Letter to Parents: Current Covid Control Measures 22 October 2021

Fri 22 Oct 2021
22 October 2021
 
 
Dear Parents and Carers
 
I am writing to advise you that Barnsley Local Authority have written to all schools and asked us to review our current Covid control measures and to consider implementing additional public health measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The reason for this is the current high case rate in Barnsley. 
 
This letter details our current safety measures and those measures that we will be introducing after the half-term holiday. Our risk assessment will also be updated on the Academy website.  We know that you may find this concerning and we are continuing to monitor the situation. Please be reassured that for most people and especially for children and young people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
 
What will continue:
  • Handwashing and hand sanitising around the site (students are welcome to bring their own sanitiser)
  • Classroom ventilation - windows and doors open wherever possible
  • Classroom seating plans will remain in place
  • We will continue with virtual assemblies and virtual parents evenings
  • The use of 5 different entrances and exits at the start and end of the day
  • The use of 5 different staircases throughout the day
  • 5 different breaks for each year group
  • Where two years groups share the same lunch sitting, students will sit with peers from the same year group.
  • Additional cleaning of surfaces such as door handles and banisters   
 
We will also implement further measures to limit the spread of the virus. From Monday 1st November 2021, the following additional measures will be in place and we ask for your support in reinforcing these messages at home:
 
  • Where a student is identified as a household or close contact (identified by Test and Trace) of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, we advise the student to attend school but to take a daily LFT test whilst they await the results of a PCR test.

  • Some children are exempt from this advice: 
 
- 12–16-year-olds who have had at least one dose of the vaccine more than 14 days ago.  
-  Any child aged between 5 – 16 who has tested positive for COVID-19 via a PCR test within the past 90 days. 
 
  • Wherever possible, suspending whole-school or year group events
  • We ask that again parents and other visitors only attend the academy site when absolutely necessary and by appointment only.
  •  Educational trips and residential visits may not go ahead. 
 
Of course, we rely on parents/carers to reinforce these messages at home and thank you in advance for your continued support. The aim of these measures is to avoid a further increase in cases within the academy. We will continue to monitor the situation carefully; this will be reviewed at the end of November.
 
Please support your child to do a lateral flow test at least twice a week, and let us know at once if the test is positive. This is a really important way of picking up cases quickly and preventing spread; it is especially important that all staff and students test regularly. Students can collect Lateral flow tests from Student Reception or Main Reception.  
 
It is understandable that this is a worrying time.  It is important that students come to school focussed on learning and follow the key messages of being ‘safe, respectful and responsible’ at all times. Students have made an excellent start to the academic year and with these enhanced measures we will minimise any disruption to their education. Attendance continues to be a high priority at Outwood Academy Shafton and, following the advice in this letter, students should make every effort to be in school.
 
Yours faithfully
 

Alison McQueen
Principal
 
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