Latest News and Updates

COVID-19 - POSITVE CASE IN Y6 CLASS

We have been advised today that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the school, in our Y6 class.

We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. 

The case is in our Y6 class, and the whole of the Y6 class have been asked to self-isolate. 

Only children in Y6 need to self-isolate as the children are kept in strict bubbles during the school day. The school remains open and children NOT in Y6 should continue to attend as normal if they remain well and symptom free. 

____________________________ 

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19  

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for a PCR test (the normally available test type) and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.   

All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 10 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’. 

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection  

The household isolation period includes the day the first person in your household’s symptoms started (or the day their test was taken if they did not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days. This means that if, for example, your 10 day isolation period starts on the 15th of the month, your isolation period ends at 23:59 hrs on the 25th and you can return to your normal routine. 
Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home.  

If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online. 

Household members staying at home for 10 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community 

If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period. 

Symptoms 

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of: 

• a new continuous cough 

• a high temperature 

• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia) 

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. 

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111. 

How to stop COVID-19 spreading 

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19 

Do 

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds  

• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available 

• wash your hands as soon as you get home 

• cover your mouth and nose 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 

Further Information 

Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/  

Google and meditation app 'Headspace'  have teamed up for "Headspace Breathers," a weekly video series devoted to practising mindfulness

After a very rigorous selection process, we are pleased to confirm that we have recruited two  class  teachers to replace Mr McKenna and Miss Jackson from September:

• Mr Dring is currently working in Y2 with Mrs Jones and has impressed us hugely since he joined our team last year. He is greatly looking forward to leading his own class from September.
• Miss Spencer is a former pupil at Crossdale and also worked with us 4 years ago. She comes to us with glowing references and can't wait to rejoin the Crossdale family!

With over 60 applicants, Miss Spencer and Mr Dring were put through the ringer to earn their positions!

We will update you in the near future with details of which classes all the teachers will be leading from September.

Fighting Poverty, Giving Hope

Dear parents and carers,

We have two staffing updates for you:

• Miss Jackson has recently decided it’s time for a change and will venture on to new pastures in September. Parents who know Miss Jackson will want to say a proper goodbye and let her know how much she will be missed - we have a few months to plan...
• Mr Mckenna, who has been teaching remotely from home at different times throughout the pandemic due to his complex health issues, has recently received the covid-19 vaccine. As such, he is looking forward to being back in school from the 22nd March. Until he returns, he will continue to work alongside Mr Sanders to teach Y6. Parents will recall that Mr McKenna is retiring in September and will doubtless be delighted that the vaccine will allow him to spend the last months of his time at Crossdale in class with the children.

The recruitment process to replace Miss Jackson and Mr McKenna should be concluded next week as we plan for life without them. We will update parents with information about the new members of the team in the coming weeks.

Kind regards,

Mr Cresswell