Dear Families,

As you know, we want to have a warm and open relationship with our families, and in this vein, I want to update you with the latest Covid 19 information.

We were informed this morning that a child in Year 2 has tested positive for Covid 19.

We were able to contact all staff and families apart from one child, before the start of school day, and the family who we had not been able to contact were informed on the gate.

This has enabled us to minimise any potential further spread. Affected areas of the school have been locked and are being quarantined. We take the matter very seriously and apply as many precautions as we can.

Staff who have had any contact with the child have also started a period of isolation. We are waiting for official confirmation from the Environmental Health Team with the details of the isolation period and contact group, and we will email letters to year 2 families and affected staff as soon as we receive them.  This information will allow us to map out any changes that are required for next week, and these will be shared with you as soon as possible.

This is a sober reminder to us all that we cannot become complacent in any way. Covid 19 is very much in the community, but we need to work together to minimise its spread.

On that note, here are some reminders of key actions that we all need to take:

• Only bring your child to school for Face to Face Learning if you have no other child care alternative.
• Maintain social distancing and do not let your children play with friends and others if they are not in the same bubble (e.g. when collecting pupils and socialising in the car park, even though I know it is tempting)
• Do not send your child to school or take them out of your home if they are showing any signs of being unwell. Cases in children do not necessarily present themselves with obvious symptoms- please be over cautious for the time being. Coronavirus (COVID-19) in children - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Please wear masks when on the school premises. Adults who do not wear a mask will be asked to wait in the car or off site for their child.
• Very frequently wash/sanitise hands, and remind the children of the need to do so (whilst being mindful of their wellbeing and not making them anxious)

We are all working so hard to keep our children safe and educated and emotionally strong and happy.

I know this responsibility is in the forefront of our minds here at school, and we want to share our huge thanks to for doing such a sterling job with the home learning.

We know it is not easy, and that you have huge pressures of your own to juggle, and want to make it absolutely clear that the work provided to you is a menu for you to choose from as and when you can, according to your own commitments.

We try to make sure that there is plenty of learning opportunities available, but children do not have to complete it all. If you have limited time resource for the home learning, just focus on getting some reading, writing and maths completed each week, just to keep those key skills on the boil.

PLEASE always contact us if things are challenging for you in any way…we are here to support and work with you in any way that we can.

Be certain that we welcome your communication, and that you do not need to feel isolated or frustrated in any way…we are here to help.

Please stay safe, and once again, thank you,

Kind regards,

Caroline Swann

Dear Families,

There are no further updates regarding return to school that I am aware of, and hopefully, any future announcements will be shared with schools in advance so that everyone has ample time to plan and prepare. 

In the meantime, we continue to miss you and can't wait for your return,

Kind regards,

Caroline Swann and the Team

Dear Parents, Carers and Families,

As you will be aware, on Friday morning we all woke up to the news that schools will be closed for at least the next three weeks, and possibly up to half term in February.

There is little for me to add at this stage, but next week, I will flesh out more detail for you, and if you have any unanswered questions, then I would be very glad to hear from you in order to clarify.

In the meantime, have a lovely weekend and thank you for supporting your children in their learning….we know the challenges that this can present!

Take care,

Caroline Swann

Caroline Swann

Headteacher

Archbishop Rowan Williams CiW Primary School

01291420526

This is the information that the school has been given this evening:

WRITTEN STATEMENT 

BY

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT

The situation in Wales and across the UK remains very serious. Today, the four UK Chief Medical Officers have agreed that the UK is now at the highest level of risk, Joint Biosecurity Council level 5.

In the light of that decision the Welsh Government, in consultation with the WLGA and Colegau Cymru, has agreed that all schools, colleges and independent schools should move to online learning until January 18th.

As a government we will use the next two weeks to continue to work with local authorities, schools and colleges to plan for the rest of term.

This is the best way to ensure that parents, staff and learners can be confident in the return to face to face learning, based on the latest evidence and information.

Schools and colleges will remain open for children of critical workers and vulnerable learners, as well as for learners who need to complete essential exams or assessments. On this basis Special Schools and PRU’s should remain open if possible.

We had initially given schools flexibility in the first two weeks of term to decide when to reopen based on local circumstances.

But it is now clear that a national approach of online learning for the first fortnight of term is the best way forward.

We know that schools and colleges have been safe and secure environments throughout the pandemic.

However, we also know that education settings being open can contribute to wider social mixing outside the school and college environment.

We are confident that schools and colleges have online learning provision in place for this immediate period.

