Latest News | Haggonfields Primary School

PHE Covid-19 Letter to Parents and Carers

Wed 23 Sep 2020 Mrs H-S

Public Health England have produced a letter for schools to distribute to parents which explains when a person requires a coronavirus test and what the symptoms of coronavirus are. The intention of the letter is to help prevent children being taken out of school unnecessarily and answer some of the questions parents may have around testing.

Dear parents and guardians,

This is an important letter to share some information on how we can work together to make sure we can continue to give children and young people the best education in the safest way possible. One important part of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of pupils, parents and our communities is testing for coronavirus. We all have a duty to make sure that the right people have access to get tested at the right time. Every time a test is used inappropriately, a person with Covid-19 symptoms may miss out on getting tested. Therefore, I ask that you all follow these principles:

▪ You should only book a test if your child has any of these three coronavirus symptoms:

1. a high temperature: any new high temperature where your child feels hot to touch on their chest or back (you do not need to measure the temperature)

2. a new continuous cough: coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours

3. a loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste: a noticeable loss of smell or taste or things smell and taste different to normal

▪ Your child does not need a test if they have a runny nose, are sneezing or feeling unwell but do not have a temperature, cough or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste because these are not normally symptoms of coronavirus.

▪ If you are unsure about whether to get a test, please check the official list of symptoms on the NHS website, which is reviewed regularly: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/

▪ Only the person with symptoms should get a test. You do not need to get a test for anyone else in the household unless they also have any of the three symptoms listed above. All members of the household need to self-isolate whilst waiting for the test result.

▪ If the person with symptoms’ test comes back positive, other members of their household should continue self-isolating for 14 days and only get a test if they develop coronavirus symptoms.

▪ If a pupil in a class or bubble tests positive for coronavirus, anyone who is advised to self-isolate does not require a test unless they subsequently develop symptoms. No one else in the same class or bubble as the symptomatic person needs to take any action unless advised by the school. Schools have detailed guidance and access to a Department for Education and Public Health England helpline for advice and support.

Contacts of a person who has tested positive must follow the guidance carefully and in full, which means they must stay at home for 14 days. This is because it can take several days following contact with an infected person before an individual develops symptoms or the virus can be detected. Students should only book a test if they get symptoms. The NHS has produced some guidance to help parents understand when their child can and cannot attend school which you may find useful: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthybody/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

It is vital for children’s learning and future opportunities that they are able to return to school and college. It is therefore vitally important that all we work together and do our bit to make this possible.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Viv Bennett

CBE Chief Nurse and Director Maternity and Early Years | Public Health England

Head of World Health Organisation

Collaborating Centre for Public Health Nursing and Midwifery

Dr Susan Hopkins

Interim Chief Medical Officer | NHS Test & Trace

Deputy Director | Public Health England

Consultant in Infectious Diseases & Microbiology Royal Free, London

Hot School Dinners

Tue 22 Sep 2020 Mrs H-S

I am delighted to announce that hot school dinners will be available from next week – Monday 28^th September. Following a meeting with our caterer, we will be introducing an interim menu:

	Meat-free Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Meat/fish option	Cheese & tomato pizza Potato croquettes Carrot & cucumber sticks	Burger in a bun Crispy diced potatoes Sweetcorn	Spaghetti bolognese Crusty bread Seasonal vegetables	Sausage, mash and beans Seasonal vegetables	Fish finger wrap Chips Peas & sweetcorn
Vegetarian option *		Quorn burger in a bun Crispy diced potatoes Sweetcorn	Quorn mince spaghetti Bolognese Crusty bread Seasonal vegetables	Quorn sausage, mash and beans Seasonal vegetables	Quorn fish-less finger wrap Chips Peas & sweetcorn
Dessert	Cookie	Butterscotch tart	Flapjack	Fruit Jelly	Fruit muffin

* If your child requires a vegetarian option, please can you notify the office in advance.

As part of the Universal Free School Meals provision, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children will be provided with a hot school dinner.
If you are entitled to means-tested/benefit-related Free School Meals provision, your child will be provided with a hot school dinner.
Please contact the office if you wish to pay for a hot school dinner. The cost is £2.20 per day.
You may, of course, still provide your child with a packed lunch if you wish to do so.

Community Information: Mobile Testing Unit

Fri 18 Sep 2020 Mrs H-S

There will be a Mobile Testing Unit in Central Avenue Car Park, Worksop on Friday 18th, Saturday 19th, and Sunday 20th September.

Central Avenue Car Park in Worksop will be partially closed to accommodate a Covid-19 Mobile Test Unit. The right hand side of the car park will be fenced off.

People in Bassetlaw with COVID-19 symptoms can book a test at the Mobile Testing Unit. Bookings can be made online at : https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by phoning 119. People should ensure they have an appointment before they go to the testing unit and only book if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

For more information visit: https://nottsccg.nhs.uk/covid-19/locations-for-mobile-testing-units-across-nottingham-and-nottinghamshire/

Today's Swimming Session

Tue 08 Sep 2020 Mrs H-S

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Outwood Academy Valley have cancelled today's first swimming session. Year 4, 5 and 6 swimming will now start on Tuesday 15th September.

Athletics Sessions

Tue 08 Sep 2020 Mrs H-S

We are pleased to welcome a new PE coach Coach to Haggonfields. Coach Kirkwood will be teaching 6 sessions of athletics skills to the children in Delphinus and Aquila Class this half term. The sessions will take place outside on the court area or on the field. All the equipment will be thoroughly cleaned after each session. The children in Aquila Class will also be taking part in the after-school club: 3:30-4:30. There are still places left. Please return the signed permission slip if your child would like a place.

