The current DfE, scientific and medical guidance is that schools should remain open.
As a school we continue to seek and follow official advice to guide our actions.
We are continuing to encourage regular hand cleansing throughout the day but especially at specific points e.g. lunch and playtime.
We have postponed assemblies for the time being to minimise non-essential close contact of large groups of pupils. This includes class assemblies.
We have put the water fountains out of use so would ask that you provide your child with their own water bottle daily.
We are cancelling all large clubs (running club, choir).
We have cancelled the PTA craft and film nights due to take place on Thursday 2nd April
For pupils absent from school
If well enough, pupils should continue to read and complete any set homework including spellings, Times Table Rockstars and Doodle Maths for Key Stage 2 pupils. Pupils can also access additional reading books and punctuation and spelling games via ActiveLearn. Information for all online learning can be found on labels on the front cover of pupils’ reading records. In addition to this pupils are very welcome to keep a diary, create a scrapbook, carry out independent research linked to their topics which they can share on their return to school, do some sketching or arts and crafts.
Look out for further information about new home learning in the coming days including a new exciting Maths program for Early Years and Year 1 pupils called Numbots.
If your child has problems logging in to any platform, please contact Mrs Crickmar via our school facebook page (South Benfleet School Parents – you will need to request access to the page first if you don’t already belong to it).
What parents can do
Reinforce and remind children of the importance of good personal hygiene e.g. when coughing and sneezing and to regularly wash or sanitise their hands.
Minimise the time spent in the playground at the start and end of school. Please aim to keep a good distance from others.
Follow the guidance for self isolation if you suspect your child or any of your household are displaying symptoms. Please notify the school as soon as possible if you are self isolating.
Reassure children.
Be cautious about unofficial advice spread via social media.
New guidance for households with symptoms
Yesterday, the Government introduced new guidance on whole household isolation in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:
• if you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started
• if you live with others and you or another member of the household have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. It is likely that people living within a household will infect each other or be infected already. Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community
• for anyone in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14-day isolation period.
The symptoms are:
• A high temperature (37.8 degrees and above)
• A new, continuous cough
The full stay at home guidance for households with these symptoms can be found here:
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance