Newsletters

4.1.2022 COVID UPDATE

I hope you have had a restful Christmas and Happy New Year!

On the 2nd January, I received an update from the DfE with all the latest guidance for schools. A summary of the guidance is below, and is the only item on this newsletter:

Attendance:

All pupils should continue to attend face-to-face education unless they are self-isolating in line with government guidance. It is our request from St Georges that if a member of the household is positive then your child stays at home until the household is negative. The reason behind this is to try and reduce spreadage within school, thus keeping staffing ratios as high as possible. I realise that i cannot "enforce" this, it is only a request. Please contact school should you find yourself unable to oblige this request, or would like to discuss the particular circumstances within your household.

All absences must be reported to the school office by email or by telephone. Please also report COVID absences via the QR code on the website Messages can be left on the school answer phone if you wish to report an absence out of school hours. Please do not send your child to school if they are displaying any of the main, or peripheral symptoms of Covid or the symptoms linked to the Omicron variant, which includes runny nose, sneezing, itchy throat, and cold like symptoms.

Adults Entering school:

If you do need to enter school via the main entrance, please wear a face covering unless medically exempt.

Government requirements re Self-isolation:

Individuals who have tested positive for coronavirus are now able to end self-isolation after 7 days instead of 10 days if they have negative LFD test results on days 6 and 7. This applies to all people regardless of their age or vaccination status. The two LFD tests need to be taken 24 hours apart and the first test should not be taken before the sixth day. Pupils should only end their self-isolation period before 10 days if both LFD tests are negative and they do not have a high temperature. If the conditions for ending self- isolation early are met, pupils may return to school from day 8. Anyone who is unable to take lateral flow tests will need to complete the full 10-day period of self-isolation.

The diagram below is quite useful.

Daily testing for close contacts of COVID-19:

People who are fully vaccinated, or children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months, identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should take an LFD test every day for seven days. Although they can continue to attend school as normal, our preference right now, as cases amongst staff are high, is to stay at home until the house is clear as explained above. If a pupil lives in a household where there is a positive case of COVID-19, parents should arrange for a PCR test as soon as possible. If the PCR test is negative and your child is well, they can return to school immediately, taking daily LFT tests, although as cases are high amongst staff right now our preference is for your child to stay at home if possible. in any event, as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, they should take an LFD test every day for seven days.

The government guidance can be found by clicking here

This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to your education setting from day 8.

Remote Learning:

Face to face teaching and keeping schools open, remains a priority for this term. (although I said this 12 months ago, and we closed within 4 hours of me sending the newsletter!) However, the school has a Remote Learning Policy in place should any school or class closures be implemented. If we have to close a "bubble" (which is unlikely, and we would only do so based on staffing levels) then we will zoom out to you. Sadly, for a few reasons, we are unable to zoom for isolated cases. If your child is off, yet well enough to work we will set seesaw work, direct you to the Oak, or your child's homework menu.

And finally…

Looking at the data over the Christmas period, this term will probably continue to remain challenging both for our families . As always, I will keep you updated and communicate any amendments to the operation of the school to you. I know you will continue to be vigilant and support our school as you already have been doing so. And may I conclude by thanking Barry at Sacred heart for sharing this newsletter with us all, and for letting us use it! Thanks Barry!

As always, thank you for your continued support, welcome back, and a happy new year.

Andy