Dear Parents / Carers
We are writing to you to tell you about what we know and what our plans are regarding updated guidance given by both The Department for Health and The Department for Education about the increasing number of confirmed Coronavirus virus cases nationally.
Since our return to school, after the half term break, we have continued to teach our children about the importance of personal hygiene and hand washing. We have also implemented, with our Caretaker and cleaning team, a new cleaning regime that further concentrates on cleaning and treating touchable surfaces in classrooms, on doors and in the toilets.
In light of the new guidance sent by The Department of Health, please DO NOT send a child to school who has a NEW cough and / or a temperature of over 37.8*C.
We will be asking parents to collect children from school immediately if a child presents in this way.
Parents and carers who believe that their child is particularly vulnerable in the context of the Covid-19 virus should contact school to speak to a member of staff so that additions to individual medical record can be made.
Further information about educational settings can be found at:
Please also feel assured, that whilst we are still not unduly concerned in our setting, that we continuously are looking at guidance for any updates, following it rigorously and will seek the correct support should we need it.
We will all work together to make sure that we keep our school community as safe and as well as possible. Please do not hesitate to ask questions or keep in touch about worries or concerns on the email or phone number at the top of the letter.
Keep in touch with developments and advice issued by Public Health England at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
Many thanks in advance for your support,
Cathy Bednal
Cathy Bednal
Headteacher
Yesterday, the Coronavirus action plan was launched. This document sets out what the UK as a whole has done to tackle the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and what it plans to do next.
The action plan can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan
The document includes:
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Current advice remains in place: No school should close in response to a suspected (or confirmed) COVID-19 case unless advised to do so by Public Health England.
Personal hygiene is the most important way we can tackle COVID-19, especially washing hands more; and the catch it, bin it, kill it strategy for those with coughs and sneezes.
Please help us in sharing simple and effective hand hygiene messages.
https://twitter.com/NHSuk/status/1235112744917049346
Public Health England has a dedicated webpage with a range of posters and digital materials at:
https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/101-coronavirus-/resources
Sign up is quick, free and means you will be alerted as more resources are made available.
On Monday we 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)
Updates on COVID-19:
Guidance for educational settings:
Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas:
World Book Day takes place on Thursday 5th March and we would like to invite you to join us in helping your child to make the most of this special occasion. The day will be spent engaging in activities in celebration of World Book Day to promote the value of reading,
Our theme for world book day is bedtime stories. We would like all children to come to school dressed in their pyjamas or onesies.
Join us in our ‘Get Caught Reading’ photo challenge. Children need to ‘Get Caught Reading’ in unusual locations and will need to ask a family member or friend to take a photograph of them which can be emailed into base. We will create a display showing off the most unusual places our children have been reading and a prize will be given to the child who has been caught reading in the most unusual location. Photos need to be emailed into school by Monday 2nd March.
There will also be a Book Swap on the day. We are asking if your child could bring in books they have already read at home and wouldn’t mind swapping with a child for another book. Please can we ask that you explain to your child that they will come home with another book and not their own on the day. We do need to ask that every child has a book to swap, if this is difficult please let your child’s class teacher know in base.
We will use this day as an opportunity to raise funds to replenish our story props. We will be asking children and staff to each donate £1.00. The donation will be added onto parent pay by the end of this week.
You can join us in building your child’s enthusiasm for books well beyond World Book Day by reading together regularly and joining your local library if you are not yet members. For more information about World Book Day and ideas on sharing books at home, please visit worldbookday.com. Children are never too young to start their journey with books, and the benefits of reading are enormous. We hope, like us, you will use World Book Day to celebrate it with your child.
Thank you again for your continued support
Fantastic News!
We are delighted to announce that our application to the National Lottery Fund has been successful and we have been awarded £10,000 towards our outdoor play area.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ripley-nursery-school
Staff and governors are currently training to complete the 5km Mud Run at Osmaston Manor on Saturday April 6th. We are competing to raise funds for the new climbling frame, water area and canopy for our Nursery garden.