Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education, has asked for this message to be passed to all those who work in the education sector
The government recognises the huge importance of the role you have played in maintaining the education, training and social care of our children and young people during this challenging time. I recognise that you will have the same anxieties as the rest of the country about your health and that of your families. On behalf of the Prime Minister and the entire government, I thank you all for all of your work so far, and your continued support. I am deeply grateful for the civic spirit and dedication of everyone working in education, and I will continue to provide my full support throughout this crisis.
Next steps
It is clear that education and children’s social care settings are increasingly finding it difficult to continue as normal, as illness and self-isolation impacts on staffing levels and pupil attendance. To provide parents, student and staff with the certainty they need we are announcing that schools, colleges and early years settings will be closed to everyone except children of key workers and vulnerable children from Monday, as part of the country’s ongoing response to coronavirus.
Examples of these workers include NHS staff, police and delivery drivers who need to be able to go to work. Vulnerable children include those who have a social worker and those with Education, Health and Care Plans.
A full list of key worker categories will be published by the Cabinet Office tomorrow.
Children who do not fall into these groups should remain at home with appropriate care.
Where schools are unable to provide this reduced provision, local authorities will work with the Department for Education’s regional teams to ensure an alternative option is available.
We are expecting early years providers and sixth form and further education colleges to do the same. We are working with Her Majesty’s Treasury on the financial support required. We are also asking that independent schools and boarding schools follow the same approach.
Where possible, we would encourage settings to stay open for this purpose throughout the Easter holidays.
Many universities and other higher education institutions are already taking necessary steps to keep their staff and students safe and where possible keep providing education. We are confident vice-chancellors are making the right decisions and the Department for Education continues to support them in doing so.
Temporary suspension of Ofsted inspections
Ofsted is to temporarily suspend routine inspections of schools, colleges, early years settings, children’s social care providers and local authorities to reduce the burden on staff who are providing vital services to the nation in response to coronavirus.
Update on assessments and examinations
We can confirm that we will not go ahead with assessments or exams, and that we will not be publishing performance tables for this academic year.
We will work with the sector and Ofqual to ensure children get the qualifications they need.
My Department is working closely with local authorities, representatives of early years, schools and head teachers, regional school commissioners and bodies such as Ofsted and Ofqual about how to deliver this change as effectively as possible.
And we will do whatever is necessary to support local authorities, settings, schools and teachers through the weeks and months ahead.
Free school meal provision
We will give schools the flexibility to provide meals or vouchers to children eligible for free school meals. Some schools are already doing this, and we will reimburse the costs. As soon as possible, we will put in place a national voucher system.
Thank you once again for everything you are doing at this difficult time.
The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP
Secretary of State for Education
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Robinwood is operating under the guidance given by the government for schools so will be open for as long as schools are. Therefore, as of now, the visit on Monday is still scheduled to go ahead. However, should the government make the decision to close schools, Robinwood will be closed and we will be offered alternative dates for later in the academic year.
If your child displays symptoms and there is the need for them to self isolate under the current directives given by the government, obviously they will not be able to come with us and under these circumstances, we will be able to pursue a claim for a refund.
The organisation during our visit is such that the children will be in small groups (no more than 13) and not mixing with other school groups and I am satisfied that Robinwood are taking the necessary precautions (a copy of their latest information sheet can be found under the 'News and Events; Letters' tab). However should you feel that you need to withdraw your child from the visit, please let the school know. Unfortunately, a refund will not be possible.
Should your child display symptoms whilst we are away, they will be isolated from the other children and we will contact you to arrange for your child to be collected.
I appreciate that this is a worrying time for you all and thank you for your patience and support.
I will keep you informed should the information given change.
Yours
Wendy Howlett
Dear Parents,
Following the government guidance published last night, if your child shows the symptoms below we will contact you and ask that you arrange collection of your whole family from the school. You will then be expected to self isolate as a family for 14 days and your children will not be able to attend school.
DFE GUIDANCE
SYMPTOMS
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
- new continuous cough and/or
- high temperature
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
Main messages
- if you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started. (See ending isolation section below for more information)
- if you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill
This absence will be authorised with a 'Y' mark.
We thank you in anticipation of your cooperation with this.
Best wishes
Anna Cvijetic
Headteacher
Dear Parents and Carers,
We have decided to cancel and suspend school visits out of school for the time being. The only exception at the moment is Robinwood, which we are currently planning on going ahead.
We will not be attending the 'Big Sing' tomorrow and the Year 4 visit to Leeds has been cancelled. Mrs Smith in the office is arranging refunds straight back in to bank accounts from the Leeds visit which have been paid for through ParentPay. We will be in touch tomorrow about refunds for the tickets for 'Big Sing'.
Please contact us if you have any queries.
Best wishes
Anna Cvijetic
Headteacher
Dear Parents and Carers,
Further to my previous letters about our plans and preparations for any potential disruption to school regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19), we thought it would be helpful to explain what we are doing.
Firstly, we continue to receive daily updates from the government and we continue to follow their advice. I post the relevant information on the school website.
As a school, we have been through our emergency plans and developed contingencies should we have to close or partially close due to either government instruction or due to staff absence. In the event of any closure, partial or full, we will send you a message via our text service (please be aware this has a limited number of characters which is why they can sometimes appear brief and to the point), on the school app, school website and by email. It is essential that you ensure we have your latest mobile number and email for these systems to work – please keep these updated. Most importantly, we remain open and hope for excellent attendance unless you hear, via one of these methods, to the contrary.
The school has also increased significantly the cleaning of the school. Our hand washing areas remain well-stocked, all children have been taught how to wash their hands properly and placed posters in key areas to remind us all to maintain good hygiene.
We are monitoring all school visits and making decisions on a case by case basis, again following the latest advice from the government. Following this advice, the visit to Robinwood is still currently planned to go ahead. As a precaution, we have decided to cancel all school assemblies for the current period.
We are now preparing to provide work for your children should we have to close the school for any length of time. We are well prepared for this situation, with excellent IT systems in place. We use Google Classroom: a streamlined, easy-to use tool that helps teachers set and manage work. Within this tool we can replicate classes, distribute work, mark it and send feedback, and everything is in one place. We also have other online learning resources, which include Bug Club for reading books, Times Table Rock Stars, Numbots and Spelling Shed. We will use all these systems for work to be accessed. As we further prepare these resources and in the event of having to use it, we will send out more information.
I know this is a very difficult time but I hope this letter gives you some comfort that we are making the best possible preparations and, in the meantime, continue to operate a full and normal school day, welcoming your children to school each day.
Best wishes
Anna Cvijetic
Headteacher
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