17 March 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

COVID:19 UPDATE: 17.03.20

Current Guidance

Following recent advice, we would like to advise you that Shap Endowed CE Primary School remains open in accordance with Government guidance.

For your reference, the most common symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19) are recent onset of:

• New continuous cough and/or
• High temperature (37.8 degrees or above)

The school is following the guidance regarding self-isolation for children and staff, updated 16.03.20:

• If you live alone and have symptoms of coronavirus illness (Covid-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started.
• If you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14 day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. This is because it is likely that people living within a household will infect each other or be infected already.
• For anyone in the household who starts displaying symptoms they need to stay at home for 7 days (or longer is they remain unwell) from when the symptoms appeared regardless of what day they are on in the original 14 day isolation period.

For example, if you are in self isolation and your symptoms started on day 10, you should remain in isolation for a further 7 days (or longer if you remain unwell). So at least 17 days.

If your symptoms started on day 2, you should self-isolate for a further 7 days, so at least 9 days in total.

If any child shows these symptoms within the school day, parents will be contacted and asked to collect their children.

Steps Taken to Reduce Contact with People

Only essential visitors are in school.  Sports fixtures have been postponed.  After school activities such as those arranged via The Scouts Association, and Shap Youth Club have been cancelled until further notice.  Adult Education and leisure activities in our hall and the ‘CDC Room’ have been cancelled.  School Worship Time will be now take place in classes led by class teachers, rather than our visiting clergy and Christian groups.

Hygiene

We are working closely with Orian, our cleaning contractors to ensure good hygiene measures are in place.  Staff and children are getting into a good routine of handwashing!  We have plenty of soap and handtowels to keep up with the demand, however some children are experiencing sore hands due to the extra handwashing.  Please try to encourage your children to pat rather than rub their hands to avoid discomfort, it may also be advisable to cream their hands at night and in the morning before they come to school to ease any irritation!

Future Arrangements

Dan Barton, Assistant Director for Education and Skills at Cumbria County Council, advised that this is a fast developing situation, and it is likely that the advice to schools may change over coming days and weeks, and has asked us to be prepared to respond to these changes.  We are currently planning for any ‘home learning’ that may need to take place.  This may take the form of activities suitable for classes advertised on the class pages of our website https://www.shap.cumbria.sch.uk/class-pages/ and differentiated work emailed to groups and individuals using secure email addresses that we are organising for our children.  We ask that families currently awaiting work for your children, focus on reading, maths and work linked to your current topic until we finalise procedures for the systems described above.  To help us to finalise this, please will you advise us if you have not got access to the internet, and also advise us of any changes to your contact details.

Wellbeing

Understandably, this is causing a lot of worry and anxiety for people – children and adults alike!  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you want any support – I seem to have become an expert in virology over the last few days!  I am happy to discuss any of your concerns, however great or small!

Take good care!

Best Wishes,

Katie Chappell

Acting Headteacher

E: head@shap.cumbria.sch.uk

T: 01931 716274