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COVID 19 update and Risk Assessment

Covid 19 update July 14th 2020

The school has been working hard to keep pace with events and changing guidance from government. Following new guidelines issued by the Department for Education on July 2nd we have revised our Whole School Risk Assessment as part of our preparations for a wider reopening on September 3rd. We have also now finished Risk Assessing every pupil and most of our staff as well as revising our New Working Practices Documents so that we are in line with the latest thinking. Public Health England have issued fresh guidance (July 7th) on those with medical vulnerabilities and the criteria for shielding. All of these revisions have been shared with our Governing Body on July 13th and it was agreed that the school would be fully reopened for pupils who want a school place on September 3rd.  As part of a wider consultation the updated Whole School Risk Assessment is posted on our website and your feedback is welcome. Our governors will meet again on August 11th to take stock.  I will be stepping down as headteacher on July 22ndand we start the new academic year with our new headteacher  – Sandra Chaaya.  

 

Current medical guidelines describe the symptoms of Covid19 as:

  • a new continuous cough, meaning coughing a lot for more than an hour or experiencing three or more episodes of coughing in a day
  • a high temperature
  • a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

If you, or a member of your family, shows any of these signs you should stay at home and limit contact with other people in your home. You should call your GP or 111 if the symptoms are mild. If you have difficulty breathing call 999.  Go online and book a test - Google ‘NHS Covid Test’.

Please do not send your child into school if you have a case or suspected case of Covid in your home. Follow the guidelines for self-isolation and please phone the school to let us know. It’s possible that any one of us could get contacted by the Track & Trace system that is now up and running. Please follow the advice you are given and let the school know. It is not necessary for everyone in a household to self-isolate just because someone in your house has been contacted by Trace & Track – however, everyone in a household should self-isolate if there is a confirmed case or symptoms appear.

If your child is showing signs of stress there is some free advice on ‘Young Minds’ or ‘CYPMHS’ . Google either – they are ‘mainstream’ but are a good place to start if you are experiencing difficuluties.

We are as well placed and prepared as we can be. The situation in front of us is likely to change and we are all hoping that things get back to ‘normal’ as quickly as possible. We expect the autumn and winter to be challenging and will have to get used to living very differently and be prepared to make whatever adjustments are needed to stay safe. Current government plans are to use ‘targeted action’ should local outbreaks occur. Please call or email if you want any details or clarification.