Coronavirus Information

This page will have the information we send to parents about Covid19, It is regularly updated. Please ensure that you regularly check the information sent out.  As a Leadership Team we want to ensure that in all that we do, the children and school community's safety, good health and well-being remain a priority. It is all part of our 'keeping children safe in education' ethos and culture during lockdown and beyond.

The key words we will be focusing upon along with our Mission and Vision are:

'Review, Reflect & Recover'

Learning  to live with Covid 19: February 2022 Update 

"On 21 February the Prime Minister set out the next phase of the Government’s COVID19 response. COVID-19 continues to be a virus that we learn to live with and the imperative to reduce the disruption to children and young people’s education remains."

"From Thursday 24 February, the Government will remove the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. Adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days, and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days."

The school will be following the guidance as set out in this document:  Schools Covid19 Operational Guidance (February 2022)

The following points have been implemented across the school:

• It is no longer compulsory to wear face coverings in school and it is optional for staff and visitors;

• We will be retaining good hygiene procedures and pupils will have regular sanitising;

• We will maintain appropriate cleaning regimes;

• We will keep occupied spaces well ventilated. The CO2 monitors that have been provided and installed in each classroom will be monitored, so staff can quickly identify where ventilation needs to be improved;

• Where appropriate, we will continue to support those who are self-isolating because they have tested positive to work or learn from home if they are well enough to do so using our online google learning platform and keeping in touch with the class;

• We recognise that some pupils may be experiencing a variety of emotions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as anxiety, stress or low mood and will maintain the wellbeing touch base sessions using the personnel and resources we have in school;

• As a school we will follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19;

• The 'bubbles' will cease and we are welcoming back whole school worship and events;

• Parents will be able to come into school and resume the 'helping in school' and also participate in school based events that take place inside;

• We will continue to take the weekly photographs so that we can assess any potential outbreak that could impact upon learning. We recognise that contacts are no longer required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests, and contact tracing has ended but the procedure we have in place is for in school purpose;

• If a parent or carer insists on a pupil attending our school where they have a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, we can take the decision to refuse the pupil if, in our reasonable judgement, it is necessary to protect other pupils and staff from possible infection with COVID-19. We sincerely hope this will not be necessary.

Safeguarding & Risk Assessment

Even though the lockdown has stopped, as a school we continue to carry out regular reviews and assessment to ensure our school and its community is kept safe. All documents relating to safeguarding can be found by following this link:

• Risk Assessment 2021-2022 - Out of Lockdown and Moving Forward As A School Community (Updated February 2022 following Government guidance of 24th February 2022)

• St. Michael's CE School Outbreak Management Plan (As outlined by the DfE document September 2021)

• Pictorial Outbreak Management Plan Updated January 2022

• Safeguarding at St.  Michael’s

The school risk assessment is an ongoing working document that is constantly under review and updated as guided by Government directives and that of the Local Authority. We have also drafted the recommended 'Outbreak Management Plan' as advised by the Department of Education publication entitled “Contingency Framework: Education & Childcare Settings (August 2021). 

Spring Term 2022 Update: Review of measures in light of ending of restrictions anf moving forward...

A further review of school procedures was carried out in light of the Government guidance sent to all school settings on February 25th 2022 in light of the ending of Covid19 restrictions across the country. The Risk Assessment has been duly updated.  The school still maintains a 'Quarantine register' of cases and also takes a class photo at the start of each week to use in the event of an outbreak and assess close proximity. 

• AMG Covid Letter 7: February 25th 2022: 'Learning to live with Covid'

• Schools Covid19 Operational Guidance (February 2022)

• DfE Guidance January 2022

• AMG Covid Letter Overview 6: January 25th 2022: Update on Changes

• AMG Covid Letter 5: January 4th 2022: Changes

Autumn Term 2021 Update: Amber Measures in place

The guidance for the Government has changed and pupils are able to attend school even if there is a positive case in the family. We ask parents to keep us informed so that we can track and monitor cases in the event of having to implement our 'Outbreak Management Plan'.

The school maintains a 'Quarantine register' of cases and also takes a class photo at the start of each week to use in the event of an outbreak and assess close proximity and points of contact.  Furthermore, a letter is sent to parents of the class informing them of an outbreak and advising additional vigilance.

• AMG Covid Letter 4: December 4th: Important Update on Covid Cases

• AMG Covid Letter 3: November 29th Update on Procedures

• AMG Covid Letter 2: November 26th Increase in cases

• AMG Covid Letter 1: November 25th: Notification of Increase of cases 

Government Guidance

Spring Term 2022

Guidance on managing COVID-19 in different settings

• Contingency framework for managing local outbreaks of COVID-19 in education and childcare settings

• Guidance on running and managing early years, schools, colleges and other education providers during COVID-19

Advice for parents and carers during COVID-19

• Information for parents and carers about attending schools, nurseries and colleges during COVID-19

• Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during COVID-19

Summer/Autumn Term 2021

• Road Map Out of Lockdown: Government Guidance  for Educational Settings May 2021

• https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

• https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-toknow/

• Coronavirus-Public-Information Poster

If families become concerned that they may have the virus, they are advised to make immediate contact with NHS111 and follow their advice.  It is also very important that the school office is informed immediately.