Covid-19 Information
We have now returned to school following this latest lockdown. Parents may have questions and concerns about how school is operating now, so below we have tried to answer some of these. This is accurate on the date of publishing (3rd March 2021) but details are subject to change as the government updates its guidance.
Returning to school on 8th March
School will remain as it has been since September. Classrooms will be set out so that children are in rows, facing their teachers. Teachers will be maintaining distance from pupils and other staff as much as possible. Children and their teachers and TAs will be in class bubbles so that we can minimise the contact between the children and staff across the school. We will still be asking them to clean their hands thoroughly and promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach for used tissues to ensure that we prevent the transmission of the virus.
Each class will continue to have their designated playtime area, and playtimes and lunchtimes will be staggered. All children will have packed lunches. Those who normally have hot lunches will have packed lunches provided at school (hot lunches may resume after Easter if legislation allows, but we will keep you informed on this). Lunches will be eaten in the children’s classrooms.
PE sessions will still take place outside so please ensure that your child has suitable PE kit for outdoor PE. Inside, the advice is still to keep areas well ventilated, so windows and doors will be opened. Therefore, please make sure your child is wearing enough layers – we are heading for warmer weather but it can still be chilly some days. All pupils will need a coat in school please.
Please can children not bring in their own stationery from home. Each pupil has their own stationery pack so that they will have everything they need to work in their classes.
We will send reading books home but it might be that the children do not get as many sent home as they would previously, as the books will have to be ‘isolated’ on return. If you are able to support the staff in this and read other books that you have at home if your child finishes their school book, that would be great.
We will continue to have worship in school via school radio and other technology.
Some children may feel anxious when returning to school, and staff will work through focused activities to support their classes in settling back in.
Some children may want to wear masks. Children can wear a mask if they would like to, but government guidelines do not require primary-aged children to wear masks, and it is not something we require them to do.
For your information, here is a link to government guidance with respect to children returning to school: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/what-parents-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-covid-19
Catching up with missed learning
The government has promised schools some money to help pupils catch up with any learning they have missed out on during the pandemic. We have no specific details about this yet but will update you when we do.
Drop-off
We will continue with the drop-off system that we have been using since June, when we allocated drop-off times to prevent the carpark from becoming congested with cars. Please keep to your slot so that we can keep a steady flow of traffic through the carpark in the mornings. Staff will be waiting for the children as they arrive and we ask that you do not get out of cars If you can you make sure pupils are on the left hand side of the car so they can easily get out, with all their bags and coats ready (therefore not having to stop and open boots), that would be great. That way we will be able to move through the queue easily and get everyone in on time. The children will then be guided straight to their classrooms where their teacher will be waiting for them.
Drop off times, based on surnames
A-J: 8.25 – 8.35am
K-P: 8.35 – 8.45am
Q-Z: 8.45 – 8.55am
As in the previous guidance, we cannot receive parents at the office or on the school site so please make sure pupils are ready with letters to hand in so that they can give them to a member of staff on drop-off duty. If you need to speak to your child’s class teacher, please send an email to admin@woodfordvalley.wilts.sch.uk or office@woodfordvalley.wilts.sch.uk and they will let the class teacher know that they need contact you. If you do have to come on site please remember to wear a mask.
The school bus will continue to run for those children who normally travel by bus. Children are not expected to wear masks. When arriving at school, they will be met by a member of staff and sent to their classes like everyone else. A member of staff will also take them to the bus at the end of the day.
Pick-up
To maintain the class bubbles separation, we will dismiss the children from the top field. Key Stage 1 pupils will finish at 2.55pm: Lake Class will exit from the first gate, Lower Woodford from the middle gate and Netton from the far end gate. Once you have collected your child, unless you are waiting for a sibling in KS2, we ask that you leave promptly so that parents in KS2 can park. KS2 pupils will be dismissed at 3.15pm: Wilsford will exit from the first gate, Durnford from the middle gate and Upper Woodford and Salterton from the far end gate.
We cannot stress enough that you must leave as soon as you can. Please don’t be tempted to stay and chat. Even if adults remain socially distanced, your children will tend to run and play and this will be out of their bubbles. We are trying so hard to keep everyone separated at school to make it all work, so would be very grateful if you could help us when you pick up too.
Pupil Sickness/Coronavirus
If your child is unwell, please do not send them to school. Regularly checking their temperature would be helpful. If your child shows any symptoms at school then we will contact you to pick them up and they will isolate in a designated room with a designated adult wearing PPE till they are collected. This area will be deep cleaned.
If the school were to have a positive case then we would still have to close the bubble and isolate for the 10 days. In all instances we would continue to work with PHE (Public Health England) and follow their advice.
Please continue to let us know if you are isolating as a family.
Regular Coronavirus Testing
School staff will continue self-testing twice a week. Additionally, the government has announced that households with primary school, secondary school and college age children, including childcare and support bubbles, can test themselves twice every week at home as schools return from Monday 8 March.
Around one in three people with Covid-19 do not have symptoms but can still pass it on to others. Regular testing of people without symptoms (asymptomatic testing) is important to help stop the virus spreading.
As a school, we cannot give test kits to parents, carers or household members. You will need to organise your own tests in any of the following ways:
- Via employers if they offer testing to employees.
- At a local test site. Testing at these sites is assisted, which means you will swab yourself under the supervision of a trained operator. You may need to book an appointment. Find your nearest rapid lateral flow test site.
- By collecting a home test kit from a test site. You can collect up to four home test kits at a local collection point. Each kit contains seven tests. Anyone 18 or over can collect. You can check online if the location is busy before you go. Find your nearest home test kit collection point. These are available from the Beehive Test Centre in Salisbury in the afternoons.
- By ordering a home test kit online. Please do not order online if you can get a test through other methods. This frees up home delivery for those who need it most. Order rapid lateral flow home test kits
The test will come with instructions on reporting test results. If anyone tests positive or gets coronavirus symptoms, they should tell the school and:
- self-isolate immediately
- get a PCR test to confirm the result
- follow the stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
A negative result means the test did not find signs of coronavirus. However, this does not guarantee you do not have coronavirus, so you should keep following all coronavirus advice including:
- regular handwashing
- social distancing
- wearing a face covering where recommended.
There is also more guidance here on who can be tested and how you can get a test.
Please do not contact the school regarding household testing as we will not be able to provide any further information than we have shared above.
Any questions?
If you have any questions, please email the school office, and we will try to keep this webpage regularly updated with answers.
