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End of term and September Update Letter

Our ref:  TSE/lti

21st July 2021

 

 

Dear Parent/Carer

As our academic year draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank you again for your support. On behalf of all of the team here, let me say how much we appreciate how much you have invested in supporting both your children and their academy. Our achievements, in exceptionally trying times, have been secured in partnership with you.

As we look ahead into the summer and beyond into the new school year, I have some updates to share with you.

New Government Guidance (Step 4 of the Government’s Roadmap)

We also want to update you on our plans for our return to school in September in light of the latest Government guidance, that was issued on Monday July 19th. Since Monday, we have been reviewing the new guidance with expert colleagues in the Cabot Learning Federation, and are now able to highlight a number of key points, in line with Step 4 of the Government’s Roadmap out of lockdown:

  • from August 16th, anyone aged under 18, or who has had both doses of the vaccine, will be exempt from having to isolate if they are identified as a close contact;
  • the change in guidance for schools, including self-isolation rules, will allow our academy to remove our system of bubbles and prevent large numbers of children and staff having to isolate if they are a close contact of a positive test;
  • these changes will reduce ongoing remote learning and should reduce the disruption to learning we have experienced this year.

COVID-19 controls from September 2021

At present, we expect to have the following Covid-19 controls in our academy from September:

  1. Individuals who are required to self-isolate should not attend school and we will engage with Public Health and Test and Trace to support this process. If we are aware of an individual that has received a positive LFD result and has not reported to NHS we have a legal requirement to report this to the authorities. We will also work with local Public Health to determine the best course of action, if we are aware of an absolute close contact or have any concerns in this regard.
  2. Face coverings are no longer advised for pupils, staff and visitors either in classrooms or in communal areas. Face coverings are expected to be worn for public transport and dedicated school transport. Individuals may choose to wear face coverings in our academy, should they wish. We will follow our risk assessment guidelines for the safe handling of face coverings.

 

  1. We will ensure good hygiene for everyone. This means:

 

  • everyone washing their hands thoroughly and more often than usual.
  • having good respiratory hygiene for everyone (‘catch it, bin it, kill it’).
  • enhanced cleaning will continue, to be reviewed at half term.
  1. We will continue to use seating plans in class, so that we know where pupils were, in case we need to share that information with Public Health and Test and Trace.
  2. We will keep occupied spaces well ventilated, with windows open where possible
  3. We will ensure certain individuals wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary.
  4. An asymptomatic testing site will be set up in our academy for two regular rapid tests to be taken by all students up to three days before/at the start of Term 1. Further information will follow on the precise details, although we will still expect all pupils to be back in school in the week commencing September 6th.

Summer Activities

If your child is participating in any of our Big Summer of Fun activities, and parents would like to participate in lateral flow testing, with a regular rapid test, you can do so in one of 3 ways:

  1. Order tests online. If you order tests online, the rapid flow test kit will be sent to your home. If you do tests at home, you’ll need to report your results online or on the phone.
  2. Pick up tests to do at home. You can pick up test packs from a test collection point or pharmacy near you. Use this LINK to find your nearest collection point. If you do tests at home, you’ll need to report your results online or on the phone.
  3. Go to a testing site. You can get tested at a rapid lateral flow test site. You may need an appointment first, and you’ll get an email or text with the result. Use this LINK to find your nearest test site.

Remember, if your child has symptoms of Covid-19, please do not attend your Big Summer of Fun session. Please book a different test, called a PCR test. Use this link: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test to find your nearest PCR test site. Please contact us by email if your child is unable to attend a summer session ([email protected]).

Please also report any positive PCR test results to [email protected] so that we can support Public Health England with case monitoring during the summer.

Should the Government issue any more new guidance over the summer period, we will of course review our plans and inform you of any changes in good time.

It remains for me to wish you an excellent summer break. I very much look forward to welcoming your children back to school in September.

Yours sincerely

Tony Searle

Principal

Hans Price Acdemy