Coronavirus Update

Covid 19 Information for Families (September 2021)

Dear Parents/Carers,

As you may be aware, schools can open in September without most of the covid-19 rules that we have learned to live with over the last 18 months. However, please be aware that we must still follow guidance in keeping the spread of Covid-19 to a minimum. This means that although we can open in September without bubbles, we will still need to be vigilant.

What does this mean for families?

There will be no more ‘bubbles’ and we will no longer have the responsibility to request children to isolate. Whilst we may need to support NHS track and trace to identify contacts, this is no longer the responsibility of the school. If a child tests positive and they have been in school 48 hours before, it is the responsibility of the parent/carer to work with NHS track and trace to identify their contacts. If any children or staff are identified as a contact and they have not developed symptoms, then they DO NOT need to isolate, however, NHS track and trace will ADVISE them to get a PCR test.

If your child develops one or more of the symptoms of Covid-19 while in school, we will still ask them to wait in a ventilated isolation room until a parent/carer is able to collect them. We will then request they have a PCR test BEFORE they can return to school. If you contact school to ask if your child can attend as they have a symptoms but you feel it is just a cold, we can and will refuse entry without a PCR test if we deem this necessary. LFT will not be accepted as evidence.

Just to clarify, families DO NOT need to isolate if we send your child home for a PCR test, unless they are told by NHS track and trace to do so, however the child must isolate until the results are back.

If we and NHS track and trace, identify that there is sudden increase in cases in our school then we will work with PHE and it might be necessary to temporarily re-introduce bubbles and other control measures. If this happens it will result in any before or after school clubs being postponed.

Please continue to keep us informed of cases that impact on your child attending school, and children should NOT isolate if a family member has Covid-19 UNLESS they too have symptoms. Keeping children off due to this will result in unauthorised absences and lead to further action. We will be placing a significant emphasis on attendance from September, any poor attendance levels will be addressed immediately. It is a legal requirement for children to attend school and patterns of absence will be monitored very closely.

Children with Covid-19 must isolate for the 10 days and complete remote learning (new starters will need access to these systems once they start).

Ventilated rooms, regular hand washing, and stringent cleaning procedures are still priority. Please ensure that your child wears appropriate warm clothes under their uniform on colder days as we approach the colder months as all classrooms will continue to be ventilated.

DfE guidance

Individuals are not required to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and any of the following apply:

they are fully vaccinated
they are below the age of 18 years and 6 months
they have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
they are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

COVID 19 Updates (Letter to Parents)

Coronavirus School Updates (Last school year)

Public Health England have produced a letter for schools to distribute to parents which explains when a person requires a coronavirus test and what the symptoms of coronavirus are. The Department would be grateful if you could share and circulate this letter amongst parents at your school.

The intention of the letter is to help prevent children being taken out of school unnecessarily and answer some of the questions parents may have around testing. View the letter here

Useful Advice and Information

View the Durham County Council Coronavirus section for latest news, updates and guidance.

Home Learning

Virtual Tours & Trips

View or download our document below to find out the best virtual tours and trips online including Zoos, Aquariums, Famous Places, Galleries and Museums:

60 Plus Virtual Tours & Trips

PE Resources

View the PE resources information below:

MyMaths

My Maths provides complete curriculum coverage from Key Stage 1 to A Level, MyMaths offers interactive lessons, “booster packs” for revision, and assignable homeworks and worksheets, along with a wealth of resources that will help you deliver your teaching in the classroom and at home to develop your students’ confidence and fluency in maths.

Lexia

Speech Link

Learning at Home Packs

Free English and maths materials in our Learning at Home packs. Hamilton are providing free packs for English and maths for each year group. These materials can be added to schools’ own websites and made available for parents and children at home.

Learning at home Pages (Years 1-6)

White Rose Maths

White Rose Maths Team has prepared a series of five maths lessons for each year group from Year 1-8. We will be adding five more each week for the next few weeks. Every lesson comes with a short video showing you clearly and simply how to help your child to complete the activity successfully.

Visit the White Rose Maths website

Ruth Miskin Training (Read Write Inc)

Read write Inc Phonics Lessons at home from Monday 23rd March. Read Write Inc are scheduling free Read Write Inc. Phonics lessons on Facebook and YouTube for children to watch at home; three short Speed Sound lessons with one of our trainers every day for the next two weeks. Films will only be available at the times below:

Set 1 Speed Sounds at 09:30am and again at 12:30pm
Set 2 Speed Sounds at 10:00am and again at 01:00pm
Set 3 Speed Sounds at 13:30am and again at 01:30pm

Note: films are streamed live and won’t be available at other times.

Other Resources

Some activities Parents and Children in Year 5/6 might want to try out to learn more about forces (if they have the resources at home), visit The Discovery Apple website.

STEM activities for KS1 and KS2, visit Search the IET website.

View the BBC for Victorian Video clips for Year 5/6

School subscription services are providing guidance and resources to support with school closures. Please view the full document by clicking the link below: