We are delighted to be able to confirm that school will reopen to all staff and students on Tuesday 4th January and to operate a normal five lesson day commencing at 8:40am. During the holiday period we have continued to monitor the situation carefully and adapt our plans in response to the emerging guidance from the NHS and Department for Education. Covid-19 rates are currently running very high in terms of number of infections as you will most likely have seen reported in the media. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and where necessary we will make further changes to our return to school plans, Any changes will be documented and we will make this information available on the school website www.hccs1978.co.uk/
During the term ahead, we will do everything we can to keep our whole school community safe and will again ask our families to help us. This is a very important school term as we head towards the final examinations and assessment period for many of our students. We recognise just how important it is to keep school open and running smoothly as we continue the move back to a normal school experience for all of our students. The steps that we take now will help us to keep students in the classroom which we all see as a priority.
If your child is unwell
If your child is unwell in any way, they must not come to school. If you need to discuss any symptoms that your child or other household member may be experiencing please contact us on Nocv19@hccs.info and we will respond appropriately. We must all remain vigilant at all times and work together to keep our whole school community safe. The local Public Health team reports that the presenting symptoms of Covid-19 in children have changed and become less easy to distinguish. We will encourage students to present for PCR tests more frequently when suffering from a range of general symptoms.
If a child becomes unwell during the school day, we will initially look after them in the usual way and parents will be contacted to pick them up ASAP. Whilst waiting to be picked up they will be isolated from other children.
Face coverings
Face coverings are compulsory inside of school buildings. We remain convinced that the use of face coverings has played an important part in keeping our school community safe up to this point and will continue to do so. We will be reminding all students that the face coverings should cover the mouth and nose. Face coverings are currently compulsory on school transport and in shops. Please ensure your child has a mask with them before coming to school.
Lateral Flow Testing (LFT) for students and staff
During the holiday period, the rules around self isolation for positive cases have changed for those people who are able to self test at home using the LFT tests. Testing on a regular basis will help us to act early to prevent the spread of infection. Before the holidays we gave all students a supply of LFTs and we now ask that all students and staff as a minimum take a test on Sunday 2nd or Monday 3rd January 2022 as part of the preparation for returning to school. This is an important step as we move back into school life especially given the current rate of infection within the community. Each student will be given a further supply of test kits over the first few days back in school.
Please register the test results using the school system TestRegister.co.uk During the first week back at school we have been asked to monitor the uptake of testing across all student groups and to offer all students supervised testing where necessary to ensure that we have the best data available on current infection rates. We will be contacting parents during the first few days where test results have not been logged on the TestRegister system.
If a student or member of staff test positive on LFTs they MUST self isolate immediately and follow the advice from the NHS Test and Trace service. Please let us know either by registering the result on TestRegister or by email to Nocv10@hccs.info
Self isolation in positive cases.
The rules around self isolation in positive cases have changed for those who are able and willing to self test at home. If you test positive for Covid you must self isolate for 10 days. However, if you are able and willing to self test, you may leave isolation from day 7 if you do not have a high temperature and record a negative LFT test on day 6 and again on day 7. If one of the LFTs is positive, you should repeat each day until two consecutive results are achieved.
For many of our students, this will reduce the amount of time out of school for students who are able and willing to self test. Self testing is voluntary but early release from isolation is dependent on two consecutive LFTs otherwise the 10 day rule remains in place.
Before coming back to school following a positive test we will ask that students complete the 10 day isolation period or provide proof of two consecutive negative test results. The easiest way to do this is to register results on TestRegister.co.uk or contact us at nocv19@hccs.info
Covid-19 vaccination for children aged 12 to 15 years of age
Please see below a message from the NHS School Immunisation Team regarding the provision of in school Covid vaccination sessions that they will be running in our school on Tuesday 15th January 2022. Further information will be sent out when school reopens. We are unable to answer any questions about the vaccination programme however, the NHS team have provided a direct contact number within the message below.
From Wirral NHS School Age Immunisation Team:
We are writing to inform you that we will be continuing with our offer of COVID-19 vaccinations in your child’s school from Tuesday 11th January 2022. We will be administering both first and second doses of the vaccine depending on your child’s vaccine status.If you wish to give your consent for your child to receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine or their second dose if eligible, the consent portal will be available from Tuesday 4 January until Saturday 8th January. Further details on how to access the portal will be sent out to you in due course.
Second doses are available to 12-15yr olds who have already had a first dose more than 12 weeks ago, in line with updated guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published on 29 November. Any child still requiring a first dose who has previously had Covid-19, must wait until 12 weeks after their positive test before having their vaccination.Any child who has tested positive for Covid-19 since having their first vaccination must wait 12 weeks before having the second dose.
The main purpose of the COVID-19 school age vaccination programme is to provide some protection to the children and young people who receive the vaccine and may help to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in the wider population. If you have any queries about the new e-consent process, please call the Immunisation Team on 0151 514 2510. Information about COVID-19 vaccines is also available on the NHS website.
Useful Contacts
COVID-19 including advice and information: Nocv19@hccs.info
Free any questions about free school meals: financeteam@hccs.info
All other general enquiries please contact us by email at: office@hccs.info