Coronavirus guidance

Advice if students (and staff) display symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19)

We are aware that many students will get everyday illnesses on their return to school after not mixing for so long. Public Health England (PHE) has asked us to inform families, to help PHE ensure that they are able to identify those with coronavirus while avoiding a huge increase in demand for tests from people without coronavirus symptoms.

If students (or staff) become unwell during the school day with:  a new, continuous cough (this is defined as coughing a lot for more than an hour, or have three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours), or  a high temperature (above 37.8C), or  a loss of, or change in, the normal sense of taste or smell

they will be sent home and advised to follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection (see link below), and must:  self-isolate for at least 10 days (or until a negative result is given)  arrange to have a test to see if they have coronavirus (Covid-19) and inform school of the results as soon as possible.

Students should not be sent into school if they are displaying the symptoms mentioned above. If

there is anyone in your household who is symptomatic all household members will need to isolate and follow the stay at home guidance from the gov.uk website below.

To get a test you need to ring 119. You should be aware that once you have asked for a test, the whole household needs to isolate until a negative result is given. Please update school of any

test results as quickly as possible.

Stay at home guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

Guidance on how to get tested: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested

Public Health have advised:

As schools and colleges across England return, students may feel unwell for example with a sore throat, aches and pains, a stomach upset, a runny nose, tiredness or a headache. If students have these symptoms (without the temperature, continuous cough or loss of smell symptom), then they don’t need to have a test.

The decision as to whether or not they come to school or stay at home should be taken as you would do in normal times (they are not required to stay off school).

Where a child has a sickness bug, as always, they must be kept off school for 48 hours.

Covid-19 absence: a quick guide for parents/carers

School transport Covid-1 9 notice

Keeping up with learning during absence

It is always important for students to try to keep up with learning if absent from school. It is fair to say that the risk of absence will probably be greater this year than under normal circumstances. We have plans in place to support students who need to be absent from school during COVID 19.

If a student has to be at home due to displaying COVID symptoms, or because a family member is displaying symptoms we have put together ‘Always be Doing’ lists for students in KS3 and 4. These comprise of lists of work that students can work through for each subject. These are wide ranging but commonly include activities that will help students to review and consolidate earlier learning. Many of the activities and resources for the always be doing work can be found on our ‘All Users’ area, which students can access from the school website. Students have been shown how to access this. Students can also keep abreast of what’s happening in class and what has been set for homework by logging in to Show My Homework. We are emphasising work set on Show My Homework to sixth form students and encouraging them to support each other in ensuring they keep up to date by sending lesson notes and instructions if required to absent classmates. Parents and carers can find more information by visiting our website; our Key Stage 3 and 4 curriculum guides and post 16 prospectus outline content and can be found in the Key Information section.

If we do have to ask a whole year group to stay at home for a period of time due to a confirmed COVID case within the year group we currently plan to switch to remote learning during timetabled lesson time.

Meanwhile we are stressing the importance of every minute that we have in the classroom. We love having our students back in school, and doing what we enjoy doing best – teaching them in our classrooms, workshops, sports halls and studios. They have really impressed us with their desire to get on with learning. Long may this continue – fingers crossed in school, but should this not be possible at any time their desire to learn will be extra important in making a success of keeping up from home.

Guide for students accessing information if self-isolating

For any students self-isolating please see the guide below on how to access your school email account, VLE (virtual learning environment) and SMHW (Show My Homework) from the school website.

All resources and communication between school and students will be via these platforms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7oWZnLde9I&feature=youtu.be

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents/carers and young people can contact this helpline by calling 0800 046 8687. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

Mental Health support