Newburgh C of E Primary School
Covid-19
2021-2022 School Year
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Changes to measures and guidance for managing COVID-19 in education and childcare settings from Friday 1 April Free COVID-19 tests will continue to be available for specific groups, including eligible patients and NHS staff, once the universal testing offer ends on Friday 1 April. Updated guidance will advise:
The population now has much stronger protection against COVID-19 than at any other point in the pandemic. This means we can begin to manage the virus like other respiratory infections, thanks to the success of the vaccination programme and access to antivirals, alongside natural immunity and increased scientific and public understanding about how to manage risk. |
LFD Notification Form - School
Living with Covid-19 guidance 24.02.22:
From Thursday 24th February 2022 the living with Covid guidance is as follows:
- Daily testing and self isolation for close contacts of Covid-19 is no longer required.
- It is no longer a legal requirement to self isolate if you test positive for Covid-19 however the following guidance from www.gov.uk still applies:
If you have COVID-19, stay at home and avoid contact with other people
If you have COVID-19 you can infect other people from 2 days before your symptoms start, and for up to 10 days after. You can pass on the infection to others, even if you have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. If you have COVID-19 you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
You should:
- not attend work. If you are unable to work from home, you should talk to your employer about options available to you. You may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay
- ask friends, family, neighbours or volunteers to get food and other essentials for you
- not invite social visitors into your home, including friends and family
- postpone all non-essential services and repairs that require a home visit
- cancel routine medical and dental appointments. If you are concerned about your health or you have been asked to attend an appointment in person during this time, discuss this with your medical contact and let them know about your symptoms or your test result
- if you can, let people who you have been in close contact with know about your positive test result so that they can follow this guidance
Many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days. You may choose to take an LFD test from 5 days after your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you did not have symptoms) followed by another LFD test the next day. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, the risk that you are still infectious is much lower and you can safely return to your normal routine.
How to safely return to your normal routine before 10 days
If your day 5 LFD test result is positive, you can continue taking LFD tests until you receive 2 consecutive negative test results.
Children and young people with COVID-19 should not attend their education setting while they are infectious. They should take an LFD test from 5 days after their symptoms started (or the day their test was taken if they did not have symptoms) followed by another one the next day. If both these tests results are negative, they should return to their educational setting if they normally attend one, as long as they feel well enough to do so and do not have a temperature. They should follow the guidance for their educational setting.
Avoid meeting people at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from COVID-19, especially those with a severely weakened immune system, for the 10 days after your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you did not have symptoms).
While you are infectious there is a high risk of passing on COVID-19 to others in your household. These are simple things you can do to help prevent the spread:
- keep your distance from other people you live with and spend as little time as possible in shared areas such as kitchens and living rooms. This is particularly important if someone you live with is unvaccinated or at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from COVID-19, especially those with a severely weakened immune system
- if you need to spend time in shared areas wear a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask. Ventilate the room by opening windows and leaving them open for at least 10 minutes after you have left the room. Leave extractor fans running for longer than usual with the door closed after use
- cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of tissues into a rubbish bag and immediately wash your hands or use hand sanitiser
- wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose and before you eat or handle food. Avoid touching your face
- if you can, use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. If this is not possible try and use the bathroom after everyone else
- regularly clean frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles and remote controls, and shared areas such as kitchens and bathrooms
GermDefence is a useful website that can help you identify ways to protect yourself and others in your household from COVID-19. It provides scientifically proven advice on reducing the risks from COVID-19 and other viruses in your home.
Latest Positive Covid-19 Case Contacts 08.02.22:
Children attending school/clubs on the dates listed below are recommended to participate in daily LFD testing for 7 days from the contact date.
Nursery -
Reception/Crane -
Year 1/Halton -
Year 2/Lucas -
Year 3/Rigby 3 -
Year 4/Rigby 4 -
Year 5&6/Venables -
Breakfast Club -
After School Club -
Netball Club -
14th January 2022 - Updated Covid-19 Guidance
From Monday 17th January 2022 the isolation times for children and fully vaccinated adults will reduce to five full days. An LFD test may be used on days 5 and 6. If both tests are negative and you do not have a high temperature, isolation can end. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 and then second test must be 24 hours after the first test. Test results should be reported to school and to Gov.uk. This also applies to children under the age of 5 who have tested positive for Covid-19 in order to end their isolation early. If you are unable to carry out an LFD test for any reason you must complete 10 full days of isolation.
Please note the day of the positive test or symptoms started is day 0. In cases where 10 full days of isolation are required, isolation ends at 23.59 on day 10 as per the diagram below.
After testing positive for Covid-19 and completing isolation contact testing using LFD testing may resume 14 days after your positive test.
