Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Dear Parents/Carers,
I am writing to confirm that if your child has been self-isolating at home due to the positive case of Coronavirus in school I wrote to you about, your child will now be able to return to school on Monday 28th September. However, they must only return if they are well and continue to have no symptoms of Coronavirus.
The main symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) are:
Please see the NHS website for further advice https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/
You should also keep your child at home if they have sickness or diarrhoea, and they should not return until 48 hours after the last bout.
Transport has been notified that your child is able to return on Monday if they are well. If your child is not well, please notify transport as usual.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Senior Leadership team on 0116 2415921
We look forward to welcoming your child back in to school on Monday,
Regards
Sarah
Sarah Osborne (Headteacher)
Dear Parents/Carers,
Please find attached a Guide for Parents/Carers that we hope you will find helpful. It details a variety of scenarios relating to Covid-19 that you may encounter, and lists the responses that we ask you follow. We ask that you contact the school immediately if your child has any symptom of Covid-19, if anyone in your household either becomes symptomatic/has a positive test result, or if your family is contacted through the NHS Test and Trace service. This Guide details when your child would be able to return to school. Please read & keep this document so that you can refer to it if needed.
There is a wealth of information about Coronavirus in Leicester on the Leicester City Council website here. This includes where you can find the local testing Centres. To book a test you can call 119 or book online at nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test. The testing centres are open 8am to 8pm daily. If your child develops symptoms and there is any reason why you feel that your child could not get tested at one of these station, please call the school to speak to me personally or Ingrid Spencer.
Many thanks for your support in keeping our school community safe,
Regards
Sarah
Sarah Osborne
(Headteacher)
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Oaklands School COVID 19 responses A Quick Guide for Parents |
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What to do if….
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Action Needed |
Return to school when…. |
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My child has COVID symptoms: High Temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back A New Continuous Cough – this means coughing a lot more than an hour or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. A Loss or Change to your Sense of Smell/ Taste – this means you have noticed you can’t smell or taste anything. |
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You have sent a negative test result to office@oaklands.leicester.sch.uk The Headteacher will respond to advise you that you can send your child back to school. Please do not send your child in before you have received the headteacher’s response. |
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My child tests positive for COVID 19 |
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The Headteacher says it is safe to do so They can return on the agreed date even if they have a cough or loss of taste/smell. These symptoms can last for several weeks. |
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My child tests negative for COVID 19 |
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You have sent a negative test result to office@oaklands.leicester.sch.uk The Headteacher will respond to advise you that you can send your child back to school. Please do not send your child in before you have received the headteacher’s response. |
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My child is ill with symptoms not linked to COVID 19 |
Follow the school’s usual absence procedures |
After 48 hours following the last bout of sickness/ diarrhoea if this is the cause of absence. |
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Someone in my household has COVID 19 Symptoms |
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You have sent that person’s negative test result to office@oaklands.leicester.sch.uk The Headteacher will respond to advise you that you can send your child back to school. Please do not send your child in before you have received the headteacher’s response. |
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Someone in my household tests positive for COVID 19 |
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The child has completed 14 days of isolation and if they have no symptoms |
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NHS test and trace has identified my child has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID 19 |
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The child has completed 14 days of isolation and if they have no symptoms |
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We/my child has travelled and has to self-isolate as a period of quarantine. |
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The quarantine period has been completed and if the child has no symptoms |
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We have received medical advice that my child must resume shielding. |
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School informs you that restrictions have been lifted and your child can return to school. |
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My child’s bubble is closed due to COVID 19 outbreak in school. |
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School will inform you when the bubble will be reopened |
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Dear Parents/Carers,
Coronavirus Update
I am writing to you again following my recent correspondence about a child on site who had a symptom of Coronavirus.
The child has remained at home since Thursday and has taken a Coronavirus test. We are pleased to inform you that they have had a negative result.
We will remain vigilant on site and will continue to communicate any changes to our situation with you.
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Most people with Coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms. For more information go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/
Please be vigilant in continuing to look for the symptoms of Coronavirus. If your child or a household member has symptoms of Coronavirus and you need further advice you can call NHS 111. You MUST NOT send your child in to school if they have any of these symptoms.
You must also keep your child off school for 48 hours if they have nausea, diarrhoea or any other signs of illness. Please ring the school office to let us know.
If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Regards
Sarah
Sarah Osborne (Headteacher)
A Fantastic Start to the Term
Dear Parents/Carers,
After many concerns we had about the children coming back this term; being on site again after such a long time away, getting used to new routines, needing to wash hands frequently every day, once again they have surprised us! Each and every one of the children on site this week has made us proud.
