Covid-19 Information and Updates

Parent Handbook Return to school September 2020

By September 2020 Rookery children will not have been in school for five months. In order to ensure that children return to full- time schooling safely, Rookery School has carried out a risk assessment. These are the outcomes of the Rookery School Risk Assessment which has been compiled in line with Government Guidelines and Birmingham City Council.

All advice underpinning these outcomes are available on the Coronavirus (Covid 19) area of the school website.

For the purpose of this handbook the currently officially recognised symptoms of Coronavirus (Covid 19) are:

High Temperature

Continuous New Cough

Loss of sense of taste or smell.

Safe Working and Protective Measures

  1. A requirement that people who are ill stay at home
  • Parents understand that they must not send their child to school if they or any member of their household display symptoms of Covid 19. Anyone displaying symptoms must get a test.

Following a positive test result, you will receive a request by text, email or phone to log into the NHS Test and Trace service website and provide information about recent close contacts.

After 10 days, or longer, if you still have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell/taste, you must continue to self-isolate until you feel better.

You do not need to self-isolate after 10 days if you only have a cough or loss of sense of smell or taste, as these symptoms can last for several weeks after the infection has gone. See the ending isolation section below for more information.

If you live with others and you are the first in the household to have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), then you must stay at home for at least 10 days. All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the household became ill. See the explanatory diagram.

  • Staff understand that they must not come to school if they or any of their household display symptoms of Covid 19. Anyone who displays symptoms must get a test
  • Visitors to school
  • Parents will not enter the school building
  • School has received assurances from regular suppliers that their workforce is abiding by Health and Safety rules regarding checks for infections
  • Visitors to school are kept to a minimum. Anyone visiting the school must make an appointment. Most meetings to take place remotely

  • School has received assurances that providers of peripatetic teaching are following Health and Safety guidelines regarding Coronavirus (COVID 19)

2.Robust hand and respiratory hygiene

  • Parents and carers understand, teach their children and practise respiratory hygiene and infection control at home following regular advice from school using the “Catch it bin it kill it” routine
  • In school children and adults wash their hands more regularly than usual. Hand washing facilities are available in each classroom and regular, routine hand washing is embedded in the daily routine.
  • Children are aware and abide by the addendum to the behaviour policy 
  • Parents ensure children wear clean uniform to school every day
  1. Enhanced Cleaning
  • School has increased the frequency of cleaning of frequent touch points, toilets and shared learning spaces so that cleaning takes place continually during the day. All classrooms have their own cleaning materials
  1. Minimise contact between individuals and maintain social distancing wherever possible
  • The length of time allocated to allow children to enter the school safely has been extended
  • The length of time allocated to allow children to enter the school safely has been extended
  • All entrance points will be used so that each year group has its own entrance and exit
  • One – way systems will be in operation at entrances and exits to avoid  gatherings and  at the beginning and end of the day
  • Parents are strongly encouraged to walk to school with their children to avoid congestion in roads adjacent to school
  • Children will, in the most part, be taught in one group of 30 with some provision of smaller teaching groups in some year groups• In order to promote specialist teaching, smaller teaching groups and staff non- contact time, year groups have been grouped together as “pods”
  • Each year group pod has allocated adults who do not work outside of their allocated pod
  • Year group pods have been allocated their own  entrances, corridors and suite of rooms
  • Year group pods will be isolated from other year groups at break and lunchtimes to avoid contact with others
  • Classrooms are set up so that children do not face each other and so that the adults in the room can maintain different heights and a safe distance from the children
  • Resources and equipment will not be shared between pods
  • Classrooms will be ventilated by ensuring windows are open
  • Signage reminding children of social distancing will be displayed in classrooms
  • Outdoor learning is timetabled throughout the day
  • In early years, where children play with more equipment, it will be cleaned regularly during the day.
  • Generally, year group pods will play in the same area daily. If play areas are shared, they will be cleaned between use
  1. PPE
  • Any adult administering close personal care or first aid to a child will wear full PPE
  • Children will not wear PPE as it is not recommended and poses more of an increase in infection as it encourages children to touch their face frequently and poses an infection hazard

Response to any infection

Staff, parents and carers understand that they will need to be ready and willing to:

  • book a testif they are displaying symptoms of coronavirus (Covid19). Staff and pupils must not come into the school if they have symptoms, and must be sent home to self-isolate if they develop them in school. All children can be tested, including children under 5, but children aged 11 and under will need to be helped by their parents/carers if using a home testing kit
  • provide details of anyone they have been in close contact with if they were to test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or if asked by NHS Test and Trace
  • self-isolate if they have been in close contact with someone who develops coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or someone who tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19)

Anyone who displays symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can and should get a test. Tests can be booked online through the NHS testing and tracing for coronavirus website, or ordered by telephone via NHS 119 for those without access to the internet.

 

  • If a child is unwell at school with symptoms of Coronavirus (Covid19) whilst as school they will be accompanied to the isolation room in crescent phase until their parent comes to collect them
  • The isolation room is ventilated by a door open to the outside
  • It allows the adult accompanying them to maintain a safe distance
  • There is an allocated toilet in Crescent Phase if the child needs it while waiting for their parent to collect them
  • If the child requires the member of staff to be close to them then that member of staff will wear full PPE
  • Following the collection of the child the isolation room, isolation toilet – if used and any areas the child had contact with will be cleaned.

