Jamie to Stay at Home til 4th December

 26th November 2020 

Dear Parent/Carer I am writing to you to because we have been advised by the LCC Health Protection Team to send home some children from Year 7 as one student has tested positive for Covid-19. This is with immediate effect and for a duration of 14 days since last contact. 

I was informed at 10.15am this morning that a child who has not been in school since Thursday 19th November, has since tested positive. 

A number of children have been in direct prolonged contact with the confirmed case and since their last contact with the child was on Thursday 19th November, they should stay at home for 7 days and return on Friday 4th December. 

Your child has been identified as one of those who may have had contact and therefore will need to stay home with immediate effect. 

On the advice of the Health Protection Team, only those children who have had contact with this youngster need to self-isolate for 14 days since the last contact – they do not need to be tested unless they become symptomatic and their household do not need to self-isolate unless the contact gets symptoms. 

We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This email is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. 

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/askfor-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. More information can be found regarding testing here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works  

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-stayat-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid19-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. 

If you are eligible for Free School Meals, please contact the Academy if you would like to collect a meal from the Academy during your child’s period of isolation. 

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. 

Decided to put the Christmas Tree up early - why not?

All the Christmas Bears are home

 

General Update - Covid17

1 November 2020 

Dear Parent/Carer General update – Covid-19 As half term comes to an end and we return tomorrow to a seven week half term, I am writing to you with my latest update. 

It is clear that the country stands on the edge of a precipice in relation to soaring coronavirus infections. Fortunately, we have seen a smaller infection rate in Lincolnshire comparative to other authorities but, despite being relative, the rate locally continues to rise. 

Covid-19 As I write, the infection rate in North Kesteven has risen yet again, as has the national average. When I last wrote to you, there were 107 cases per 100,000 people. It now stands at 132 cases. The national average is 149, which has also risen dramatically. What is more concerning is the infection rate in Lincoln itself. This now stands at 280 cases per 100,000. The last time I wrote it stood at 178. 

As a result of the above data and the impending national lockdown, I will be strengthening our Covid security measures from this week. Whilst this mainly affects only staff, it is prudent to share this with you all. 

Firstly, our risk assessment has always been clear. Parents should not attend our site under any circumstances without an appointment. Whilst I am incredibly grateful to the overwhelming majority of parents who have supported us with this so far this academic year, despite several communications from me, this has been routinely ignored by a small group. If you do not have an appointment we will not be able to meet with you. Please ring ahead so that we may try to accommodate you. We will also be ensuring that we only meet face to face from now on in the most serious of circumstances. This is being done to protect all students and staff at the Academy. 

You will have seen in the press that the national lockdown will see us remain open as normally as possible. For this to happen and be successful, we will need your support as infections continue to rise. We will not see the benefit of any lockdown for at least a fortnight so I need to ensure that the site is, and remains, Covid-secure. This is a mammoth task on a daily basis so please help us to help you keep your children in school until Christmas without disruption. 

From today, all meetings will revert to virtual settings. I will be holding no staff briefings except via email and all teacher meetings will revert to Microsoft Teams, even if the meetings are internal only. This is to ensure we can comply with the Rule of 6 amongst adults, especially as infections continue to rise. 

In addition, I will be sending all staff home by 4.30pm each day so that site staff and my cleaning team can have the full run of the site to double down on any areas which need deep cleaning or urgent maintenance. This will not be negotiable and staff will be expected to comply. 

Any site tours that were booked in will be postponed and rearranged for after the national lockdown ends. I want to ensure that I limit all forms of risk in every scenario over the next month. 

It is only with this level of meticulousness that we will be able to continue to provide the service we offer. I expect that students and parents will see little or no change to the service we offer as this is our core aim. 

If any parents have any concerns at all, please contact us at the Academy using the email address COVID@srpa.co.uk. This will make it directly to me where I will be able to help and will do my best to prioritise your concern. 

During Wave 2 of the virus, we will stand our posts for all students until such time as someone turns the lights out and advises me that I must close the Academy. It is the right and proper thing to do. Rest assured we will battle on, but, it is a battle. My staff are moving mountains but they are world-weary, even after the half term, as we have been preparing for the coming half term and its various challenges. We will need you to be understanding and to support us in what will be a massive task. Where possible, we will remain as ‘normal.’ Where this isn’t possible I will tell you. In the meantime, we will continue to offer you the best of ourselves to ensure we leave no student behind and serve our fine community to the best of our ability. 

In the words of Margaret Thatcher, “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”