Happy New Year to all our TMS families! I really do hope that you have managed to have some time over the Christmas break where you have been covid free and well enough to enjoy time with friends and family.

Covid is still very much part of our lives and learning to ‘live with it’ still leads to much frustration, although thankful that with the vaccinations, the severity of the virus in many cases is not as worrying. 

The DFE sent new guidance out to schools on 2.1.22. The advice for primary schools remains much the same. They have released information for parents/carers which can be found if you CLICK HERE.    

For children and staff who have tested positive with a PCR test, there are changes in the isolation period for that person:

“Since Wednesday 22 December, the 10 day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 has been reduced to 7 days in most circumstances, unless you cannot test for any reason.

Individuals may now take LFD tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to your education setting from day 8.

Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.

Children under 5 are not being advised to take part in daily testing of close contacts. If a child under 5 is a contact of a confirmed case, they are not required to self-isolate and should not start daily testing. If they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 they should limit their contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19, and arrange to take a PCR test as soon as possible. They can continue to attend an education or childcare setting while waiting for the PCR result.”

So that we are taking all precautions to keep our children and staff safe in our school, we are asking parents to email in the confirmation of the negative lateral flow tests on days 6 and 7, or consecutive days thereafter. This means that the tests will need to be registered on the gov.uk site – CLICK HERE.  

For children and staff who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive with a PCR test, that person does not need to isolate, but test using a lateral flow for 7 days. This is only the case for children between the ages of 5-18 and also adults who have been fully vaccinated. If there is a positive result, then a PCR will be needed. If a member of the household has tested positive, then it is expected that the child or member of staff will continue to come to school.

How the isolation period rule works in England (taken from the BBC website)

Remote Learning 

If your child has tested positive and is poorly, then priority must be for the child to rest and get better. If your child has tested positive but is well enough to continue their learning, then we will work with you to ensure that your child has enough learning to access. In KS2 this will be via Google Classroom, in KS1 it will be sent via email and in EYFS it will be through Tapestry. The learning will never be the same as learning on that day with their peers, but we can provide resources and tasks to ensure that for the days they are absent from school, they are keeping in touch following the thread of the learning so they are prepared when they return. As always, with any difficulties with remote learning, please do not hesitate to contact the school either by phone or email (secretary@threemilestone.cornwall.sch.uk) and we can come up with a plan which works together!

You can access the Learning Letters, spellings and any resources on the Year group page of the website – CLICK HERE or links to high quality websites across the curriculum can be found here CLICK HERE. 

Attendance

Being in school is the best place for children to learn and that is why the government guidance does make it clear that attendance in school is mandatory. Learning is sequential and therefore, missing even a day jeopardises the progress made. Children should only be off school if they are too poorly to come in, showing symptoms of covid or have had a positive lateral flow test. 

For children who have a low attendance (under 90%) and for children who are reported to be having multiple PCR tests, we will now be asking for parents/carers to send in the evidence of the PCR test which has happened. PCR tests should only be used if children are showing symptoms (high temperature, loss of taste or smell, or a continuous dry cough) or following  positive lateral flow test.  

We are working with our Education Welfare Officer, Mr de Labat, to support families with children who have low attendance. We will be holding attendance clinics, whereby if your child’s attendance is low, you will be invited into school so that we can ensure that we are offering all the support we are able to. These clinics will also be used to highlight that as parents, you are aware of your legal responsibility to ensure that your child is in school. 

We know that we approach another term of uncertainty and anxiety which covid brings, and we endeavour to, as always, make all decisions in the best interest of our children and be as transparent as possible with all communication.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. 

We really do hope for a settled and healthy Spring term!

Ms Suzannah Teagle