Management of confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) amongst the school community

  • School will work closely with the local health protection team if there is a confirmed case of Coronavirus (Covid19) in the school community.
  • If there is a confirmed case in the school community the pod affected will be sent home to isolate for two weeks
  • Should there be more than two confirmed cases, in 14 days, or if there is a rise in sickness absence where Coronavirus (Covid 19) is suspected, school will work the local health protection board and follow their guidelines:

    If a member of staff tests positive for Covid 19 :

    The people in the staff member’s group are sent home to self-isolate for 14 days

    If a child tests positive for Covid 19 :

    The member of supervising staff and any individuals in the child’s pod are sent home to self-isolate for 14 days from 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms

    Travelling to School

    In order to ensure safety around the entrances and exits to the school parents and carers are strongly encouraged to walk to school

    In order to ensure that our neighbours are able to access their properties AT ALL TIMES, parents and carers who are using their cars AS A LAST RESORT should park responsibly

    Advice on travelling to school on public transport can be found here:

    https://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/news/stay-safe-when-travelling-with-us

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwaOX4iCDTg 

    In September 2020 school will work with the families and neighbours to devise a school travel plan.

    Entering and Exiting the School Site

    Although currently, there is no requirement to wear face coverings outdoors, school requires that for the safety and reassurance of the school community that adults wear a face covering when entering the school site.

    One adult only should accompany a child onto site.

    Parents and Children

    Year group pods will enter and exit through different gates to facilitate social distancing.

    There will be an extended start

    Enter the school between: 8.30am and 8.55am (teachers to be in their classrooms at 8.30am)

    Each year group’s entrance will be marked with a coloured flag)

    Nursery (pale blue flag)

    Reception (dark blue flag): Parents and children enter through the pedestrian gate from Rookery Road (Gate that leads towards the main entrance)

    Then proceed into EYFS playground.

    F2N enter through their classroom door.

    F2W walk across the EYFS playground, out into the main playground and children enter through the door by the staffroom. Staff supervise children into F2W (door next to the finance office).

    All EYFS parents exit through the Laurel Road Gate.

    Y1 (red flag) : Enter through the main vehicular gate from Rookery Road.

    The main vehicular gate will have a barrier down the middle and through the carpark to make a one way in/out system.

    Children enter through the main entrance (doors wedged open)

    Parents exit site by main vehicular gate

    Y2 (pale orange flag) : Enter through the pedestrian gate on Rookery Road which leads to the main playground.

    Children enter via to the steps into Y2 cloakroom.

    Parents will be encouraged to send the children down the playground on their own and then go out through the Laurel Road gate.

    NB: If Year 2 parents want to walk down they will then go round the outside of the building (by cages) and exit through the Mount Pleasant entrance.

    Y3 (green flag) : Enter through the main vehicular gate from Rookery Road.

    The main vehicular gate will have a barrier down the middle and through the carpark to make a one way in/out system.

    Children enter through the door at the top of the Glass Corridor and into Y3 classrooms.

    Parents exit site by main vehicular gate

    Y4 (dark orange flag): Enter through the Mount Pleasant entrance and through the Y4 door in the Eco Playground.

    Parents enter and exit via gate by Sports and Arts (one way system using both pedestrian and vehicular gate.

    Y5 (purple flag): Enter through the pedestrian gate on Rookery Road which leads to the main playground and children enter via the Year 5 ramp. Parents walk out of the Laurel Road entrance- they do not accompany their children down to the Y5 ramp.

    Y6 (pale blue flag): Enter through the Mount Pleasant entrance and through the Y6 door in the Eco Playground.

    Parents enter and exit via gate by Sports and Arts (one way system using both pedestrian and vehicular gate

    • Each outside door will be supervised by a member of staff.
    • Corridors will be labelled for use only by one year group pod.
    • Children wash their hands in the classroom on entering – using soap and paper towels.

    Collection of children 3.10pm – 3.25pm (extended collection time)

    • Social distancing will rely on keeping parents moving, so people do not gather in groups.
    • Children to be out of their classrooms and in the playground by 3.10pm waiting for parents.
    • Parents walk in and out of the year group’s allocated gate (as above)
    • Children sent to join parents as they walk through the one way system.
    • Parents and children must be continuously encouraged to move through one way system smoothly and continuously.

    Children must not be sent to other year’s groups exits or enter through another entrance.

    Parents must go to each sibling’s entrance or exit or if appropriate allow their child to walk through the school site on their own. For safeguarding all support staff or teachers who are not class based at that time, will be supervising in the playground.

    Recovery Curriculum

    In order to support children in returning to school following the long break Rookery have devised a Recovery Curriculum which will enable children to reflect on their experiences, re connect with each other and their teachers and recover their confidence and excitement for learning. There is an emphasis on outdoor learning, physical and mental well- being as well as re-establishing basic skills within the broad and balanced Rookery Curriculum. The online partnership between home and school will continue to further develop a curriculum which will support our extraordinary young people living in extraordinary times

    Preparing your family for returning to school

    Forward thinking Birmingham have prepared some webinars to support parents in preparation for managing the changes September will bring.

    http://bwc.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n3188.pdf&ver=4760