If your child is diagnosed with COVID-19 during the school holidays it is very important that you provide information about who they have had contact with, both in school and out of school, with the NHS Test and Trace Service. Your child should not return to school following the holidays if they develop symptoms or are in the self-isolation period. Find out more at www.durham.gov.uk/article/23337/Staying-safe-at-school-coronavirus-

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Home / News / Letter to Y10 – Reopening 8th June 2020

Letter to Y10 – Reopening 8th June 2020

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Download Letter – Letter to Y10 parents re- wider opening

8th June 2020

Dear Parent/Carer

 

Thank you for completing our recent survey regarding returning to school.  I am now in a position to share with you the specific plans for face to face contact with Year 10 beginning next week.  As I have said previously, we are very pleased with the response from Year 10, with regard to on-line distance learning and do not want to jeopardise or disrupt that.  What we have planned is a programme which will complement and support on-line learning in line with Government expectations.  Can I stress that the primary consideration has been the safety of all.

 

Therefore, it is our intention that;

  • Every Year 10 student is to be allocated a mentor who will meet with them weekly for a 30-minute discussion about work, problems, worries and hopefully offer support, guidance and where appropriate solutions.  This meeting can take place in school if you have indicated your child is able to return.  Alternatively, this meeting can be held over the phone, which means no-one will be disadvantaged.  As a school we have always believed in the power of personal mentoring to support learning and progress.  Personalised packs have been created and your child will be issued later this week with a time when the mentoring can take place.  Those who have indicated they are willing to return to school should attend at that time.  Those who are not able to return, should expect a phone call within the specified time period.  This programme will begin Monday June 15th.  These will then take place every week at the same time until the end of term.

 

  • Every Year 10 student will be offered the opportunity to attend school to complete their on-line learning in school with teacher support if needed.  As part of the mentor meeting, the mentor will discuss whether your child needs support with their work, is struggling to manage on-line and if necessary discuss whether your child should consider completing their on-line learning in school using our facilities.  Access to the support sessions will be via a mentor referral where the mentor believes this additional support is necessary to support students in making progress.  If you feel your child would benefit from this, then please encourage them to discuss it with their mentor.  No decision will be made about your child attending these sessions without your express involvement and permission.  This provision will begin the week beginning the 22nd June.  Please note should your child take up this offer – it will not be full-time provision and further details regarding expectations and procedures would follow.

 

  •  Every Year 10 student will continue to be offered the on-line distance learning package.

 

  • Year 10 tutors/mentors and Achievement/Behaviour Leaders will continue to liaise with parents where there are personal issues/ problems in need of resolution for the remainder of the school term.

 

If you have decided not to send your child to school at the current time, we completely understand, hopefully you will recognise that we have tried to come up with a plan that will allow all students to not be disadvantaged.  However, should you change your decision prior to the 15th then please contact the school office to discuss your child’s safe return.

 

For those who intend to attend school for their mentoring meeting and possibly on-line support sessions the following week, be assured that in line with Government guidelines careful planning has taken place to ensure the safety of students and staff as far as possible.  School will be very different next week and for the foreseeable future, so please read the following information carefully and share this with your child prior to them attending school.

 

Fitness to attend:

If your child is displaying symptoms of Coronavirus, they MUST NOT attend school.

Current guidance states that if is the case then they must not leave home until they are tested. You should use the 111 online or telephone service to arrange a test.  Anyone with symptoms must self-isolate for 7 days from when their symptoms start.  Anyone who does not have symptoms, but lives with someone who develops them must self- isolate for 14 days from the date the first person in the home develops them.  If the person with the symptoms tests negative, then there is no need to self-isolate.

 

If there is any doubt, then please keep your child at home and do not ask them to attend school.

If your child appears unwell at school, they will be isolated and you will be contacted to collect them straight away.

 

Please let us know immediately if you suspect your child has Coronavirus or if they have tested positive.

