IMPORTANT INFORMATION
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Scam emails
Tue 31 Mar 2020During the weekend, an article published which highlighted a recent scam that is targeting parents with school aged children advising them that a change in circumstances may make them eligible for free school meals.
The scam emails sent to parents and carers claim to help support the funding of free meals while schools are closed but the DfE has said the emails are part of a scam.
A spokesperson for the DfE said: “We have been informed some parents have received an email stating: ‘As schools will be closing, if you’re entitled to free school meals, please send your bank details and we’ll make sure you’re supported’.
“This is a scam email - do not respond and delete immediately.”
Please do not respond to this email and if you have any questions around eligibility for free school meals, please contact the school.
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A book for worried children
Mon 23 Mar 2020
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******* Important information regarding Key workers and Free School Meals *******
Fri 20 Mar 2020Headteacher: Mrs J Rowley BSc (Hons.) QTS, PGCE, N.P.Q.H.
St. Paul’s CE Primary School
Heathside Grove
Walkden
Manchester
M28 3NZ Tel: 0161 790 8915
Website: www.stpaulsce.co.uk Email: stpaulsheathside.ceprimaryschool@salford.gov.uk
Friday 20th March 2020
Dear Parent / Carer
Important information regarding pupil attendance – from Monday 23 March 2020
Firstly, thank you for the very supportive approach that you have taken during these exceptionally challenging times. We all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. That is why the government has given clear guidance on self-isolation, household isolation and social distancing. The most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can now stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.
It is important to underline that schools and colleges remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in our society.
Whilst we are formally closed from Monday 23 March onwards, we will continue to support your child, both academically and pastorally and our school remains at the heart of our community.
Special opening from Monday 23 March for the children of key workers and those entitled to specialist support from 8.00am until 4.30pm (in the first instance). There will be no after-school Bright Stars wrap around care provision during this period.
Key workers
At midnight, the government published a list of those parent /carers who are entitled to send their child to school. The link below provides specific details.
The list includes the following: Health and Social care; education and childcare; key public services; local and national government; food and other necessary good; public safety and security; transport; utilities; communication and financial services.
We are grateful to all of these key workers who are looking after us all and keeping our essential services going. In return, our superb staff team are also going to ‘step up to the plate’ and provide provision for your child / children. It is critical to note, however, that this provision should only be taken up if there are no other alternatives (see guidance). The government has asked parents/carers to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and for schools to remain open only for children who absolutely need to attend:
Should you need to take up this provision, please contact us either today (Friday 20th March) or by Monday 23rd March. (stpaulsheathside.ceprimaryschool@salford.gov.uk 0161 790 8915/ 0161 921 1211).
Specialist Support Provision
Those children with safeguarding and welfare needs, including those children on child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with Education Health and Care plans are also able to attend school and therefore school will be in touch with an offer of a place.
Free School Meals
All pupils whose parents/carers have registered to receive Free School Meals and have been in receipt of this at school will receive a text message. Pupils who are invited into school to attend the specialist provision will receive a Free School Meal as normal in school. However if you are not taking up the offer of a school place but you would still like to pick up a packed lunch at lunchtime then please also let us know.
Pupils who aren’t offered a place and therefore won’t be in school but who are eligible for a Free School Meal will be invited to pick up a ‘grab bag’ packed lunch from school to take home at lunchtime at 12.30pm. This will be the arrangement for at least the first few days next week until the Government launch its voucher scheme. Once this scheme is in place we envisage that all parents of pupils who have the Free School Meal entitlement will receive a meal voucher one way or another.
In order that we don’t waste valuable food at this critical time, it is crucial for the school that you let us know if you want to take up the offer or not of collecting a packed lunch at lunchtime.
St. Paul’s C of E School (Heathside Grove) will be closed to the majority of students but we are in no way closed in terms of our ongoing care, support and kindness.
