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Updated Guidance from Gov.uk

Thu 16 Dec 2021

From Tuesday 14 December, people who are fully vaccinated and identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 – whether Omicron or not – should take an NHS rapid lateral flow test every day for 7 days to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Anyone aged 5 years and over, who has been identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 and who is not legally required to self-isolate, is now strongly advised to take a rapid lateral flow device (LFD) test every day for 7 days or until 10 days since their last contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19 if this is earlier. If any of these LFD tests are positive they should self-isolate in order to protect other people.

The public health advice for people with symptoms of, or a positive test result for COVID-19 remains the same for everyone.

Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Latest advice from Public Health

Fri 03 Dec 2021

Latest advice from Public Health

Public Health Advice to parents and carers of children at Rochdale schools

Dear Parents/Carers,

We are writing to update you on the latest position in relation to COVID-19 cases and transmission in our schools and colleges. The number of positive cases in school aged children are still quite high and risk of further transmission remains a concern.

COVID-19 cases in Rochdale have slightly reduced but cases in school aged children are still high. Recently, we are also starting to see rates increase in parents and grandparents with increased hospitalisations.

The council’s education team, public health and schools have worked closely to keep children safe and avoid need to send full classes or year groups home to minimise the continued disruption to children’s education.

Therefore, our Public health team has advised to introduce some additional measures in schools that have minimal impact on education and will help ensure we are reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission within schools. These include where possible not organising large gatherings, events and activities.

Head teachers are asked to consider the potential COVID-19 related risk increase that an event or an activity might represent, and the measures that can reasonably be introduced that could reduce that risk. For each event/activity, a risk assessment will be completed that details the safety measures to be implemented.

With sufficient mitigation, where we agree for events to go ahead, a combination of measures or all measures will be implemented from the list below:

Organising events in large, well-ventilated spaces
Using ticketing or a booking system to manage numbers
Repeated sittings or performances to reduce the numbers present at any one time
Asking attendees to take an LFD test before they attend. This is strongly encouraged for attendees who are household contact of a positive case, including children in KS2.
Asking attendees to not attend if they have any COVID-19 symptoms or feel generally unwell.
Face coverings are required in communal areas when not seated/eating/drinking
Encouraging social distancing and face coverings are required in communal areas
Encouraging frequent handwashing or use alcohol gel
Reducing areas where crowding may occur. E.g. Before and after event, lunch breaks
Use of one way systems where possible.
Ensuring adequate cleaning before and after the event, particularly in frequently used areas such as toilets.
Ensuring external vendors and/or stall holders comply with school safety measures
Schools that are visiting residential venues, are to liaise with the provider relating to how they are monitoring ventilation levels of indoor activity spaces and dormitories

How to stop COVID-19 spreading

There are things we can do to help reduce the risk of catching the virus:

Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
Use hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available
Wash your hands as soon as you get home
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
Participate in twice weekly LFD testing, following national guidelines (recommended for 11 years and over). Order LFD tests for your household here: www.nhs.uk/get-tested
Have the COVID-19 vaccination if eligible, ensuring that you have both doses if you are over 16

For more information:

Please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-COVID-19/

For information on local services and support, visit http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/coronavirus

If you have anyone on your family eligible for booster vaccine please visit,

COVID-19 vaccination programme (rochdale.gov.uk)

The above measures will help us to reduce transmission in our school, without having to introduce additional measures that can have a negative impact on the education and wellbeing of children and young people.

Your support with this will help us to keep people safe over winter and reduce the number of COVID-19 infections in the borough.

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely,

Covid19 Infection Control Duty Desk

Christmas Performances

Tue 30 Nov 2021

Our Christmas sing along performances will be available to view on our website. We will let you know when they are available.

Updated Risk Assessment

Sun 05 Sep 2021

Please click on the link below to view our latest risk assessment and outbreak management policy for September 21.

Click here to go to Covid19 risk assessment update

DfE Update 16.7.21

Fri 16 Jul 2021

16^th July 2021

Dear Parents and Carers,

Re: Changes to contact tracing in education and childcare settings

As you know, the Prime Minister announced on 12 July that Step 4 of the roadmap would go ahead on 19 July.

One of the key changes from 19 July is that, education and childcare settings will no longer be asked to conduct routine contact tracing. On local Public Health advice, we will be continuing with our current arrangements until end of the term.

Once the summer holidays begin, we will revert to the standard NHS Test and Trace process where positive cases will be contacted only by NHS Test & trace team to identify their close contacts.

As with positive cases in any other setting, NHS Test and Trace will work with either the positive case or, in the case of children, the parents, carers or guardian of the positive case to identify close contacts.

