Category

Coronavirus

COVID Update 26th Nov 2021

28th November 2021Miss K. Wilkinson

Please see the attached letter from South Tyneside Council regarding temporary COVID measures in November 2021.

COVID-19 Measures in Schools

Thank you for continuing to review your measures over the past few weeks. We are pleased to see that the case rates in school aged children have nearly halved since our last update and our overall case rates are coming down.

It’s important to note that the overall rates are reducing slowly and although they are not as low as they were at the start of September, we feel that the measures can be relaxed from next week until the end of term, unless an urgent situation arises.

We are advising that schools continue to take a sensible and cautious approach, and if you reach an outbreak situation in the coming weeks, we will be happy to work with you and your school staff to consider whether increased measures need to be stood up for a limited time. These measures will be based on your risk assessment and could include switching to alternative arrangements for Christmas events you may have planned such as virtual nativity plays etc. so that schools, pupils, and parents/carers can still enjoy these occasions. The recent Secretary of State for Education letter emphasised the need for control measures such as testing, and the vaccine offer which I know you all are actively promoting which will help to maximise school attendance and limit disruption as much as possible. You may also wish to still ask staff members and secondary school pupils to continue wearing their face coverings in congested areas, especially when moving around the buildings, and on public or shared transport to and from schools.

If you are holding events in school or inviting external visitors, you may want to ask them to do a Lateral Flow Test ahead of their visit and wear a face covering on arrival and during the event.

Other measures could include sanitising hands on entering the school, keeping the hall well ventilated and spacing people out as much as possible.

The vaccination offer is an important measure and pupils aged 12-15 who may not have taken up the offer previously as well as any parents /carers can still book their Covid vaccine online Book your vaccine https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/book-or-manage-a-1st-or-2nd-dose-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination/ or via 119.

Please also remember to place your order for Lateral Flow Tests well in advance of the holidays.

We will continue to monitor and review the data over the coming weeks and into the New Year and will refresh the advice once schools return for the new term.

Once again, thank you for your continued efforts and we hope you have a Merry Christmas and a well-earned rest over the festive period.

Kind regards,

Tom Hall
Director of Public Health

Beverley Scanlon
Head of Learning and Early Help

Download (PDF, 108KB)

COVID Update 1st Nov 2021

1st November 2021Miss K. Wilkinson

Please see the attached letter from South Tyneside Council regarding temporary COVID measures in November 2021.

COVID-19 Measures in Schools

We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to you and your teams for all you have done and continue to do to help us reduce the risk of COVID-19 in South Tyneside. We appreciate just how hard you have worked and how difficult it has been through all the different stages and challenges of this pandemic.

We all want to see as many of our children and young people in school as possible and having as ‘normal’ and positive a school experience as we can manage. Unfortunately, I know that for many of our schools this first half term has been disrupted by outbreaks of COVID-19 and high rates of student and staff absence.

Much as we would all like it to be, the pandemic isn’t over. While it is clear that the vaccination programme is effective in preventing serious disease and deaths, the vaccine is never going to stop all transmission, and resultant harm, on its own. Indeed, hospitals across the country are beginning to see a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases being admitted.

Even though adults who test positive may not become ill, many are absent from work because of household transmission from their children, or because they need to care for children who have tested positive. This is impacting on children’s education and critical services such as the NHS and social care.

We are also seeing increases in infections across the borough and infections in school age children have been the main contributory factor to our rate of COVID-19 in recent weeks. This means we now need to consider what we can do to reduce the transmission of COVID19 in our schools and in the community.

On that basis and as practically possible we are now recommending to schools that the temporary measures below are put in place.

1. The use of face coverings in classrooms and communal areas for secondary age pupils and in communal areas for all adults. We encourage all parents/carers to also wear a face covering when dropping off or collecting children, and when using public or shared transport.

2. PCR testing is recommended for all adults and pupils if they are a close contact of a positive case*. If this test is negative, the child can return to school but must stay at home and arrange another test if they go on to develop symptoms.

3. Daily LFT testing for 5 days for any adult or secondary age pupil who is a household contact of a positive case and is exempt from isolation and continues to attend school. Testing should start from the day the household member has symptoms or if they don’t have symptoms from when they tested positive*.
Any child aged between 5 – 16 who has tested positive for COVID-19 via a PCR test within the past 90 days should not be tested unless showing new symptoms Parents/carers who still want their child to continue to attend school have the right for them to do so. We hope that most parents will understand the reasons behind the request and will feel able to support the school, especially as they will have at least one household member self-isolating at home already.

