The Flagpole

The pupils’ health and well-being, and that of our staff, is our top priority. 

This letter gives key guidance on medical and health issues that have been put together in conjunction with our medical team and government guidance.

Importantly we have reviewed and updated our guidance on the wearing of facemasks.

Facemasks

In light of updated government and WHO (World Health Organisation) guidance, we are now asking that pupils wear facemasks in school in certain areas. You will be aware that we have already made the wearing of facemasks compulsory on the buses.

We are now extending the compulsory wearing of facemasks in school: facemasks will need to be worn by pupils and staff whilst moving between lessons in the corridor and whilst queuing for lunch. Facemasks will also be required at the end of the school day whilst waiting in the playground for parents to collect. Pupils attending the medical centre will always be asked to wear facemasks.

We do not require either pupils or staff to wear facemasks whilst in lessons but they may they choose to do so.

We know from our questionnaire that some pupils may be exempt from wearing a mask for medical reasons, we will provide these pupils with an identifying pin to wear somewhere discreetly on their blazer so that they will not have to explain if challenged by staff.

Prevention of COVID-19 transmission

The best way of doing this is to minimise contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, do not attend school www.gov.uk.

The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:

• a high temperature – please if you have not already done so source a thermometer to check temperatures at home;
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual);
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.

If a pupil or anyone else in their household has symptoms of COVID-19 – You and everyone else in your household must remain at home.  Do not go to work, school, or public areas, and do not use public transport or taxis.

Nobody should go out even to buy food or other essentials, and any exercise must be taken within your home.

Test and Trace

Do not wait, if you have symptoms, get a test as soon as possible.  You need to get the test done in the first five days of having symptoms.

The testing process has moved on since we were last at school and there is now greater capacity for testing, with results often back within 24 hours. Anyone with symptoms can be tested. 

For more information on testing please follow the link below, tests can also be booked by calling 119.  www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

If you or any member of your household is contracted by NHS Test and Trace and advised to self-isolate it is vital that you do so.  If any pupil has been advised to self-isolate or is off school due to illness, please inform the school via the attendance line in the usual way and arrangements can be made for work to be sent home.

If you have recently returned from another country please follow the rules for re-entering the UK and self-isolate if you have been advised to do so. www.gov.uk/uk-border-control.

Illness and school attendance

As mentioned earlier we are all now aware of the three main symptoms of COVID-19, however as we all know children may have a temperature for various other reasons; or in some circumstances may present initially with feeling 'generally unwell'.

We request that if your child has required Paracetamol or Calpol to reduce a temperature that you keep them off school for 24 hours after their temperature has returned to normal.

If your child feels unwell, even if they are not complaining of one of the more well-known COVID symptoms, please do not send them into school. We are asking that you monitor them at home so that as well as preventing the transmission of COVID in school, we can also minimise the spread of many of the 'bugs' children pass around.  Most importantly it will allow time for the child to be assessed at home and to see whether they go on to develop an illness or are back to normal by lunchtime.  It will also paint a clearer picture of what we are dealing with.

I know that many of us as parents encourage our children to keep going sometimes when feeling slightly unwell as it encourages resilience and often they feel better after a couple of hours.  I also appreciate that parents will be concerned about children missing more time off school.  However, the health of our Princethorpe family is of paramount importance and in these new times we need to employ extra caution and keep children home if unwell.

As was our practice during February and March this year, we will check the temperature of all children presenting to the Medical Centre and will now have a lower threshold for sending children home if they are unwell.  In the interests of social distancing and keeping the whole community safe it may no longer be appropriate for a pupil who is feeling unwell to stay in the Medical Centre for a period of time before taking a decision if they should go home.  We ask for your patience and forbearance with us as we navigate these uncertain times.  If you do receive a call asking you to collect your child we ask if this can be done as promptly as possible.  Please also ensure the school has your up to date contact details.

As we need to keep children in their Year Group bubbles and will operate on a one in one out basis in the Medical Centre, pupils may be asked (with their teachers’ permission) to text first for an appointment. Children requiring immediate First Aid or displaying COVID symptoms will be seen as a matter of urgency.

Any pupil displaying COVID symptoms will be taken to our isolation room and parents will be contacted immediately so they can be collected promptly.

As there may be a wait to see one of our school nurses, you may feel that it is appropriate for your child to carry one paracetamol for a headache or period pain if this is their normal practice. I ask you to use your discretion as parents and consider if this is something you feel appropriate for your child. Under no circumstances should a pupil share medication with anyone else in school.

We have plenty of First Aid kits around the school and the majority of staff are First Aid trained so children will continue to be well supported in school.

We are treading uncertain times together and appreciate how daunting the return to school may feel for some pupils and parents.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need further information or support, call 01926 634214 or email pcmatrons@princethorpe.co.uk.

Kind regards

Paula Greig\Beth Shape\Ed Hester       

Senior Matron\Deputy Head (Pastoral)\Headmaster