UPDATED - 6th April 2022
Upper Site Reopening Update - 28th February 2022
January 2022 - Changes to isolation periods
Important Information For Parents and Carers
April 2021 - Ash Green 'Catch-Up' Action Plan
Dear Parent/Carer,
We are living in unprecedented and very challenging times and I am sure, like many other parents, both you and your child will have some anxiety about school which is completely understandable in the current situation. However, please be assured that as a school we are following the Government’s guidance and have received advice from the Council to ensure your child will be as safe as possible upon their return. The LA inspection of our Risk Assessment and facilities was glowing in its praise. Our Risk Assessment has been updated with every change to the guidance.
It is important to be aware that some children may transmit the virus to others, even without symptoms. It is therefore important that you understand the symptoms of coronavirus, your own personal risk and what to do if you or a family member gets symptoms or is advised to self-isolate.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are continuous cough, fever (temperature above 37.8 degrees) and loss or change in sense of smell or taste. If anyone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19 you should immediately arrange for that person to be tested. Visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ to arrange a test or ring 119. If you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace service and told you or your household member has been in contact with someone with COVID-19, you should follow their advice to self-isolate to protect yourself and others.
The people at risk from being more seriously affected from COVID-19 are older people, those with underlying health condition and pregnant women. People aged 70 and over account for 83% of deaths from COVID-19 and 90% of people who have died had an underlying health condition. People from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Groups and those living in deprived areas are also at increased risk of being more seriously affected by COVID-19. This is likely to be due to higher rates of underlying health problems in these groups and social and economic factors that increase risk such as housing, low income and working in roles that carry a higher risk. The link below gives more information about who is at higher risk. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/
The Local Authority has a statutory duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) for the safety of staff and for your child and we have completed risk assessments and followed all the Government advice for the school environment. However if you have not done so already please can you also ensure that the school is made aware of any significant underlying health condition(s) that your child may have as I will need to discuss those risks with you and take any necessary advice accordingly.
I also have moral duty to ensure your safety as a parent as well as those in your most immediate household who may become inadvertently affected. In light of this, I have provided this information from the Local Authority in order for you to assess your own personal risks before you send your child back to school and decide on what, if any, safety precautions you need to take.
As I am sure you understand, the school will do everything it can to maintain a safe environment, however I cannot guarantee that your child or one of their friends will not come within the ‘social distancing’ guideline of 2 metre separation or maintain the necessary hand and respiratory hygiene whatever Government advice we follow. We are dealing with young children who will be so happy to see their friends and who will naturally want to play in the normal way. I would always advise you to ensure that your child washes their hands and face as soon as they return from school
Obviously if your child is unwell please keep them off school and please inform the school if they are displaying any COVID-19 symptoms of: high temperature or new, continuous cough or loss or change to sense of smell or taste.
Please be aware if a staff member or child in your child’s class contracts the virus the school and Test and Trace programme will assess whether your child is classed as a contact and would recommend a PCR test.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Mungo Sheppard,
Head Teacher
Updated Risk Assessment - April 2022
7th January 2022 - Letter to Parents from Directors for Children and Young People's Health Services and Public Health
Dear Parent/Carer,
We have developed a Learning Continuity Plan so that the children will continue to learn and be supported by school in the event of them being off for COVID related reasons including bubble closures or - hopefully not - whole school closures. To view the document - which also sets out what work your child would be set each day, please click the following links:
Safeguarding Policy Update
Our Safeguarding policy has now been updated with a COVID-19 addendum. You can find the policy here.
