Covid-19 Staffordshire Safety Measures - September 2021
Following advice given by Staffordshire County Council and the Health & Safety Local Outbreak Team, we are reinstating Covid-19 safety measures. This is in response to rising Covid-19 numbers in schools, particularly in Staffordshire, and exacerbated spread of the Delta Virus once in school.
We returned to school in September very cautiously, making very little change to our Covid-19 procedures and operational guidance implemented in the summer term. Following this week’s guidance we have been asked to take proactive action and we will:
In light of this very recent guidance, parents’ evening will revert to GoogleMeet appointments and Mrs Riley will issue appointment times very shortly.
The guidance, which is County Council guidance, has been shared with the DfE and has been recommended in light of high and increasing numbers in Staffordshire. It is not statutory guidance but is recommended to help slow the spread and rapid acceleration.
I ask that you please support our school by adhering to the following Staffordshire guidance:
The main symptoms of Covid-19 are:
If your child has any of the main symptoms of Covid-19, even if they are mild, you must arrange a PCR test to check if they have Covid-19 as soon as possible. Your child should stay at home until you get the test result.
It is once again a difficult time reinstating the control measures in our school but we do it in order to maintain, at all costs, face to face learning for our children.
My priority as a Headteacher is that the children’s education is continuous and that the children can learn together with their teacher in the classroom.
In restructuring and controlling some activities, we hope to minimise the chance of Covid-19 and its spread within our classes and school.
Thank you so much for your support and understanding.
The county recommendations will be reviewed at half term.
We returned to school in September very cautiously, making very little change to our Covid-19 procedures and operational guidance implemented in the summer term. Following this week’s guidance we have been asked to take proactive action and we will:
- Maintain staggered start and finish times. Please socially distance when you are on the school grounds and do not congregate.
- Keep our classes separate and not mix with other classes within school.
- Maintain our separate lunchtimes.
- Not gather indoors for assemblies.
- Ensure only professionals visit our school, having completed recent lateral flow tests.
- Ask all parents/carers to communicate with school via email/telephone.
- Maintain segregation of year groups in BUZZ.
- Continue with our cleaning, ventilation and hygiene procedures.
In light of this very recent guidance, parents’ evening will revert to GoogleMeet appointments and Mrs Riley will issue appointment times very shortly.
The guidance, which is County Council guidance, has been shared with the DfE and has been recommended in light of high and increasing numbers in Staffordshire. It is not statutory guidance but is recommended to help slow the spread and rapid acceleration.
I ask that you please support our school by adhering to the following Staffordshire guidance:
- In the event of a member of your household testing positive, all members of the household have a PCR test (this is recommended good practice).
- In the interest of others, pupils should not return to school until the PCR test result is known and only if the result is negative.
The main symptoms of Covid-19 are:
- A high temperature
- A new, continuous cough
- A loss or change to sense of smell or taste.
If your child has any of the main symptoms of Covid-19, even if they are mild, you must arrange a PCR test to check if they have Covid-19 as soon as possible. Your child should stay at home until you get the test result.
It is once again a difficult time reinstating the control measures in our school but we do it in order to maintain, at all costs, face to face learning for our children.
My priority as a Headteacher is that the children’s education is continuous and that the children can learn together with their teacher in the classroom.
In restructuring and controlling some activities, we hope to minimise the chance of Covid-19 and its spread within our classes and school.
Thank you so much for your support and understanding.
The county recommendations will be reviewed at half term.
School's reopening - Monday 8th March
24th February 2021
Dear Parents and Carers
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday evening, you will be aware that it has now been confirmed that schools in England will be open for all children on Monday 8th March.
We are very much looking forward to seeing the children back in school and the children who have been in school are definitely looking forward to having their friends back in the classroom!
We hope this announcement marks the beginning of a new consistent and positive time for us all.
The school will be following and implementing the strict guidance that has been sent through. Once again, there will be measures in place to protect all families through the “bubbles”, cleaning procedures and timings of the day.
Full information will be provided next week.
The guidance is very clear that attendance for all primary school children is mandatory. This means all children will be in school on Monday 8th March.
In the meantime, children who are accessing learning from home need to continue to complete their work so that they are at the same point of learning as children currently in school.
If there are any queries that need urgent attention, please contact the office and a member of staff will be in touch.
Kind regards.
Mrs C Lowe
Headteacher
Dear Parents and Carers
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday evening, you will be aware that it has now been confirmed that schools in England will be open for all children on Monday 8th March.
We are very much looking forward to seeing the children back in school and the children who have been in school are definitely looking forward to having their friends back in the classroom!
We hope this announcement marks the beginning of a new consistent and positive time for us all.
The school will be following and implementing the strict guidance that has been sent through. Once again, there will be measures in place to protect all families through the “bubbles”, cleaning procedures and timings of the day.
Full information will be provided next week.
The guidance is very clear that attendance for all primary school children is mandatory. This means all children will be in school on Monday 8th March.
In the meantime, children who are accessing learning from home need to continue to complete their work so that they are at the same point of learning as children currently in school.
If there are any queries that need urgent attention, please contact the office and a member of staff will be in touch.
Kind regards.