The children who were already familiar with the Oaklands site have quickly adapted to moving around the school in the one way system, classrooms being in a new layout, and the daily routine being different from what they had been used to. Our new children have explored their class & school environment, readily moving around the site, smiling and getting to know the staff teams. All staff have commented on how smoothly all of our Oaklands children transitioned into this new way of working and playing. Thank-you to you all for making sure that your child has been well prepared to start the new term, and that they have been ready on time for school. We know that the more we prepare our children for changes the better they can cope with it.
To our new parents joining the Oaklands community, I would like to offer you a very warm welcome. By now, your child’s class teacher will have introduced themselves and let you know how your child is settling in. We do hope you will be interested to find out about what is happening at Oaklands by following us on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OaklandsSchoolLeicester
Twitter: @OaklandsSchool_
and on the website: www.oaklands.leicester.sch.uk.
We also have a You Tube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoBZ9amxpU6NJ3OM9_dPioA with many Oaklands video clips that your child may like to watch and learn from.
We ask that all parents regularly check Weduc, our parent messaging app, and the website, to be kept up to date with letters and news. Our teachers will also now be using ClassDojo to contact you personally about your child’s progress in class. We will be trying to reduce the amount of paper we use so most correspondence will be made via these alternative methods of communication.
We are all looking forward to the term ahead. We will take it step by step, and at a pace that is suitable for each individual child. We want them all to feel safe and comfortable in school, with the people around them. It may take some children a while to start to interact again. For some, the loss of structure may have been devastating over the last six months. But we are well prepared, with our Connection & Community Curriculum aims being firmly focused on a reintegration that suits individual needs. We are ready to listen if children want to talk about what has happened, and indeed we have heard children already reminding each other about ‘social distancing’. We know that for many of our children, they have enjoyed the company of familiar adults at home during lockdown, so coming back to school and the separation from loved ones after all this time may be distressing, and cause anxiety.
Our teachers have been considering all different types of responses to the current situation, to ensure that first and foremost we consider each child’s wellbeing as they return to school life, which in turn, and in time, will secure positive progress for their future development.
We also recognise that this week has been difficult for many of you as well. Many parents have asked themselves if sending their child back to school is the right thing to do. But, ultimately, you have sent your child back because you care. They needed to be away from school during the lockdown, it was not a choice, but we know that education is crucial to a child’s development. It is not just the academic learning, but the social development opportunities they have in school too that are crucial for their future. I think we all had first day nerves this week, but we always talk about Oaklands as a family, and we will all continue to work to look after each other. If you want any further information about our safety measures in school, please do contact us to speak to a member of the leadership team.
As always, we are more than happy to help you, should you have any queries about how your child is settling in or their progress during the term. Please do use ClassDojo, or phone us on 0116 2415921, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can, should you want to talk about anything.
Regards
Sarah Osborne
Dear Parents/Carers,
Coronavirus Information
It has been a fantastic start to the term so far, with children settling well and lots of smiles during the last few days. I will write to you in more detail tomorrow about the first few days.
However, as you will understand from previous correspondence, I am keen to ensure that all parents/carers know how we are keeping your children safe during the Coronavirus pandemic and what precautions we are taking. Therefore, I am writing to advise you that a child in the school was sent home today due to having a symptom of Coronavirus. The child was not in your child’s class (unless you have been specifically contacted). The child’s parents have been asked to take them for a Coronavirus test as soon as possible. So that we make sure all parents/carers are kept informed about our situation, I will advise you of the outcome in the next couple of days.
Following Government Guidance, your child should continue attending school providing they remain well. This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools#soc
However, if your child becomes unwell with a new and persistent cough, or a high temperature, or has a loss of or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia), you MUST keep them at home and you must follow guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, which sets out that your child should self-isolate for at least 10 days and you should arrange to have a test to see if they have Coronavirus. You can book a test online at nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or call 119.
Please be vigilant in continuing to look for the symptoms of Coronavirus. If your child or a household member has symptoms of Coronavirus and you need further advice you can call NHS 111.
You MUST keep your child off school for 48 hours if they have nausea, diarrhoea or any other signs of illness. Please ring the school office to let us know.
I am sure this situation will arise many times in the coming months. As you are aware, it is extremely difficult for us to be able to distinguish between symptoms of normal coughs, colds and childhood illnesses and those symptoms of Coronavirus. We will continue to follow all of the safety measures in our Risk Assessment, particularly ensuring vigilance around hand hygiene at all points during the day. If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. Your child’s safety is our utmost priority. We will contact you as soon as we know the outcome of this child’s test.
