Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Herefordshire Council Update
Fri 29 May 2020Dear Parents/Carers,
I wanted to update you on the Covid-19 situation in Herefordshire at this time when many parents and carers are faced with decisions about sending their children to school/child care settings, given the Government announcement about the opening of schools to Years reception, one and six in primary schools from 1st June.
Firstly I would like to thank you for what you have been doing through these challenging times. Keeping children at home will no doubt have provided an opportunity for quality and enjoyable times with children in some cases, but will also have presented some real challenges for parents, carers and children.
There are low numbers of cases in Herefordshire, on average in the ten days before the 25th May there were just 2.5 confirmed cases per day in Herefordshire. NHS Test and Trace service was launched nationally on 28th May 2020 and this means that testing will be available for everyone who has symptoms. This will allow people who have been in contact with someone who has coronavirus to be contacted and asked to self-isolate for 14 days, vastly reducing amount of people the virus can be passed on to.
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Modelling suggests that the chance of getting Coronavirus in schools is low being just a few percent higher than staying at home. Though by staying at home students do not benefit from the positives of being in school such as seeing their friends and teachers as well as school based education.
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Children are much more likely not to have symptoms or if they have symptoms for them to be mild.
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Locally schools are doing risk assessments using effective measures to further reduce the risk of children and teachers becoming infected in schools.
Some parents have expressed confusion as to why reception, year 1 and 6 are going back to school as younger children are less able to social distance. Experts believe that these years are most able to benefit by being in school. For the younger years they are learning key social skills and are the least able to learn remotely. Year 6 is a key transition year and therefore would benefit from being in school to prepare. Science suggests that the rest of the community continuing to follow guidance such as maintaining social distance and follow handwashing and hygiene advice has a bigger impact on keeping Coronavirus low than any model of schools returning.
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Self isolating if you have symptoms and contact the NHS test and trace service
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Washing hands for 20 seconds at key points in the day
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Continuing to maintain a 2 meter social distance from people outside your household
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Following good respiratory hygiene by sneezing into a tissue “catch it, bin it, kill it” and coughing
into your elbow
Yours Sincerely,
Karen Wright
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH -
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Update: Phased Opening - Wednesday 3rd June 2020 R, Y1, Y6
Fri 29 May 2020Dear Parents and Carers,
Further to the government announcement last night, we are permitted to phase our opening to more children from 1st of June. As previously mentioned, the decision for us as a school has been made following consultations with the Local Authority, our independent health and safety advisor, the views of parents and staff and guidance from the government.
Initially we will open our doors to Reception and Year 6 on a Monday to Thursday basis and Year 1 on at Tuesday to Friday basis. The critical key worker and vulnerable children will be able to attend on a full time Monday to Friday basis. Time slots will have been emailed to families today. Please give the office a call if you haven’t received a slot by 12 noon today.
This arrangement will begin on Wednesday 3rd June and will be monitored and reviewed on a daily basis. If at any point we feel that the health and safety of our pupils and staff is being compromised then plans may change.
Please don’t feel guilty or worried about not returning your child to school just yet. We completely understand the difficult position you are in, making your decision. There will be no unauthorised absences registered and no penalty notices issued for families who wish to keep their child learning from home. It is completely your choice as to whether you send your child into school with us, we want you to know that we support your decision completely.
If you need any further advice or guidance regarding the further opening of school – please click on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings- information-for-parents-and-carers/reopening-schools-and-other-educational-settings-from-1-june
Kindest regards,
Mrs Vautier-Thomas Mr Robertson (Chair of Governors)
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Updated Symptoms COVID19 (Staff and Key Worker Children)
Mon 18 May 2020Please find the updated symptoms for COVID19 where ' a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)' has been added with effect from 18.05.20
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Thanking parents and carers
Wed 06 May 2020