Universities in Wales have already agreed a staggered start to term. Students should not return to universities for face to face learning until they are notified that they can do so. 

Wales remains in the highest level of restrictions. Everyone must stay at home. 

I will continue to update members.

Dear Parents, Carers and Families,

I have just seen the Twitter announcement from Kirsty Williams and wanted to share this information with you as quickly as possible. 
Schools across Wales are to be closed until the 18th January 21. 
I will gather more detail as quickly as possible and will also share any related communication from MCC on this page when I can. 
Tomorrow, I will consider the implications for us as a school and contact you via email with further information.

Kind regards,

Caroline Swann

Dear Parent, Carers, Families,

As I am sure you are aware, we have had two positive cases of Covid 19 reported to us via Environmental Health, and both Year 4 and Year R/1 Miss Burton are completing their period of self-isolation.

I am now looking at how we can collectively minimise any further cases. This is going to be very challenging, as Environmental Health has confirmed that the Caldicot area is a ‘hot spot’.

We know that from the day of onset of symptoms, the Environmental Health Team count back 2 days, and consider them to be part of the persons infectious period.

I was therefore wondering that as we have just had 2 days apart for the weekend, we could be extra cautious and vigilant for symptoms to maximise the usefulness of the 2 day break. If you think that your child may be unwell, air on the side of caution, and do not send them. Monitor them carefully and send them back as soon as you feel that they are well. If you are concerned at all, contact 119 for further advice.

This may allow us to capitalise on the 2 day break that the weekend has given us and keep any spread to a minimum.

Your children are absolutely welcome at school, and we are not asking you to keep them away unnecessarily, only if they are unwell.

I will try to keep you as informed as I possibly can, and below are some links to further advice,

Kind regards,

Caroline Swann

Symptoms of COVID-19:

• a new or continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of or change to sense of smell or taste

If your child develops any of these symptoms, even if they are mild, you need to:

• Book a test for them by phoning 119 or through the online portal: https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test
• Inform Archbishop Rowan Williams CiW Primary School that they are unwell with Covid 19 symptoms and that you have requested a test
• Ensure your child self-isolates for 10 days from when their symptoms started
• All other household members isolate for 14 days from when your child developed symptoms

• Do not visit a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital but if you require medical advice, please contact NHS 111 or telephone your GP; if there is a medical emergency, phone 999

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, there are things that everyone in your family can do to help. These include:

• washing hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• using hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• washing hands as soon as they get home
• covering their mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not their hands) when they cough or sneeze
• putting used tissues in the bin immediately and washing hands afterwards

Further information on symptoms and self-isolation can be found here:

https://gov.wales/symptoms-and-self-isolation-contact-tracing

Further information on NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect can be found here:

https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-coronavirus

For general information on COVID-19: https://gov.wales/protect-yourself-others-coronavirus

The COVID-19 online symptom checker can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do: https://gov.wales/check-if-you-need-coronavirus-medical-help

Self Isolation for Year R/1 Miss Burton and Year 4

Environmental Health Wales have stated that:

• Self-isolation advice requires your child to stay at home, not to go outdoors to exercise, to visit shops, family or friends, or to other public spaces. Please do not invite people to your house.

• Year 4 can return to school on 16th December 2020

• Year R/1 Miss Burton can return to school on the 17th December 2020

• Links to advice:

  Further information on symptoms and self-isolation can be found here:

  https://gov.wales/symptoms-and-self-isolation-contact-tracing

   

  Further information on NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect can be found here:

  https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-coronavirus

   

  For general information on COVID-19: https://gov.wales/protect-yourself-others-coronavirus

   

  The COVID-19 online symptom checker can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do: https://gov.wales/check-if-you-need-coronavirus-medical-help

   

Dear Parents/Carers/Families,

I am sure that you will be feeling concerned regarding the 2 confirmed cases of Covid 19 at our school. I will try to keep you updated quickly and with as much information as possible throughout this time. We now have 2 classes affected: Year R/1 KB and Year 4. All families within these groups have been contacted. No spread has occurred within school that we can see.

We’re working closely with the NHS Test, Trace and Protect (TTP) team based in Monmouthshire County Council to ensure all appropriate measures are in place to protect pupils, staff and the wider community.

The school remains open and it is not necessary for any other child to self-isolate, stay away from school or to be tested, unless advised to by a TTP team or they develop symptoms of Covid-19.

Do take care everyone and we will collectively make every effort possible to minimise spread.

Very kind regards,

Caroline Swann