Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Connect and Reflect Afternoons

  Mon 17 Jan 2022

  I have been reflecting on the appropriateness of going ahead with the Connect and Reflect afternoon with the current numbers of Covid we have in school. I feel we can go ahead, but need to take extra care to ensure it doesn't become a super spreader event!

   

  There are a number of measures we can put in place that mitigate viral spread-

  * A maximum of two adults (ideally only one) per family will be permitted to attend

  * Adults are encouraged to Lateral Flow test before attending and should not attend if they have any cold like or Covid symptoms 

  *Adults are asked not to attend if there are any Covid cases in the household 

  * Adults must wear masks and sanitise their hands on arrival

   

  The hall is a large and well ventilated space, and will have doors and windows open with thirteen tables spread out. A table will be allocated per family and you will be asked to remain seated at eth table and not mix with other families. 

   

  If you decide not to attend, or are unable to as your child is currently absent from school, please contact us via the office so that we can anticipate numbers. I have attached a photograph of the timings and tables allocated for the event and look forward to seeing you there. 

  

• Changes to the self-isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19

  Fri 14 Jan 2022

  From Monday 17 January, people who are self-isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with a lateral flow device (LFD) test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if they test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to their education or childcare setting immediately on day 6.

   

  The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day. All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace.

  If the result of either of their tests is positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest.

   

  Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.

   

  Further information on self-isolation for those with COVID-19 is available.

• Connect and Reflect Afternoons

  Mon 10 Jan 2022

  Thank you to all the parents who have returned your slips for our Connect and Reflect Afternoons. I do apologise for the mess I made of the dates on the slips! Having had to change the dates, organisation and format of this event,  I got in a muddle!

   

  Half of the slots have now been taken, with most tables taken for the 3.00 - 3.30 slot on both Tuesday 18th and Thursday 20th January. I suspect this is because parents would prefer to collect their child straight after seeing their work, rather than having to go home in between. I appreciate this, and so have decided that, if you have  a slot that ends on or after 2.30, you can take your child home following this if you wish. 

   

  I hope this enables you to have a little more flexibility and a little less rushing around. It will be a bit of a disrupted afternoon for children anyway and so leaving a little before the end of the day will not be detrimental. 

   

   

• Covid Updates

  Thu 06 Jan 2022

  Confirmatory PCR tests to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow device (LFD) test results

   

  Confirmatory PCR tests following a positive lateral flow device (LFD) test result are to be temporarily suspended from Tuesday 11 January. This will mean that anyone who receives a positive LFD test result will be required to self-isolate immediately and will not be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

   

   

• Rosie May Foundation - Smartie Tube Appeal

  Thu 06 Jan 2022

  At the start of Advent, every child in school received a tube of Smarties from the Rosie-May Foundation, which I know they enjoyed! Children were asked to fill the empty tubes with coins throughout Advent to raise money for the charity. At the end of term, we were lucky enough to be visited by Santa who reminded us to keep collecting coins in readiness for their collection.

   

  The Rosie-May Foundation are coming back tomorrow to collect the filled tubes. So far we have had 15 tubes returned out of the 97 that were handed out.

   

  Please dig deep and give to this worthy cause. If you have lost or thrown away the tube, send the money in an envelope; it will be gratefully received. 

• Nottingham Hospitals Recycling of Christmas Trees

  Wed 05 Jan 2022

  If you live in Nottinghamshire and take pride in decorating a real tree over Christmas, our recycling scheme is back for its second year running - and we want you!
  
  It could not be easier to sign up. Click ''sign up'' and follow the instructions to register your delivery address and donate £10, and our trusty elves will pick up your old Christmas tree from your drive.
  
  We're also on the lookout for volunteers and we've teamed up with some amazing businesses to support us in our scheme this year too.
  
  Got an especially large tree over 7ft tall? We can still collect! But we do ask for a slightly larger donation, all of which goes towards making patient care in Nottingham's hospitals the absolute best it can be.

• Covid Update

  Mon 03 Jan 2022

  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

   

  Apologies for having to email on Bank Holiday Monday and to welcome you to 2022 with a COVID-19 related email! However, given the incredibly high case numbers at the moment, I am sure that many of you have been affected by Covid over this break. If your child currently unwell or has had a positive LFD or PCR, please let the office know.