Regards
Sarah Osborne (Headteacher)
Dear Parents/Carers,
We are all very much looking forward to welcoming your children in to school on Tuesday. Staff have been busy this week, preparing the environment and ensuring that everyone will be able to return to Oaklands safely next week. We will be excited to see how your children have grown and changed during their time away.
To ensure that we have a smooth start to the day on Tuesday, as communicated with you in the letter sent previously, we have a staggered start to the day. This will enable us to socially distance as children come on site and enter the building.
If your child travels by bus or taxi, please have your child ready for transport when it arrives in the morning, so that they arrive at Oaklands at the allocated time.
If you are a parent/carer who brings your child to school, please can I remind you that if you come by car you MUST stay in your vehicle and a member of staff will come to collect your child from you. For parents/carers with children in Willow/Cherry Classes (Frogs, Squirrels, Hedgehogs, Stoats, Robins, Dormice, Hares, Deers, Rabbits) we ask that you arrive between 8.40am and 9.00am please. For those parents/carers who are bringing children in Chestnut Pathway (Badgers, Owls, Beavers), please do not arrive at school before 9.10am, please, to avoid congestion in the car park.
Please do be patient in the car park on the first day back. We are unsure what the volume of traffic will be like on our own site and on Whitehall Road with other schools around us returning on Tuesday too. It will be essential that we work together to keep everyone safe.
Please can I remind you to complete the Health Screening form that was sent out to you by post, and send it with your child on their first day back. However, to ensure that we minimize risk of infection from the outside environment, we remind you not to send in a book bag. The transport escort will pass over any items you need to send in such as PE kit, nappies and packed lunch.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team look forward to seeing the children again next week and will contact you to let you know how they have settled.
Have a lovely bank holiday weekend,
Regards
Sarah
(This advice has also been sent to parents/carers via Weduc)
Returning to School for The Autumn Term
The Local Authority have issued further guidance & advice for parents/Carers about all children returning to school which can be found on the Leicester City website here. This includes up to date information about Shielding in Leicester and other frequently asked questions.
Back to School Toolkit
Widgit have produced some symbol materials to support the wider opening of schools some of which might be useful for parents/Carers to use at home. The symbols can be found here.
The following Guidance has been sent to all parents via post with a letter from the Headteacher. Our comprehensive Risk Assessment for the return of all children to Oaklands on Tuesday 1st September can be found on the website here.
Guidance for Parents/Carers about the New Academic Year
When will children be able to return to school?
We plan to open the school to all children on Tuesday 1st September, following Government Guidance.
What will the transport arrangements be for my child?
We have been liaising closely with LA transport team to ensure that children are safe at all times from leaving your house to returning at the end of the day. We have arranged for staggered start and finish times to the school day:
If your child is in Willow or Cherry Pathways (Frogs, Hedgehogs, Stoats, Robins or Squirrels, Dormice, Hares, Deer, Rabbits) they will be collected to arrive for an 8.45am-9am start and leave at 2.30pm
If your child is in Chestnut Pathway (Badgers, Beavers, Owls), they will be collected to arrive at school for 9.00-9.15am and will leave school at 2.40pm.
For parents/carers dropping off your child, please arrive at the same time as listed above for your child’s class. If you come by car, please do not leave your vehicle. A member of staff will come to collect your child and bring them out to you again at the end of the day.
These staggered start and finish times will prevent children mixing in the car park/entrance areas at the start and finish of the school day. It is possible that your child’s usual transport may look different e.g. they may travel by taxi rather than by bus, and may have a different driver/escort. Children will be transported only with other children in their pathway. Where buses are used for another journey during the day, they are cleaned thoroughly between each journey.
How will the school keep my child safe?
Your child will stay within their pathway ‘bubble’. This ‘bubble’ will stay the same for the full academic year. The children in that bubble will have designated spaces and resources, including playground areas that only they will use. The staff in school will also stay within a pathway ‘bubble’ and will not mix. This will minimise any risks by reducing contacts.
Children will be encouraged and supported to wash their hands regularly, in particular on arrival at school, before and after playtimes, when using the toilets, before and after eating, and before going home.
There will be a one-way system used in the school to prevent contacts in corridors. Movement around the school during the day will be kept to a minimum.
All equipment used by children will be thoroughly cleaned each day after school.
Does my child need to wear a school uniform?
Yes. We feel that it is important for all children to wear their school uniform to understand that they are coming to school and to help them get back into a routine.
What equipment will my child need to bring to school?
Please do not send children in to school with any objects from home, including book bags. On the first day back, we will send each child home with a plastic wallet which we can easily wipe down each day. However, if you usually send in nappies and/or a packed lunch please send these still.
