Covid-19 Letter to Parents

17^th March 2020

Dear Parents,

 

Yesterday the Prime Minister announced new measures and advice to the general public in relation to Covid-19. We write to you to provide further information regarding the measures we are taking as a school, to maintain the health, safety and continuity of learning for all pupils and staff.

 

Obviously the National situation that we find ourselves in at present, is concerning and unsettling for us all, but we as a school are doing our utmost to provide you with the most up to date information that we have, and to reassure you that we have plans in place for the longer term, if school closures are enforced Nationally. Please ensure you read the following information carefully:

 

Immediate actions to be taken as of 17/03/2020:

All non essential activities and meetings will be cancelled for the foreseeable future

• Extra curricular clubs and activities (outside of school hours – after school)
• Taking reasonable measures to limit the movement of visitors on the school site – all parents hand child over to member of staff at playground door / gate (EYFS)
• Cancellation of whole school assemblies – class assemblies to be held daily in class
• Cancellation of KS2 performance
• Meetings, such as PEPs, TAFs, Annual reviews, with S&L Teacher / Educational Psychologist to be rescheduled or held electronically

Breakfast club and afterschool club (S4YC) arrangements to remain in place unless notified by S4YC directly.

School breakfast offer (8:30am) to continue as normal.

 

Contingency plan to ensure continuity of learning should the school close:

• Pupils in EYFS (Nursery and reception) will be provided with a range of learning resources via a combination of Tapestry and Google classroom.
• Pupils in Year 1 through to Y6 will be provided with a range of learning resources via Google Classroom.
• Learning resources will be set by your child’s class teacher and will be uploaded each day by 10:00am.
• A suggested timetable of activities will also be provided to supplement the learning resources uploaded onto Tapestry (EYFS) and Google Classroom (Whole school)
• Children will be shown how to log onto Google Classroom and how to use the features of this online learning community. A help guide will also be available in case anyone forgets!
• Your child’s class teacher will monitor the “classroom” throughout the day but will actively respond to your child between 3:00pm and 4:00pm. This will enable all children in your household to have had their turn on the computer / device before teachers check.
• Staff will send home an exercise book and pencil so that your child can record some of their activities or use the space to work out their answers.
• Staff will also send home a sheet with suggested links to websites and applications which will continue to support their learning throughout these unchartered times.

 

All logs ins will be sent home this week with your child. Please check to see if you can access these from home. We are aware that this may not be possible for all families, so please can you let your class teacher know if you require support.

 

The school will continue to use the following communication channels to keep you updated:

• School website: rivacrevalleyprimary.co.uk
• School twitter: @rivacreschool
• Text direct to your mobile devices
• Earwig / Tapestry
• Google Classroom

 

What to do if I suspect my child (or family member) may have contracted COVID-19

 

If they present with any symptoms;

 

• A high temperature and/or
• A new continuous cough

 

then they should remain at home in isolation for 14 days.

 

In addition, anyone in the same household should also self-isolate for 14 days regardless of whether they have symptoms themselves.  

 

Moreover, any child who presents these symptoms at school will be isolated and parents will be called immediately.

 

If your child is well they should attend school.

 

 

What we will do to maintain a healthy school environment:

 

• We should still follow the advice on general hygiene and measures we can take to limit and delay the virus which are to:

 

1. wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds,
2. always wash your hands when you get home or into work,
3. use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available,
4. cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze,
5. put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards,
6. try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell,
7. not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean,

 

• Ensure the school cleaning team conduct enhanced cleaning, such as door handles, table surfaces
• Provide hand sanitiser at regular intervals throughout the school and encourage children / staff and visitors to use these
• Limit the number and frequency of visitors into school
• Immediately isolate and contact parents to collect any child who falls ill / begins to demonstrate symptoms during the school day. Similarly send home any adult who becomes symptomatic.

 

 

As a school we are in regular communication with Public Health England and Department for Education over measures which we as a setting can take in response to the current situation and the situation remains that there is no requirement for school to do anything other than the measures detailed above.

 

At times such as this, misinformation and speculation can only serve to do more harm than good, and we are notifying you to ensure that we all comply with government restrictions. I want to be open and transparent about measures we have and will continue to take based on expert advice.

 

The advice continues to state that school should be open for business as usual. We are taking all the precautions possible. Pupils who are well should still attend school.

 

We thank you for your continued support.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Mrs Docherty and Mrs Hubbard

Headteacher        Chair of Governing Board