Dear Parents/carers,
Return to School : January 2022
I hope you had a peaceful Christmas, and we look forward to welcoming the children back to school tomorrow.
In the meantime, there are a number of updates that I need to share with you as follows:
Breakfast and After School Clubs
Unfortunately, due to staffing shortages, we will not be able to offer breakfast club this week. Instead, bagels will be made available in classrooms from 8.55am. As you are aware, after school clubs were due to commence next week. We will advise before Friday if we are able to run breakfast and/or after school clubs next week.
Swimming
Year 3 will be going swimming tomorrow, Wednesday 5th January to Friday 7th January.
Year 4 will be going swimming Monday 10th January to Friday 14th January.
Year 5 will be going swimming Monday 17th January to Friday 21st January.
All children should bring their swimming costumes/trunks and towels in a separate bag.
Changes to self-isolation period for positive cases of COVID-19
On 22nd December, the 10 day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 reduced to 7 days in most circumstances, unless you cannot test for any reason.
Individuals may now take LFD tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion.
If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to your education setting from day 7.
Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.
Further information is available in the ‘Stay at Home: Guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.’
Daily testing for close contacts of COVID-19
People who are fully vaccinated, or children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months, identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should take an LFD test every day for seven days and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time. It is also recommended that you take a PCR test.
Individuals returning to the UK from abroad
All children and adults travelling to England must adhere to government travel advice in travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19).
- Children aged 4 and under do not have to take any COVID-19 travel tests.
- Children aged 12 to 17 must take a COVID-19 test in the 2 days before travel to England.
- Children aged 5 to 17 have to follow the testing and quarantine rules for people who qualify as fully vaccinated on arrival in England.
This means that they have to quarantine on arrival and take a PCR test on or before day 2.
They may end their isolation once they receive a negative result. If the result is positive, they should continue to isolate and follow rules on isolation following a positive test.
Unvaccinated arrivals aged over 18 must follow current guidelines
General
We will do all we can to minimise disruption to teaching and learning this term, which may mean using temporary and support staff more flexibly to ensure pupils can remain in school. We will also return to remote home learning for children unable to attend school due to illness or COVID-19 isolation.
I am sure you can appreciate the pressure all schools will be facing in the current high wave of infections and I thank you in advance for your cooperation and support as we navigate our way through the new term together as a school community.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs C. Hughes
Acting Headteacher