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• Coronavirus Update - School Closures

  Wed 18 Mar 2020 Mrs Manley

  Dear Parents,

   

  At 5.15pm today, the Secretary of State for Education gave a public statement that all state-funded schools in England would be closed from the end of the school day on Friday.

   

  Having indicated that all schools would be closed, he then indicated that they would be expected to remain open for the children of key workers and for those in various vulnerable categories – providing a safe place and access to meals. We are expecting a definition of ‘key worker’ tomorrow from the Cabinet Office. It will take time to determine the nature of this provision.  If you think this may apply to your household, it would be helpful if you could let the office know by email.   office@yattendon.w-berks.sch.uk

   

  Although we have been anticipating such an announcement, and prepared for various scenarios, the limited details so far released raise considerably more questions than answers. You will all have your own legitimate concerns and queries.

   

  The Secretary of State gave no undertaking that schools would be expected to sustain a pattern of normal learning during the closure; rather that any available staff would be expected to support other front line efforts. 

   

  I will be working tomorrow with staff, to clarify as best we can what this announcement means for the school, for our pupils and for you. I anticipate providing more details later tomorrow. I am literally receiving information at the same time that you are. Whilst very happy to receive emails from 7am until 10pm, I am waiting for information and guidance.

   

  Thank you for your support and for your patience in the meantime.

   

  For the next two days, pupil attendance is expected to continue as normal within the COVID-19 Public Health England guidance.

   

  Best wishes,

   

  Mrs Manley

• Coronavirus Information

  Wed 18 Mar 2020 Mrs Manley

  Dear parents

   

  As you’re probably aware, the government’s guidance on the coronavirus has changed from the ‘contain’ phase to one of delaying the spread of the virus. We’re getting in touch to let you know what we’re doing in light of this, and what we expect from all of you, to help make sure our school community keeps safe and calm.

   

  All hygiene messages have been re-iterated in Collective worship this morning as well as encouraging the children to take responsibility for handwashing and touch.

   

  Several of our families have made the sensible decision to self-isolate this week. I must insist this is followed please, as Public Health England advice has been updated. People are now advised to stay at home for 7 days if they have either:

   

  • a high temperature
  • a new continuous cough
  • are directed to do so by a medical practitioner

   

   The PH advice can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public#history;

  The PH advice above also contains a link to stay at home guidance, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance. 

  We’d like to reassure you that at school we’re taking all of the necessary steps to protect our community and are continuing to follow official guidance from the government and West Berkshire.

   

  Several parents have asked for work to be sent home for their children who are self-isolating. This is DIFFERENT to the school being closed.

   

  IF you feel your child is well enough to work at home, please focus on:

  ·daily reading and discussion about the text

  ·spelling frame to practice year group spellings - https://spellingframe.co.uk/

  ·TT Rockstars and times tables practice

  ·Purple Mash – your child has a log in to this

  ·Host country research/ activities (Owls – Wales; Robins- Switzerland; Swallows – Canada; Kingfishers – India)

  Work for Owls class has been loaded onto the class page of the school website, as some other work is not appropriate.

   

  What’s the current situation?

  The school remains open – this is the current official guidance we have been given.

  Breakfast and after-school clubs are running as normal.

  Pupils should attend unless they feel unwell

  If your child is unwell, report this as you would normally by phoning or emailing the school office.

   

  What we’re doing to protect and support pupils and staff:

  Take the temperatures of pupils who say they are feeling ill

  Maintain our daily cleaning schedule and in addition clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces.

  Enforce hand-washing and use of hand sanitiser

   

  What we need you to do

  • Keep your child at home for 7 days if they have a high temperature and/or
  • a new continuous cough

  Come and collect your child straight away, if we ask you to.

   

  What happens if the school has to close?

  We’ll only close if we’re either officially advised to do so or we don’t have enough staff to run the school.

  In either case, we will:

  Notify you through a school comms and post this on our website. We will let you know when we will reopen. If and when we close, we will be posting work on the class pages of the school website.

  Please keep in mind that we’re only sending out this information to help the school community prepare. There are currently no plans to close.

   

  If you have any questions

  Please consult the school office, if you have any questions about our response to this issue

  NHS, if you want to know more about the symptoms of coronavirus. If you think you or your child may have the symptoms, use NHS 111 online if at all possible before calling 111.

  Department for Education’s coronavirus helpline: 0800 046 8687, if you have any questions about the government’s response to coronavirus in relation to schools.

   

  Kind regards

  Mrs Manley