Dear Parents/Carers,
Coronavirus Update
With so much in the press currently around Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and the constantly changing guidance, I thought it best to give you an update from school. I want to assure you that we are doing everything we can to keep up to date with the latest government (Public Health England) advice and will share any new guidance and associated measures with you as soon as possible.
DFE current guidance is:
· staff, young people and children should stay at home if they are unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature to avoid spreading infection to others. Otherwise they should attend education or work as normal.
· if staff, young people or children become unwell on site with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature they should be sent home.
For any families that have a person showing symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) the whole family must self-isolate for 14 days in line with the most recent guidance (16th March 2020).
It is business as usual at the moment with school staying open as long as possible. If your child/children are well please send them into school as normal.
If in the future should we reach a point where we do not have enough teachers and teaching assistants to teach your children we will have to give priority to providing cover for Key Stage Two, followed by Key Stage One and then Reception and Nursery. We will keep you informed at all times.
Should we get to the point that we do not have enough staff to supervise the children safely, we will have no choice but to close the school, until such a time when staffing levels improve.
We have significantly increased our cleaning regime and also our hand washing protocol. We have also increased the amount of time that the children are required to wash their hands. Children are supervised washing their hands three times per day.
We have already taken steps to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, these include:
· Postponing class assemblies
· Cancelling all whole school assemblies, celebrations or worship until further notice
· Postponing pre-arranged school trips
As the current advice stands, schools are being told not to close without direct advice to do so from Public Health England.
If there is a confirmed case, and the advice received by the school is to remain open, parents/carers worried about any underlying medical issues that affect their family should make their own decision about sending children to school. Seeking advice from your GP will be helpful.
We would ask parents/carers in these circumstances to contact the school, having contacted medical professionals and received further advice relating to their specific circumstances. We would also ask that you keep the school informed of the advice you have been given by medical professionals in assessing any risk to vulnerable people in your families. The school will not insist you send your child to school and, as long as medical advice has been sought, absence will be authorised in these cases.
Advice to schools is publicly available and can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19
We are currently planning on how we will share homework with you in order that you can support your child whilst out of school. There will be a number of different ways including textbooks, worksheets and website links.
Our main form of communication is Parenthub so please ensure that you have downloaded the app.
Our school website will also have up to date information on and has links to home learning included. www.stlukesbury.co.uk
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support.
Kind Regards
Cllr T Tariq
Chair of Governors