02.10.20 LCT Update to Parents

Dear Parents,

It is now a few weeks into the start of term, and I wanted to update you on our progress to date.

All our schools are open, and we have had fantastic attendance each week, generally about 92-95% which is well above the figure for schools nationally at the moment. The children and students have been superb, responding very positively to the systems we have had to put in place, it feels now that they are all used to it and our schools are running smoothly every day. Behaviour has been fantastic; our children have all embraced being back in school and getting on with their education. We have focused our teaching on a “Recovery Curriculum” this half-term so we can identify where the gaps in learning are, then there will be targeted programmes in place to support children “catch up” during the academic year. This work needs to be carefully managed, so we do not overwhelm children too quickly.

The reason we have made such fantastic progress since September is because of the amazing commitment of our staff to make it work, and I cannot thank them enough for their incredible efforts. It is important to stress that it is challenging for them and they are having to work differently, but I know that they all delighted to have our schools open and busy as usual.

We have had to close some bubbles in some of our schools due to confirmed Covid cases and this is happening right across the school system. Getting staff and children tested in early September was a real problem but it is far better now, and we work closely with the Telford Health Protection Hub. In order to keep as many children and staff in school as possible you must keep you child at home and inform your child’s school if they exhibit any coronavirus symptoms, however mild, and get a test.

They need to stay at home and self-isolate, as does everyone in the household; it is important not have any visitors until you have a test result. The main symptoms of coronavirus are below, these are available on the NHS website:-
• A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest and back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot 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 differently

If you or your child or a family member has a positive Covid test then the whole household must selfisolate for 14 days and stay at home. NHS Track and Trace will advise you on this and next steps when you have your test results.

I know this is again very challenging time for everyone as the virus is spreading again at alarming rates
across the UK. The only way we can stop the spread of this virus and reduce infection and death rates
is to follow all the rules and guidance about self-isolating, social distancing, wearing
masks and keeping to the rule of “six” when meeting friends and families. At the moment in Telford we
have not had any further measures imposed by the Government, and I know we all want it to stay like
this so schools can remain fully open and people can go to work.

If you are in any doubt about what to do if your child is unwell, please contact your child’s school for
help and advice before you make a decision to send them to school. All our administrators are able to
provide assistance or to pass you onto another staff member for further guidance.

Thank you for your support, we are trying our very best for everyone in our community.
My best wishes to you and your family.

Kind regards,
Dr. Gill Eatough
CEO LCT