CORONAVIRUS GUIDANCE
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Latest information about the Coronavirus
CORONAVIRUS - COVID-19
A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China in January 2020.
20th March 2020- Key worker update
Dear Parents/Carers,
Further to my communication yesterday, schools remain closed for most pupils as of the end of the school day today.
Following further guidance from the government last night, school will remain open for a few children. I would emphasise we will not be educating these children but rather providing a ‘safe-space’ and child care.
It is important to remember that for the spread of the virus to be slowed we need all people to act responsibly and take appropriate actions to help stop this pandemic. The key to this is social-distancing and isolation for as many as possible.
Many parents who are Key Workers will have been already asked to work from home and their children should remain at home with them. The offer of school to provide childcare is to those people who are Key Workers and are still being asked to physically go into their work place.
The following is an extract from the government’s guidance-
‘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.
Below is a link to the official list to those classified as key-workers, please read this before replying to this letter.
‘Many parents working in these critical sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.’
If you think this applies to you and you cannot provide care for your child at home please complete the following survey as a matter of urgency:
If you are working in one of these critical roles but are able to care for your child at home you do not need to contact school.
If for any reason you are unable to complete the survey form to inform us that you require school to provide care for your child please contact the school office.
We will send further communications later in the day.
I again thank you for your support and understanding at this challenging time.
Mrs. Cook
19th March 2020- School Closure Update
Dear Parents/Carers,
As you will be aware schools have now been directed to close, for the vast majority of pupils, as of 3.30pm Friday 20.03.2020.
Please bear with us during these uncertain times. We are currently working hard to put together work/guidance to be sent home with your child tomorrow for them to do during the school closure.
We still haven’t received any official information regarding the Government classification of all ‘key workers’. As soon as we get this information we will communicate further about what we need to do.
I would like to offer my sincere thanks for the enormous support and understanding we have been shown by the whole school community, it is greatly appreciated during what is proving to be a very difficult and uncertain few days.
Yours sincerely
Mrs. Cook
Please continue to look out for further communications.
16th March 2020 - Update
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13th March 2020
Dear Parents and Carers
As more information is evolving concerning COVID-19 (Coronavirus), we would like to update you on the school’s procedures. Our advice is taken from Public Health England and the DFE helpline.
To support the delay of the coronavirus spreading:
If your child has coronavirus symptoms you should keep them at home for 7 days. If your child has either:
- A high temperature (37.8 degrees and above)
- A new, persistent cough
Current NHS advice is that you should not go to the GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you are staying at home but you do need to contact school.
Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:
- You feel your child cannot cope with their symptoms at home
- Their condition gets worse
- Their symptoms do not get better after 7 days.
Higher Risk children
For children who may be at higher risk should there be an outbreak at the school, parents should speak to the Head Teacher as soon as possible to discuss their individual situation.
School Trips
We are monitoring all school trips planned over the coming months and will make decisions on a case-by-case basis as to whether those trips can go ahead based on government advice and guidance.
School plays and performances
Planned school plays or performances will continue until there is updated official government notification regarding large gatherings.
Parents Evenings and School Information Evenings
Parents evenings and school information evenings will continue as planned until guidance from the DfE, NHS or government indicates otherwise.
What will happen to my child’s education if the school is instructed to close?
We will do all that we can to keep the school open. The school will only close if we are advised to do so or if there was no alternative due to staffing. We will try and ensure our children will continue to have access to learning resources should schools have to close.
We are aware that people are concerned about this situation and we would like to assure our whole school community that we are taking and following all government advice and guidance.
Best Regards
Jenny Cook Phil Palmer
Head Teacher Trust CEO
13.03.2020 Update
Government announces move from Contain to Delay phase
Yesterday, the Government announced that we are moving from the Contain phase of the coronavirus action plan and into the Delay phase, in response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Full details of each stage in the government action plan can be found here:
To support the delay of the spread of the virus, the Department for Health and Social Care has asked anyone who shows certain symptoms to stay at home for 7 days, regardless of whether they have travelled to affected areas. This means people should stay at home and avoid all but essential contact with others for 7 days from the point of displaying mild symptoms, to slow the spread of infection.
The symptoms are:
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You do not need to call NHS 111 to stay at home. If your symptoms worsen during your stay at home period or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
Current advice remains in place: no education or children’s social care setting should close in response to a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case unless advised to do so by Public Health England.
The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the impact of closing schools on both children’s education and on the workforce will be substantial, but the benefit to public health may not be. Decisions on future advice to schools will be taken based on the latest and best scientific evidence, which at this stage suggests children are a lower risk group.
10.03.2020 - update
Updated travel advice for travellers returning from Italy
Yesterday, Public Health England updated their travel advice, recommending that anyone returning from Italy should self-isolate, even if you do not have any symptoms. If you do develop symptoms, call NHS 111.
The latest travel guidance can be found here:
Further information on what you should do if you are asked to self-isolate can be found here:
02.03.2020 -update.
Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)
Please see the following regarding advice for those who have travelled recently.
Category 1: Travellers should self-isolate, even if asymptomatic, and call NHS 111 to inform of recent travel.
Category 2: Travellers do not need to undertake any special measures, but if they develop symptoms they should self-isolate and call NHS 111.
The guidance for Italy, Iran, Daegu or Cheongdo (Republic of Korea), Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam applies to individuals who returned from these specific areas on or after 19 February 2020.
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Category 1 countries/areas |
Category 2 countries/areas |
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Wuhan city and Hubei Province (China, see map) |
Cambodia |
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Iran |
China* |
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Daegu or Cheongdo (Republic of Korea, see map) |
Hong Kong |
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Any Italian town under containment measures (see map) |
Italy: north* (see map) |
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Japan |
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Laos |
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Macau |
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Malaysia |
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Myanmar |
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Republic of Korea* |
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Singapore |
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Taiwan |
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Thailand |
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Vietnam |
*Except areas of the country specifically referred to in Category 1. Link to maps below:
Preventing spread of infection
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
There are general principles anyone can follow to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
washing your hands often - with soap and water, or use alcohol sanitiser if handwashing facilities are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport
covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in a bin. See Catch it, Bin it, Kill it
people who feel unwell should stay at home and should not attend work or any education or childcare setting
pupils, students, staff and visitors should wash their hands:
- before leaving home
- on arrival at school
- after using the toilet
- after breaks and sporting activities
- before food preparation
- before eating any food, including snacks
- before leaving school
use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
avoid close contact with people who are unwell
clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
if you are worried about your symptoms or those of a child or colleague, please call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment