News

Starting the New Term – Important Information

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone connected with the school a very happy new year. I hope and trust that everyone has managed to have a restful break, and stayed healthy and well. Clearly we all face enormous challenges at the moment and I hope that 2022 can be the year when we start to put some of them behind us. In this message I want to take everyone through some of the measures we will be taking on our return to ensure that our community stays as safe as possible and that there is minimum disruption to the education of our students.

Testing

You will already be aware that all students are being tested prior to returning to school on the 10th January. In addition, from the 10th we will be testing our students every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings until further notice. Alongside this, all staff will be testing very regularly. These measures will minimise the possibility of the virus transmitting in our community. Note that now we are testing on site, we will no longer be issuing students with LFT kits to take home

Parent Visits

As previously stated, I would appreciate parents not coming onto the school site unless it is pre-arranged or an absolute emergency. If you need to speak to someone please get in touch and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. If a parent is invited onto the site, I would be grateful if they complete a Lateral Flow test in advance and wear a face covering for the duration of their visit. Meetings will be socially distanced whenever possible.

Face Coverings for students

In line with Government guidance all students, unless exempt, will be required to wear a face covering while in indoor communal spaces including classrooms. This is scheduled to be reviewed at the end of the month. Can I ask that parents ensure their child comes to school equipped with at least 2 masks each day as they can become wet after extended use. Note that parents can purchase a mask from the school via parent pay if required. Students who are exempt will be provided with a blue lanyard which they will be required to wear at all times.

Education Contingency Plans

We have a very robust set of procedures in place to keep everyone safe, and will do everything we can to avoid any disruption to the education of our students. However, if staff absence becomes an issue, it may be necessary to ask some students to work at home. Our plan is to share this equitably across all year  groups ( except Year 11)  rather than send individual year groups home for extended periods. This schedule illustrates which year groups would be at home each day but note that they would be in school for the rest of the time.

We will send more information at the time should we have to move to this model but wanted to share it with our parents in advance. Vulnerable children and those whose parents are key workers would be accommodated in school as previously.

Use of local amenities

Students will not be allowed to use the bus stop outside the primary school or any of the shops on Dagenham Road. This is so that the students disperse quickly at the end of the day and there are no large gatherings which might present an unnecessary health risk

You can find more details about the Covid protection measures we are taking by following this link to our risk assessment and the recent addendums. However if you need any further information please get in touch with the school.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding with what I have outlined.

Wishing everyone a happy, safe and prosperous 2022

Mr Frith