Information for Parents
Latest Update – 17/01/22
Coronavirus/Covid-19 remains a risk.
It is still possible to catch and spread COVID-19, even if you are fully vaccinated.
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result should stay at home and self-isolate immediately. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should arrange to take a PCR test as soon as possible, even if you’ve had one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 will be a feature of our lives for the foreseeable future, so we need to learn to live with it and manage the risk to ourselves and others.
All of us can play our part by understanding the situations where risks of COVID-19 infection and transmission are likely to be higher, and taking action to reduce these risks.
Following the government guidance will help you to understand situations where there is a greater risk of catching or spreading COVID-19 and the steps that you can take to stay safe and protect others. Every action you can take to help reduce the spread will help reduce pressure on the NHS during the winter months.
Please click here for the latest guidance from the government: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
What has changed (Last updated 17.01.22)
The government has announced that England is moving to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant.
This means:
- Get vaccinated and get your booster dose
- Wear a face covering in most indoor public places and on public transport
- Work from home, if you can
- Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer
- Get tested and self-isolate if required
We are aware that the latest research shows that people who have both vaccinations, along with their booster have greater protection relating to the new variant of COVID-19 resulting in a reduction of the severity of symptoms. As you are aware, all children aged 12-15 years are eligible to receive a covid vaccination which can be booked online or at a vaccination centre or pharmacy.
Our offer continues to be underpinned by our risk assessment. A consistent routine regarding hygiene/handwashing and social distancing/use of PPE, together with effective ventilation will be maintained. Outdoor breaks/play will be effectively supervised factoring in all above aspects relating to Covid compliance.
All learners of secondary school age and upwards and all staff are allocated home testing kits and are strongly encouraged to complete twice weekly home testing.
Our risk assessment takes account of the following:
- Medical fitness of staff/students to attend without concerns relating to COVID or other related conditions and/or wellbeing.
- A rigorous system for maintaining hygiene protocols and social distancing where possible.
- Effective staffing/rooming.
- A well-structured day caters for individual student needs including supervised breaks and lunch.
- Agreed transport arrangements either from commissioning LA or parent/carer choice.
- Specialist staff team on site to oversee medical needs, safeguarding, site safety and maintenance.
Get tested and self-isolate if required.
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolate immediately and get a PCR test, even if your symptoms are mild. This is because many people experience mild symptoms from COVID-19, but may still pass on the virus to others.
Positive Test Result
If you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result, most people will not need to take a PCR test to confirm the result. You must self-isolate immediately if you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result.
The most important symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of any of the following:
- a new continuous cough
- a high temperature
- a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
Stay at home and self-isolate if you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have a positive LFD or PCR test result.
Self-isolation will help protect your family, friends and the wider community by reducing the risk that you will pass the infection on to others.
Self Isolation Period
Your self-isolation period starts immediately from when your symptoms started, or, if you do not have any symptoms, from when your positive LFD or PCR test was taken, whichever test was taken first. Your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms), and the next 10 full days.
It may be possible to end your self-isolation earlier (see below).
This means that if, for example, your symptoms started at any time on the 15th of the month (or if you did not have symptoms but your first positive COVID-19 test was taken on the 15th), your self-isolation period ends at 23:59hrs on the 25th of the month.
You can return to your normal routine and stop self-isolating after 10 full days if your symptoms have gone, or if the only symptoms you have are a cough or anosmia, which can last for several weeks. If you still have a high temperature after 10 days or are otherwise unwell, stay at home and seek medical advice.
You may be able to end your self-isolation period before the end of the 10 full days. You can take an LFD test from 5 days after the day your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you did not have symptoms), and another LFD test on the following day. The second LFD test should be taken at least 24 hours later. 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.
Report your LFD test results after taking each test.
You should not take an LFD test before the 5th day of your self-isolation period, and you should only end your self-isolation after you have had 2 consecutive negative LFD tests which should be taken at least 24 hours apart. You should stop testing after you have had 2 consecutive negative test results.
Click here for full government guidance:
If any health matters relating to your child or wider family have changed, please inform us immediately to ensure the whole organisation can remain safe and healthy.
We recognise the challenges parents/carers have faced and hope you feel reassured that we will continue to support you whenever we can.
If any health matters relating to your child or wider family have changed, please inform us immediately to ensure the whole organisation can remain safe and healthy.
We recognise the challenges parents/carers have faced and hope you feel reassured that we will continue to support you whenever we can.
Latest Update - 30th December 2020
Latest Update
Further to the government announcement on 30 December 2020 and the subsequent broadcast at 8pm on Monday 4th January 2020, the start of our term was delayed for students with a phased return from Tuesday 5th January 2021. This delayed opening was to allow us time to comply with Covid testing.
Our priority remains to keep all our students and staff safe and healthy.
Our provision during this current lockdown will be similar to that initially provided during Phase 1 of the lockdown (March 2020), however, this will be reviewed on a weekly basis. In addition to some students continuing to access school/college/residential, the Therapy/Clinical Services team will also support our remote service alongside an ongoing e-learning resource which will be available to all students.
As an educational provision, we are endeavouring to balance the wider social, emotional, wellbeing and learning needs of all, set against maintaining the excellent strategies we have maintained thus far with regards to Covid 19.
