COVID-19 Information – The Orchards

Key Workers

The Government has identified a list of key workers who can send their children to school during the current closure. If you feel that you are one of these workers, please print out and complete the attached form. This form must be returned to school before your child can be accepted.
Proof of your employment will need to be produced in the form of an ID card, payslip (please hide any personal/finance details) or a letter from your employer.

Click here for our Key Worker Form

Visitors

We are encouraging visitors to wear face coverings whilst in the main entrance unless there is a reason you can’t, for example it is too distressing for your child, medical exemptions etc. We are also encouraging visitors to fill in the forms attached below prior to arriving at school. This is to limit the time spent filling in the forms when you arrive.

Screening checklist for contractorsDownload

Visitor ID checkDownload

Risk assessment

COVID whole school risk assessmentDownload

The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy

The government has published its roadmap for how and when the UK will adjust its response to the coronavirus outbreak. This document describes the progress the UK has made to date in tackling the coronavirus outbreak and sets out the plans for moving to the next phase of its response to the virus. You can find more information in the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-plan-to-rebuild-the-uk-governments-covid-19-recovery-strategy

Safeguarding Guidance for Schools

On Friday 27th March, the government published safeguarding guidance for schools, colleges and other providers. Whilst Keeping Children Safe in Schools remains the key statutory document for schools, the DfE have issued interim guidance during the coronavirus outbreak. This can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers/coronavirus-covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers

In addition, guidance for families on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing has been provided. This can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

There is also a children’s guide to coronavirus which aims to answer children’s questions about coronavirus, tell children how to stay safe and protect other people and how to help them make the best of their time at home. This can be found at https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/publication/childrens-guide-to-coronavirus/

Government Action Plan

The coronavirus action plan was launched on Tuesday 3rd March. 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.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan

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’.

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)

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,  everyone  should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport. 

Watch this short NHS film for guidance:

https://youtu.be/bQCP7waTRWU

Teach young children how to wash their hands with the NHS handwashing song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9VjeIWLnEg