HPA Parent Letter for January 2021
Our ref: TSE/lti
3rd January 2021
Dear Parent/Carer
Following the Government announcements on 30 December about returning to school this term and the introduction of Covid-19 rapid-result testing for secondary school students, I am writing to confirm plans for the first three weeks in January, as far as we know at this time. This letter includes a link to a very important consent form for the testing.
Student return dates:
Monday 4 January: this is a planned staff training day. ALL Students remain at home.
Tuesday 5 January – Friday 8 January: all HPA students should be working from home and remote learning will be provided.
- Except if you have already received a letter from us offering your child a critical worker place at the school. (Definition of critical workers – see list at the end of this letter.) If your circumstances have changed please let us know via [email protected]
- And except for students who have an EHCP or who are classed as vulnerable – school will have contacted you already by letter to invite them to attend.
- We are reviewing our definition of students in different categories based on new guidance from the DFE. This means that some families will have already received an updated message about their place.
Monday 11 January – Friday 15 January: Year 11 students return to school
All other year groups will have remote learning provided.
Students will be invited in at specific times to complete Covid-19 rapid-results tests.
Monday 18 January: All students, in all year groups, return to school (staggered arrival times for Covid-19 testing – You will be contacted separately with details of when to come in for your Covid-19 test)
External Examinations
Students who are due to sit external examinations will attend school for their exam as timetabled. This will be in a socially distanced exam space, so they can attend even if they have not yet had their test completed.
This is ONLY for students sitting externally set exams in Leisure and Tourism and Sports Science
Remote learning:
Instructions and resources for remote learning will be posted on the SIMS Student App.
- Students who attend school as child of critical worker parent/carer or vulnerable will complete the same online learning as students learning remotely.
Rapid-result testing:
- All staff and students will be offered rapid-result tests for Covid-19
- This consists of two tests, completed three days apart
- Tests will only be administered if we have received consent
- Link to consent form to be completed by (Wednesday 6 January)
- If the link above doesn’t work then copy and paste this into your browser https://tinyurl.com/ybqnlls2
- Year 11 tests will take place in the week beginning Monday 4 January and the second test will take place on Monday 11 January prior to them going to their first lesson – Details of the staggered start on Monday 11 January will be communicated separately
- Years 7-10 tests will take place during week beginning Monday 11 January and the second test will take place on or before Monday 18 January
- Students taking the test will be supervised by trained staff
- The tests are quick and easy using a swab of your nose and throat
- Results will be ready in 30 minutes and you will be contacted only if your child tests positive.
Details of your testing slot and timetable for return of specific year groups will communicated separately as they are finalised.
More about this testing:
This mass testing programme is part of the protective measures that schools are taking to help stop the spread of the virus and help staff and students remain in school safely. This testing is for those without coronavirus symptoms and is beginning across the country using new, quicker COVID-19 tests known as ‘lateral flow tests’.
Up to one third of people who have coronavirus experience no symptoms. By testing we will help to stop the virus spread and help to keep our school open as safely as possible. The test is voluntary, but I would strongly encourage everyone to take it.
If you are happy for your child to be tested, please complete the form at the link above.
Please remember:
- This testing programme at Hans Price Academy is for people with no symptoms.
- You should NOT attend school if you have ANY of the key Covid-19 Symptoms
- High Temperature
- New, continuous cough
- A loss, or change, to their sense of smell or taste
- If you have any symptoms, book a test with your local testing centre by calling 119 and only return to school after receiving a negative result or after self-isolating as per your result email or text
- Face coverings remain mandatory in the Academy
- Local Tier rules apply at all times on the way to and from the Academy
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected]
Yours faithfully
Mr T Searle
Principal
Current Government definition of ‘Critical Workers’
Parents whose work is critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and EU transition response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined below.
Health and social care
Doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, other frontline health and social care staff, those working in health and social care supply chain
Education and childcare
Childcare, support and teaching staff, social workers, specialist education professionals
Key public services
Justice system, religious staff, charity workers, those responsible for managing deceased, public service broadcasters
Local and national government
Administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of Covid-19 response and delivery of EU transition, essential public services
Food and other necessary goods
Those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery, and provision of other key goods e.g. hygiene, medicine
Public safety and national security
Police and police support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel, fire and rescue service employees, National Crime Agency staff, border security, prison and probation staff
Transport and border
Those who keep air, water, road, rail passenger and freight transport modes and supply chains operational
Utilities, communication and financial services
Essential financial service staff, oil, gas, electricity, water sectors, IT and data sector and primary industry supplies to Covid-19 response, civil nuclear, chemical, telecoms staff, postal services and delivery, payment providers, waste disposal sectors.
For further information:
What if a pupil tests positive?
Participating staff and pupils who test positive will be informed about their results individually. Where participants are under 16, parents or legal guardians will also be notified. Guidance on safe travel and additional precautions will be provided along with test results.
Pupils will need to take a further ‘PCR test’ (similar to those done in local and regional testing sites) on the same day (or as soon as possible). [School / college] will be able to provide these PCR test kits to perform at home or you can go to www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119 to book a follow-up test. If ordering a PCR test yourselves, they should choose to visit a drive-through test site if possible, as it is faster than requesting a home test.
During this time while they wait for the PCR result (via text / email) they will need to self-isolate.
If the PCR test returns a positive result you will have to self-isolate and follow the guidance from NHS Test and Trace.
What happens if the test is negative?
They will be able to stay in the Academy and resume their activities as normal. A pupil will only be told if they test positive on a ‘lateral flow’ test, so if you do not hear you can assume it was negative. A small number of pupils may need to repeat the test if the first test was invalid or void for some reason.
What if a close contact at school/college tests positive?
A close contact of someone in school/college who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be able to return to the Academy if they agree to be tested once a day for 7 days and the test is negative. If they do not want to take the test, they will need to self-isolate as per the national guidelines. This does not apply to household members or close contacts outside of the Academy who will still need to self-isolate. Further details will be provided at the time, but if you would prefer to self-isolate instead of doing daily testing, you can.
What if my child develops symptoms?
This testing programme at Hans Price Academy is for people with no symptoms. If your child develops symptoms at any time (such as a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste) they must immediately self-isolate, and book a test by calling 119 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or 0300 303 2713 (Scotland) or visiting https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
