Dear Parent and Carers, 

31st January 2022

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am writing to inform you that the academy has reached the infection threshold that is set out in the school’s outbreak management plan for the number of pupils and staff that have tested positive for COVID-19 within a 10-day period. As a school, we have maintained our infection control measures which have successfully kept infection rates low; however, we will need to do more.

We have consulted with the local authority and our own Ark Schools Advisors. We will be taking the following actions to mitigate the spread:

• Continue to focus on in school hygiene with emphasis on handwashing and good practice around personal space, sneezing and coughing.
• Continue to ensure all spaces are well ventilated - in reflection of this, pupils will be permitted to wear hats, coats, etc., in class if cold.
• Staff will wear masks in all public areas and ensure that social distancing is effective in all communal areas.
• Day janitor will continue to clean high-frequency touchpoints across the school. More site staff support will be allocated to support the cleaning team.
• Staff will continue to complete at least two lateral flow tests per week.
• No cross-year group meetings or mixing unless unavoidable for the foreseeable future and there will be no in school assemblies, performances or events that will bring children together in a single space.
• Morning gate times will extend - 0820 - 0840 to encourage arrivals to spread further apart and we will keep the exit times 1530 – 1545 as this should be enough time for parents to arrive without a need to line up. However, we may need to return to a staggered Ks1/Ks2 exit if congestion is an issue at 1530.

We would ask that parents look out for the possible symptoms of the Omicron variant which are more cold/flu like than in in previous variants and may include a high temperature and/or a headache.  If in any doubt, please do not send your child to school and order a lateral flow test before attending the academy.  Parents can also support the school by reminding your children to: 

• wash their 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 their hands as soon as they get home
• cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or their sleeve (not their hands) when they cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash their hands afterwards

While we have more staff absent than usual who are self-isolating, we may need to balance staff across the academy to maintain staff/pupil ratios. We will endeavour to keep you updated as and when a staff change is necessary but we will not always be able to do so in advance.

 

We will continue to follow government and local guidance and maintain face to face teaching wherever possible.  If there is a need to move to a situation where individuals or year groups are learning remotely, we will provide you with as much notice as possible.  We will have sufficient learning posted on Seesaw and/or provided via Microsoft Teams to keep the children's education and wellbeing supported.

If we do need to move to a remote learning offer you will be provided with a guide on how to do so effectively.

 

As always, thank you for your support

Achievers of the Week 

Attendance 

 

Upcoming Events 

Principal's Q&A  3.2.22 - 1930
https://zoom.us/j/93027161795?pwd=RmRSbStnSTZ0bFlvc096a3BGdVN4UT09

Meeting ID: 930 2716 1795
Passcode: 1873

 

 

Latest Posts