Revised End of Autumn Term Arrangements

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Dear Parent/ Carer,

As always, I hope you are all well and keeping safe in these challenging times. I am writing following updated government guidance which was issued this week re-end of term arrangements.

You may already be aware that in light of many people’s concerns and anxieties about how contact tracing would work over the Christmas holiday period, the government has advised that schools are free to make Friday December 18th an additional staff training day and to end term on Thursday December 17th.

We have therefore taken the decision that the end of the Autumn Term for students will be brought forward by one day on Thursday December 17th at 12pm. As we had previously indicated, lessons will continue as normal until the end of term and on the last day, students will be presented with a small Christmas parcel from us as well as a “grab bag” of food as they exit the building.

In appreciation of students’ excellent attendance throughout this term, we will of course as originally planned still be running the additional reward lunch on Thursday December 17th. All students with 100% attendance and punctuality between Tuesday 8th December and the end of term will be able to order a meal of their choice from a local fast-food restaurant.

The government have asked us to also ensure that parents and carers are aware of the following information and relevant arrangements regarding Coronavirus in the holidays:

  • Where a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms more than 48 hours since being in school, the school should not be contacted. Parents and carers should follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace.
  • For the first 6 days after teaching ends, if a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, the school will assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school.
  • School staff are not asked to remain on-call or conduct any contact tracing more than 6 days after the final day of teaching. As our last teaching day is on Thursday 17 December, there will be no pupil contact tracing asks beyond Wednesday 23 December.

·         Where pupils are required to self-isolate due to contact with a positive case after the first 6 days following the end of term, schools do not need to be informed about their absence until the first day of the new term.

Finally, I would again like to confirm that the Spring Term 2021 starts for all students on Tuesday January 5th at 9.15am.

Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] if there are any further questions I can assist with in any way regarding this letter.

 

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Wakefield

Principal