covid-19virus

Coronavirus Information Page

UPDATED 6.4.21

Parents/carers will have received communications regarding the return to school in Term 5.

Students should continue to carry out twice weekly LFD tests during the Easter.

There is an on-call service for the first 6 days of the Easter break for the reporting of positive test results. Please report any confirmed positive PCR test results by email to covid@st-gregorys.org.uk

 

Students will return to school on Monday 19 April 2021.

 

We will continue to update this page and email further arrangements as they become available.

Below you will find key information and guidance for attendance at school during the pandemic.

To prevent further spread, all COVID related illnesses must be reported to school immediately.

This also includes if you have been asked to self-isolate or are awaiting test results for a member of your household.

During school time: please contact the absence line on 01225 838230.
Out of hours: please email covid@st-gregorys.org.uk

We have enclosed a number of links to the DfE’s website, providing much more detailed guidance for parents and carers. This information is updated at the same time as the information provided to schools so, as we find out more information, students, parents and carers can too.

Our provision is based on the information that we have to date and is subject to review and amendment at any time. We may need to update this information regularly so please continue to check your emails and this page.

Thank you for your continued support.

Ms A Cusack
Headmistress

Contacting the School

The school office is closed during the summer holidays but emails and messages are checked intermittently. For all enquiries, please email stgregorys_sec@bathnes.gov.uk. and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

During term time, the school office is open from 8.30am – 4.00pm daily.

We will endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible.

Absence from school due to COVID-19

As we see more cases locally of COVID-19, it is vital that you notify the school immediately of any illness or absence from school related to COVID. This also includes if you have been asked to self-isolate or are awaiting test results for a member of your household.

During school time: please contact the absence line on 01225 838230.
Out of hours: please email covid@st-gregorys.org.uk

Attendance at school during the pandemic

The government announcements on 22 February 2021 provided an outline of the expectations of schools from 8 March 2021 and, in response to this, we have updated our planning. Whilst some of the information is general for all schools, we have put in place a range of measures specific to Saint Gregory’s.

Key changes include:

  • Each year group will have their own social bubble with different entrances into school and separate lunch and break times or areas.
  • Each year group will also have their own area within the school and, depending on their curriculum needs will have some or most of their lessons within these areas to minimise movement around the school site.
  • Key Stage 3 students will have the majority of their lessons in their allocated Home Room with specialist teachers coming to them.
  • Key Stage 4 students have, as far as possible, been centralised to the Gateway, Science Block and main building.
  • Sixth form lessons have been scheduled for additional learning spaces and within the same areas as Key Stage 4 students.
  • Additional cleaning will take place within specialist areas throughout the day.
  • Timetables will be individual to year groups with some changes to the normal routine of lessons.
  • Lunchtimes will be reduced to minimise movement around school and enable additional cleaning to take place between sessions.
  • Students will have a staggered end to the school day to minimise the numbers of students on public transport or leaving the school premises at any one time.
  • Students will be permitted to wear their PE kit for the entire school day when they have timetabled lessons in PE or Dance.
  • Sixth form students will attend timetabled lessons and have flexibility to come in for lessons only when they are not required to attend tutor.
  • Enhanced hygiene and hand washing measures throughout the school.
  • Ensuring safe social distancing between students and staff of 2m and encouraging the 1m+ approach between students when outside of the classroom.
  • Students and staff will be required to wear face coverings in all situations where social distancing cannot
    be maintained until Easter 2021; this now includes classrooms as well as busy circulation areas.
  • Students will be provided with the opportunity to take part in the government’s asymptomatic Lateral Flow Testing programme.

The information below will provide much more detail on how we can work together to ensure as smooth and safe a return to school as possible.

More details are available in the attachments below:

Return to School Guide – Updated March 2021

Return to School Risk Assessment – Updated March 2021

Lateral Flow Testing Permission Letter Y7-10 – 4 Jan 2021

Lateral Flow Testing Permission Y11-13 – 4 Jan 2021

10 Steps to Staying Safe at School

Home School Agreement

Extraordinary Home School Agreement (in case of partial or full closure)

Behaviour for Excellence Policy

Appendix to Behaviour for Excellence Policy (in case of partial or full closure)

Safeguarding Policy

Appendix to Safeguarding Policy (in case of partial or full closure)

Google Classroom guides for remote school work

COVID-19 Quick reference guide for parents and carers

Please see below for FAQs on absence from school in relation to COVID-19.