 

Procedures for Mentoring

Each Year 10 student will be invited in for a mentoring session at a specific time each week, with the same group of children having their one to one mentor session at the same time.  This is in line with Government guidance to try and minimise risk.  Mentoring sessions will be conducted following social distancing guidelines.

 

When the support sessions begin the following week, students who attend will remain in the same groups each week.  Again, this will be in line with Government guidelines on social distancing.  Letters outlining the procedures for these sessions will follow for those students who are identified.  Please bear in mind, this will not be a full-time provision as current social distancing guidance means we can only get 10 students in each classroom.

 

Students must not attend on any other day than their specified time slot and must arrive and leave the premises at the specified time.

 

Getting to school:

  • All students must arrive for their mentoring session via the main gate on Station Road and wait outside the Hall Entrance.
  • Any parents dropping off must remain in their vehicle and leave the site immediately. In line with current guidance no students from different households should travel in the same vehicle.
  • No parent will be admitted into the school building as appointments can be conducted over the phone.
  • If your child intends to cycle or walk to school, they must be reminded to remain socially distant. Cyclists as usual will be expected to dismount at the school gate.
  • If there is any doubt that social distancing has not been maintained on the way to and from school then your child will be unable to attend. Similarly, can I ask that if your child has not been following Government guidance outside of school then can you ensure they do not attend.
  • On arrival students will be met by staff
  • Two metre markings will be clearly displayed outside the Hall entrance and inside of school to ensure students and staff remain distant from each other
  • Students will be required to use hand sanitiser on entering and leaving the building.
  • Students entitled to a bus pass will be contacted individually.

 

Physical environment:

  • Students will be seated at mentoring workstations according to a seating plan and will need their own pen. Paper or feedback sheets will be available to them to take with them when they leave.
  • All windows and doors will remain open where possible to ensure the Hall and other rooms are well ventilated.
  • The student will collect their own seat on entry and when they leave take it to an area to be cleaned by staff. Before each mentoring session the desks will be cleaned by staff.
  • Thorough cleaning of all areas has been carried out prior to school reopening and will continue at regular intervals throughout the day. All rooms will have bins with lids, and we will remind students of the need to “catch it, bin it, kill it” with regards to the use and disposal of tissues.

 

Hygiene:

Good hygiene is essential to stop the spread of infection. Students will be required to use hand sanitiser (provided) on arrival at school and if attending the support sessions beginning the 22nd June at regular intervals.

Uniform– We are currently being advised to ensure that clothing is changed and washed regularly, therefore students will not be required to wear a uniform. Clothing must be clean, suitable and safe for school (no short tops, hot pants, flip flops etc.).

 

Behaviour:

The existing behaviour policy is being updated in response to the current situation regarding the coronavirus and the behaviours we expect of students when on the school site.  This amendment will be published on our website prior to the 15th for parents to view.  The current situation is unprecedented and a worrying time for everyone. I can assure you that thorough planning and risk assessments have been carried out to ensure the safety of your child during their time with us in school. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email – office@seahamhighschool.com

 

If you have changed your mind regarding your child attending school for face to face contact, following this information from when you completed the survey, then please let us know by contacting the school.

 

I hope that this information answers many of your questions about your child’s return to school; you will receive more details (including dates, times and support sessions if appropriate) once we have finalised student numbers.  Thank you in advance for your support in ensuring your child understands what will be expected from them whilst in school and helping to ensure the online provision has been so successful.  Please remember it is your choice as to whether your child attends these mentoring sessions face to face in school and we understand if you feel unable to do so.  I assure you they will be useful and support your child with reintegration to school, their school-work and mental health.  I have a final meeting with Governors on Wednesday to approve the Risk Assessment, if there are any amendments to these plans I will let you know.  These are difficult times, but I strongly believe that together we can make the best of the situation to support your children.

 

Thank you for your continued support.  It is much appreciated.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Mr G.W. Lumsdon

Head Teacher