Thank you for your continued understanding as we have reopened our schools and implemented our risk assessment. Over the first week of opening, I have had a number of questions from parents regarding testing, possible COVID19 symptoms and Government advice. In this communication I will aim to address some of these frequently asked questions and hopefully help you feel more comfortable when bringing your children safely to school and feel confident, that as required, you are taking the right actions.  

 

1. Absence 

 

The Government expect schools to have reinstated their normal attendance monitoring and address poor attendance. In theory the St Saviour’s Schools are now doing this, we will be speaking to families regarding poor attendance and support families when they are struggling to attend school. However, we will not be penalising families for following COVID19 advice. For example, if you have to isolate as a family when you are waiting for a test result, we will code this appropriately in our registers and this will not be included in any attendance monitoring.  

Please ensure when your child is not in school that you have phoned or emailed the office to let us know the reason for absence together with full details of the symptoms of any absence due to illness. 

 

2. When should I keep my child(ren) at home?

 

You should keep your children home if they are feeling ill and need to rest just as you would have done before COVID19.  

 

However, if your child(ren) displays one of these symptoms (copied from the NHS website) you need to book and get a test for your child: 

 

• A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

 

You can book a test online: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested

 

I have attached a helpful guide to this email that can also be downloaded from our website here.

 

This guide can be used as a quick reference point for families when trying to understand the Government COVID19 advice. 

 

The full Government advice can be found here:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/

 

3. Will my children be set work if we are isolated at home?

 

We are currently drawing up our plans for how we can support children if they are in isolation. We will also be planning for possible local lockdowns. We aim to create a clear, consistent approach to home learning when children are isolating, this will be published and shared with our families ASAP. 

 

4. Are children and adults wearing face coverings?

 

The Government’s advice on face masks in primary schools has not changed and they are not expecting staff or children to use them. However, we are allowing adult visitors to wear a mask if they wish to when visiting school or attending a meeting. We feel the measures in our risk assessment allow us to welcome visitors without making face coverings mandatory.
 

Adults working with children in the classroom will not wear masks. 

 

All adults are welcome to wear face masks when dropping off and collecting children. Can I ask that our whole community are understanding and respectful of people who are making this choice. 

 

5. Social distancing is hard on the pavement around school. What can the school and families do?

 

As you may have noticed we are keeping drop off and pick up under constant review. After observations and reflection, we are making changes to improve this part of the day and I thank families for their flexibility and understanding when we do this. 

 

The pavements around school are very narrow and it can be hard to pass each other, especially when you are pushing a buggy. We encourage families to use areas of the school site that have been opened for families to wait for pick up rather than waiting on the pavements. These include, the Infant playground, Junior School bottom playground and the two car parks. When waiting in these areas please can we ask the children stay off play equipment. We also ask that where possible only one parent or carer collects or drops off at school.  

 

Please take your time moving around the pavements and be understanding to families with buggies and individuals with disabilities. We have staggered start and pick up times to help with this. Please continue to drop off and pick up promptly.

We understand that these times are a great opportunity to catch up with each other, but please can we ask you to move away from the school sites so that the pavements don’t get too crowded at these times.  

 

If you have to drive to school, please park away from the school area and walk the last bit rather than pulling into staff car parks, parking near school, parking on zig zags or double yellows. The staff car parks are not for parent use and are being used as family waiting areas. It is illegal to park on zig zags or double yellows on the roads. We will not hesitate to report number plates to the authorities if motorists are breaking these rules. Our priority will always be the safety of our children and families. 

 

I am currently exploring other safety measures that could possibly be implemented outside of the school grounds with the Local Authority and other appropriate organisations and will write to families if further changes are possible.  

 

I would like to thank families for their considered and calm approach to drop off and pick up since the start of term.  

 

The key points to remember are: 

 

• Arrive and collect from our schools promptly  
• One parent or carer to drop off and collect if possible  
• Use on school site spaces, e.g. playgrounds, rather than waiting on the pavements  
• Please keep young children off play equipment  
• Walk to school or park away from school and walk the last part 

 

It’s been great to welcome our children and families back to our schools and thank you for your continued support and understanding.