Thank you for your continuing support.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. J Rowley
Headteacher
St. Paul's C.E. Primary School
Heathside Grove
Walkden
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Coronavirus - stay at home advice
Fri 20 Mar 2020Stay at home advice-Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Staying at home can help stop coronavirus spreading
You'll need to stay at home if you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) or live with someone who does.
Staying at home means you should:
- not go to work, school or public areas
- not use public transport or taxis
- not have visitors, such as friends and family, in your home
- not go out to buy food or collect medicine – order them by phone or online, or ask someone else to drop them off at your home
You can use your garden, if you have one. You can also leave the house to exercise – but stay at least 2 metres away from other people.
Information:
If you have symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature or a new, continuous cough), use the 111 coronavirus service to find out what to do.
How long to stay at home
If you have symptoms of coronavirus, you'll need to stay at home for 7 days.
After 7 days:
- if you do not have a high temperature, you do not need to stay at home
- if you still have a high temperature, stay at home until your temperature returns to normal
You do not need to stay at home if you just have a cough after 7 days. A cough can last for several weeks after the infection has gone.
If you live with someone who has symptoms
If you live with someone who has symptoms, you'll need to stay at home for 14 days from the day their symptoms started. This is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear.
If more than 1 person at home has symptoms, stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person started having symptoms.
If you get symptoms, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms start, even if it means you're at home for longer than 14 days.
If you do not get symptoms, you can stop staying at home after 14 days.
Get an isolation note to give to your employer
If you live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus, you can get an isolation note to send to your employer as proof you need to stay off work.
You do not need to get a note from a GP.
Get an isolation note from the Government website
Information:
If you have symptoms of coronavirus and need to stay at home, use the 111 coronavirus service to get an isolation note.
If you have symptoms and live with a vulnerable person
If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to arrange for them to stay with friends or family for 14 days.
If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible.
Do
- try to keep 2 metres (3 steps) away from each other
- avoid using shared spaces, such as kitchens or bathrooms, at the same time as each other
- open windows in shared spaces if you can
- clean a shared bathroom each time you use it, for example by wiping the surfaces you have touched
- use a dishwasher if you have one – if you do not have one, use washing-up liquid and warm water and dry everything thoroughly
Don't
- do not share a bed, if possible
- do not share towels, including hand towels and tea towels
Reducing the spread of infection in your home
While you're staying at home, you should:
- wash your hands with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- 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 straight away and wash your hands afterwards
- clean objects and surfaces you touch often (like door handles, kettles and phones) using your regular cleaning products
How to do your cleaning and laundry
Use your usual household products, such as detergents and bleach, when you clean your home.
Put used tissues and disposable cleaning cloths in rubbish bags. Then put the bag into a second bag and tie it securely. Wait 3 days before putting it in your outside bin.
Dispose of other household waste as normal.
Wash your laundry in the washing machine in the usual way. Laundry that has been in contact with an ill person can be washed with other people's items. Do not shake dirty laundry, as this may spread the virus in the air.
If you do not have a washing machine, wait for 3 days after your stay at home has ended before taking your laundry to a launderette.
Looking after your health and wellbeing
To help yourself stay well while you're at home:
- drink plenty of water to stay hydrated – drink enough so your pee is pale and clear
- take paracetamol to help ease your symptoms
- stay in touch with family and friends over the phone or on social media, to help you avoid feeling low or lonely
- try to keep yourself busy – you could try activities like cooking, reading, online learning and watching films
- do light exercise, if you feel well enough to
There is advice about how to look after your mental wellbeing while staying at home from Every Mind Matters.
Ib Ibuprofen
There is currently no strong evidence that ibuprofen can make coronavirus (COVID-19) worse.
But until we have more information, take paracetamol to treat the symptoms of coronavirus, unless your doctor has told you paracetamol is not suitable for you.
If you are already taking ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) on the advice of a doctor, do not stop taking it without checking first.
What to do if you need medical help if you have to stay at home
If you get symptoms not related to coronavirus and need medical help:
- do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
- if it's not an emergency, use the NHS 111 online service – call 111 if you cannot get help online
- if it's an emergency, call 999 – tell the call handler you may have coronavirus
Cancel all routine face-to-face medical and dental appointments while you're staying at home. You may be able to do some appointments over the phone.
