Coronavirus – Woodcroft Response

By C Tallon18th March 2020

PARENT / CARER INFORMATION

Coronavirus – Woodcroft  Phased Response Strategy

ISSUE 3: 18th March 2020

Woodcroft is operating a phased response to the escalating coronavirus pandemic. The school is currently OPEN. We are following Government advice regarding any decision to close.

In school we are employing the strictest measures to protect children and staff and prevent the spread of any virus .

If pupils are absent for any reason due to the coronavirus pandemic this will be authorised.

IMPORTANT: 

  • If a pupil is off from school due to illness symptoms associated with Covid19 we are insisting that they remain away from school for 14 days. 
  • If a family member shows symptoms of Covid19 then all children in the same house should stay off school for 14 days  (see below for guidance)
  • These strict measures are to ensure the school remains a safe place for the pupils and staff who are still attending.

Pupil Safety

Woodcroft remains at Phase 3:  (These are the strictest measures we can employ before we have to close classes)

We are employing a full range of measures to ensure children and adults are safe in school. These fall into two categories:

  1. Hygiene
  2. Social Distancing

Please note: if any pupil does not follow the safety guidelines we will ask parents to collect their child from school

Hygiene in School:

  • Enforced regular handwashing: children will be supervised washing hands as soon as they arrive in school.. We use paper towels in classrooms to limit aerosol transmission.
  • Extended school cleaning regime to ensure push surfaces and handles are included.
  • We will enforce a 14 day extended absence from school following an illness
  • We will improve classroom ventilation by leaving windows and doors open. Teachers will limit the sharing of equipment
  • We have created a quarantine area for any pupils displaying symptoms. And have spaces available should we need to temporarily move a class to a santised area.

Social Distancing in School:

  • We are limiting classroom movement i.e. changing places / restricting group activities. Pupils will be seated apart where possible and teachers will limit or avoid grouping children together.
  • All assemblies and groups larger than one class have stopped
  • We now have staggered lunchtime sittings with pupils eating packed lunches in a classroom supervised by teachers to allow more space in the dining hall. 
  • Limited close contact between adults and pupils in school;  enforcing appropriate distances. We have also suspended intervention groups and small group activities.
  • We aim to limit opportunities for virus spread on equipment and books
    • Teachers are not marking books (but providing verbal feedback instead)
    • Children are keeping as much equipment in personal trays as possible
  • We have cancelled all non essential school events, trips, meetings and clubs.

(Note: Acorns and paid clubs run by external coaches (e.g. Multi-Sport) will continue to run until further notice. However, activities are being modified to support social distancing).

Stay at home: guidance for people with confirmed or possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of

  • New continuous cough and/or
  • High temperature

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild infection

Main messages

  • If you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. 
  • Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community
  • For anyone in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day the original 14 day isolation started.
  • If you can, move any vulnerable individuals out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period
  • If you cannot move vulnerable people out of your home, stay away from them as much as possible
  • If you have coronavirus symptoms:
      • Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
      • You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home
      • Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home
  • Plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home and consider what can be done for vulnerable people in the household
  • Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water, or use hand sanitiser
  • If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999

More information visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection