Coronavirus Update 09/07/2020

Further advice for parents and carers:

Further to our email at the start of last week, we are acutely aware of the current level of concern about the risks from coronavirus and the subsequent confirmed cases in the UK.

Letter to Y6 Families re End of Term Updates 09/07/20

Letter to Families re School Closure 09/07/2020

Letter to Families re School Closure 03/07/2020

Letter to Families re School Closure 25/06/2020

Letter Home re School Closure & Next Steps 22/05/2020

Department of Education Letter to Students 22/05/2020

Student Access Guide

In what continues to be a rapidly changing and serious picture we would like to update you on the schools current position and plans going forward for a range of scenarios that might develop.

School Attendance:

The government guidance remains unchanged that there is no reason not to continue attending school if you are fit and well and have not recently travelled to identify specific areas.  Our overall attendance figures over the last month have remained at a good level and I would like to thank you for your ongoing support.  The situation remains that we have no cases of Coronavirus associated with the school.

You only need to stay away from public places (self-isolate) if advised to by the 111 online coronavirus service or a medical professional.  You should use this service if:

• you think you might have coronavirus
• in the last 14 days you’ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – see our coronavirus advice for travellers
• you’ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus

NHS online Link:  Use the 111 coronavirus service

School Closure:

There is the possibility in the future that the government might decide to close schools as part of their containment and delay strategy.  If this were to happen we have systems in place and more detailed information ready to be sent out to parents, staff and students.  This will explain how students and staff can continue to access and deliver learning.

We will do this through google classroom which every student already uses and provides online subject specific classes taken from their timetable.   Students will be expected to follow their timetables from home by logging into their subject classroom online at their normal lesson times.  Their teacher will be able to message students with tasks, resources and the help they need to complete appropriate learning.  Students will be able to log in with their iPads, a home computer or any smart phone.

Across Bohunt Education Trust and at Horsham, we take the health and safety of our students and staff extremely seriously and we would like to reassure you that we are liaising Public Health England (PHE) and the NHS, and closely following official advice. We are taking this opportunity to reshare guidance from Public Health England on steps you and your children should be taking.

There is currently no cause for concern at Bohunt Horsham but we’ll keep you informed about any developments and ensure we’re keeping the school clean, with hygiene measures in place to prevent the spread of any virus.  Yesterday, the government confirmed that no school should close in response to a suspected (or confirmed) COVID-19 case unless directed to do so by Public Health England. Teaching and all other work-related activities are running as usual.

Preventing the spread of infection:

We all have a role to play in preventing the spread of infection and have detailed below the standard advice form NHS England.  There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

There are general principles anyone can follow to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• washing your hands often – with soap and water, or use alcohol sanitiser if handwashing facilities are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport
• covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in a bin. See Catch it, Bin it, Kill it
• see further information on the Public Health England Blog and the NHS UK website.

Face masks for the general public, pupils or students, or staff are not recommended to protect from infection, as there is no evidence of benefit from their use outside healthcare environments.

Weblinks for the latest advice from the government are listed below:

Updates on COVID-19: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Guidance for educational settings: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)

Below are some commonly asked questions and answers:

In summary, you should make sure you and your children follow these general principles to prevent spreading any respiratory virus:

• Wash your hands often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or an alcohol-based sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• If you feel unwell, stay at home and don’t attend work or school
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin. Follow the NHS guidance: ‘catch it, bin it, kill it.’
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home
• If you’re worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111 – don’t go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment

To conclude, if you suspect that your child may have COVID-19, or that they may have a sibling or family member that they are in close contact with who has a suspected case of COVID-19, you should call the NHS on 111 immediately or 999 in an emergency. Your child should also stay away from school, following the government advice regarding self isolation, and the school should be informed as soon as possible.

Further guidance for educational settings has been published at the following links and will be updated as soon as possible with the above advice and any further changes. Click here to find out more.

Click here for information for the public.

If you or your child have any further concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office and a member of the leadership team will get back to you if needed.