Information for Parents
Latest Update – Monday 3rd September 2021
Coronavirus remains a serious health risk. Latest Government guidelines confirm that you should stay cautious to help protect yourself and others:
- Meet outside, or open windows and doors for indoor visitors
- If you think you have symptoms stay at home and take a PCR test
- Wear face coverings in crowded places and on public transport
- Check in to venues when you go out
- Wash your hands with soap regularly, and for at least 20 seconds
- Get vaccinated
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.
From 19 July 2021, there is no longer a legal requirement to wear face coverings in indoor settings or on public transport. The Government has removed the requirement to wear face coverings in law but expects and recommends that they are worn in enclosed and crowded spaces where you may come into contact with people you don’t normally meet. They are no longer advised for pupils, staff and visitors either in classrooms or in communal areas. This includes public transport and dedicated transport to school or college. Government information regarding all aspects of face coverings (including safe usage) can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
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.
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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