Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Situation
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We will use this page to update and inform parents and carers about any changes to school arrangements due to Coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions enforced by Government and the Department of Education (DfE).
Situation from June 1stTrinity Primary School will be re-opening on Monday 1st June to children of Key Workers, children identified as vulnerable, as well as Reception, Year 1 & Year 6 children.
Due to the high number of children set to return and the school's limited capacity at this time (informed by a thorough Risk Assessment), many of our pupils will have to return to school through a phased reintegration on a part time basis. Parents should have received a letter on 20th May, confirming when their child/children are able to attend school and which Cohort they have been placed within. Letters
Risk Assessment
Local Authority Position
DfE GuidanceIssued on 12th May
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings Issued on 14th June https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june Useful WebsitesGeneral advice from HM Government
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response Home Learning ResourcesWe have placed materials on this page to support children who may be at home due to an enforced isolation or for those who are unable to attend school at present.
You will need a password to access these resources. This has been issued to parents already. If you need a reminder, please contact the school office. We can also supply forgotten passwords for other online resources. Coronavirus Explained for ChildrenAxel Scheffler (illustrator of the Gruffalo) has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. Published by Nosy Crow, and written by staff within the company, the book has had expert input: Professor Graham Medley of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine acted as a consultant, and the company also had advice from two head teachers and a child psychologist.
The book answers key questions in simple language appropriate for 5 to 9 year olds: • What is the coronavirus? • How do you catch the coronavirus? • What happens if you catch the coronavirus? • Why are people worried about catching the coronavirus? • Is there a cure for the coronavirus? • Why are some places we normally go to closed? • What can I do to help? • What’s going to happen next? Please find a copy of the book below:
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Frequently Asked QuestionsWhich year groups are returning to school?
The Government has asked primary schools to welcome back children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 alongside Priority groups. The Government's ambition is to bring all primary school year groups for the last month of the Summer half term if conditions nationally make it feasible. This will be kept under review. Why were these Year groups chosen? The reasoning given by the DfE for younger children returning is that the “moderately” high scientific confidence in evidence suggests younger children are less likely to become unwell with Covid-19. Secondly because evidence shows the lack of time in education is most detrimental to them. Y6 children will benefit from the transition element of a return to school before starting Secondary School. Why aren't all the children coming back? Can my sibling attend with my child in one of these Year groups? The DfE have based this on the need to reduce the rate of transmission of the virus. In doing so, the DfE have taken account of the need to reduce numbers returning as a gradual process and thereby maintaining smaller groupings in classes. Sadly, siblings cannot attend unless they are in a Priority group. This would raise the number of pupils attending the school and would affect the risk assessment that headteachers and governors are required to complete. Due to to the sheer numbers of key worker children, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils, the school has had to undertake a risk assessment to determine the number of children that can be accommodated within the school whilst adhering to the social distancing guidelines that have been given to schools by DfE. The way that these rotas have been determined is based on a risk assessment. The school will review each week the operation of the risk assessment. This will be amended based upon this review and in the light of any new guidance from DfE or the Local Authority. Does my child have to attend school? No one with symptoms should attend for any reason. All children should attend unless self-isolating or shielding. Parents will not be fined for non-attendance at this time - the schools will not be held to account for attendance levels. Will my child be taught with their existing class? Schools are required, under the guidance, to form new groups of children. This will be based on the school’s own risk assessment. It may be the unavoidable case that children have a different member of staff to support them and not their usual class teacher until the end of term. I am worried that my child is vulnerable or that a family member is, should I send them back to school? Children and staff who are considered extremely clinically vulnerable and shielding should continue to shield and should not be expected to attend. Clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable) people are those considered to be at a higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. A minority of children will fall into this category, and parents should follow medical advice if their child is in this category. Children who live in a household with someone who is extremely clinically vulnerable and shielding should only attend if stringent social distancing can be adhered to and the child or young person is able to understand and follow those instructions. Children who live with someone who is clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically vulnerable) as defined in the social distancing guidance and including those who are pregnant, can attend. How will transport be provided for my child? The school will liaise with the transport provider in relation to children who use school transport. There may be changes to timetables and these will be shared with you. At what time will my child be expected to arrive at school and at what time will they need to be collected? Children should arrive between 8.30 and 9.00am. Parents should follow the marked path around the school to your child’s classroom and then continue around the rear of the site and exit via the gate adjacent to the car park. Please ensure that no more than 1 parent/carer is present with children at all times. Parents are strongly discouraged from congregating outside the school gate in close proximity to other parents. This may prevent the children and adults from entering and leaving the site safely. I’m a keyworker and my child has been in the childcare provision throughout. My child is in Nursery, YR or Y1 what will happen to them? Your child will join their year group groupings as far as is possible. My child is in the childcare provision currently but isn't in the year groups above? Priority group children will continue to come to school.. Will the school have assembly/acts of worship? What about other school events - leaver’s assemblies, sports’ day, etc? The schools may look and feel quite different during the next few months. The usual activities may have to be postponed. The school considers it inappropriate to hold such events based on their assessment of risk at the moment. At all times the health and safety of pupils, families and staff is paramount. Will staff and children wear masks or PPE? The following measures will be taken as directed by government to protect the children with masks deemed unnecessary: “Wearing a face covering or face mask in schools or other education settings is not recommended. Face coverings may be beneficial for short periods indoors where there is a risk of close social contact with people you do not usually meet and where social distancing and other measures cannot be maintained, for example on public transport or in some shops. This does not apply to schools or other education settings. Schools and other education or childcare settings should therefore not require staff, children and learners to wear face coverings”. Schools have been provided with guidance on the use of PPE for certain tasks (supporting sick children, administration of first aid). Use of PPE outside of these occasions will be determined by the school’s risk assessments. Will children and young people be eligible for testing? The government advice is: When settings open to the wider cohort of children and young people, all those children and young people eligible to attend, and members of their households, will have access to testing if they display symptoms of Coronavirus. This will enable them to get back into childcare or education, and their parents or carers to get back to work, if the test proves to be negative. To access testing parents will be able to use the 111 online Coronavirus service if their child is 5 or over. Parents will be able to call 111 if their child is aged under 5. Will teachers and other staff be able to get tested if they have symptoms? Access to testing is already available to all essential workers. This includes anyone involved in education, childcare or social work – including both public and voluntary sector workers, as well as foster carers. See the full list of essential workers. Education settings as employers can book tests through an online digital portal. There is also an option for employees to book tests directly on the portal. What happens if there is a confirmed case of Coronavirus in school? When a child, young person or staff member develops symptoms compatible with Coronavirus, they should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 7 days. Their fellow household members should self-isolate for 14 days. All staff and students who are attending an education or childcare setting will have access to a test if they display symptoms of Coronavirus, and are encouraged to get tested in this scenario. When the child, young person or staff member tests negative, they can return to their setting and the fellow household members can end their self-isolation. Where the child, young person or staff member tests positive, the rest of their class or group within their childcare or education setting should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days. The other household members of that wider class or group do not need to self-isolate unless the child, young person or staff member they live with in that group subsequently develops symptoms. As part of the national test and trace programme, if other cases are detected within the cohort or in the wider setting, Public Health England’s local health protection teams will conduct a rapid investigation and will advise schools and other settings on the most appropriate action to take. In some cases a larger number of other children, young people may be asked to self-isolate at home as a precautionary measure – perhaps the whole class, site or year group. Where settings are observing guidance on infection prevention and control, which will reduce risk of transmission, closure of the whole setting will not generally be necessary. | ||||||||||