6th January 2022 - Updated Covid-19 Guidance
As I am sure you are aware there have been several updates to the Covid-19 guidance with more updates due next week. As a school I have the following updates to share with you.
We continue to update risk assessments, ensure hygiene measures are followed, maintain appropriate cleaning regimes and keep occupied spaces well ventilated. We have installed CO2 monitors in the classrooms and use these tools to monitor ventilation levels.
We continue to operate as whole school currently as appropriate with breakfast and afterschool club operating as one group.
PCR Testing
Currently a PCR test must take place for any individual displaying the 3 main Covid-19 symptoms:
- High temperature
- New, continuous cough
- Loss, or change to your sense of smell or taste.
Children should not attend school with any of these symptoms, or if they have had a positive PCR test. Parents must inform school immediately in the event of receiving a positive PCR test result.
A PCR test should also take place in the event of undertaking an LFD which is positive (this guidance will change on Tuesday 11th January when a confirmation PCR will no longer be required to confirm a positive LFD test). In the event of testing positive using an LFD from Tuesday 11th January isolation must occur immediately and school must be notified of this result using our LFD Notification Form.
LFD Testing
Many of you may already be engaging in regular LFD testing in order to protect our community for which we thank you. There is no need to notify school of LFD results in the event of this testing, unless your child tests positive in which case inform school using the link above.
If your child is identified as a contact of a positive case of Covid-19 there is no need to isolate but you may be advised to complete a daily LFD and report this result to school (using the form above) and to Gov.uk for 7 days after the contact occurred. Daily testing in this way will help to reduce transmission and keep children in face to face education. Should contact take place in school you will be notified by a ‘Warn and Inform Letter’ so you can proceed accordingly. Children under the age of 5 are exempt from this.
In the event of there being a confirmed case of Covid-19 in households children will be required to participate in daily LFD testing in the morning before attending school. This result must be reported to school and Gov.uk using the respective forms. In order to prevent transmission from households to school community we will continue to support parents who wish to isolate as a household and will authorise absences in this instance and provide remote learning for children. Again, children under the age of 5 are not required to undertake daily LFD testing but should get a PCR test as soon as possible and continue as normal until they receive the result of that test.
LFD testing may now (as of 22nd December) be used to reduce isolation times in the event of positive cases of Covid-19. In this instance an LFD may be used on days 6 and 7. If both tests are negative and you do not have a high temperature, isolation can end. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 and then second test must be 24 hours after the first test. Test results should be reported to school and to Gov.uk. This also applies to children under the age of 5 who have tested positive for Covid-19 in order to end their isolation early.
If you are unable to get hold of LFD tests unfortunately isolation must continue up to and including day 10. If this is an issue for you please contact school directly.
We continue to ask you all to maintain social distance and wear masks when on school premises.
Thank you once again for your support
6th September 2021
The risk assessment for the full re-opening of school is here.
Please see our Remote Learning page for information on how to support children's learning at home.
2020-2021 School Year
8th March 2021
The risk assessment for the full re-opening of school is here.
5th January 2021
Letter to parents of Nursery aged children following National Lockdown announced on Monday 4th January 2021 can be read here.
Letter to parents informing them of school provision following National Lockdown announced on Monday 4th January 2021 can be read here.
4th January 2021
Dear Parents,
Firstly my apologies for such short notice, but following on from the recent government announcement, school will only be open tomorrow to all those children from Nursery to Year 6 that are critical worker children or in the vulnerable category (the latest guidance on these categories can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision)
Critical worker and vulnerable children are to attend school at their usual drop off and collection times and they will be taught tomorrow in their bubble according to our current arrangements, with lunch arrangements remaining the same.
Breakfast and Afterschool Club will be available for tomorrow and this will be reviewed according to our guidance and staffing.
Further arrangements will be put in place by school tomorrow to support home learning and the longer term arrangements to support critical worker and vulnerable children once numbers are established.
We are all once again facing uncertainty and I would like to thank you in advance for your understanding in this rapid and fast changing situation. Once all arrangements are in place, they will be communicated to you tomorrow.
As always, our priority as a school in to look after the well-being of the whole Newburgh School family.
Kind Regards
Rebecca Fowler
Headteacher
On 26 September the restrictions for Lancashire were updated to reflect that families can form childcare bubbles:
"A childcare bubble is where someone in one household can provide informal (i.e. unpaid and unregistered) childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household. This must occur on an exclusive basis - always the same two households" furthermore "people can still come inside your home or garden for specific purposes set out in law....for the purposes of childcare provided by a registered provider and informal childcare as part of a bubble". https://www.gov.uk/guidance/north-west-england-local-restrictions
A letter from Public Health England clarifying when to get tested (dated 23.09.20) is here.
