It’s been a good week at school and our students are settling in well to the new routine.

We’ve had to make a few changes which are explained below. I’ve also been asked to clarify what happens should students or staff display Covid-19 symptoms. Please read through all of the information, so you know what to do.

All of this information is also on our return to school webpage at: https://www.hopevalley-chorustrust.org/returntoschool

Please be assured that, should there be a positive Covid-19 test in college, we will work closely with Public Health England and the local council’s public health team to take all the necessary steps – as has happened at other local schools.

 

Face coverings

Given the latest government advice, increasing infection rate in the country and the regular appearance of Covid-like symptoms in our school community, we are tightening the rules about face coverings. Whilst we have not yet had any positive Covid-19 test results, we want to ensure our students and staff are minimising any potential risks.

Everyone in college should wear a face covering when they are in transition between classrooms/offices. 

Students should also wear face coverings when travelling on buses and public transport.

Students should bring to school a supply of disposable or washable facemasks to wear. The school will not be able to provide them unless it is for emergencies as we are being provided with a very small contingency supply for this purpose.

Students should have a sealable plastic bag to keep their facemask in, to avoid contaminating other items.

To help with this, please make sure your child knows how to use a face covering safely and hygienically. There are links below to the guidance on face coverings and how to use them below. Please remind your child, this does not include classrooms and they will be expected to remove their face covering on entering a classroom. 

You can read full guidance on face coverings on our dedicated Face Coverings webpage at: https://www.hopevalley-chorustrust.org/facecoverings Please inform us if your child is exempt from wearing a face covering so that we can monitor this situation.

 

Start of the day

Students should aim to arrive in time to go directly to their period 1 lesson at 8.55am. Our best advice is to stay outside the building until 08.55 but Staff will be available in their rooms from 8.45am in case the weather is inclement.

If they arrive earlier, between 8.30am and 8.45am because of their bus times, they should go to their outside designated year space (you can see the map of these at: https://www.hopevalley-chorustrust.org/returntoschool) as this will be supervised areas.

The time between 8.45am and 8.55am is for making their way to their period 1 lesson.

 

End of the day

We are slightly changing the times when students leave class for the buses. Year 7 students will be dismissed at 3.25pm and everyone else at 3.30pm. To allow bus companies to stagger services the buses have been arriving over a longer period of time, this means that students have been waiting outside for longer – releasing them a little later will disrupt lessons less and avoid waiting for longer periods.

Thank you for your support in using the car park to collect your children and young people  – the ‘green’ area at the back of the car park is available for you to wait for your children and young people. Please note the minibuses are collecting students from the car park which has increased the number of children and young people walking in the car park. Everyone has been very careful when driving around the car park this week – thank you.

 

Reporting a student absence

It is more important than ever that we have accurate records about student absence, particularly when they are ill.

There are now two stages to the process for reporting an absence. You need to call or email us as usual, but then also fill in our online absence form.

Full information can be found on our attendance page at: https://www.hopevalley-chorustrust.org/attendance or follow the link at the bottom of our website homepage to ‘report a student absence’.

 

Suspected Covid-19 symptoms

Lots of parents have contacted us asking what to do in different situations. At the bottom of this message is a basic guide to follow. However, please also check out the latest NHS advice if you are unsure. You can contact the NHS by calling 111 or going to their website at: https://111.nhs.uk/

As ever, thank you for your co-operation. Whilst this is a challenging time, attendance and engagement of students has been excellent since returning. We are also confident that, should any year groups have to isolate, we will have remote learning ready for them.

In the meantime, stay safe and well.

Best wishes,

Gaynor.

 

 

Covid-19 symptoms and illness: what actions to take if you have any of the symptoms, however mild.

WHAT TO DO IF...	ACTION NEEDED	RETURN TO SCHOOL WHEN...
My child has coronavirus symptoms.	Do not come to school. Contact school daily. Self-isolate. Get a test. Inform school immediately about test result.	Test is returned negative.
My child tests positive for coronavirus.	Do not come to school Inform school immediately about test result Contact school daily. Self-isolate for at least 10 days	After 10 days the young person feels better.
Somebody in my household has coronavirus symptoms.	Do not come to school. Contact school daily. Self-isolate. Household member to get a test. Inform school immediately about test result.	The household member test is negative.
Somebody in my household has tested positive for coronavirus.	Do not come to school. Contact school daily. Self-isolate for 14 days.	The young person has completed 14 days of self-isolation.
NHS test and trace has identified my child as a ‘close contact’ of somebody with symptoms or a confirmed case of coronavirus.	Do not come to school. Contact school daily. Self-isolate for 14 days.	The young person has completed 14 days of self-isolation.
We/my child has travelled and has to self-isolate as part of a period of quarantine.	Do not take unauthorised leave in term time. Consider quarantine requirement and FCO advice when booking travel. Provide information to school as per the attendance policy. Returning from a destination where quarantine is needed: Do not come to school. Contact school daily. Self-isolate for 14 days.	The quarantine period of 14 days has been completed.
We have received medical advice that my child must resume shielding.	Do not come to school. Contact the pastoral team as soon as possible. Shield until you are informed that restrictions are lifted.	Once you have been informed that restrictions have been lifted.