E-newsletter 101

 
Grendon Newsletter
  E-newsletter #101 Wednesday 13th October 2021  
 
  Hello Visitor,

Covid-19 Update

 

Should I send my child to school if a household member has Covid?

With a noticeable increase in the number of pupils self-isolating for a PCR test due to older siblings and parents testing positive for Covid, I want to clarify the school’s position on a very important aspect relating to school attendance/self-isolation and specifically on a question I am frequently asked: should I send my child to school if a household member has Covid?

Let me give you two examples to explain the school’s position on this question.

Example 1

  • Family X have a child in secondary school and a child in primary school.
  • The secondary pupil tests positive for Covid on a PCR test and begins self-isolating.
  • The rest of the household take PCR tests.
  • The primary pupil tests negative on a PCR test.
  • As per the guidance, the primary pupil returns to school.

Example 2

  • Family Y have a child in secondary and a child in primary school.
  • The secondary pupil tests positive for Covid on a PCR test and begins self-isolating.
  • The rest of the household take PCR tests.
  • The primary pupil tests negative on a PCR test.
  • The family chooses to keep the primary pupil in isolation at home.

The school’s position is that it will support both of the examples above. The rationale for this is that the school’s default position, which has served us well throughout the pandemic, is to follow DfE guidance. However, the school is also very sensitive to the different needs of families and also their ability to effectively enforce self-isolation/avoid close contact within their households.

The school does not have a preference as to whether families choose to follow the principle of Example 1 or Example 2. Instead, families should feel free to make their own informed choice based on their own circumstances without judgement. What is right for one family may not be right for another.

If my child has a negative PCR and I choose to keep them off school, will their absence be authorised?

Yes. Your child’s absence will be marked as Covid-related.

Will my child have access to Remote Learning?

Remote learning will be offered to all pupils who have a Covid-related absence. I have attached the Remote Learning Policy here as a reminder for you.

The policy states that:

In the event of an individual child working remotely, work will be set work daily by their class teacher based on the learning in school. This will be provided within 24 hours of school being informed of the child’s absence.

Class teachers will first make contact with those affected families to establish whether the absent pupil is well enough to complete school work (or if parents of our younger children are well enough to facilitate remote learning) and arrangements will then be made for the child to access remote learning which will be based on the work the other children are doing in school. It will not be possible to replicate exactly what takes place in school for obvious reasons. Office 365 will continue to be used for remote learning. 

There is a section in the policy on responsibilities for parents and pupils which you may want to familiarise yourselves with.    

As there is no national requirement for schools to set remote learning for pupils who choose to self-isolate, I would ask for your patience as we make provision for these pupils.

Parent Information

The above changes are reflected in the updated Parent Information document found on the school website and also here.   



 
 
  Grendon Church Of England Primary School
Main Road
Grendon
Wellingborough
NN7 1JW
Tel: 01933 663208
 
  https://grendonprimary.net/