Coronavirus - Information for Parents
Dear Parent/Carer
I must thank you for your wonderful response to our contingency planning process. As our multi-academy motto states, we are ‘Better Together’.
In line with government advice, you or someone you live with are now asked to stay at home for 14 days if they have either a high temperature (37.8 degrees and above), breathing difficulties or a new, continuous cough. This will help to protect others in the community while they are infectious. The government has advised that, if a person has these symptoms, they should not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. They do not need to contact NHS 111 as the NHS will not be testing people who are self-isolating with mild symptoms. The government is clear that, if a pupil/student or a member of staff is in self-isolation, they:
· must stay at home.
· must not go to public areas, and must not use public transport or taxis.
We ask you to use your judgement and thank you, in advance, for your co-operation regarding the above. Absences will not be authorised if a child is simply kept at home if they, or a person they live with, are not displaying any symptoms or is seen in public as this does not follow the government guidelines.
If your child is in self-isolation due to a family member being ill, he/she should continue to work at home.
We ask for your understanding if classes have to be merged or taught in larger groups in school due to staff being off sick or in self-isolation. Times like this hit small, rural schools particularly hard and we thank you for your understanding.
We have taken the following additional actions:
· Cancelled planned trips between now and the end of term.
· Cancelled events such as, reading workshops etc.
· Cancelled parents’ evenings/meetings and other events between now and the end of term.
· Restricted staff attending training etc during the day.
I hope you recognise that the above actions are being taken in the best interests of your child, the staff and the whole community.
Once again, I thank you, in anticipation, for your support in these extraordinary times.
Please continue to remember the vulnerable in our society, all coronavirus sufferers and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
God Bless
Mrs B Corbett
The Department for Education has launched a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 (more commonly known as Corona virus) related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:
· phone: 0800 046 8687
· email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
The opening hours are 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday).
The latest guidance for education settings is available on GOV.UK.
Coronavirus - information for parents:
Coronavirus: latest Information from Public Health England
Posted by school: 28th February, 2020
What are the signs and symptoms of this new virus?
The symptoms of this new coronavirus (now known as COVID-19) include fever and respiratory symptoms including coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath. The current evidence is that most cases appear to be mild.
If you have returned from these specific areas since February 19, you should call NHS 111 and stay indoors and avoid contact with other people even if you do not have symptoms:
- Iran
- Specific lockdown areas in the Lombardy and Veneto regions of Northern Italy as designated by the Government of Italy
- Daegu or Cheongdo in South Korea
- Hubei province (returned in the past 14 days)
If you have returned from these areas since February 19th and develop symptoms, however mild, you should stay indoors at home and avoid contact with other people immediately and call NHS 111:
- Northern Italy (defined as North of Pisa but not including Pisa, Florence and Rimini)
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
If you have a cough, or fever or shortness of breath and have visited any of the following areas in the last 14 days
- China
- Thailand
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Macau
Stay indoors and call NHS 111 informing them of your recent travel to the city.
What does self-isolation mean for people who don’t have symptoms?
Just like when you have the flu, individuals should remain at home and should not go to work, school or public areas. Where possible, individuals should avoid having visitors to their home but it is ok for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food. Individuals should not use public transport or taxis until 14 days after their return from Wuhan.
Individuals should monitor their symptoms and call NHS 111 (or your national alternative) if they develop any of the following symptoms – fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
How does this new coronavirus spread – I’m concerned I could catch it?
Because it's a new illness, we do not know exactly how it spreads from person to person, but similar viruses spread by cough droplets or sneeze droplets. These droplets fall on people in the vicinity and can be directly inhaled or picked up on the hands and transferred when someone touches their face.
How long any respiratory virus survives will depend on a number of factors; for example:
- what surface the virus is on
- whether it is exposed to sunlight
- differences in temperature and humidity
- exposure to cleaning products
Under most circumstances, the amount of infectious virus on any contaminated surfaces is likely to have decreased significantly by 24 hours, and even more so by 48 hours.
We will continue to update you as necessary and thank you for your co-operation. For full information, please click on the following links:
https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/