Don't forget to keep checking back to see what we've been up to!

• Autism Awareness Week

  Mon 30 Mar 2020

  Even during the midst of this current situation, it is Autism Awareness Week!

   

  Why not take the time to chat with your super hero about their autism or start a discussion with your super hero (if they are not ASD), about how it must feel to be autistic?

   

  The following links could be really useful : 

   

  National Autistic Society-

  https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/asd.aspx

   

  YouTube-

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbwRrVw-CRo

   

  YouTube-

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaRdPYvWt48​

  

• Closure Advice

  Mon 23 Mar 2020

  Dear parents and carers,

   

  You will have received a text from us to inform you that school is closed from tomorrow morning. This is following the announcement by the Prime Minister to limit movement of people. We have staff who will be unable to attend and this will put our staffing ratio's below what would make our building safe to open.

   

  As you know, we informed you on March 11th of how we would work from home, and so from tomorrow, this now becomes active.

   

  For tomorrow, all teaching staff will be available during school hours to answer questions and help with any issues you may have. After tomorrow, we will go to the times set in the protocol.

   

  We have arranged delivery of an electronic Tesco shopping voucher of £25 for every family across the Federation - regardless of whether you receive free school meals or not. This is our gift to you from the school and not the government. When we have further information with regards to the Government Issued Vouchers, we will organise delivery for you.

   

  We understand that tonight's announcement will have been scary - we are scared too, but we know that if we work together, support each other - we will be able to come out the other side and get on with our daily lives.

   

  For this evening, keep safe and we will call you tomorrow to check in and see how you are. Together we can do this!

• Non School Closures - We are open!

  Thu 19 Mar 2020

  Dear Parents / Carers :

   

  Firstly, thank you all so much for your continued support – you are amazing and I am so proud to work alongside you – providing the very best support, education and care.

   

  Following from the Government announcement and the conference call I had with lead officers from the Borough (and I have another booked for 8am tomorrow), as a Federation we have addressed our role within keeping our pupils safe and maintaining a semblance of normality for them – which we all know is vital. 

   

  The Federation will continue to be open from Monday for pupils who have not self isolated or been kept at home - as we have ensured that we have daily catering and transport, but only for as long as we have a safe amount of staffing to do so.

   

  If we had to close, our home working procedure would activate and you will have access to staff and further work (as laid out in the protocol sent out previously).

   

  From discussion with the Governing Board and health professionals, we need to curtail the possibility of re-infection among the population. To this end, if you have taken your child out of school, they will not be able to return until April 6th - so that the isolation policy as issued by Government has been given the best chance possible.

   

  We know that this is difficult, but we are here to help and you are not being left alone.

   

  We have been working with our partners in Social Care and Parenting 4 Parents, and between us, we will contact you at least 3 times per week - both over the phone and via a variety of video messaging i.e. Skype, Facetime or Hangout , to check in on how you are, what we can do to help and get you the support you need including ensuring that your mental health is catered for during this period.

   

  We have also organised e-vouchers with Tesco supermarkets, so that if you are struggling financially due to the crisis, we will do our very best to ensure that you and your family have food to eat. These will be used to subsidise the vouchers being promised by the Government (of which we have yet to receive information about).

   

  These are very interesting times for all of us and although we are doing our best to react both positively and sensibly to this changing situation - we will make mistakes so please be kind. We are trying our very best to support you and our communities.

   

  As we have done every day, we will keep you updated with any changes so that you are informed.
  We've got this - we can get through this and we will come out the other side, showing the world how amazing we are.

• COVID-19 Update March 17th

  Tue 17 Mar 2020

  COVID-19 : 
  You will all be aware from the press conference and subsequent news coverage, that schools are at the front line.

  We have sought advice (as we have done daily) and publish the latest in both daily briefing and any updates as soon as we get them.

  On 16 March, Prime Minster Boris Johnson announced significant new measures to tackle the outbreak.
      Anyone with a fever or persistent cough should stay at home for 14 days. This measure also extends to anyone who lives with someone displaying coronavirus symptoms. People who have to isolate themselves should ask others for help to deal with everyday necessities.
      Everyone has been asked to stop non-essential contact with others. This is particularly important for those aged over 70, people with underlying health conditions and pregnant women.
      People should work from home where they can and should avoid places like pubs, clubs and theatres. This applies especially to those in London which is said to be "a few weeks ahead" of the rest of the UK in the spread of the virus.
      People should stop all unnecessary travelling.
      By the weekend, those with the most serious health conditions should be largely shielded from social contact for 12 weeks.

  We have issued guidance via email, social media and physically printed daily to all on what to do if you feel unwell or have concerns and how to report your childs absence.

  We are expecting updated guidance from the DfE and PHE by 2pm today.

  We will be issuing our guidance for parents in relation to Working From Home which the SLT have been working on for some time. Today – packs of work that have been created, log ins etc to go out at the end of the day. Any pupils who are not in, we will ensure that those packs of work & logins are posted home today.

  We understand how worrying this is for you and your families - as it is for our own, but we will work together to ensure the safety of all as well as continue the education of your children.

  If you have any questions then please contact us via telephone, Dojo or email.

• COVID-19 Update (Monday March 16th)

  Mon 16 Mar 2020
  New guidance was issued by the Government relating to the outbreak and how to deal with it :
  
  Stay at home: guidance for people with confirmed or possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
  
  Key messages
  • if you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started.
  • this action will help protect others in your community whilst you are infectious.
  • plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home.
  • ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home.
  • stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible.
  • sleep alone, if that is possible.
  • wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water.
  • stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible.
  • you do not need to call NHS111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online: https://111.nhs.uk/. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
  
  Why has the advice on self-isolation changed from 14 days to 7 days
  
  The 14 day period is for those who have had exposure to a confirmed case but have not shown symptoms. The 14 days represents the potential incubation period (the time it takes for symptoms to show if you have been infected).
  
  Most people will no longer be likely to transmit the virus 7 days after the onset of symptoms.
  
  Ending self-isolation
  
  You should remain at home until 7 days after the onset of your symptoms. After 7 days, if you feel better and no longer have a high temperature, you can return to your normal routine. If you have not had any signs of improvement and have not already sought medical advice, you should contact NHS 111 online at https://111.nhs.uk/ If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111.

• COVID-19 Goverment Update

  Fri 13 Mar 2020

  Waterside and King’s Oak Schools will remain open in line with Government and Public Health England guidance.  

   

  In line with guidance anyone with a new and persistent cough, and/or a high temperature should self-isolate and stay away from school for at least 7 days.  

  Further information from the Government can be found  at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection.  

   

  We will keep the community updated via the school website and our social media.  

   

  Please use the internet for advice about symptoms and call NHS 111 if your symptoms worsen. Please do keep in contact with the school in the normal way.

   

  Also, please follow the Parent Briefing that was sent on March 11th, so you are aware of procedures if there is a closure.

• Cornovirus update

  Mon 02 Mar 2020

  This has just been received from the Department for Education :

   

  We are continuing to keep you updated on the government’s response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
  Department for Education Coronavirus helpline

   

  Today, we have launched a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education.

  Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:
  Phone: 0800 046 8687
  Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
  Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday) 

   

  •    No school should close in response to a suspected (or confirmed) COVID-19 case unless directed to do so by Public Health England.

   

  The importance of hygiene

   

  Personal hygiene is the most important way we can tackle COVID-19. Please help us in sharing simple and effective hand hygiene messages. 
  Public Health England has a dedicated web page with a range of posters and digital materials at:

  
  https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/101-coronavirus-/resources