FRIDAY 20th MARCH - KEY WORKER LIST ANNOUNCED

Good morning 😊 The government list of key workers was released overnight so I ask for your patience whilst we go through the document in detail and then put a letter on here and on our website.  Two points are very clear this morning though:

“Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.”

“If workers think they fall within the critical categories above they should confirm with their employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.”

Still send your reply slips in this morning if you think you are on the list but be mindful that it is only for children who can’t be at home (ie no one to look after them) and we will need proof from your employer that they need you to work as part of their business continuity plan.

THURSDAY 19th MARCH - 1:30pm UPDATE

We are still waiting for a list of 'key workers' from the government.  A letter will be coming home tonight with your child for you to complete and return the reply slip if you think you might be classed as a key worker.  Please return this tomorrow morning and then we can contact you directly about this.  We have to follow the list of key workers from the government.  We are not permitted to decide our own list.  

WEDNESDAY 18th MARCH - UPDATE

Important update: in the light of the recent government announcement we will be partially closed from Friday (end of the school day).  From Monday we will only be open to children of ‘key workers’ and other identified children (children who have children’s services support and those with an Education Health and Care Plan). 

I do not, as yet, have a list of who is classed as a ‘key workers’.  As soon as I have clear guidance from the government and Local Authority as to who can access school from Monday, I will share that immediately.  For all other children who will be at home, please use the learning packs provided.  Class teachers will regularly update links on here fordleyschool.com/class-pages-1/ 

If you need to contact school from Monday please use office@fordleyprimary.org.uk 

We still hope to have our app up and running from the end of Friday.  I’ll communicate how to access that from this page. 

This is a challenging time for everyone and I thank you in advance for understanding that we will need to follow government guidance and expectations to the letter.  Tomorrow and Friday will be normal school days for all children who are not currently self isolating.  
 

Mr Maule and I will be available at the school office in the morning if you need to talk or seek advice.  Please take care and stay safe.

Mrs Withers 
 

Daily Update - Tuesday 17th March

We are currently continue to follow government guidance and this means that our school remains open until we are told to close by the government.  The only reason we would have to close (or partially close) is if a significant number of our school staff team were forced to self-isolate.  We do not need to take this action right now as our staff team are in and well.  If that needs to happen, we will communicate this to you directly.

The Government new key measures are:

• Stay at home if you have possible coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature (you feel hot to touch on your chest or back) and/or a new and continuous cough (a frequently repeated cough). 
• All other members of your household should also stay at home with you for 14 days.  This is time for you to recover, the other members of your household to be ill and also recover before returning to school or work. 
• For all people to avoid social gatherings and crowded places such as pubs, clubs and theatres.  Schools are not to follow this guidance as the government state we are an essential service and need to stay open for as long as possible.

In school from today we are:

• Cancelling all upcoming events and other external events (such as science workshops, writers’ awards at Langdale, Easter service and Easter bingo).  Some of these events have been cancelled by the organiser. 
• Stopping any assemblies in school.
• Giving children additional afternoon breaks to ensure they have regular opportunities for fresh air.
• Staggering lunch so that we do not have too many children in the hall at any time.
• Continuing to carry out additional cleaning of commonly used surfaces such as door handles, tables, chairs etc
• SEN support meetings on Thursday and Friday are cancelled and Mrs Watson will send the paperwork home in the post instead
• Sending all children home with a pack of work today (please only use this if we close the school or if they have to self-isolate)
• Continuing to update our school website with online learning (click Menu, then Children, then Class Pages)
• Continuing to share any emergency updates via our website on Latest News www.fordleyschool.com and twitter @FordleyPrimary

By the end of the week:

• We hope to have our School App up and running and this will enable us to send messages directly to your mobile phones

Please make sure that you contact us via phone or email office@fordleyprimary.org.uk if your child will be off school or if you will need your family to self-isolate for 14 days.  In most cases this will not affect your child’s attendance but we can advise you on that personally.  Our school office will be manned from 8am every morning.

This is a challenging time for us all but I know we will all look out for each and every member of our Fordley Family and wider community.

LATEST UPDATE (following Prime Minister's speech) - MONDAY 16th MARCH

The press conference from our Prime Minister late this afternoon has made the following points very clear:

- schools will remain open for now

- the government is now recommending 'whole household'  isolation for 14 days should any member of the family have a high temperature or a new and persistent cough.

If you would like some further advice around this, please email or ring us from 8am tomorrow morning.  However should one of your children have a high temperature or a new and persistent cough it would now be important that you follow the government recommendations of 14 days.

Work will be available online under:

MENU - CHILDREN - CLASS PAGES - ONLINE LEARNING FOR SCHOOL CLOSURE

Packs of work are also available from the school office.

Thank you for your support during this challenging time.  We will continue to share any updates here as soon as we receive them from the government.

UPDATE - MONDAY 16th MARCH

Due to the most recent advice from the government stating that those with a new cough or a high temperature should self-isolate for 7 days, we fully understand when families make that decision.  Please remember if your child needs to be isolated for 7 days they will need to remain at home.

The following section of our school website contains online learning links for children:

Children - Class Pages - Online Learning for School Closure

We will continue to update these daily with new online learning options.  We also have packs of work available in school for anyone who cannot access the internet for online learning.  If you would like a pack, please arrange for one to be collected from the school office. 

I will continue to update this page with any new information.

Update - Thursday 12th March

Current advice from North Tyneside Council and Public Health is to continue to operate as a school as normal alongside the extra hand washing that we are already doing.  We will carry on as normal until we, along with all other schools, are told by the government to close.  We will communicate this as soon as we know. We have procedures in place to prepare work for the children should we have to close.  We will communicate these with you if and when they are needed.  Please feel free to ask us for advice or information should you need it. 
 

This page will be updated with any changes as they happen. 
 

Friday 6th March 

We receive daily updates from the DFE and Public Health England and we will share on our Latest News page any updates regarding the Coronavirus along with any action we need to take for the health and safety of our children, our staff and our families and community.  

Current advice to schools, from the DFE and Public Health, can be seen on the poster below.  This is for adults and children to wash hands with soap and water or hand sanitiser at these times:

- before leaving home

- on arrival at school

- after using the toilet

- after breaks and sporting activities

- before food preparation

- before eating any food including snacks

- before leaving school

Children and adults should take at least 20 seconds to wash their hands (singing 'Happy Birthday' twice can help to time it). 

Advice for schools at this time is there is no need to close unless directed to do so by Public Health England.  

There is also general information for the public on this website:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public