Urgent advice:Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:
- you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
- your condition gets worse
Use the 111 coronavirus service
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.
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New government guidance for households with symptoms
Tue 17 Mar 2020GOV.UK
Department for Education
This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to COVID-19 (coronavirus).
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:
The Prime Minister’s statement from Monday 16 March can be found here:
Handwashing advice
The most important thing individuals can do to protect themselves is to wash their hands more often, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water. Public Health England recommends that in addition to handwashing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, everyone should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport.
Watch this short NHS film for guidance:
Where to find the latest information
Updates on COVID-19:
Guidance for educational settings:
Guidance for social or community care and residential settings:
Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas:
Educational resources:
Latest Department for Education information:
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UK Government recommendations for Self-isolation and Social Distancing
Tue 17 Mar 2020The latest Government advice for Self-isolating and Social Distancing
Everybody in the UK has been asked to stop non-essential contact with other people and avoid all unnecessary travel. This is known as social distancing.
It follows people with flu-like symptoms being asked to self-isolate at home, to avoid infecting others.
So, what do you need to know about social distancing and self-isolation?
What is social distancing?
Social distancing means trying to avoid contact with other people.
It means spending less time in public places, where a lot of people are around.
- People to start working from home wherever possible
- All unnecessary travel stopped
- Pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues to be avoided
- Anyone living with someone who has a cough or a temperature to stay at home for 14 days
Within days, it expects to announce measures for people in at-risk groups to stay at home for 12 weeks. This affects pregnant women, people aged over 70 and those with underlying health conditions.
What is self-isolating?
Self-isolating means cutting yourself off from the rest of the world.
From now on, if one person in a household starts to display flu-like symptoms - defined as a fever of
above 37.8C or a persistent cough - everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days.
He said that meant avoiding leaving the house "even to buy food or essentials", adding people could go out to do exercise, but only at a safe distance from others.
The person with the symptoms should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window that can be opened, and keep away from other people in the home.
They should ask for help for groceries, other shopping or medication, which can be dropped off on the doorstep by friends, family or delivery drivers.
People are being advised not to ring NHS 111 or their GP to report their symptoms unless they are worried.
The Covid-19 disease can cause a fever, cough and breathing problems. It takes five days on average for people to start showing the symptoms.
What if someone self-isolating shares a home?
If someone is self-isolating and shares a kitchen, they should try to avoid using it when other people are there and take meals back to their room to eat. Clean all the surfaces at home with household cleaning products daily.
Although they might not be able to entirely separate themselves from family members or flatmates, the advice is to limit contact as much as possible.
If possible, stay at least 2m (6ft) from other people they live with and sleep alone. Keep away from vulnerable people.
People living with someone in isolation should wash their hands often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds - especially after coming into contact with them.
Other people shouldn't share towels, toiletries or other household items with someone in isolation, who should have a separate bathroom. If that is not possible, the isolated person should use the bathroom last, cleaning it thoroughly afterwards if they are able.
Any rubbish that the isolated person has been in contact with should be double-bagged and kept.
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Corona Virus update
Tue 17 Mar 2020Corona Virus Update - Monday 16th March 2020
Following the latest government Cobra meeting the following advice has been issued nationally:
The key new government measures are:
- If one person in any household has a persistent cough or fever, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days
- Everyone should avoid gatherings and crowded places, such as pubs, clubs and theatres
- Everyone should work from home wherever possible
- All "unnecessary" visits to friends and relatives in care homes should cease
- People should only use the NHS "where we really need to" - and can reduce the burden on workers by getting advice on the NHS website where possible
- By next weekend, those with the most serious health conditions must be "largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks"
- The UK is now "three weeks" behind Italy - the worst-hit country in Europe
- Those people should, if possible, avoid leaving the house "even to buy food or essentials" - but they may leave the house "for exercise and, in that case, at a safe distance from others"
- Schools will not be closed for the moment
Chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty said the group of people who should take "particular care to minimise their social contact" were:
- People over the age of 70
- Other adults who would normally be advised to have the flu vaccine (such as those with chronic diseases)
- Pregnant women
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Cancelled events
Fri 13 Mar 2020Dear Parents/Carers,
In the current climate with the Corona Virus outbreak, we have taken the decision to cancel forthcoming trips, visitors and parent events. We will be sending a letter out on Monday outlining the cancellations. Future trips and events will be dependent on how the Corona virus outbreak develops. As always we keep the health and safety of our pupils, staff and families at the heart of everything.