Mrs C Lowe
Headteacher
| letter_to_parents_re_school_reopening_8th_march_2021.pdf |
| updated_for_8th_march_2021_schools_coronavirus_operational_guidance.pdf |
Remote Education
So that parents know what to expect from their school if they need to self-isolate or local/national restrictions require them to remain at home, the DfE has asked us to publish information about our remote education provision.
So that parents know what to expect from their school if they need to self-isolate or local/national restrictions require them to remain at home, the DfE has asked us to publish information about our remote education provision.
4th February 2021
Remote Education - Feedback
In the current situation we have endeavoured to combine our videos, work packs and drop in sessions to encompass and offer an accessible and flexible system of learning. However, we would welcome any feedback that you may have – we'd particularly like to know what’s going well, what challenges you face and what you’d like to improve.
Learning from your perspectives will help us. Feedback will be shared with staff and governors.
Remote Education - Feedback
In the current situation we have endeavoured to combine our videos, work packs and drop in sessions to encompass and offer an accessible and flexible system of learning. However, we would welcome any feedback that you may have – we'd particularly like to know what’s going well, what challenges you face and what you’d like to improve.
Learning from your perspectives will help us. Feedback will be shared with staff and governors.
27th January 2021
Consent form for provision of Google Meet drop-ins during school closure
7th January 2021
Thank you for your patience and co-operation as we once again have had to enter a period of partial closure here at Baldwins Gate Primary School. This is a complex process and, with little guidance from the Government, we want to make you aware that the plans we have made are subject to change if further restrictions are enforced.
Our main concern remains the wellbeing of pupils, staff and the school community in light of raised levels of COVID transmissions. We will continue to keep our school a safe, clean environment as before. The only way we can endeavour to maintain a safe environment is by limiting pupil numbers, which are already higher than they were in the previous partial closure of the school, so we ask that you do not send eligible pupils in unless absolutely necessary.
Home Learning
From Monday emails will be sent from your class teacher with a link to a video recording providing an introduction to the day’s work. Learning resources for that day will be attached. This will mirror the work being completed in pods in school on that day. Please contact school if you in need of printed resources for the week or any specific resources. We can make arrangements for you to collect these from school.
Class teachers will be available via email during the school week but all staff are working in pods and while they will make every effort to respond as quickly as possible, it is likely that replies will be sent the following day.
IT Devices
As a school we can request from the government mobile data increases for children who perhaps do not have fixed broadband at home. If this is something that is of interest to you, please contact Mrs Riley in the school office. You will need to provide:
We have been informed that the DfE has allocated five devices (laptops) to our school but they are prioritising dispatch and we have received no indication as to when we can expect to take delivery. We are not currently a disadvantaged area and are therefore low priority.
Free School Meals
I know that Mrs Riley has been in touch with eligible families to advise that we are awaiting information from the DfE on a potential voucher scheme. If any of our families believe that they may be eligible for free school meals you can apply online on the Staffordshire County Council website and a link is provided below.
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Educational-awards-benefits/FreeSchoolMeals/Apply-online.aspx
On a final note, I would like to personally thank school staff who continue, despite their own worries and concerns, to be dedicated to the children.
Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.
Mrs C Lowe
Headteacher
Thank you for your patience and co-operation as we once again have had to enter a period of partial closure here at Baldwins Gate Primary School. This is a complex process and, with little guidance from the Government, we want to make you aware that the plans we have made are subject to change if further restrictions are enforced.
Our main concern remains the wellbeing of pupils, staff and the school community in light of raised levels of COVID transmissions. We will continue to keep our school a safe, clean environment as before. The only way we can endeavour to maintain a safe environment is by limiting pupil numbers, which are already higher than they were in the previous partial closure of the school, so we ask that you do not send eligible pupils in unless absolutely necessary.
Home Learning
From Monday emails will be sent from your class teacher with a link to a video recording providing an introduction to the day’s work. Learning resources for that day will be attached. This will mirror the work being completed in pods in school on that day. Please contact school if you in need of printed resources for the week or any specific resources. We can make arrangements for you to collect these from school.
Class teachers will be available via email during the school week but all staff are working in pods and while they will make every effort to respond as quickly as possible, it is likely that replies will be sent the following day.
IT Devices
As a school we can request from the government mobile data increases for children who perhaps do not have fixed broadband at home. If this is something that is of interest to you, please contact Mrs Riley in the school office. You will need to provide:
- the name of the account holder
- the number of the mobile device
- the mobile network of that device (for example Three)
We have been informed that the DfE has allocated five devices (laptops) to our school but they are prioritising dispatch and we have received no indication as to when we can expect to take delivery. We are not currently a disadvantaged area and are therefore low priority.
Free School Meals
I know that Mrs Riley has been in touch with eligible families to advise that we are awaiting information from the DfE on a potential voucher scheme. If any of our families believe that they may be eligible for free school meals you can apply online on the Staffordshire County Council website and a link is provided below.
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Educational-awards-benefits/FreeSchoolMeals/Apply-online.aspx
On a final note, I would like to personally thank school staff who continue, despite their own worries and concerns, to be dedicated to the children.
Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.
Mrs C Lowe
Headteacher
School Closure - Critical Worker Provision
Thank you for submitting your form.
The deadline has now passed and we are unable to accept any further requests for critical worker provision.
Thank you for submitting your form.
The deadline has now passed and we are unable to accept any further requests for critical worker provision.