   

  The Department for Education issued updated guidance for schools yesterday morning. While most of the guidance is only relevant for secondary schools, some of the updates are important for you to be aware of and so I ask that you please take the time to read the following carefully. 

   

  The Department for Education have made their stance very clear, that it is of the upmost importance that schools remain open and children receive a full education. It is certainly not our desire to return to remote learning, as I am sure it is not yours! The biggest threat to this is a depleted and therefore overly stretched workforce resulting in further absences due to excess pressure.  I urge to you to play your part in protecting out staff from Covid. It is widely accepted that the current Covid variant does not necessarily present as the classic cough and high temperature symptoms. Therefore if your child is at all unwell, ensure they have a negative LFD before coming into school. And, although social distancing is no longer in place, please keep a distance from members of staff and wear a face mask if having to come in close contact with them. 

   

  Changes to the self-isolation period for individuals who test positive for COVID-19

  Since Wednesday 22 December, the 10-day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 has been reduced to 7 days for those who have been vaccinated, unless you cannot test for any reason.

  Individuals may now take Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion. If both these test results are negative, and individuals do not have a high temperature, they may end their self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to school from day 8.

   

  Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests will need to complete the full 10-day period of self-isolation. Further information is available in the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.

   

  My understanding at the moment is we cannot ask for proof of these LFD tests but rely on your honesty and high moral stance. 

   

  Daily testing for close contacts of COVID-19

  Adults who are fully vaccinated and children over 5, identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should take an LFD test every day for seven days and continue to attend school as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time.

   

  Children under 5 are not being advised to take part in daily testing of close contacts. If a child under 5 is a contact of a confirmed case, they are not required to self-isolate and should not start daily testing. If they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 they should limit their contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19 and arrange to take a PCR test as soon as possible. They can continue to attend an education or childcare setting while waiting for the PCR result. If the test is positive, they should follow the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.
  
  Even though the DFE state that Test and Trace will contact close contacts; we will send a letter where we have a positive case in a class to let you know children are a close contact and asking you to take daily lateral flow tests for 7 days if your child is over 5.
   

  Asymptomatic testing and confirmatory PCR tests

  There is no need for primary age pupils to regularly LFD test, unless they have been identified as a contact for someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and therefore advised to take lateral flow tests for 7 days.  Many of you will use LFD tests with your children and you may wish to administer a test before returning to school on Tuesday.

   

  If any child has symptoms of COVID-19, they should not attend school and they should take a PCR test as soon as possible. Whilst awaiting the PCR result, individuals should continue to self-isolate. If the PCR test is taken within 2 days of a positive lateral flow test, and is negative, it overrides the LFD test and the child can return to school, as long as they don’t have COVID-19 symptoms.

   

  Funded air cleaning units for education and childcare settings

  You may have heard reports in the news about some schools being provided with special air cleaning units. There are 7000 units available throughout the country. This is not relevant for Langar at present. CO2 monitors are present in classrooms so that ventilation levels can be monitored on a daily basis.

   

  Classrooms will be well ventilated by leaving internal doors open and opening external doors and windows regularly for at least 10 minute. Please send children dressed appropriately for this - with an extra layer under their uniform or even a spare jumper in their bag. 
   

  Learning from Home

  Where a child has tested positive for COVID-19 but has very mild or no symptoms, then work will continue to be available on the school website for each child's class.  If a child’s class teacher is absent and unwell, parents will be provided with an alternative contact to provide additional guidance regarding schoolwork and feedback.

   

  The above is only relevant when absence from school has been authorised. Additional guidance and feedback will not be provided for periods of unauthorised absence (such as holidays) Where children are unwell with COVID-19 or absent as a result of any other illness, there is obviously no expectation to complete any schoolwork.

   

  Should whole classes or year groups be required to self-isolate, a full timetable of home learning will be published for each day, to include live meetings via zoom. Further details are on the website regarding this.

   

  Face Coverings

  The wearing of face coverings is not recommended for primary aged pupils. Staff will continue to wear masks in corridors and communal areas of school, but not while teaching.

   

  Additional Control Measures

  We will continue to ensure good hygiene for everyone by asking children to clean their hands regularly and adopt the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it approach. Where additional measures need to be introduced as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak in school, these will be communicated to you.

   

  I look forward to seeing you and your children back at school on Tuesday. Thanks for your continued support and here’s to a happy and healthy 2022!