Executive Headteacher’s Update – 4 January 2022

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January 4th 2022

Dear Parents and Carers,

Happy New Year!

We hope you have had a lovely break, and you are feeling rested and recuperated.

There are a few updates and reminders we would like to share with you.  These include:-

  • Staggered return
  • Wearing of face coverings indoors, including classrooms
  • Remote learning when self-isolating
  • Lateral flow home testing 
  • Changes to positive PCR results within the last 90 days
  • Changes to self-isolation period
  • Daily testing for close contacts

Ensuring that school is as safe as possible remains our top priority.  In light of the recent news

of the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, please do not send your son/daughter back to school if:-

  1. They are isolating from returning from abroad.
  2. They have tested positive for Covid-19 and are currently within their self-isolation period.
  3. Have any of the following symptoms:
  • high temperature
  • a new and continuous cough
  • a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell

If they do demonstrate any of the above symptoms, please book your son/daughter in for a PCR test if you haven’t already done so by calling 119, or going online to https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test.  Please do keep us updated too by contacting our Attendance Officer on 01225 762686 and leaving us a message.

 

Staggered Return

Our letter sent on the 10th December outlined our staggered return.  This letter is also available on the website here.  

In summary, we have a staggered return this week.  This allows our students to receive 1 lateral flow test using our on-site Testing Centre.  During this test, students will also be issued another box of 7 lateral flow tests.

Year

Date of their Lateral flow test

First full day back in school

Home learning – work set via SMHW

7

Friday 7th January (come in for test and then go home)

Monday 10th January

Thursday 6th January

8

Friday 7th January (come in for test and then go home)

Monday 10th January

Thursday 6th January

9

Friday 7th January (come in for test and then go home)

Monday 10th January

Thursday 6th January

10

Thursday 6th January (come in for test and then go home)

Friday 7th January

 

11

Thursday 6th January (come in for test and then go home)

Friday 7th January

 

12

Thursday 6th January (come in for test and then go home)

Friday 7th January

 

13

Thursday 6th January (come in for test and then go home)

Friday 7th January

 

 

Wearing of face coverings indoors, including classrooms

From Sunday 2 January, the government have advised students to wear face coverings in all indoor areas, including classrooms.  The advice is short term only, and will be reviewed on the 26th January.  Please could you ensure that your child brings a face covering to school.   Please do keep us updated if your child is exempt for any reason. At Clarendon we will expect all students to wear a face mask at all times when indoors (except when eating or drinking; or if they are medically exempt).

 

Remote learning when self-isolating

If your son/daughter tests positive for Covid-19, their Head of House will be in touch and work will be set on Show My Homework, or emailed by their class teacher. If your child is feeling well enough, they should where possible continue to follow their normal school timetable.  Your child’s Head of House will act as the link between home and school.  Email addresses for all of our staff can be found on our school website here.  

 

Lateral flow home testing 

The government has advised that students should continue to complete 2 lateral flow tests per week for the duration of this term.  We will be issuing lateral flow test kits this period of January.  On completion of each test, please do continue to upload the results to the GOV.UK website, and inform us here at the school. Please see key information at the end of this letter if you are unsure how to do this.

 

Changes to positive PCR results within the last 90 days

The government have now advised, even if someone has tested positive for Covid-19 within the last 90 days, they are strongly encouraged to take part in the lateral flow on-site testing, and at home, once they have completed their isolation period for their prior infection.  If this is the case, please could you send your son/daughter in for their on-site lateral flow test at the allocated time as per our previous letter on the website here , and continue to test twice weekly at home.

 

Changes to self-isolation period

Since Wednesday 22 December, the 10 day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for Covid-19 has been reduced to 7 days in most circumstances.  Individuals may now complete lateral flow tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive 2 negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation.

The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period, and tests must be taken 24 hours apart.  If both these test results are negative, and your son/daughter does not have a high temperature, they may end their self-isolation period and return to school on day 8.

 

Daily testing for close contacts

Children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months, identified as a close contact of someone with Covid-19, should complete a lateral flow test every day for 7 days, and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time.  If they do have a positive result, it is essential you book your son/daughter in for a PCR test by calling 119, or going online to https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test.  Please do keep us updated too by contacting our Attendance Officer on 01225 762686 and leaving us a message.

Please do continue to contact us if you have any questions.  We look forward to welcoming all of our students and staff back to school.

 

All the best.

 

 

Rob Price                                                             Craig Turze                                          David Cade

Executive Headteacher                                 Head of School                                  Head of School

07732800899                                                      07511700837                                      07874796897

rbp@clarendonacademy.com                           

cxt@clarendonacademy.com                

dec@clarendonacademy.com

 

Key information on testing at home:

 

How do you upload the results to the GOV.UK website?

Please go to https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result or report by telephone to 119.

 

How do you inform school of the result after each test?

Please go to https://bit.ly/clarendonstudentresults.

 

What temperatures do you need to store and use the testing kits?

For the home testing kits to be effective, they must be stored and used at room temperature.

 

How to use the lateral flow test (watch the video below)?

Click here to see a video on how to complete the test.  

If any of the lateral flow test results come back positive, a PCR test should be booked immediately.  If the PCR comes back positive, please inform us here at the school by calling our attendance line, and leaving us a message.  Our attendance line number is 01225 762686.  We will then contact you and advise you of the child’s return date.