LA Risk assessment for schools 29.4. 2022
Dear Parents and Carers,
I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year and hope that this letter finds you all safe and well. As you are aware, we are currently using today and tomorrow as planning and preparation days, as advised by the Local Authority. This is enabling us to assess the current situation in terms of Covid-19 and what it means for schools.
My apologies for bombarding you with the following information but we are faced with yet another challenging term where changes to guidance for school settings are very different to what they have been previously. Guidance within the school setting is often very different to what it is in our community. Our main priority is to keep the school open and fully operational for all classes, therefore, it is our intention that ALL pupils will return to school on Thursday 6th January 2022.
There may be some instances that we will have staff shortages because of Covid related illnesses or self-isolation where we may be required to make some local decisions based on circumstances we are dealing with. This will always be based on the advice and guidance that the Welsh Government and Local Authority provide, as well as advice given to us by the Track and Trace Team.
Please respect our requests from school relating to Covid symptoms, household contacts, the need to carry out daily Lateral Flow tests and work with us. We feel that short-term absences from school will be far more beneficial in the longer term and enable us to keep classes open.
In order to keep transmission low to ‘Keep Wales Safe’ parents /carers must continue to be vigilant for symptoms of Covid, including not sending children to school if they have symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19. It is vital that parents and carers keep us informed if anyone at home tests positive for Covid. All household contacts are now required to take daily lateral flow tests, whilst there is a positive case in the home. Results of these will be asked for by school staff so that children can continue to come to school. Should you feel that you do not wish to carry out these daily tests with your child then you will need to keep your child home for 10 days to isolate. School will fully support your decision to do so. At present it is the parents’ responsibility to get Lateral Flow Tests. In future these may be available from school however, we are awaiting further information regarding this supply.
Please remember the main symptoms for Coronavirus, are as follows:
· A new persistent cough
· A high temperature
· A loss or change in their normal sense of taste or smell
If a child or member of staff displays any of the above symptoms they will be sent home immediately and advised to follow the guidance i.e. the individual will begin 5 days self-isolation and should arrange a Covid-19 PCR test. New guidance now states that if a positive person takes a negative lateral flow test on days 6 and 7 they can end isolation early. Proof of this will need to be shown to staff so that children can return to school.
· Face coverings MUST be worn by parents and carers when on school premises
· If your child is attending Breakfast Club, they should arrive between 8.15am- 8.30am
· Foundation Phase pupils attending Breakfast Club must be taken by an adult to the FP entrance where they will be greeted by a member of staff
· Pupils should return to school in full school uniform
· There will continue to be restrictions regarding visitors onto school premises and we will continue to carry out strict routines around regular hand washing, hygiene and sanitising throughout the day.
· It is recommended that pupils limit the amount of equipment they bring in to school each day, to only bring the essentials such as a lunch box and coat.
· For the next 2 weeks there will be no extra-curricular clubs. We will review this and let you know when they can resume.
Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, the pupils and all the staff for your continued support in these unprecedented times and wish to thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding.
