COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 Update (17/03/2020)

[Letter from Steve Reddy, Director of Children and Young People’s Services]

Dear children, young people, parents/carers and families,

We appreciate the considerable anxiety faced by the whole community at this moment. My team is working closely with Head Teachers to ensure they are provided with up-to-date guidance and support.

It is important that we all follow the guidance set out by the Government and DfE which no doubt will change over the coming days and weeks.

I thought it would be helpful if I provided the following reassurances, based upon the current position as of 16th March 2020.

  • All schools currently remain open. They will only close as a result of coronavirus case, if directed to by Public Health England.
  • There is no need to cancel school events or activities including domestic trips, unless the risk assessment undertaken by the school concludes this is necessary.
  • Schools will not be communicating to their school community ‘suspected ‘or ‘confirmed’ cases of coronavirus, unless directed to by Public Health England.
  • Schools are ensuring that children, young people, staff and visitors are washing their hands thoroughly and regularly throughout the day.
  • Schools are taking steps to clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces more often than usual, using regular cleaning products.
  • Children should be kept at home for 7 days if they are unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, to avoid spreading infection to others. Otherwise they should attend as normal.

Guidance about staying at home is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

NHS guidance can be found here:

External Link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Schools are spending time in lessons, as part of the curriculum, talking to children about coronavirus and supporting children who may be experiencing any anxiety.

We value the support of our schools, children, young people and families during these uncertain times. Liverpool has a strong tradition of pulling together, long may this continue.

Best wishes,

Steve Reddy
Director
Children and Young People’s Services

Schools and families can find further guidance here:

External Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
External Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19
External Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/covid-19-travel-guidance-for-the-education-sector

Download: COVID-19 Update Letter [PDF]

COVID-19 Update (06/03/2020)

Dear Parents / Carers,

Re: Coronavirus

I have had several enquiries from concerned parents about the school’s response to the Coronavirus. From the information school has received, you should not be unduly worried about the possibility of your children catching the Coronavirus.

As Head Teacher I get a daily update from the government via the Department for Education. As part of this, we have been given resources to remind our children about general hygiene including hand washing and ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ strategies. We have talked to all our children about this and remind them about hygiene during the school day. We provide tissues in all classrooms and have plenty of soap and handwashing facilities.

As a school, we will continue to encourage our children to maintain their hygiene, as we have always done.

As Head Teacher I will continue to follow the comprehensive guidance from the Government and will keep you informed. The latest information and guidance for the public is available here and this is updated daily.

The current guidance is clear that schools are not to close unless Public Health England advises us to. Rest assured if there was Coronavirus in school the adults who work here would be asking the same questions about whether or not they should be in work. As a barometer, if the staff are still here then there is no risk to the children. There is no reason why your children should not continue to attend our school setting as normal. If this advice changes at any time I will let you know.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs M Walsh
Head Teacher

Download: Coronavirus Letter [PDF]