COVID-19

Update 20/03/2020

Our school remains closed. Please continue to check the website for any updates.

The government has released further detail around school closures and the definition of key workers. Click the link for further detail.  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision.

Key Workers – both parents must fall into one of the categories listed below

The guidance on Key Workers is that “if your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision:

Health and Social Care

Education and Childcare

Key Public Services

Local and National Government

Food and other necessary goods

Public Safety and national security

Transport

Utilities, communication and financial services

The government has now released details about the provision for free school meals. This means that this category of students has been removed. School will no longer be open for this group of students. For students in receipt of a FSM, for next week the local authority have arranged for every child to receive a packed lunch. This will be either delivered to school to collect or dropped off to your home.

Many thanks to all parents who completed the survey which was sent out yesterday. The survey has been updated to include other categories of key workers. If you feel that you fall into the new categories identified please complete the updated survey by midnight today.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TJRCF3R

If you have any questions please use the contact us form on the website. This is being monitored during the school day and also in out of school hours. Please note replies will only be sent where we feel it is necessary.

Many thanks to all parents for their support and understanding during this difficult time. Please be assured that we are, and will continue, to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of all members of our community.

The message from government regarding students in school is very clear and is listed below.

Latest information from government regarding school closures.

If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.

As a country, we all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

That is why the government has given clear guidance on self-isolationhousehold isolation and social distancing.

And the most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.

That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.

It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.

Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children – children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.

Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.

I hope this clarifies who the school will open for from Monday 23rd March. Finally as you will appreciate, whilst we will attempt to run the school as normally as possible the usual school curriculum will not be delivered.

Many thanks

Angus Neal

School will be open on Monday 23rd March  at 8.25am for the following category of Key Worker:

For students in receipt of a FSM, for next week the local authority have arranged for every child to receive a packed lunch. This will be either delivered to school to collect or dropped off to your home.

The following advice has also been given by the Department for Education:

Schools should remain open only to those children who absolutely need to attend and they should continue to provide care for a limited number of children – children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the COVID-19 response

  • Vulnerable children are defined as those who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including CIN Plans, looked after children, young carers, disabled children and those with EHCPs. 

The guidance goes on to set some key principles:

  1. If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
  2. If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
  3. Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
  4. Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.
19/03/2020 Update 2

Further clarification on students in school tomorrow. The government has taken the decision to close schools to reduce social contact. The school remains open ONLY to support the students who fall into the categories identified if their parents choose to send them to school.

If you need to contact school please use the contact us form on the website.  

19/03/2020 Update 1

School is closed tomorrow Friday 20th March until further notice.

Only students where both parents work in one of the following professions:

  • NHS workers
  • Delivery drivers
  • Police force.

(Education providers, Friday 20th March only)

The school will also be open for children who have EHCPs or an allocated social worker.

The school has also taken the decision to remain open for students who are in receipt of FSM. This may change if we do not have the ability to offer food on site if staffing shortages increase. However, we are very mindful that this group of pupils need our support.

For all other students the school will closed for the foreseeable future.

All students and staff who enter site will still have to undergo temperature checks and follow the correct hand washing protocols.

For tomorrow, Friday 20th March, the school day will finish at 1:40. Enrichment activities will not take place. School buses will collect at the earlier time of 1:40.

If you are planning to send your child into school because they fall into one of the above categories please click the link below and complete the survey before midnight tonight.

Normal procedures will apply in terms of self-isolation for ALL students.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VNGFT3S   

Any further updates will be posted on the website.

Many thanks

Angus Neal

19/03/2020 Update
As you will be aware the government announced that all schools in England would be closing on Friday 20th March. They also announced that schools would be open for the workers of nhs staff, supermarket delivery drivers and police staff. However, no detail was given. At this moment we cannot give any further information about Monday 23rd March for these parents, but as soon as we know we will post the strategy and logistics on our website.
 
For details of who the school is open for  tomorrow these will be posted on our website at 3pm this afternoon. It will be a partial closure of some kind. Please keep yourselves  and your families safe by following the government guidance already issued with regards to self isolation.
 
Many thanks
 
Angus Neal
18/03/2020 Update

Dear Parents/Carers

After strategic planning and careful consideration the school will only be open on Thursday 19th March for Years 9, 10 , 11 and 13.

School will also be open to pupils in Year 7 and 8 for children whose parents work either in the NHS, Healthcare sector or educational setting. Please do not send your children into school if you do not work in these sectors as we do not have the capacity to educate them.

This decision has been made in order to support our colleagues in the healthcare and education sectors. Unfortunately, due to an increasing number of staff who are having to self isolate we have had to reduce operations and hence pupil numbers on site.

A reminder to all parents to follow government advice and if anyone in the household has a persistent cough and a temperature of 37.8 and above that they need to self isolate for 14 days and not send pupil into school.

Can I thank you in advance for your support in this matter. Further updates will be sent out via edulink one and the school website on a daily basis.

Kind regards

Mr Angus Neal

17-03-2020 Update #3

All after school activities will be cancelled until further notice. This includes homework club, revision sessions and detentions.

School is open as normal.

  17-03-2020 Update #2

Please note: Our school phones are very busy, messages can be left however we cannot return all calls. We will of course contact you about your child should we need to do so. Currently lessons are continuing as normal.

 17-03-2020 Update #1

As a precaution all students who enter the site are having their temperature checked and are being instructed to wash their hands, any student whose temperature is above 37.8 will be sent home.

Please can I ask parents to reiterate to their child how important that having their temperatures taken is. We are acting in the communities best interests.

Kind Regards

Mr Neal

16-03-2020:

If your child has either or both of the following symptoms:

  • New persistent dry cough
  • A temperature of 37.8 degrees or higher.
  • or a member of the household has these symptoms.

You must follow the government advice and self isolate for 14 days. 

Please appreciate at the moment any pupil who is not in school will not have work sent home as it is not feasible to do this and teach pupils who are still in school. If the school has to close, then work will be set through Show my homework as was discussed last Friday with students. 

Kind Regards

Mr Neal