Dear Parents/Carers,

Children are continuing to settle well in school, despite disruption to some classes already due to the knock on effect of Covid-19. Unfortunately, as you will appreciate, there are still high Covid rates nationally and indeed we have seen this amongst our families and community here in Leicester.  Our main priorities at Oaklands are to ensure that children continue to learn and our whole school community is kept safe. 

Self-Isolation Period: I would like to take this opportunity to clarify that if your child gets a positive PCR result we will take that date as day 0 of their self-isolation period and they should stay at home for 10 days after that. We will clarify with you on the phone when we would expect them back in school. If your child had symptoms before the PCR test, this may therefore mean that the 10 days are calculated from the first day of symptoms. However, we ask that you make this very clear to us. The NHS PCR test result text or email now gives a code so that the end of isolation date can be confirmed on the NHS app. It would be helpful if you can share this information via email so we are all clear about when it is safe for your child to return to school.

Please:

• Do not send your child to school if they have any symptoms; persistent cough, temperature, loss of taste/smell

• Arrange a PCR test if any member of your household has symptoms 

• Arrange a PCR test if you have been advised that your child has been a contact with someone who has tested positive

School Expansion: Next week, we will begin to see some changes to our school site. As most of you are aware, during the next year, we will be expanding our school. There will be an extension to the main building at the front of the site where there is a gravel car park currently. This will accommodate 8 new classrooms; four of which will replace the temporary mobile buildings we have at the rear of the site and four new ones.

Before the building works start, there will be additional car park spaces created. So, on Monday (13th), work will begin to create 20 new spaces on the grass area along the Whitehall Rd fence at the front of the site . This will of course be securely fenced off at all times. The work will take approximately 3 weeks, with the intention of the building work starting at the end of October.

During the work to the car park we will continue to have a one way system and all transport will be able to access the site as usual for arrival and dismissal times. If you are a parent/carer who drops off your child, please can I ask you to stay in your car as usual and we will bring your child out to you.

I am sure you will agree that this will be an exciting time for the school, and we look forward to having 8 wonderful new classrooms. During the term, I would like to meet with parents/carers to share the plans, and we will of course involve children in planning the classroom spaces in due course too. 

Wishing you a restful weekend,

Regards

Sarah

Sarah Osborne

(Headteacher)