Swimming Lessons

Mon 07 Sep 2020 Mrs H-S

Swimming lessons restart tomorrow for children in Years 4, 5 and 6. Please ensure that your child has their swimming things...including a towel in school tomorrow! For Health & safety reasons, jewellery must be removed. We sent home the Notts CC swimming guidance for parents pack last week. If you have any other enquiries, please contact the school office.

Basketball Sessions

Mon 07 Sep 2020 Mrs H-S

We are delighted to welcome back Coach Jimmy 'Jumpshot' Smith! Coach Smith taught basketball at Haggonfields many years ago. He will be teaching 6 sessions of basketball skills to the children in Delphinus and Columba Class. The sessions will take place on our newly-opened outside court area. All the equipment will be thoroughly cleaned after each session. The children in Columba Class will also be taking part in the after-school club: 3:30-4:30. There are still a few places left. Please return the signed permission slip if your child would like a place.

Welcome Back!

Wed 02 Sep 2020 Mrs H-S

Dear Parents & Carers,

Welcome back! The start of this new academic year is obviously very different to what we are used to as we continue to respond to the Covid-19 epidemic. We have continued to update our risk assessment based on the current situation, but the information in this letter will remain under review each week if, and when guidance changes. At the end of last term, I wrote a letter explaining our response to the Government guidance on the wider reopening of schools and how this would impact on daily routines. I hope this was useful in understanding how we planned to operate in September as all children returned to school.

Following last week’s revised Government guidance, this is what to expect as all children return to school tomorrow. Any plans are in line with current government guidance and may be subject to change at short notice. We will provide further updates each time any changes are made.

Timings: All children must return to school on Thursday 3rd September 2020. The gates will be open from 8:45am to allow a steady flow of children to enter. The school day starts in class at 9.00am promptly. School will finish at 3:30pm.

One Way System: We will operate a one-way system at the gate for arrivals and collections and this will be strictly enforced. Staff will be around to ensure you know exactly where to go and what to do. Parents & carers should drop their children off at the barrier and leave the site as soon as possible. The same applies in reverse for collections. There will be two entry points in the barriers.

Drop off and collection:
Cygnus Class and Columba Class will have a separate entry point on the barrier to the right-hand side of the building. Cygnus Class will enter the building by the Foundation Stage door and Columba Class will enter through the conservatory.
Delphinus Class and Aquila Class will enter through a separate entry point on the barrier to the left-hand side of the building. They will enter the building through the hall doors.

Access to the school site: Entry and exit to the playground and school site will be restricted to children only. Parents & carers cannot enter the school building and will need to drop their children off at the gates via the one-way system. We ask parents to be mindful of social distancing when waiting at the gates. Please observe social distancing when dropping off or collecting children; this includes leaving the site immediately. Any enquiries should be made via the school office by phone or email.

Bubbles: The children will be taught in their usual classrooms. Due to site restrictions, two larger bubbles will be made up by combining year groups:

Bubble 1 – Cygnus Class-Reception and Nursery

Bubble 2 – Columba Class, Delphinus Class and Aquila Class

Each bubble will have separate play areas, break and lunch arrangements. Staff

will be assigned to one bubble, wherever possible.

Lunch arrangements: Our school kitchen will initially be unable to serve hot lunches at the start of term. This will continue to be reviewed. However, we will be providing packed lunches:

- As part of the Universal Free School Meals provision, Reception, Year 1 or Year

2 children will be provided with a packed lunch.

- If you are entitled to means-tested/benefit-related Free School Meals

provision, your child will be provided with a packed lunch.

- Please contact the office if you wish to pay for a school packed lunch.

- If you wish to provide your own lunch, it can now be packed in your usual lunch

box.

Enrichment activities: We will try to re-instate a small number of clubs, but it is likely they will be specific to each class and not open to all children. The number of children will be limited. Any activities will be socially distanced. Off-site visits are unlikely to happen until January 2021. School swimming for Year 4, 5 and 6 is expected to start in September in line with current guidance. Sports Coach tuition is expected to recommence in September and sports sessions will be socially distanced.

Assemblies: There will be no whole school assemblies until further notice. Assemblies will take place in classrooms instead. Our Friday celebration assembly will take place virtually via Teams. Larger gatherings or events such as class assemblies, Christmas and other productions are unlikely to go ahead under the current guidance

School uniform: uniform will return and be in line with our school policy.

Classroom provision: Children will be taught by their new class teacher in their own classrooms. Each bubble will access their own set of toilets. Where this is not possible, toilets will be cleaned at lunchtime as well as at the end of each day. Classrooms will be well-ventilated. Children will be seated facing forwards wherever possible. The government advice is to limit the amount of equipment brought into school by children to just essentials e.g. lunch boxes, coats and PE kits. Please can we refrain from bringing book bags, pencil cases or large bags.

Hygiene: Children and any essential visitors will be asked to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser on entry to the school building and at several key times throughout the day. All children will have lessons on basic hygiene to remind them of the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ and cover cough/sneeze messages. New pedal bins have been purchased and will be emptied regularly throughout the day; hard surfaces will be wiped down regularly with additional cleaning in place at lunchtime. Children do not need to bring their own hand sanitiser or tissues as they will be provided by the school. Face coverings are not necessary.

Enquiries: Any enquiries should be via the school office by phone or email

As always, our plans are made with the prime concern of ensuring the health and safety of all people on the school site. I trust you will be supportive of the measures we have put in place and ask you to ensure that you comply with these at all times please. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning!

Best wishes,

Mrs H-S