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Coronavirus

COVID-19 Risk Assessment- April 2022 update

In line with the changes to the Department for Education COVID-19 operational guidance for schools, we are no longer required to produce a specific COVID-19 risk assessment.

Relevant COVID-19 related measures will be included in our Academy risk assessments, as appropriate.

letter to parents-Omicron Variant_November 2021.pdf

Step 4- transition out of lockdown

On Monday 5^th July, the Prime Minister set out details of the final roadmap step (Step 4) as we transition out of lockdown. Final confirmation of this was announced on Monday 12^th July, confirming that legal restrictions will end on Monday 19 July.

As England moves to Step 4 of the roadmap, the government will continue to manage the risk of serious illness from the spread of the virus. This will mark a new phase in the government’s response to the pandemic, moving away from stringent restrictions on everyone’s day-to-day lives, towards advising people on how to protect themselves and others, alongside targeted interventions to reduce risk.

As a result, the DFE are changing the controls that apply in early years, schools, colleges and higher education institutions to maintain a baseline of protective measures while maximising attendance and minimising disruption to children and young people’s education. The DFE have published new guidance for arrangements in education settings from Step 4, covering both the summer period and the following term, when children will return to school.

At Step 4 it is no longer recommended that it is necessary to keep children in consistent groups (‘bubbles’). However, we are asked to make sure our outbreak management plans cover the possibility that in some local areas it may become necessary to reintroduce ‘bubbles’ for a temporary period, to reduce mixing between groups.

From 16 August 2021, children under the age of 18 years old will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. Instead, children will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test.

From Step 4, face coverings will no longer be advised for pupils, staff and visitors either in classrooms or in communal areas. However, If there is an outbreak in school, a director of public health might advise you that face coverings should temporarily be worn in communal areas or classrooms (by staff and visitors, unless exempt).

Pupils, staff and other adults should follow public health advice on when to self-isolate and what to do. They should not come into school if they have symptoms, have had a positive test result or other reasons requiring them to stay at home due to the risk of them passing on COVID-19 (for example, they are required to quarantine).

If anyone in school develops COVID-19 symptoms, however mild, they should be sent home and they should follow public health advice.

Control measure that need to remain include:

1. Ensure good hygiene for everyone.

2. Maintain appropriate cleaning regimes.

3. Keep occupied spaces well ventilated.

4. Follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Please follow the link below for the ‘Step 4 update - what parents and carers need to know about early year’s providers, schools and colleges’.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/step-4-update-what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges

National Day of Reflection on Tuesday 23^rd March 2021

On the 23rd March, pupils and staff at Goldenhill Primary Academy came together virtually for a National Day of Reflection to reflect on our collective loss and hope for a brighter future.

The 23^rd March represented the first anniversary of the UK Coronavirus lockdown. Since that date, over one hundred thousand people have died. Too many lives have been cut short and millions have been bereaved.

At Goldenhill, we recognised the importance of participating in this event.

Every child in the academy painted a daffodil to show their respect to those who have been affected by Coronavirus. These were attached to the fencing along Broadfield road. During the day, children explored the significance of this date and were able to share their thoughts. During this day, we paused to observe the national minute of silence at 12 noon.

If you would like to find out more information about the National Day of Reflection, please click on the following link: Marie Curie Day of Reflection on March 23rd

Trust Statement to Parents/Carers

Dear Parent / Carer

National lockdown to come into force on Wednesday 6 January

The Prime Minister has announced that a new national lockdown will come into force at 00:01 on Wednesday 6 January.

During the period of national lockdown, our settings will remain open to vulnerable children and the children of critical workers only. It is likely that all other children and students will learn remotely until February half term.

This decision does not suggest that our settings are no longer safe places for young people. Instead, limiting attendance is about reducing the number of contacts that all of us have with people in other households.

This statement should also be read in conjunction with the Trust’s Reset and Recovery Policy, which is available at www.societastrust.org.uk under Covid-19 / Policy and Addendums.

Vulnerable children and children of critical workers who can attend school:

During the period of national lockdown, our settings will only allow vulnerable children and the children of critical workers to attend. Children with at least one parent or carer who is listed as a critical worker are eligible for a school place. It is not necessary for both parents to be critical workers.

Settings will contact parents and carers to identify who requires a school place. If it proves necessary, they can ask for simple evidence that the parent in question is a critical worker, such as their work ID badge or pay slip.

If you have not yet been contacted and consider yourself to be a critical worker, then please contact your setting.

Attendance:

Vulnerable children and the children of critical workers are expected to attend school full time, except if they are shielding, self-isolating or quarantining. Whilst settings will encourage all eligible children to attend, if the parent wishes their child to be absent from school, the parent should let their setting know that the pupil will not be attending.

Free school meal provision:

During the period of national lockdown, settings will continue to provide meal options for all pupils who are in school. Meals will be available free of charge to all infant pupils and pupils who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals who are in school.

Settings will also provide free school meals vouchers for pupils who are eligible for benefits related free school meals who are not attending school.

Remote education:

When teaching pupils remotely, our settings will at the very least:

set assignments so that pupils have meaningful and ambitious work each day in a number of different subjects;
set work that is of equivalent length to the core teaching pupils would receive in school, and as a minimum for 3 hours a day, on average, across the school cohort;
provide frequent, clear explanations of new content, delivered by a teacher or through high-quality curriculum resources or videos;
have systems for checking, at least weekly, whether pupils are engaging with their work, and inform parents immediately where engagement is a concern;
gauge how well pupils are progressing through the curriculum using questions and other suitable tasks, and provide feedback, at least weekly, using digitally facilitated or whole-class feedback where appropriate;
enable teachers to adjust the pace or difficulty of what is being taught in response to questions or assessments, including, where necessary, revising material or simplifying explanations to ensure pupils’ understanding;

Please also refer to your setting’s Remote Learning Policy, which available at www.societastrust.org.uk under Covid-19 / Remote Learning.

Thank you for your continued support of your child’s setting, and for your steadfast resolve to help us support their learning and development during this ongoing National crisis.

Yours sincerely,

Jon Lovatt

Chief Executive Officer