Update in response to additional restrictions in Lancashire (except Blackpool). Please see our latest letter here.
A quick guide for parents/carers with regards to Covid-19 symptoms and how to respond is here.
In order to facilitate the safe return of our children rigorous risk assessments were completed and signed off by Governors. You can see our risk assessment here.
We are operating with four bubbles here at Newburgh:-
EYFS - Nursery and Team Crane - Drop off at 9.00am; Pick up at 3.30pm.
Key Stage 1 - Team Halton & Team Lucas - Drop off at 8.50am; Pick up at 3.20pm.
Lower Key Stage 2 - Team Rigby - Drop off at 8.55am; Pick up at 3.25pm.
Upper Key Stage 2 - Team Venables - Drop off at 8.50am; Pick up at 3.20pm.
The bubbles are kept apart throughout the school day with staggered drop offs, pick ups, break times and lunch times. Children are also separated into their bubbles for Breakfast and Afterschool Club. This is to ensure that should one bubble have to close due to a positive Covid test, other bubbles should not be contaminated and therefore also have to close. We appreciate your help in reducing unnecessary contact between bubbles where possible.
Children are bound to become unwell. Current guidance is that if your child has a high temperature, new, continuous cough or loss of smell/taste they will need to either isolate at home for at least 10 days and have two clear days without symptoms or take a Covid test and isolate until the results of the test are received (if negative they may return to school the following day). If someone in your household develops Covid symptoms the whole household must isolate until that person has been tested and received their results.
If a child has a positive Covid test we may have to close the bubble that child has been in. In this instance parents will be contacted to collect children and informed about when they will be able to return to school.
In the event that your child has to be absent from school whilst they or a family member awaits the outcome of a Covid test or your child is required to shield, we will put the following systems in place to support home learning (to be used providing children are well enough to engage with learning):
If your child is absent and you are waiting for the results of a Covid test we would on Day 1 request that your child completes the following home learning activities:
EYFS
Hear your child read their reading book asking inference and retrieval questions.
Reading Eggs (Reception)
Mathseeds (Reception)
Fast Phonics (Reception)
Please see your class page for the Reading Workshop presentation and also a parents guide to Reading Eggs.
Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
LITERACY
Reading Eggs (Key Stage 1)
Fast Phonics (Key Stage 1)
Reading Eggspress (Key Stage 1)
Hear your child read their reading book
Please see your class pages for a parents guide to Reading Eggs.
MATHEMATICS
Mathseeds (Years 1 and 2)
Mathletics (Year 3 upwards)
Times Table Rockstars (Year 3 upwards)
You can also access your child's termly learning overview (you can find this on your child's class page on our school website) and the activities on the Homework Grid for the term ahead that was sent home in paper form.
If your child or family member receives a negative result then your child can return to school as soon as possible.
If your child is absent beyond 2 days (still awaiting the outcome of a test but well enough to engage in learning then the following home learning will be put in place:
Your child will receive a notification on Tapestry (Reception) or an email via Purple Mash (Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2) every morning to provide them with learning for the day. The class teacher will not be available throughout the day to respond to emails as they will be teaching but will reply at the end of the school day and provide feedback for all submitted work.
In the event that your child has to self-isolate, the following system will be put in place to support home learning:
EYFS
Tapestry will be used as the online learning platform to inform you of your child's learning and activities that can be completed during their absence.
Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
An email will be sent to your child's Purple Mash email account to inform them of the teaching and learning that they can access and complete at home - paper copies of learning (as appropriate and required) will be available to collect.
If your child test positive for Covid then the expectation to complete learning will only be once they have recovered.
In the event of a school bubble having to isolate the following measures will be put in place to support home learning:
EYFS
Tapestry will be used as the online platform for all teaching and learning and communications between home and school.
Daily communication via Tapestry will be made to all the cohort by the class teacher and learning for the day will be provided.
Children will also be encouraged to access the online literacy and mathematics school subscriptions.
Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
Purple Mash will be used as the online learning platform for all teaching and learning. The children will be able to email their class teacher to submit their work and ask any questions.
Daily communication via Purple Mash - your child's class teacher will email work each day which will follow, as much as is possible, the normal daily curriculum in school. An email will also be sent by the class teacher at the end of the school day (around 3.30 p.m.)
Children will be expected to engage in the daily learning provided and complete work to the best of their ability.
Constructive feedback to work submitted by your child will be provided by their class teacher to inform next steps.
Children will also be encouraged to access the online literacy and mathematics school subscriptions (all passwords for your child to access these resources are in their reading diary).
Please also note that the class teacher will respond to emails sent within normal school hours. If parents wish to direct any questions to their child's class teacher then this must be done through bursar@newburgh.lancs.sch.uk