Chestnut and Cherry pathway children will need to bring in a PE kit, and this will be kept on site (Badgers, Beavers, Owls, Dormice, Hares, Deer, Rabbits)
Willow pathway children will initially be learning to change their own shoes for PE, so please send in a change of trainers/pumps to be kept in school (Frogs, Hedgehogs, Stoats, Squirrels, Robins)
Please avoid sending your child in to school with a coat until the weather turns cooler
Will my child be able to have a school dinner?
The school will be extremely careful around snack times and lunch times to ensure that children and staff are kept safe. This may mean some adjustment to the menu on offer. However, we will work closely with the catering team to ensure that we can provide the healthiest option possible. School dinners will still be available.
What will happen if my child or someone in my child’s bubble displays Covid 19 symptoms?
As you will understand, we need to be extremely vigilant to keep everyone safe. We will consider all children who are ill a potential risk. If you notice that your child may be ill, e.g. they demonstrate unusual behaviour, feel hot, have been sick overnight, you MUST keep them at home.
If a pupil or member of staff displays symptoms of Covid 19 in school, they will be removed from the bubble immediately and taken to a dedicated isolation room. Pupils will be supervised by a member of staff wearing full PPE.
If your child is displaying symptoms, you will be contacted and asked to pick your child up as quickly as possible. Please ensure that you have made arrangements to be able to do this, or that you have someone available who could collect your child if this should happen. As you will appreciate, it will be important that your child is collected as soon as possible to prevent any risk to others on site. It is vital that we have two working contact numbers for every child. Please update us immediately if any of your numbers change.
You should then arrange for them to have a Covid 19 tests. You must do this within 5 days of the symptoms showing. You can apply for a test via the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test We ask that you inform us of the results as soon as possible.
If your child’s test result is negative, they can return to school. However, you must have spoken to the Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher first. If the test result is positive, your child would need to stay at home for 10 days. All other family members would need to self-isolate for 14 days.
If someone else in your child’s bubble displays symptoms and is sent home, we will advise you of this. Your child can continue to attend school as long as they do not develop symptoms.
What are the symptoms of Covid 19?
The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:
a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Reports also identify that a rash is be an additional symptom in children. Please see the NHS website for further advice https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/
What should I do if my child or someone else in our household has a cough, temperature or a loss of taste or smell?
Do not send your child in to school. Please let the school know as soon as possible if anyone in your household has symptoms of Covid 19 or tests positive for the disease.
Who should I contact if I have other questions or concerns?
You can see our full Risk Assessment on the website in the Parents section under the ‘Coronavirus’ heading. This follows Government Guidance and is based on the Leicester Local Authority model policy. If, after reading this, you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us on office@oaklands.leicester.sch.uk or call the school office (0116 2415921) from week beginning 24th August to speak to a member of the senior leadership team.
Dear Parents and Carers,
As the local lockdown eases and we approach the school autumn term, I would like to express my thanks to you all for your strength in supporting your family during these challenging times.
Although we recognise there may be concerns for some parents/carers to take the next step of returning their children to school and nursery, there has been mounting evidence to confirm that children are at least as safe at school as in the community. The science shows that attending school doesn’t seem to increase probability of transmission for children.
We recognise there will be many questions for parents not just around the safety but also the logistics in getting their children back to school. To help, we have set up a webpage www.leicester.gov.uk/returntoschool to answer questions that you may have, such as:
• How safe is it for my child to return to school?
• Do I have to send my child back to school?
• How to travel to and from school safely
We will make sure it is updated regularly as more information and guidance is made available, and in the run up to school return.
School and nursery leaders are working hard to prepare for all children to return in the autumn term and are following the government and health guidance they have been given in order to make it as safe as possible. We have also asked all schools to update their risk assessments and to share with staff and parents. We recommend you check the school’s website for details and dates of opening.
You can find out more on GOV.UK as they update the guidance issued for schools and parents.
We recognise that education is really important for children and that school is the best place for them to learn and we know how essential it is for their mental wellbeing to have social interactions with their peers, carers and teachers.
Leicester City Council will continue to do everything we can to support families, schools, staff and governing bodies throughout this challenging time. If you are unsure about arrangements for your child returning to school, please do check the school’s website or contact your school.
Finally, we wish the best for those who have received A Levels (13 August) results and whose GCSE (20 August) results are fast approaching. Support is available for those young people who may need or want to change their plans. Get in touch with Connexions - telephone 0116 454 1770 or email connexions@leicester.gov.uk.
With best wishes
Cllr Elly Cutkevlin - Assistant City Mayor with responsibility for Education
PS - please note that school admissions open for online applications on Monday 7 September to start at a primary, junior or secondary school for entry in Autumn 2021.