Dear Parent / Carer

Thank you for your patience, support and understanding over the last few days. I know that there may have been considerable worry for some of you following my letter on Monday. We have worked really hard during this time to make sure we follow the appropriate advice from a range of partner agencies including Public Health England & Public Health Derbyshire. They have confirmed we are acting appropriately and with safety as the priority.

I am writing today to confirm;

1. As of today (Wednesday 16^th September) we have not been notified of any further confirmed cases of Covid in our school community.
2. Our work with PHE means we have been able to carefully track the timelines in this case and I can confirm that Y11 students will be able to return to school on Wednesday 23^rd September. It is important that they continue to self-isolate at home as a precautionary measure until this date. If your child becomes unwell with Covid symptoms before this date, they should not return to school in line with the attached guidance.

I am very pleased that we are able to bring them back in to the classroom earlier than we originally anticipated and we look forward to seeing them next week. In the meantime, our staff are focused on supporting them through remote learning.

Unfortunately, it is possible we will face this situation again at some point in the school year. You can be confident that we will deal with each situation as carefully and as sensitively as we have on this occasion. Please remember, there will be a different set of circumstances each time and we may respond in a similar or different way each time. I will always work with key partners in making our decisions. Our responsibilities for the safety of your children are always at the forefront of our thinking.

As you might expect, we have spent much of the last couple of days talking with families to reassure them about the safety of other year groups. To help with some of the frequently asked questions, I have attached a quick guide to parents to help you decide how you should act should you, your child or someone else in your family become unwell. I hope it helps you feel more confident in your decision making. Please keep it for future reference and we will issue an update should the guidance change. I have also repeated the guidance from PHE about what to do if your child develops Covid symptoms.

It is important that if you have reported Covid symptoms that the entire period of isolation is seen through unless you receive a negative test result. If you do receive a negative test result, please make sure you inform us before your child returns to school. If you receive a positive test result, please make sure you inform us as soon as possible so we can act accordingly.

I know it is a difficult and unsettling time in many ways. You should be very proud of the way your children are responding, both those at home and those who remain in school. They are an amazing bunch and they are doing a great job. The work they are doing in the classrooms and the way they are conducting themselves around school is superb.

Thank you and please keep reinforcing with your children the importance of following the advice and guidance around Covid. Between us, we are doing all we can to keep them safe and well.

Take care

Craig Yates - Headteacher

 

Advice from Public Health England - What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19 

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.   

All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection 

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. 

If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.

Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community

If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child or anyone in the household does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/ or by phoning 111.

How to stop COVID-19 spreading

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19

Do

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds 
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• wash your hands as soon as you get home
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Further Information

Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/