Dear Parents/Carers,
I am writing to you again with my next update on our response to the spread of Coronavirus. Following encouragement towards ‘Social Distancing’ and ‘Non-essential Travel’ we have reviewed a number of our procedures and planned events. As a school we follow information and guidance given to us through Public Health England, the Department for Education and City of York Council.

As parents/carers of children in Years 5 and 6 are aware, the planned residential to Kingswood is scheduled to take place two weeks today (Wednesday 1st April – Friday 3rd April). After reviewing this situation on a daily basis, I have made the decision that the residential will not take place. I realise that this will come as a disappointment, however, I have a duty of care for both pupil and staff health/wellbeing and as such must act accordingly. Separate letters will be sent to parents/cares who are affected by the aforementioned cancelation. We will keep future trips under regular review.

There is much discussion and debate about the Government’s decision to keep schools open. For as long as it remains part of the Government’s strategy to keep schools open, I am obliged to attempt to do so. The starting point for that decision each day always has to be whether the school has a sufficient number of staff available to keep the children safe and facilitate learning. As an increasing number of staff are required to stay at home either because they have symptoms; a family member has symptoms or because they are in a vulnerable category, we have fewer staff available. It goes without saying, I fully support any member of staff who belong to these groups. If we reach a point where we do not have enough staff to keep the whole school open, we will make a decision about potential partial opening.

In the event of a school closure, we are preparing home learning resources which will be added to the school website. We will be utilising this electronic approach to enable home/school communication and learning in the event of a closure.

We would like to keep face-to-face contact at a minimum over this period, as a result we are requesting that:
• Parents/carers drop off at the gates, rather than coming onto school site, wherever possible.
• When collecting children at the end of the day that you think about your proximity to others whilst waiting.
• Parents/carers do not enter the classrooms either at drop-off or pick up.
• Communication to be made through email to the school office and telephone.
• Parents/carers only come to the school office if it is essential.
These measures are in an effort to keep our pupils and staff as healthy as possible.

All classes have been spoken to about the Coronavirus situation and have been reassured. I have attached a document to the email, that accompanies this letter that you can revisit with your children to support the message about the virus.  Coronavirus information for children

I would like to reassure parents/carers that any periods of extended absence will not reflect negatively on your child’s school attendance. These are unprecedented times and no one will be penalised for non-attendance during this time.

A summary of the position from our Director of Public Health, Sharon Stoltz, is: “In brief the public health advice is that if one person in a family develops symptoms of a new persistent cough and high temperature the whole family have to go into isolation for 14 days. People are allowed to go out for fresh air and exercise but they are not to come into contact with other people so should avoid public spaces.
Community testing isn’t being done so people won’t be confirmed as positive or negative anymore – if anyone develops symptoms they are assumed positive and need to self-isolate.
Anyone with a chronic health condition affecting the heart or lungs, pregnant women and possibly people with neurological problems are thought to be at greater risk of becoming more seriously ill with the virus. Therefore need to take more care.”

Challenges like this global situation are unusual and stretch us all, I could not be prouder of the hard work everyone at school is doing to help get through this difficult time. I want to thank you for your patience and support and urge you to keep safe and look after those around you. Finally, please can I ask you to contact me directly – head@elvingtonprimary.org.uk if you have any questions.

Yours sincerely,
Mr. Andrew Buttery