Cancelled events:
Mondays - Y4 swimming
Tuesday 17th March - Y3 trip to Chester
Tuesday 17th March - Willow 2 Learning assembly
Wednesday 18th March - Y5 trip to The Atkinson in Southport
Thursday 19th March - Y5 Experience Easter at the Church
Thursday 19th March - Parent Consultations
Friday 20th March - Y1 Mother's Day Service
Tuesday 31st March - Parents Easter Bingo
Wednesday 1st April - Y5 Easter service in Church
All sporting games and competitions have also been postponed/cancelled until further notice.
Further cancellations and updates will be announced as the days go by and we learn more about how the outbreak is progressing.
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Corona Virus Update
Fri 13 Mar 2020Dear Parents/Carers,
As I’m sure you will appreciate, we are currently dealing with a complex and rapidly changing situation. Our first priority will always be the health and safety of the pupils and staff in our school. Now more than ever, this remains our primary focus. Already in school we have increased hygiene measures which we put in a letter you.
This is an entirely unprecedented situation and we are following official advice from the government and the NHS. This advice is being added to on a daily basis and we are monitoring and responding to that as it is published. This official advice will underpin all the actions we take.
Guidance re self-isolation
If pupils or staff develop new symptoms of either type below, then the guidance states self isolation for 7 days.
·new continuous cough and/or
- high temperature
Key messages from the website are below
- if you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started.
- this action will help protect others in your community whilst you are infectious.
- plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home.
- ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home.
- stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible.
- sleep alone, if that is possible.
- wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water.
- stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible.
- you do not need to call NHS111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
We, as a school, are following all the guidelines from the Local Authority, Public Health England and the Government. We will as always keep all our school community up to date with any information as it unfolds each day.
Thank you for your continuing support.
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Corona virus update 11/02/2020
Wed 11 Mar 2020GOV.UK
Department for Education
Government coronavirus action plan
Yesterday, the Prime Minister confirmed that the government’s response to COVID-19 remains in the Contain phase – the first phase in the government’s coronavirus action plan.
The coronavirus action plan was launched last week. This document sets out what we have done to tackle coronavirus (COVID-19), and what it plans to do next, depending upon the course the current coronavirus outbreak takes.
The action plan can be found here:
Advice from Public Health England continues to be for education and children’s social care settings to remain open, unless advised otherwise. We are continually reviewing how best to support all educational settings and the impact of any measures will be considered carefully before being implemented.
Updated travel advice for travellers returning from Italy
Yesterday, Public Health England updated their travel advice, recommending that anyone returning from Italy should self-isolate, even if you do not have any symptoms. If you do develop symptoms, call NHS 111.
The latest travel guidance can be found here:
Further information on what you should do if you are asked to self-isolate can be found here:
The importance of hygiene
Personal hygiene is the most important way we can tackle COVID-19, especially washing hands more; and the catch it, bin it, kill it strategy for those with coughs and sneezes.
Wash your hands more often for 20 seconds with soap and hot water
In addition to handwashing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, both children and staff should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport.
Public Health England has a dedicated webpage with a range of posters and digital materials at:
Sign up is quick, free and means you will be alerted as more resources are made available.
Department for Education coronavirus helpline
The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is now available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UKPRN) available when calling the helpline.
Where to find the latest information
Updates on COVID-19:
Guidance for educational settings:
Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas:
Educational resources
Latest Department for Education information:
