Charlton School

11^th September 2020

Dear Parents/Carer and Students,

As we reach the end of our first full week back in school I would like to thank you for your support once more and commend your children for their behaviour and adaptability to cope with the new systems and procedures that have been implemented.

We are aware that the system we have in place has brought about some unintentional contact in corridors between year group bubbles, this does not breach proximal contact guidance of being in contact for more than 15 minutes, but please encourage patience and await other groups to pass before moving around the building in the same direction.  If your child is concerned about this, we would recommend that they use a face mask whilst in corridors and communal areas; these remain optional at this time.

We do feel that students could make better attempts at times to avoid close contact with each other, particularly on arrival and departure from school, and at break and lunch (face to face contact of less than 1 metre).  Some still see physical play as appropriate but it is not, certainly during this time.  Students should avoid any play or behaviour that involves touching others.

We would also ask that students do not approach the entry points to school until it is their time to do so and that they slow down on entry to not cause a large gathering waiting to go through the doors.  We ask the same at the end of break and lunch.

In addition, we seek your support and ask that parents remain in cars when dropping off or collecting students, parking is restricted to the one-way loop, please do not pass the no entry – staff only signs at the main entrance crossing.  I have again been asked to remind parents of their duty to park responsibly when collecting children.  Telford and Wrekin enforcement officers will be issuing penalty notices for drivers parking illegally, this includes those blocking driveways and parking in bus stops.

We are asking that all visitors are to wear face masks, in reception and in the wider school building.  Please remember that parents should only attend school if they have a pre-planned meeting, contact prior to this should be through telephone or email.

We have been fortunate with the weather so far but realise this will not always be the case. We encourage all students to bring a coat and an umbrella, if they wish, as all students will spend time at lunch and break outside, even when the weather deteriorates.

I have been asked to share the following information with you by the Chief Medical Officer and Head of Public Health England:

Testing

The Department for Education has worked closely with Public Health England (PHE) and NHS Test and Trace, to ensure that we are doing all we can to minimise the potential risks of spread. A key part of this is the appropriate use of testing to help identify people who are positive and subsequently their contacts. We have made testing available throughout the country and anyone with symptoms can book a test online or over the telephone through 119, to get the certainty they need to protect themselves and those around them.

Crucial to our overall support for schools and colleges is ensuring that everyone with coronavirus symptoms has access to a test as soon as they develop those symptoms. It is vital that we learn from the recent Scottish experience, where the return of schools saw a huge increase in demand for tests from people without coronavirus symptoms. We want to avoid a similar surge in test demand as England’s schools and colleges return, to ensure that we continue to prioritise our testing capacity for those with symptoms and to avoid children, students and their families self-isolating unnecessarily.

To ensure we identify those with coronavirus, while avoiding a huge increase in demand for tests from people without coronavirus symptoms, we ask that you recommend to your students and staff who feel unwell, that they get tested if:

• they develop one or more of the main coronavirus symptoms:
  • a high temperature
  • a new, continuous cough
  • the loss or change of their sense of taste or smell, or
• they are recommended to get tested by a healthcare provider (e.g. GP or nurse)

If a student or staff member develops one or more of the main coronavirus symptoms described above, only they should be tested. There is no need for their households to have a test unless they are also symptomatic. Unless a student or staff member has one of the three main coronavirus symptoms, they should only be tested if instructed otherwise by the local authority, health protection team, or their GP.

As schools and colleges across England return, students may feel unwell, for example with a sore throat, stomach upset or a headache. These students don’t need to book a test but may need to stay off school or college and seek medical advice through their GP or pharmacist, as usual.

In terms of the process at Charlton of a confirmed or suspected case of Coronavirus, we have been asked to log this for all students and staff through Telford and Wrekin’s Health Protection Hub (HPH).  The families will then receive a call from the HPH advising them of actions to take.  Whilst awaiting this call, families should start the 14 day isolation period.  If the child has siblings at Charlton or another school, they will need to go into isolation until the test results are known.

To support the reduction in the spread of Coronavirus we urge all members of the Charlton School community to follow and abide by the Government’s new Rule of 6 and the HAND – FACE – SPACE guidance, further details can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing

Away from Coronavirus, we feel we need to inform you that we have been made aware of a video on TikTok of a gentleman live streaming his suicide. This is obviously a distressing video, and TikTok have stated they are doing their best to remove the video. However, it is now being listed under other captions that do not mention suicide and so can be accidentally viewed. We recommend exercising caution in allowing your child to use TikTok at this time.  For further information, please click on this link: TikTok Alert:

Once again, thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards

Mr McNaughton

Principal