If a parent is not able to support the school in this request, we would still strongly advise that their child obtains a PCR test before returning to school if they are a close contact.

4. Reduce mixing between year groups and classes as much as possible to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

5. Wherever possible, suspend whole-school or year group events eg assemblies. Revert staff and governors’ meetings to virtual format.

Limit visitors to the school and consider carefully whether events that bring parents into the school can be managed safely or should return to online.

6. Schools carefully consider whether educational visits and residential trips should go ahead. This is especially important because being on transport together for long periods, and/or sharing overnight accommodation, increases the chance of transmitting COVID-19.

7. Schools carefully consider whether open days or events could move to a virtual format

8. Additional attention be given to ventilation, cleaning and respiratory and hand hygiene

*Note: People who have tested positive with a PCR test within the last 90 should not be encouraged to test unless they develop new symptoms.

As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will support schools with both Public Health and operational decision-making as required. We hope that the above advice will give a clear Public Health steer which will guide and help justify the decisions you make as school leaders.

We are recommending that schools implement this advice as soon as practically possible on return from the half term break, however we will review and refresh this advice in two weeks’ time, and again at the end of November.

The vaccination offer for 12-15 year olds is also an important measure and following the Health Secretary’s announcement on Wednesday there will be increased access for young people, vaccinations for 12-15-year olds can be booked online Book your vaccine or via 119. This will complement the offer in schools.

Finally, we would like to thank you for your ongoing support. We’re hope you have enjoyed the half term break and we ask that you continue to support secondary school age pupils to undertake lateral flow testing twice a week, and especially on the morning or night before of their first day back of the new term.

Kind regards,

Tom Hall
Director of Public Health

Beverley Scanlon
Head of Learning and Early Help

Download (PDF, 146KB)

AERAMAX® Air Purifiers

22nd April 2021Miss K. Wilkinson

Over the Easter holidays we have been very lucky to have had some AERAMAX® Professional Air Purifiers installed in all classrooms and office spaces around school.

These machines enhance the quality of the air by eliminating odours and removing harmful germs.

Below is some information on these systems directly from the manufacturer for your information:

The ultimate protection against Coronavirus

We spend 90% of our time indoors and nine hours every day sharing spaces with others.

While we may not give much thought to indoor air quality, we certainly should. The air we breathe indoors is up to five times more polluted than outdoor air.

As UK organisations start to open back up, indoor ventilation and air quality will play an important part in helping the UK get back to businesses safely.

Public spaces, like offices, health care facilities and schools are breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses, dust, allergens and odours. While we all recognise the need to wash our hands and clean common surfaces like doors, tabletops, bathrooms, toilets, etc., It’s not enough. We need to clean the air.

phs’ AERAMAX® PROFESSIONAL III removes up to 99.99% of harmful viruses, germs, allergens, odours and particulates from the air, safely and easily. True HEPA filtration then traps up to 99.99% of any remaining airborne pollutants. The Antimicrobial treatment on the HEPA filter effectively reduces the development of bacteria and fungi on the filter.

phs’ AERAMAX PROFESSIONAL Air Purifiers were demonstrated to be effective in reducing aerosolized airborne concentration of Human Coronavirus 229E in a test chamber reaching 99.99% airborne reduction within 1 hour of operation*.

HEPA filtration cleans the air removes 99.9% of harmful germs, allergens and particulates as small as 0.3 microns safely and easily.
Carbon filtration adsorbs odours, and VOCs.
Intelligent sensors detects sound, motion and odour and automatically adjusts the optimum performance.
Quiet mode, unit runs at our below ambient sound levels.
Normal mode, rapid purification mode is initiated when room is occupied.
Improved indoor air quality improves mental tasks, like concentration and recall, and can reduce absenteeism due to illness.
Clean air free from contaminants and harsh odours shows care and concern for the well-being of your staff and customers, increasing loyalty.
It is also accredited by the Hay Fever Association.

Here is a video to show you how they work:

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Return to school 8th March 2021

2nd March 2021Miss K. Wilkinson

24.2.21

Dear Parents/Carers,

We are very happy to be able to welcome all the children back to school on Monday March 8th on a full-time basis. Unfortunately, we still have to adhere to the same restrictions that were in place previously in order to keep yourselves, children and staff safe and help to prevent the rise of infection from Covid -19.

This does mean we will still have staggered start and end times, (unless you have siblings in school, on which case you bring all children at the start time of your earliest child and collect all children at the latest finish time so that no learning time is missed).

