26 pupils have tested positive for COVID-19 since Saturday. 15 classes now have at least 1 positive case (some more) in the last 10 days:

• 1S, 2S, 3F, 3P, 4F, 4H, 4P, 4S, 5F, 5H, 5P, 6F, 6H, 6P, 6S.

In classes where cases are below the government threshold of 5, we typically see cases rising quickly above this threshold. We then move the class to 'amber' control measures.

 

For these reasons, we are moving all classes to amber control measures from today. We want to reduce the risk of infection transmission and keep as many pupils as possible attending school.

 

We are trying to take steps to reduce risk of infection while keeping as much the same for pupils as we can. Experts from the London Coronavirus Regional Cell have helped us further strengthen our measures announced yesterday.

 

For parents, this means:

1. please test your child daily until Friday 3 December using a lateral flow test;
   • order easy to use nasal tests for home
2. be extra cautious and alert to any changes in your child's health.
   • If you see symptoms of coronavirus, stop sending your child to school and check with a PCR test;
3. strict social distancing while on the school site, including 'drop and go' at morning drop-off and collection; avoid visiting the school office;
4. all adults - staff, parents and visitors - to wear a face covering in communal areas;
5. wash hands as soon as pupils arrive at home after school.

 

In school, this means:

• pupils return to forward-facing rows in class, if teachers have switched to table group layout;
• no splitting of classes on first day of any teacher absence. We will seek agency (supply) cover and then fall-back on our own Higher Level Teaching Assistants to cover teacher absence;
• childcare organised into year groups within a larger group, as much as possible;
• increasing hand-washing for all pupils on arrival, around break-time, before food and after lunch;
• increasing cleaning of all high-touch surfaces during the school day;
• no singing indoors.

 

Other things that we do:

• specialist clubs and instrumental tuition will continue in mixed age groups to maintain our offer with as much distancing as possible;
• Year 5 class sharing assemblies become remote and will be recorded in school for parents to watch at home. 
• Reception nativity remains face-to-face, for now. If there is an increase in infection we may switch to remote and record.
• sports competitions against other schools continue because these take place outside;
• year 1 carol service at St. Pauls church is cancelled because we cannot rehearse and we need to reduce mixing of pupils indoors;
• Christmas concert for orchestra is replaced with an orchestra video recording;
• PTFA Christmas Fair continues because the event is taking place outside.