Thank you for your continued support through this tricky half term. The teams at Newdale are doing their very best to keep everyone safe as well as making sure the children are accessing the very best teaching and learning. We are not writing off Christmas and have all sorts of fun things in the pipeline to help children get excited and looking forward to the big day!

I have been involved in some of the live lessons that Year 2 have been delivering: it has been lovely to see children engaged and enjoying the offer. Clearly, we know it is not as good as being in school, but I am very confident that the Year 2 team are working so hard on delivering the best offer possible. If you are struggling with accessing home learning, please contact the school and we will help you as much as possible. It is important that children do not slip behind.

The attached poster is the latest guidance on Tier 2 which Telford has been placed in. We really do need you to pay more attention than ever to the health of your children. As you can see, there are precautionary test recommendations for a new set of symptoms. If we in school hear a child of complaining of these symptoms, we will ask you to collect them straight away to avoid possible direct contacts and therefore possible spread of the virus. The test process is very easy and we know now that results are often back within 24 hours. Unfortunately we have experienced some parents saying their child is making it up and that they are not ill. As you can imagine, this is very difficult for us in school as we have to be overly cautious for the sake of everyone else. Please support us in monitoring carefully at home and talking to your children should they seem under the weather.

Coronavirus_Getting_a_test_and_when_to_isolate_with_booking_a_test_option

The last reminder for now is linked to sickness and diarrhoea – if your child does suffer with either of these illnesses, please note our school sickness policy is that they remain off school for 48 hours, again to avoid spreading diseases unnecessarily.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us to keep you safe.

Miss Cook
Headteacher

Dear Parents and Carers,

As you are aware, we closed the Year 2 bubble yesterday. We are grateful for all the kind words of support that you as the parent community have shared with us – it really is appreciated.

Mrs Bishton and I have continued to work with the Health Protection hub throughout yesterday evening. Some of the Year 2 pupils are required to self-isolate, meaning that they must not leave the house and return to school until 8th December.

However, along with the Health Protection Hub we have been able to identify a small list of pupils who have not been in direct contact with the positive case. This group of pupils do not need to self-isolate and therefore do not need to stay in their homes. We have contacted all of these parents directly to inform them. These pupils will still need to remain off school, as staff absence means that we are unable to cover in those class bases at this time. We are hopeful that as staffing issues ease, we can invite this group of pupils back to school sooner. We will be in immediate contact with these parents as soon as we are able to do this.

Many parents are asking for our advice in taking their child for a test. We are not medical professionals and can only follow the guidance we have all been given. Our advice to you is to directly follow the Government guidance below –

Symptoms of COVID-19
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID 19) are recent onset of:
A new continuous cough and/or
High temperature and/or
A loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

If you or your child has any of these three main symptoms, you need to immediately get a test and self-isolate until the result is known.

Telford and Wrekin council are now asking you to book a COVID-19 test as a precaution, if you are showing other symptoms, such as:
Headaches
Aches and pains
Feeling tired for no good reason
Sore throat
Runny nose
Sneezing
Tummy ache in children

You can book a test online, it is quick and easy.
If you are booking a coronavirus test as a precaution due to one or more of the above symptoms, you don’t need to self-isolate unless you receive a positive test result.
However, if the symptom which is the reason for the test relates to vomiting and diarrhoea, you will need to follow our sickness policy and keep your child off school for 48 hours after the onset of the symptoms.

How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19
Do
– Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
– Use hand sanitiser gel (with 60% alcohol) if soap and water are not available
– Wash your hands as soon as you get home
– Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
– Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
All the staff and pupils here at Newdale will continue to work with the Health Protection Hub to ensure that the safety of our children is at the forefront of all we do.

Kind regards,

Miss Cook
Headteacher