Dear Parent(s) and Carer(s),

Following recent updates from the Prime Minister and other local authority figures regarding the Covid 19 infection increases, I wanted to reassure you that the school will remain open until we are directed differently.

We are also now entering the time of year when children typically start to get colds. If a child has a cold they can still attend school. In line with government guidance, if a child is displaying symptoms of Covid 19 they must self-isolate and get a test. The three main symptoms of coronavirus are:

• a high temperature
• a loss of taste or smell
• a new and persistent cough

Our priority remains the safety of every member of our school community and should a child present Covid 19 symptoms we will ask for them to be collected from school. The symptom that is the most difficult to distinguish is the cough. A new and persistent cough is a cough that lasts for more than an hour, or 3 coughing episodes in a 24 hour period. We are not medical experts in school and cannot diagnose.

For the safety of all members of our school community, where a child presents one of the three symptoms, we will contact you for the child to go home to self-isolate and ask that you arrange a test through 119 or the GP. This follows the guidance from Public Health England. If you are asked to collect your child and yet you believe it to be linked to a cold rather than Covid we are asking that you contact 111 and describe the symptoms.

The medical profession will be able to advise you. In the event that the symptoms are not Covid related your child should return to school as normal, however we do ask that you inform us beforehand. We appreciate your support with this. We have attached information relating to symptoms and self-isolation.

There may be an occasion where you are being asked as a family to self-isolate and we have enclosed the latest guidance from Cheshire East regarding Covid 19 absence responses. We are all dealing with degrees of uncertainty and I want to emphasise that the school is here and ready to support both your family and your child.

If you are self-isolating at home, we want your child’s access to learning to continue, this is especially important as we do not want our students to fall further behind. The school will continue to use Google Classroom for home learning purposes. All timetabled lessons materials are on the Google Classroom Platform.

Home Learning

All students have a Log in for the Google Education Suite and work has been provided for all our students using the virtual classrooms. I have again attached the “How to Guide” for Google Classroom Site.

All students who are self-isolating and are physically well should be completing their school work at home and teaching staff will be in touch should we notice students have yet to log in. We are monitoring the activity online and updates are communicated to teaching staff regularly during the week.

Coronavirus and Well Being

We have also compiled a list of resources and helpful websites for you to use over the coming weeks. Outlined below are a range of resources to support schools, parents, children and young people. Note this is not an exhaustive list.

Websites:

BBC: How to protect your mental health
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51873799

ChildMind: Talking to Children
https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/

CBBC: Video and Questions
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/54086737

Young Minds: Feeling Anxious about Coronavirus
https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/what-to-do-if-you-re-anxious-about-coronavirus

ELSA: Coronavirus Story for Children
https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/coronavirus-story-for-children/

Parents and Carers Help sheets
The weblink contains key online safety advice and links to resources, as well as support services.
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/home-activity-worksheets/

Yours sincerely,

Paul Scales
Principal
Church Lawton School