NHS Test and Trace already manages the contact tracing process for the rest of society – including children who have recorded a positive PCR test – and has expertise in supporting people to identify close contacts.

This letter sets out in more detail below how that process will work and what you need to do if your child tests positive for COVID-19.

Self-isolating and taking a test

If your child has symptoms, they and other members of the household should self-isolate – and you should inform their education or childcare setting. You should immediately order a PCR test for them. If the PCR result is negative, they and other members of their household can stop self-isolating (unless instructed to self-isolate for other reasons). If the PCR result is positive, they, other members of their household and any close contacts identified currently by the setting and post end of the term by NHS Track and Trace must self-isolate until 10 days after the onset of symptoms.

If your child has a positive result from a lateral flow device (LFD) test, they and other members of the household should self-isolate. If this happens before the end of term you should inform their education or childcare setting. You should immediately order a confirmatory PCR test. If the confirmatory test is taken within two days and the result is negative, they and other members of their household can stop self-isolating (unless instructed to self-isolate for other reasons). If the confirmatory PCR test is positive (or is taken more than two days after the LFD), other members of their household and any close contacts identified currently by the setting and post end of the term by NHS Track and Trace must self-isolate until 10 days after the LFD test.
PCR tests can be booked online through the NHS Test & Trace website or by calling 119.
PCR test results will be recorded with NHS Test and Trace automatically, but you should also communicate the result to the education or childcare setting during term time or summer provision.

Contact tracing

If your child gets a positive PCR test result, before the end of term you should contact the school as normal. From the holidays there is no need for you to contact the school. NHS Test and Trace will contact you using the details you registered when ordering the PCR test. You and/or your child will be asked a series of specific questions designed to identify who your child has been in close contact with. Being in an education or childcare setting with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will not necessarily mean a person is identified as a close contact.

You will be asked to provide the contact details, if you know them, of any of the individuals – or their parents or guardians – who have been identified as close contacts. NHS Test and Trace will then get in touch with these close contacts and provide appropriate instructions or advice (see below).

Self-isolation and/or testing of close contacts

At present, anyone identified as a close contact is legally required to self-isolate and must not attend their education or childcare setting (the only exception is if they are participating in a daily contact testing trial and schools allow this to happen). Anyone identified as a non-household close contact by NHS Track and Trace must self-isolate until 10 days after the date of their most recent contact with that person. If they live in the same household, they must self-isolate until 10 days after the date of that person developing symptoms (see point 1 above) or, if that person was asymptomatic, the date of their test (see point 2 above). NHS Test and Trace will notify you of the day on which the self-isolation period ends.
Close contacts are also advised to take a PCR test. If the test result is negative, they must still complete the full self-isolation period, as the test will not detect all positive cases. If the result is positive, they will need to self-isolate for a further 10 days – and NHS Test and Trace will contact them to identify any close contacts.
From 16 August, if the close contact is under 18, they will not have to self-isolate (in line with the policy for fully vaccinated adults) but will be asked to take an PCR test immediately, other than for very young children identified as non-household contacts, and they will not need to self-isolate while awaiting the results of the test. If the PCR test is positive, they will be required to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of the test. NHS Test and Trace will then get in touch to identify close contacts (see points 5 and 6 above). Look out for any further guidance on these changes to self-isolation.

We recognise how difficult the past 18 months have been and the sacrifices that all families, education and childcare settings have had to make. This has been an enormously challenging time for everyone and we would like to take the opportunity to thank you for everything you have done.

