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November Update Letter

Our ref:  TSE/lti

22nd October 2021

 

 

Dear Parents and Carers

Covid-19

You will be aware from the Prime Minister’s announcement on Wednesday evening that Covid rates across the country are rising. This is particularly the case in the South West of England, where there has been a rapid rise in recent weeks.

As a result, when we return to school after the half term break, our local Director of Public Health has requested that we increase our measures to curb the spread of infection.

What we will be doing as a school

  1. We will not be holding large gatherings (e.g. assemblies) with mixed age groups for at least two weeks after the half term break.
  2. We will continue to enhance our cleaning routines.
  3. We will keep spaces well ventilated, doors and windows open for example.
  4. We will continue to support the wider vaccination programme and share any information that is passed to us about how those who are not yet vaccinated may access this service.

What we need our families to do

 Your child should come to school with a face covering from Monday 1st November. They should expect to wear this throughout the day. With the exception of those who are exempt from wearing a face covering for health reasons, students who do not bring a face covering to school will either have the option to purchase one on site, or they may be requested to return home to collect one. It would be sensible to ensure that your child has spares in their coat and blazer pockets and in their bag.

  1. If your child is in Year 8-11, and have already informed us of their exemption to wearing a mask, they must bring their lanyard in from Monday 1st November
  2. If your child is in Year 7, or is newly exempt, you must inform the Academy prior to our return to school. We will issue your child with an exemption lanyard, so staff and students are clear that they are exempt.
  3. Students should take a test using the lateral flow devices provided before returning to school on Monday 1st November, and then continue to test at home twice weekly for the coming weeks. (Tests will be distributed by the Academy)
  4. Please ensure that your child stays at home if they are unwell with Covid symptoms. They must continue to stay at home until 24 hours after the fever passes. They should do so even if they have tested negative for Covid 19.
  5. If someone in your household tests positive, all household members are encouraged to have a PCR test. Your child may still come to school until their own negative PCR test result comes through if they take a lateral flow test each day and continue to receive a negative result.
  6. Ensure your child wears layers should they be cold – a plain white T-Shirt or vest under their shirt, a plain black jumper (No logos) as well as their blazers to ensure they remain warm.
  7. Please remember that attendance remains a legal requirement for all students. If you need any support with your child’s attendance please do contact their College Leader at the Academy.

 As a reminder, the main symptoms of coronavirus are (NHS website):

  • 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 three 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 and taste – this means you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.

Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.

 Sanitary Products

Please do remind your child (if appropriate) that we have good stocks of both tampons and sanitary towels available at the Academy.  They can collect these free supplies from Reception, College Leaders Offices, the Attendance Office, Mentors Room or Mrs Tincknell’s office.

Car Park

After half-term, families waiting to collect students at the end of the day will need to park in the main car park or arrange to meet their child off site.  Queuing cars in the turning circle are causing an issue with cars backing up onto the main Marchfields Way Road and this is clearly very dangerous.  Anyone parking in that area will be asked to move.  We hope you will understand this is not personal, we just need to ensure the safety of the site.   We thank you in advance for your support with this so that we can avoid having to close the gates each afternoon.

We thank you for your considerable support throughout this period, and for your flexibility in working with these new, revised arrangements. We will be sure to contact you with any other changes as we are asked to make them in the interests of public health.

Yours faithfully

Tony Searle

Principal