Dear Families,
I hope you are all well and enjoying the final week of the summer holidays. As you will be aware, school will return for all students from next week. As promised, I am writing to you with a summary of what to expect.
As you will be aware, the government has recently released updated guidance for schools in relation to school opening. Below is a summary of the main features:
- Tracing close contacts and isolations – students are no longer required to isolate if they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Instead, only students and staff who are positive will isolate and their close contacts and/or their families will receive a letter advising them to undertake more regular home testing and/or go for a more accurate PCR test. Although schools are no longer responsible for contact tracing, please continue to let us know if your child or a member of your household contracts covid-19 using the following e-mail address: confirmedcase@tytheringtonschool.co.uk
- NB: Please note that in the first half-term, we will be recommending that students and staff who live in the same household as a positive covid case, stay away from school for 10 days. Students will still be expected to access “live” online lessons.
- Testing – as you will be aware, we will be carrying out asymptomatic testing in schools throughout the first two weeks of the new term. Families are encouraged to continue to test at home at least two times per week until further notice.
- Hygiene and ventilation measures will continue to be in place.
- Students should not be expected to wear face coverings in classrooms or communal areas (unless the school has an outbreak situation).
- Students should continue to wear face coverings on school transport (except those who are exempt).
- There will no longer be a requirement to keep to strict bubbles.
- Students who are 16 and above now have the opportunity to be vaccinated. We will support local health organisations in any way we can to encourage those who are eligible to get a vaccination.
It continues to be important that you do not send your child into school should they develop COVID-19 symptoms, however mild.
You can find our risk assessment and outbreak plan on the school website.
What does this mean in practical terms for students at Tytherington?
Unless there is an outbreak of multiple and linked cases, students will not be routinely sent home from school to self-isolate. We will no longer require students to wear masks in school. For break and lunch time, students will be allowed to mix across year groups although we will still be encouraging students to be outdoors unless they are eating their lunch or there is inclement weather. The “grab and go” break time provision will return to the Refectory and “Snackshack”. Within the first few weeks, I anticipate that we will be back to a “normal” lunchtime and after school extra-curricular offer. You will receive further details relating to extra curricular activities, uniform, behaviour and lunch arrangements in separate letters. Year group assemblies will return. We will still be retaining a one-way system around the school. If anyone in the school wishes to continue to wear a mask, we will respect that personal choice.
What happens if there are multiple cases in a short space of time?
I suspect that at some point in the year, we will probably encounter outbreaks of multiple linked cases. Should this occur, I will keep you informed of the next steps. This may involve a return to mask wearing, bubbles, etc. We all have to be prepared to be flexible and agile.
A last word…
I know that there will be a range of emotions and feelings about the return to school. As a parent myself, I understand that there will be a certain level of uncertainty for all of us. This is natural. Rest assured that we always have your children’s welfare at the heart of what we do. I’m always happy for parents to drop me a line if you have any questions, queries or feedback. I can’t promise that I will always agree, but I can promise that I’ll listen and take into consideration your thoughts.
I look forward to welcoming Years 7 and 13 on Monday 6th September and the rest of the school on Tuesday 7th September.
Enjoy the rest of your break.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Emmanuel Botwe
ebotwe@tytheringtonschool.co.uk