Aleks Hartshorne

Headteacher

Headteacher's Letter to Parents

Fri 16 Jul 2021

Dear Parents and Carers,

Looking ahead to the summer break, we hope that the ever changing picture of the coronavirus pandemic means we can begin to see a time when we can return to our normal lives.
It is, however, important that we continue to remind ourselves that we all have a part to play in keeping the pandemic under control so that we keep everyone safe and that together we can look forward to a brighter future.
Since all pupils returned on 8th March, the school has been full of life and it has been wonderful to hear the busy sounds of children learning, playing and laughing with their friends and teachers. It has also been a challenging term, with more Covid interruptions and further disruption to children’s learning.
Bowlee Park School staff have worked tirelessly since the start of the pandemic. School has remained open throughout this time supporting children of key workers and vulnerable pupils and juggling this with delivery of remote learning. Since 8th March our focus has been to help children make up for missed learning. Our recovery work is not over. We have plans in place to ensure that over the next 12 months all children will be given the support they require to catch up to the age related expectations for their year group.
I remain grateful and thankful for your support and patience this term, and for your hard work in supporting your children’s learning at home. I know for many of you this has been, at times, challenging: juggling your own work, family illnesses, children not always eager to participate in home learning and the general stresses and strains the pandemic has put on us all.
We are planning for a ‘normal’ September. We will dispense with bubbles, resume assemblies and lunches in the hall, and invite parents into school for school events. We will, however, be mindful of public health and government advice and make any changes required to keep everyone safe.
Please support your child’s learning over the summer by taking advantage of the opportunity to visit school on Wednesday mornings with your child to change their reading book. Mrs Jones will be on hand to offer guidance on book choices
Throughout the past 18 months, the community of Bowlee Park has remained strong and the conversations and emails from you, remain as always, positive and supportive. We have an exceptional school, with incredible children, families, staff and community support. I am confident that in the next academic year we will continue to thrive.
I wish you and your families a safe, restful and enjoyable summer break,
Aleks Hartshorne
Headteacher

Important information from Public Health

Tue 29 Jun 2021

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC HEALTH

Public Health/Infection Control Advice for parents and carers:

Bubbles and Social Distancing:

All schools are using the bubble system. This limits the amount of people each child will have contact with and therefore limits the spread of the virus. However, the size of these bubbles will differ between schools. Each school has done an individual risk assessment, reviewed by Public Health, taking into account the age and educational needs of the children, class sizes and size and layout of classrooms/buildings and facilities.

Testing and Contact Tracing:

National guidance states that any individual with the three main covid symptoms (a new continuous cough, high temperature or a loss of/change in sense of smell) should stay at home and arrange to have a test. Due to high covid rates in Rochdale, we encourage anyone with symptoms on the extended list* to also take a test and/or isolate until symptom free. The school has the right to enforce this if they are concerned your child may be a suspected case of covid.

If your child tests positive for covid-19, they and their household must isolate for 10 full days.

If your child is identified as a contact of someone with covid-19, they must isolate for 10 full days, starting the day after they last had contact with the positive person. If the person has tested positive on a Lateral Flow/LFD test, the bubble will be asked to isolate immediately, whilst the positive individual takes a PCR test to confirm. If the PCR test result is negative, the case and contacts can come out of isolation.

Your household does not need to isolate if your child is a contact, unless they develop symptoms or test positive.

PCR Testing for Contacts:

Due to the current high rates of covid in the borough, we are asking that anyone who has been identified as a contact takes a PCR test (unless they have had a positive PCR test in the last 90 days). This will help us to reduce the risk of further transmission of the virus, and to identify positive individuals who are asymptomatic (do not have symptoms).

You can book a test online at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test and selecting the following option:

My local council or health protection team has asked me to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms

If you do not have internet access, you can also book a test by calling 119.

Isolation and Support:

We understand that isolation can have a financial impact on families. If you or your child need to isolate, you may be eligible for a £500 payment under the Test & Trace Support Payment Scheme.

Information on financial and other support available from the council can be found at: http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/coronavirus or by calling: 0300 303 8870 (for financial support) or 01706 923685 (for other support, e.g. food, medication, wellbeing)

Useful Information:

NHS isolation guidance: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment

Guidance for household contacts: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

Guidance for non-household contacts: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person

Information on Covid-19 Vaccinations: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination

Government Covid-19 Roadmap: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021/covid-19-response-spring-2021-summary

Guidance for parents and carers on schools, colleges and early years providers: 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

*List of Covid-19 Symptoms

fever
a new and continuous cough
shortness of breath
fatigue
loss of appetite
loss of smell
loss of taste

shortness of breath
fatigue
loss of appetite
myalgia
sore throat
headache
nasal congestion
diarrhoea
nausea
vomiting

Message from Public Health

Fri 28 May 2021

You may aware of continuing concerns regarding rises in cases of covid 19 in the borough and across GM. Currently, infection rates in Rochdale are high in comparison to other local areas.

We all appreciate you support at this time and we are trying to do the best to stop the spread of covid 19.

During the holiday period if you or your child have symptoms please go ensure that you go for a PCR test at one of the local testing sites. Secondary aged pupils are asked to continue to test twice a week throughout half term and essentially before returning to school at the beginning of the new term. Rochdale public health are strongly encouraging the continued use of face masks in communal areas in schools and in line with school guidance where social distancing can’t be maintained.

Parents of primary aged children can access Lateral Flow testing kits from local pharmacies and from the borough’s PCR sites. We would encourage you to pick the kits up and test children before the return to school. This will help us to enable a safer return to school after the half term break.