Email sent to all parents 13.10.20
Subject: Informing School/Nursery of a positive test result
Dear Parents
In order for our school to take the most prompt action to safeguarding pupils, staff and the wider school community we are asking that you contact us directly if your child has a positive test result. On confirmation of a positive test outcome, there may be many people that contact you to gain information to help with the track and trace process. These conversations are really important to establish all contacts. Whilst these conversations are happening, it is also important that we have this information to be able to undertake our own track and trace process and work with our local authority and public health colleagues to take any necessary action that might be needed in the school.
Please contact the school during the hours of 8am and 5pm on 01803 577940 to let us know of a positive test result. Outside of these times please email stomkinson@white-rock-primary.torbay.sch.uk and someone will call you back as soon as possible.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind Regards
Sarah Tomkinson
Symptoms of Coronavirus in Children
The following email was sent to parents on 14.9.20:
Subject: CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN
Dear Parents
Thank you for your support last week- the children loved being in school.
As high numbers of children and adults are now mixing in school there is bound to be higher cases of coughs and colds. Children have been with their own families for a long time and haven't been exposed to germs from other people. As a school we recognise that children will have normal coughs and colds especially as we move into the winter months. If you child is not exhibiting the signs of Corona Virus and they just have a cold, we would encourage you to send them in as you would normally have done before COVID-19 especially if you think they are well enough to be here.
Just to clarify the symptoms of COVID-19 in children from the NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/
The symptoms and actions that you need to take are:
Symptoms of coronavirus in children
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot, for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – this means they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
What to do if your child has symptoms
If your child has any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:
- Get a test to check if they have coronavirus as soon as possible.
- Stay at home and do not have visitors until you get the test result – only leave your home to have a test.
Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also stay at home until you get the result.
Whilst we will always try and offer advice and answer your questions, we are not medical professionals. You know your children best and if they are not exhibiting the symptoms as detailed above then we would be happy to have them in school.
Kind Regards
Sarah Tomkinson
RETURNING TO PRIMARY SCHOOL-WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
GET BACK TO SCHOOL SAFELY
Follow this link to find more information about returning to school and nursery in September:
2020/2021 Academic Year
2019/2020 Academic Year
Dinner Menu
Key Worker Letters
Are you a Critical Worker?
Nursery Letters
Reception Letters
Letters
Wednesday 13th May
Please the message sent out to parents today regarding the wider opening of the school to to Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children:
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope that you are all keeping safe and well.
We were very surprised about the announcement on Sunday and are now making detailed plans to get Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children back into school safely on 1st June. We have a virtual meeting with the Local Authority tomorrow and we will know more after that.
As soon as we have firm plans in place we will let parents know. I am hoping this will be early next week.
Sorry I can't be more detailed at this time but I'm sure that you'll understand.
Stay Safe.
Sarah Tomkinson
Tuesday 12th May
Please follow this link from the Department for Education to access information about the proposed return to school for Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils:
Sunday 10th May 2020
You may have seen the announcement by Boris Johnson this evening. He stated that if the right conditions are in place and with guidance schools may open to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 on the 1st June. Currently we do not have the guidance that will ensure that children, staff and parents will be safe on their return to school. As soon as we have guidance from the Department for Education we will share our plans with you. Until then- stay safe all of you.
Monday 20th April 2020
As you will be aware the Government are continuing the national lock down. This means that schools will continue to be closed to all children except those whose parents are keyworkers or those who are deemed vulnerable.
The latest guidance on school closures can be found here:
Sunday 22nd March 2020
Please find attached some information from the Educational Psychology Service in Torbay. This is for parents and carers to support you and your children's mental health and wellbeing
Saturday 20.2.20
Thank you for all the kind words of support that we have received during the last week. It has been a busy week but we have all pulled together as a school community. I wish you well for the coming weeks.
Remember you can email your child's teacher between 8.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday in term time if you need help or advice with the Remote Learning or to share video's or photographs of things that the children have been getting up to.
A reminder again that my email is: stomkinson@white-rock-primary.torbay.sch.uk. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or issues.
Mrs Tomkinson
Friday 20.03.20
Key Worker
Please follow the link to see if you are classed as a key worker:
Whilst we are open to support Key Workers this provision must be a last resort. If the school has high numbers of children coming in daily the impact of closing schools to reduce the spread of COVID-19 will be seriously impacted. EVERY CHILD WHO CAN BE SAFELY CARED FOR AT HOME SHOULD BE. It is not mandatory to use the school to look after your children. Please follow the key principles listed here:
- If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
- If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
- Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
- Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.
Please email stomkinson@white-rock-primary.torbay.sch.uk if you wish your child to attend school because you are UNABLE to ensure they are safely looked after any where else.
Wednesday 18.3.20
The Government have announced that schools will close on Friday for the large majority of pupils. Vulnerable pupils (those with a designated social worker and those with an Education Health and Care Plan) and key workers' children will still be able to attend the school. We will contact families tomorrow to ascertain which children will be coming to school on Monday and for the rest of the week before the Easter break.
If you are a key worker and your child/children need to attend school please email Mrs Tomkinson on: stomkinson@white-rock-primary.torbay.sch.uk
Tuesday 17.3.20
Please see letter below sent home today regarding remote learning.
Monday 16.3.20
Today, the Department for Education and Public Health England have issued updated guidance for education settings on COVID-19. This guidance will assist staff in addressing COVID-19 in educational settings. This includes childcare, schools, further and higher educational institutions.
What you need to know:
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The updated guidance can be found here:
Current advice remains in place: no education or children’s social care setting should close in response to a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case unless advised to do so by Public Health England.
The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the impact of closing schools on both children’s education and on the workforce would be substantial, but the benefit to public health may not be. Decisions on future advice to education or children’s social care settings will be taken based on the latest and best scientific evidence, which at this stage suggests children are a lower risk group.
Friday 13th March 2020
To support the delay of the spread of the virus, the Department for Health and Social Care has asked anyone who shows certain symptoms to stay at home for 7 days, regardless of whether they have travelled to affected areas. This means people should stay at home and avoid all but essential contact with others for 7 days from the point of displaying mild symptoms, to slow the spread of infection.
The symptoms are:
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You do not need to call NHS 111 to stay at home. If your symptoms worsen during your stay at home period or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online at https://111.nhs.uk. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111.
For a medical emergency dial 999.
Current advice remains in place: no education or children’s social care setting should close in response to a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case unless advised to do so by Public Health England.
The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the impact of closing schools on both children’s education and on the workforce will be substantial, but the benefit to public health may not be. Decisions on future advice to schools will be taken based on the latest and best scientific evidence, which at this stage suggests children are a lower risk group.
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)