Dear Parents/Carers,

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

I am contacting you following the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK and abroad.

I would like to take this opportunity to reassure all families that school is following the guidelines set out by the Public Health Agency and that we have had no reports of pupils with Coronavirus.

However we are conscious that the government could imminently decide to close the schools. Or that we could have an outbreak resulting in us having to close. In preparation for this eventuality we are starting to look at ways in which we can provide your child with work via the class pages on our school website.

We will endeavour to ensure that work is available for your child, however, please bear in mind, that if staff are ill, or are looking after their own children who are ill, this cannot be guaranteed.

Should we have to close it is vital that all Year 6 complete any work set for them as we cannot guarantee that examination boards will take this health issue or school closures into account.

Should you or your child become unwell, please follow the latest guidance from Public Health England;

• if you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started.
• Symptoms include a new continuous cough, difficulty in breathing, fever.
• this action will help protect others in your community whilst you are infectious
• plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home
• ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home
• stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible
• sleep alone, if that is possible
• wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water
• stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible
• you do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999

We would also ask that you contact school on 0161 764 4988 and inform us of your child’s symptoms and whether they are undergoing a test for the virus or whether they have been confirmed as positive for the virus after testing.

Should school not close and the Easter holidays arrive, we are conscious that many of you may choose to fly abroad for holidays. In this instance, we will be following the guidelines below;

• People who have returned from Category 1 specified countries/areas in the last 14 days will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days before they return to school.
• People who have returned from Category 2 specified countries/areas in the last 14 days will be asked to stay at home if they develop symptoms – the full list of Category 1 and Category 2 countries can be found on the government website.

As an important part of our school community, I would ask that you actively encourage good infection control practices, such as thorough handwashing at home and keep your child informed about the things they can do to discourage the spread of infection, such as coughing and sneezing into tissues, disposing of the tissues and then washing their hands plus avoiding touching their mouth and eyes without washing their hands. 

Unless your child has tested positive for the Coronavirus or has symptoms they should attend school a normal as per the government advice.

Should the school need to close, you will be informed via Parenthub or text and the information will be placed on the school’s website and on our school twitter account. If the school is asked to close during a school day, staff will supervise your children until they can be collected.

Please be advised that these are only precautionary measures put in place to anticipate any occurrences of Coronavirus within the school.

Kind Regards

Miss M Michael

Headteacher