29th November 2021
Letter to Familes - Covid Update November 2021
Dear Parents and carers
Update on Covid control measures in school from today.
Following Government statements over the weekend I am just updating you on how these effects things in school. School is open for learning as normal.
Face Coverings
As you may be aware from my message last night, new guidance from the Department for Education has been given regarding face coverings in schools due to the emergence of the Omicron variant. This guidance is expected to be reviewed at Christmas and we will keep you informed of any changes. With immediate effect all staff and visitors and students in our school will be required to wear face coverings in communal areas in line with this updated advice. This includes corridors, the hall, the library and dining area. Students are also required to wear face coverings on public and dedicated school transport and in shops. The requirement to wear a face covering does not apply to those who are exempt, an orange lanyard should be worn which can be collected from student reception.
Control measures and risk assessments
To support high levels of attendance, we follow the control measures recommended by the Department for Education to reduce the risk of spread of Covid-19. These are enhanced levels of cleaning, increased ventilation, promoting hand and respiratory hygiene, testing (where appropriate and advised) and the management of positive cases. A robust risk assessment remains in place which can be viewed on the website. We will continue to monitor cases and take actions as required. This may include implementing our outbreak management plan.
Lateral Flow Testing (LFT) and Lab-based (PCR) Testing
It is essential that all in our community over secondary school age continue to test regularly (twice weekly) using LFT rapid test kits. Please ensure anybody with symptoms has a PCR test (at a testing centre) as soon as possible.
Our schools remain open for learning. The precautions above will keep our schools open minimising disruption to learning, as well as reducing the spread of the virus and protect the most vulnerable. Further Covid 19 information on schools can be found here, What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during COVID-19 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
If you need assistance with any of the above or any other kind of support, please get in touch.
Thank you for your continued support.
Tina Smith
Headteacher