We will review our offer on a weekly basis to ensure the safety of all students and staff can be maintained within their individual classes/learning bubbles.
We are conducting COVID flow testing and providing social stories and visual timetables to support our 11 + age students’ access to COVID tests. With students’ individual therapy needs continuing to be supported.
We continue to remain vigilant by encouraging high levels of cleanliness particularly with handwashing.
Please be aware of the government campaign, Hands, Face, Space – Click here for more information.
Please continue to follow Government Guidelines with regards to displays of symptoms of Coronavirus – Click here for more information.
Please remember that if you have symptoms you must self-isolate and not leave your house for at least 10 days along with all other members of your household.
External visitors are currently only accepted on site following a risk assessment and approval from the Senior Leadership Team.
Coronavirus concerns - Information for Parents
How New National Restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) impact education, childcare and children’s social care settings.
Please see link below which contains the following information:
More evidence has emerged that shows there is a very low risk of children becoming very unwell from coronavirus (COVID-19), even for children with existing health conditions. Most children originally identified as clinically extremely vulnerable no longer need to follow original shielding advice. Parents should be advised to speak to their child’s GP or specialist clinician if they have not already done so, to understand whether their child should still be classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.
Those children whose doctors have confirmed they are still clinically extremely vulnerable are advised not to attend education whilst the national restrictions are in place. Schools will need to make appropriate arrangements to enable them to continue their education at home.
Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves, should still attend education.
Parents of clinically extremely vulnerable children will be receiving a letter shortly confirming this advice.
Coronavirus information poster for parents/carers: download here.
UK Chief Medical Officers’ statement on the self-isolation period: 11 December 2020
Self-isolation is essential to reducing the spread of COVID as it breaks the chains of transmission. After reviewing the evidence, we are now confident that we can reduce the number of days that contacts self-isolate from 14 days to 10 days.
Exercise
Exercise
The risk of the coronavirus being passed on to others outdoors is considered to be low as long as people maintain social distancing.
In England, you can leave your home to exercise and spend time outdoors for recreation:
- with your household or support bubble
- in groups of up to six people from outside your household or support bubble
When travelling to outdoor spaces, it is important that people respect the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Do not travel to different parts of the UK where it would be inconsistent with guidance or regulations issued by the relevant devolved administration.
Please see link for detailed guidelines:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-on-accessing-green-spaces-safely
Autism and eating
Autism and eating
Resources for parents/carers
Resources for parents/carers
Autism-sport-physical-activity
Maintaining Well-being Final
Relaxation techniques for autistic people- articles of interest
Useful links (National Autistic Society)
Autism friendly easy read document for parents
Autism-friendly easy read document for parents
Supporting Children with Learning Disability/ASD Coping with COVID-19 Isolation
Supporting Children with Learning Disability/ASD Coping with COVID-19 Isolation
Tips for supporting your child through the Corona Virus pandemic
Autism-friendly Coronavirus Social Story
Autism-friendly Coronavirus Social Story
Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK
Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK
Educational Resources
Educational resources
The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.
Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools.
They can be found here.
As you will all know, Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus. At Wargrave House School & College we take the health and safety of our pupils and staff very seriously, so we’re sharing guidance from Public Health England on steps you should be taking. We will keep you informed with regards to developments and please be assured we’re keeping the school and college clean to prevent the spread of any virus.
Information about Coronavirus
Open letter from Vicky Ford MP
Open letter to children and young people with SEND, their parents, families and others who support them from Vicky Ford, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families
Coronavirus - what you need to do
Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do
We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must:
- Stay at home as much as possible
- Work from home if you can
- Limit contact with other people
- Keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
- Wash your hands regularly
- Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms
The most important thing we can do is to stay alert, control the virus, and in doing so, save lives.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing
Statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers on an update to coronavirus symptoms: 18 May 2020
From today (18/05/2020), all individuals should self-isolate if they develop a new continuous cough or fever or anosmia.
Anosmia is the loss of or a change in your normal sense of smell. It can also affect your sense of taste as the two are closely linked.
We have been closely monitoring the emerging data and evidence on COVID-19 and, after thorough consideration, we are now confident enough to recommend this new measure.
The individual’s households should also self-isolate for 14 days as per the current guidelines and the individual should stay at home for 7 days, or longer if they still have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell.
Full details of each stage in the government action plan can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan
Coronavirus - hand washing advice
Handwashing advice
The most important thing individuals can do to protect themselves is to wash their hands more often, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water. Public Health England recommends that in addition to handwashing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, everyone should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport.
Watch this short NHS film for guidance:
https://youtu.be/bQCP7waTRWU
Coronavirus - stay at home guidance
Stay at home: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
Coronavirus - Department for Education coronavirus helpline
Department for Education coronavirus helpline
The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday), 10am to 4pm (Saturday to Sunday)
Please note, we are currently experiencing high volumes of calls and apologise for any wait that you may experience. To ensure that we answer your calls as quickly as possible we have now extended our opening hours to cover weekends.
If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the hotline.
Where to find the latest information
Updates on COVID-19:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
Please keep your GIAS contacts up to date
If you work in a school, please take this opportunity to review your contact information in Get Information About Schools (GIAS).
To update your record, please go to the GIAS home page, “Sign in” using your “DfE Sign-in” credentials and select GIAS from your available services here:
https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/
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