table for you to write your child’s name on the items. Please alert Reception staff on arrival if you need to do this.
Wishing you a good weekend.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Anwar
