Coronavirus Information

New Isolation Guidance January 2022
From Monday 17th January, individuals with COVID-19 in England can end their self-isolation after 5 full days, as long as they test negative on day 5 and day 6 via Rapid Lateral Flow tests.
  • Those isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative on both day 5 & 6 and DO NOT have a temperature
  • Individuals who remain positive after their Lateral Flow tests must stay in isolation until they have had two consecutive negative tests taken on SEPARATE days
 
For further information please refer to the GOV.UK Website
From 1st November 2021
Please see below further additional revised measures for educational settings, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. 
October 2021 Updates 
Please see the new guidance, below, from Suffolk County Council, outlining new coronavirus measures within schools, from the 6th of October.
Back to School Information Updates for September 2021 
Please take a look at our 'Back to School' Parent letter, below, which outlines the revised procedures, for this new school year, along with  some essential information to help you start the new term. This should be read in conjunction with our updated risk assessment, also below, and the NHS/DFE parent leaflet. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or queries relating to any of the above. 
 
Covid-19 Isolation (July 2021) 
We have been asked to clarify the following:
Should a family member display symptoms of Covid-19 or be required to take a PCR test, the guidance from www.gov.uk applies. “Your isolation period starts immediately from when your symptoms started, or, if you do not have any symptoms from the day your test was taken. Your isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms), and the next 10 full days”. For further guidance, please see ‘Stay at home guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronaviarus infection’. Updated 8th July 2021 - Step 4 update - what parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Guidance from Suffolk County Council (March 2021) 
We have been asked to share the following with Parents and Carers: ‘If there is a positive case within a household, and siblings are identified as close contacts, please could parents and carers notify any other educational settings that the siblings attend. This allows those settings to be alerted to the potential of infection within their own setting.’
 
Guidance is available from the Department for Education to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education. The helpline details are as follows:

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk 

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday
 
Government guidance for full school re-opening from the 8th March is available on the following link: Full school Opening Guidance from March 8th
Information from the DfE (Updated March 2021) 
We have been asked to share the following information with parents and carers:
Asymptomatic testing information for parents and adults in households with children at school or college, NHS Test and Trace announced earlier this week, that all adults in households with school and college age children without symptoms can now access regular rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing.Test kits can either be collected or ordered online.
Secondary school and college students will continue to access testing through their school or college. Please share the information below with your parent networks to help answer any questions they may have.
Undertaking regular, rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing helps reduce transmission of the virus. Parents and other adults in households with children at school or college, who do not have symptoms, can now access regular, rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing. This includes childcare and support bubbles. Tests are fast, easy and completely free. There are different ways for a household, childcare or support bubble to collect their test to take at home, twice-weekly:  through your employer, if they offer testing to employees, by collecting a home test kit from a local test site – anyone aged 18 or over can collect 2 packs of 7 tests,  by ordering a home test kit online – please do not order online if you can access testing through other routes, this frees up home delivery for those who need it most.
If you have any queries about the tests, and you live in England, please call 119 (free from mobiles and landlines). Lines are open every day from 7am to 11pm. Children of primary school age (and below) without symptoms are not being asked to take a test.
Testing is voluntary, but strongly recommended to all who are eligible. Alongside the vaccine, washing hands, wearing face coverings, and maintaining social distancing, rapid testing plays a vital role in reducing transmission rates. Getting into the habit of regular testing as part of our everyday lives will help us all to play our part and do what we can to protect each other.
 
September 2020 Opening
We are pleased we have been able to remain open and provide  continuous provision for Key Workers since March and will continue with the same rigorous standard of safety and care now that we are fully open. I am sure you would like to join me in thanking the staff for their commitment.
Many thanks for your continued support.
 
Classroom Ventilation
It is essential that children come to school wearing enough clothing to keep warm, under National and Suffolk County guidelines we are required to keep classroom windows and internal doors open to ensure adequate ventilation. This unfortunately makes sitting still in classrooms quite cold. Your child may need extra layers under their school shirt or t-shirt along with a warm jumper. Leggings under skirts/dresses maybe helpful in combating the cold weather. Our children are encouraged to be active during their playtimes so a warm coat is essential for outdoor break and lunch times.
 
 
Social Distancing
Following some concerns which have been raised with the school we would like to clarify our expectations to safely manage transition to and from school:
 
We will require parents and families to adhere to social distancing guidelines on the slip road up to school and by the school gates. To support school safety, no adults will be allowed into the playground or on site, and children will be welcomed at the gates, and brought to the gate at the end of the day. Children in Mars Class will use their own door into the class room. Neptune Class will use the Neptune door by the pedestrian gate. Jupiter Class will come in and depart via the main school entrance door. Saturn Class will come in and depart by the playground door. To support families in observing social distancing, children may be brought to school anytime from 8.30 – 9am, but we would ask parents to be mindful of how many families are on the slip road at any one time.  Children should not run ahead of their adults. For the convenience of families and to avoid unnecessary waiting around on the village green, we are not setting arrival times by year group. To help parents with social distancing, children will be dismissed in alphabetical order by surname within each class, so although we do not expect parents to “line up”, this will help them organise themselves in a way that supports minimum contact. Only one adult per family should be bringing and collecting children at the gates. Whilst the play area on the village green is not the responsibility of the school, we would request that families actively model compliance with expectations and guidance for its use, including social distancing by waiting adults.