It is important that only one parent brings their child/children to school to reduce the amount of people coming to school. This will ensure we can keep to social distancing measures in place as best as possible. It is vital that parents do not congregate around school premises when dropping off or collecting children as doing so could potentially increase the risk of transmission of the virus. We are very grateful for your support and understanding.

Please see the table below for start and end times together with their entrance for your child’s year group.

Start and End Times:

Year Groups	Start Times	End Times	Entrance
YR	9:00am	3:15pm	Main Gate
Y1+Y1/2	8:45am	3:00pm	Main Gate
Y2	8:45am	3:00pm	Lower side gate (burn)
Y3	9:00am	3:15pm	Upper side gate (road)
Y4	9:00am	3:15pm	Lower side gate (burn)
Y5	8:45am	3:00pm	Upper side gate (road)
Y6	9:15am	3:30pm	Main Gate

Further Information:

Children should attend school in correct school uniform, Children should bring 1 bag, 1 named water bottle, 1 coat.
PE kits can only be worn on PE days (KS2 only) – all other times children must attend in the correct uniform.
YET/KS1 children bring in PE kits to school to be left on pegs for half term
Communication with your child’s teacher can be done via dojo or telephone appointments
Parents should only attend the school office if absolutely necessary and preferably by appointment
Children will be taught in their classes and have access to a full and varied curriculum
Children will be given their own equipment and desks will face forwards
Reception teaching will operate as normal with access to age-appropriate provision
Lunchtimes will be staggered and children will eat with their year group bubble
Enhanced cleaning will be carried out during the school day
Children will be encouraged to wash their hands on entry and continuously throughout the school day (They also have access to hand sanitisers in all classrooms and corridors)

We are all looking forward to the children returning to school and enjoying their lessons again alongside their teachers and friends.

Mrs Garr

School Closures January 2021

5th January 2021Miss K. Wilkinson

Dear West Boldon Children and Families,

It was so lovely to see you after the Christmas holidays even though it was much more short lived than we would have liked.

We will miss you not being in school, however myself and your teachers will still be here helping you with your learning. Remember this is not a holiday, you are just learning from home!

So for this half term things will be a little different. Let me explain to you what will happen:

Each week, you will receive a paper pack of work delivered to your house. The first packs will be delivered tomorrow for this week’s learning and then at the beginning of each week thereafter.

On Seesaw/Dojo/School website there will be weekly timetable for your year group sent to you by your teachers. (This works out at around 20 hours work a week) This will have links to click on that will take you straight to the piece of work or a helpful video sourced through White Rose Maths and Oak National Academy. The planning also has instructions about what the activity involves and where to complete your work which might be on paper, in an activity booklet or an exercise book.

If you are stuck and want some help from your teacher or you want to show them an awesome piece of work, then you can use Seesaw to send them a picture and ask for help and they will be able to comment.

Your teachers will also be doing a Zoom call on a Wednesday and Friday afternoon at 2pm (teachers will send parents a link for this) if your parents and carers want to talk to teachers about your work then they can do that at these zoom meetings, you can be there too but you must have an adult with you.

We have tried to keep the learning as fun as possible so work hard, enjoy and do your best!

From Mrs Garr and all the staff

Year 4 (Classes 8 & 9) Home Learning

14th December 2020Miss K. Wilkinson

All home learning tasks have been assigned on your child’s Seesaw with instructions. Year 4 staff encourage all children to use their Seesaw wherever possible to read the tasks as there may be internet links and videos to support their home learning.

Seesaw is accessible on smart phones via the ‘Seesaw Class’ app or using an internet browser on laptops and computers at seesaw.me. All tasks can be completed on paper and do not need to be completed on Seesaw unless the children wish to do this. Teachers will also give feedback to tasks where possible through the Seesaw.

Please find below a list of resources and tasks for Year 4 for home learning during the period 15th-17th December 2020. If you would like a hard copy of these resources please contact the school office.

Don’t forget you can also use these apps below. Click on the icons to take you to the login pages. If you need a reminder of any login information please contact the school.

Year 3 (Classes 6 & 7) Home Learning

22nd September 2020Miss K. Wilkinson

All home learning tasks have been assigned on your child’s Seesaw with detailed instructions. Year 3 staff encourage all children to use their Seesaw wherever possible to read the tasks as there are internet links and videos to support their home learning.

Please find below a list of resources and tasks for Year 3 for home learning during the period 22nd September – 2nd October 2020. If you would like a hard copy of these resources please contact the school office. Please note that this will be added to during the time your child’s year group is closed.

Don’t forget you can also use these apps below. Click on the icons to take you to the login pages. If you need a reminder of any login information please contact the school.