Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Coronavirus continues to be prevalent in the UK and, whilst this situation remains ongoing, Henhurst Ridge Primary Academy will endeavour to respond robustly to the challenges it poses to the education of our children.
Our school and the REAch2 Academy Trust, will continue to follow government and public health guidance to do all we can to minimise the spread of Coronavirus.
The well-being of your family is of the utmost importance to us and we hope that you all remain well, both physically and mentally. For some families it means that parents are furloughed or may even have lost jobs. We appreciate how hard this is and what a worrying and uncertain time we are all experiencing. Please know that you have our support and if you need anything at all, please do let us know and we will do our best to help.
How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- wash your hands as soon as you get home
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards.
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19
For most people, especially children, COVID-19 will be a mild illness.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of:
- new continuous cough and/or
- high temperature and/or
- a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
If anyone in the household develops any of these symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home and arrangements should be made for them to be tested. This should be an NHS PCR test taken at a test site and NOT a rapid test taken at a community testing site (an LFT test). When COVID-19 is circulating, it is worth also being aware of the wider symptoms of COVID-19 including; sore throat, headache, muscle ache, fatigue, shortness of breath, blocked/runny nose, diarrhoea and vomiting, and cold-like symptoms.
Household members of the symptomatic individual who are over 18 years and 6 months and not fully vaccinated, must also stay at home whilst awaiting the PCR result – they should not go to work, school or public areas, even for exercise.
Testing can be arranged by ringing 119 or booking online: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
Should the PCR yield a positive result, we would ask that you isolate and follow national “Stay at Home” guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
Lateral flow testing:
In line with this new guidance, if any of the lateral flow tests are positive, please isolate your child and follow national “Stay at Home” guidance
For information regarding access to lateral flow tests see: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronaviruscovid-19/testing/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance.
Further information
Further information is available at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
COVID-19 Parent Reminders
To help to minimise the transmission of the virus within school we ask that parents please remember not to congregate on our grounds or in the surrounding area of the school. Please also ensure you are socially distancing on the pavements around school too. This can be a bit tricky as they are narrow but please do your best. The area with the highest footfall is the Reception class as this is our biggest class and where their pick up and drop off point is situated, it can become congested. Please socially distance around this area at all times. There are some markings on the ground just outside the entrance to the Reception class to help as a guide. Many parents have then been waiting in the area just outside the gates by the benches which is really helpful to avoid congestion. Don’t forget there is a 10 minute window so there is plenty of time to collect your child.
Please wear a face mask if you wish to speak to a member of staff. They will also be wearing masks when welcoming the children into school and when handing them over at the end of the day. This is for everyone’s protection. As you will be aware, if a person tests positive and they have been within a metre of someone else for any length of time that person has to self-isolate so wearing a mask for conversations can really help this and again reduce transmission.
What to expect if my child needs to self-isolate
If your child is asked to self-isolate the following will apply:
- All parents will receive a letter via email to communicate the situation.
- Teachers will ensure all pupils and parents have the appropriate log-ins to access work on Microsoft Teams or Tapestry.
- For Key Stage One home learning packs will be provided which can be collected from the school office. This may include pupil exercise books for Maths and Writing, as well as home reading books.
Remote Learning Plan
If your child needs to self-isolate, in order to ensure that learning is continued, your child will be able to access Home Learning, with our teachers continuing to do all they can to make it as interactive and interesting as they can. All of our children have log-ins and are able to access work through Microsoft Teams or Tapestry. If you are unsure of your child’s log-in or password, please contact our school office. Our assemblies will continue to be held on Teams and you are very welcome to tune in if you are able. If you experience any problems or have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Our teachers will provide work that corresponds to their peers and where appropriate, will share links, recordings or home learning packs for you to collect to support Home Learning. We appreciate that you will not be able to access all of the resources which we have available to us in school, but please use what you have at home to substitute. Again, any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
In order to ensure that learning is continued, irrespective of lockdown and self-isolation, Henhurst Ridge Primary Academy has developed the attached plan.
Remote Learning Plan revised January 2021
Henhurst Ridge Remote Learning – School Offer
Guidance for PARENTS – Safeguarding Pupils While Remote Learning