Old Sarum Primary School

Coronavirus / Covid-19 Updates and Information for September 2020

Coronavirus information from the Department of Health & Social Care

Testing

The best and fastest way for students or staff with symptoms of coronavirus to access a test is to visit a test site.

Appointments at test sites can be booked via:

https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/antigen/name

This portal will give you a range of testing options available in your local area. These will usually be:

• Test centre - Booking a test at a test centre is likely to be the fastest way to get a test. Some test centres are mobile so move around every few days so you may notice addresses change. Some test centres have an option to have the test adminstered for you, but not all. The test centres are generally open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.
• Home test kit - Staff, parents/carers and further education students can order a home test kit for themselves and up to three members of their household. These kits will be be posted to the address given, and are returned via a Royal Mail priority mailbox.

The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

For individuals who are symptomatic and/or test positive for coronavirus please follow the latest NHS guidance, which can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

If an individual has symptoms or tested positive for coronavirus, they will usually need to self-isolate for at least 10 days and the rest of the household will need to isolate for 14 days.

For guidance on responding to coronavirus in children, please follow the link at:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/

If at any stage , an individual cannot cope with the symptoms. or their condition gets worse, or their symptoms do not get better after 7 days, use the https://111.nhs.uk/COVID-19 service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. In a medical emergancy, dial 999.

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Translation of guidance

We have translated the guidance for parents and carers with children in nursery, school, or college in the autumn term.

The guidance is now available in the following languages:

July 2020

Dear parents / carers,

We are writing to you to let you know about the arrangements for the full opening of the school in September 2020! First let us say a great thank you to all of you for the support you have given the school and staff over this very demanding period. We have thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the children who have returned to school during the last two weeks. As our transition preparations have been considerably altered due to the circumstances, we are sending out to you a message from your child’s new class teacher. Please check your emails and share this with your child ready for September.

We are looking forward to seeing all pupils back on Wednesday 2nd September 2020 ready for a brand new term! The new risk assessment for the new term can be found on our school website. We are continuing with a staggered start and finish in order to reduce the amount of people on site. Pipers and Tiger Moths have a gradual start to the term, with full time attendance commencing from Monday 28th September.

Pupils with Siblings

We understand that staggering times might cause some difficulties with collecting more than one child from different places in the school. However, it is important that we keep our bubbles separate to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Each family circumstance is different so please email head@oldsarum.wilts.sch.uk if you have a particular circumstance which we can support you with.

Attendance

Attendance is compulsory for all pupils from 2nd September 2020. The staff are working hard to ensure planning and teaching addresses missed learning from the summer term along with expectations for the new academic year. It is vital that all pupils attend every day. If your child develops coronavirus-type symptoms, please follow the latest government guidance at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance

Classes

As you will be aware our classes no longer need to be limited to 15 pupils. However, we recognise that the more children mix with each other the greater the number of pupils will be affected should a child test positive with COVID-19. We also need to balance these risks with operational running of the school to support children’s learning. Therefore, we are restricting the mixing of classes to the following:

 Pipers and Tiger Moths (Reception year)

 Harriers and Hawks (Year 1)

 Tornados and Typhoons (Year 2)

 Falcons, Hurricanes and Lynx (Year 3&4)

 Lysanders and Apaches (Year 5&6)

School Uniform and equipment

From September children are expected to wear the correct school uniform as outlined on our school website. PE kits should be brought into school at the start of the half term and left in school until the half term break. It is crucial that all children bring a waterproof coat with a hood to school, as we will need to send the children outside to play at break time and lunch time in order to clean the classrooms effectively. We will provide pencils, rulers etc and all necessary equipment for all pupils. Please do not send your child into school with a pencil case.

School Lunches

For the first half term, the school will be providing a packed lunch option for all children. Children in Reception, Year 1 and 2 are entitled to universal free school meals. Lunches will remain under review and we hope to return to normal as soon as possible. Please ensure that your child brings a named water bottle into school as we will not have access to our water fountains. The children will be able to refill their bottles throughout the day.

Learning over the summer

A number of parents have asked us if we can extend the use of online learning over the summer. We have arranged for all current passwords to remain active for our Timestable Rockstars, Mathletics and Reading Eggs.

We wish you all a lovely summer holiday and we look forward to seeing our whole school community back together in September.

WELCOME

Welcome to the Old Sarum Primary School website. 

On behalf of our staff and governors, I would like to welcome you to our happy community school. 

We are dedicated to giving every child the highest standard of education possible.

‘Emotional Literacy’ is at the heart of our school’s ethos. We believe all children should feel happy, valued and secure. This will pave the way for their success as lifelong learners and ensure good standards of behaviour and achievement.

All members of the school share a real sense of unity and commitment to serve our growing community and welcome opportunities to work with other groups from within it. We are very proud of all we have achieved since opening in September 2011.

Mr John Jones BA (Hons) PGCE. MSc. NPQH

Headteacher

Old Sarum Primary School staff have a message for you all...

12/7/20 The chicks have been rehomed.  I have given them to Jim (Chairman of Salisbury and District Poultry Club)who will look for their forever homes over the summer.  At the moment they are sharing a run with a peacock and peahen!

YEAR GROUPS