Foreign travel during school holidays

If your family have any overseas visits planned for the school holiday period we would strongly urge you to review the guidance as set out in the link below and follow any quarantine rules that may apply. Please DO NOT send your child to school until the full period of quarantine has been completed and inform the school of your child’s absence in the normal manner.

Foreign Office Advice for Travellers

Safeguarding and wellbeing

Details of our Safeguarding Policy and additional measures taken in the event of full or partial closure can be found in the documents listed above.

If you are worried about a child and you think they are in immediate danger or at risk of severe harm, call 999.

Should your child have any safeguarding concerns they should contact the school email talk2someone@st-gregorys.org.uk, or the DSL, Mr McDermott is available on 07847 145164.

Support for Parents

You can find a wide range of support and guidance for parents HERE

Emotional Wellbeing

The staff at St Gregory’s are available to support you and your children during this period of disruption. There is a growing number of resources online, some detailed below, for families and students and this can often be a useful starting place to common concerns or feelings but please contact us by email if you are struggling to find the help or support you need.

Young Minds: https://youngminds.org.uk/
Kooth: https://www.kooth.com/
School Nursing Service: https://bathneshealthandcare.nhs.uk/childrens/school-nursing/
Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/
Off the Record: https://www.offtherecord-banes.co.uk/

Further helpful information and resources are available on 1BigDatabase Bathnes
https://www.bathnes1bd.org.uk/pages/coronavirus-covid-19

The Safeguarding and Keyworker email accounts will be monitored out of normal school hours, so if you have an urgent query, please use these for emergency concerns.

School Nursing Service

The School Nursing Service will continue to be available to parents and students during the period of school closure. Further guidance and contact details are available in the letter below:

SCHOOL NURSING SERVICES – LETTER TO PARENTS, CARERS AND STUDENTS

Social Media

We understand that during this period of closure it is highly likely that children will spend significant amounts of time on devices communicating with friends on digital devices. To help support parents in managing children on these devices we would recommend the advice provided by the Internet Matters website.

In addition to Internet matters, please note that KCSIE advice and guidance signposts CEOPS or the Internet Watch Foundation for reporting of cyber-harm or criminal activity

Stay Safe Online

Mr Foley, Head of Computing, has produced a helpful guide for students, parents and carers to support them during this period of school closure. You can download a copy below. There is also comprehensive information on keeping children safe online here: https://www.st-gregorys.org.uk/parent-information/online-safety/

ONLINE SAFETY DURING SCHOOL CLOSURE

National Online Safety have produced some helpful guides for staff, parents and students to help them stay safe online:

Students: https://bit.ly/2U7CILU
Parents: https://bit.ly/2J4Zyxi
Staff: https://bit.ly/39byKWJ

NCA-CEOP have produced a helpful guide for parents and carers on the use of video media and online chatting:

https://parentinfo.org/article/video-chatting-a-guide-for-parents-and-carers-of-secondary-school-age-children

Official Guidance

Below are useful links to help find the information relevant to you. This information is updated at the same time as the information provided to schools so, as we find out more information, parents and carers can too.

This guidance is also available in the following languages:

Arabic

Bengali

Chinese – traditional

Chinese – simplified

French

Gujarati

Polish

Portuguese

Punjabi

Romany

Somali

Turkish

Urdu

Latest News

  • Notice to Parents and Carers

    Saturday 21 November 2020, 16:30 You have been emailed with an important letter regarding COVID-19. Can all parents and carers please check your emails for further information. Best wishes, Ms A Cusack

  • Notice to Parents and Carers

    Sunday 15 November 2020, 18:30 You have been emailed with an important letter regarding COVID-19. Can all parents and carers please urgently check your emails for further information. Best wishes, Ms A Cusack

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