19th March 2020
Dear Parent/Carer
As you are aware we had to close today due to a staff member and pupil having contact with a confirmed case of Coronavirus. This was following advice from public health and medical professionals. Our aim is to open the school on Monday 20th April, after the Easter break. How the school will operate will depend on the government guidance over the next few weeks and more information will be given via text and on the website.
Our multi-sensory department which is the following classes: Doulton 1, Doulton 2, Coalport 1, Coalport 2, Coalport 3 and Maple will remain closed, after the Easter break, due to the medical vulnerability of the pupils within these classes. We also cannot guarantee that medically trained staff who know your child will be in school.
This decision has been made in order to protect our most vulnerable students at this uncertain time. The Government are protecting other children by allowing them to stay at home. If you choose to keep your child at home in order to protect them and your family from this virus you have our full support.
For your information, below is the current Government guidance around vulnerable groups:
The Government are advising those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures.
This group includes those who are:
- aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
- under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (ie anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):
- chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
- chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
- chronic kidney disease
- chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
- chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
- diabetes
- problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
- a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
- being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
- those who are pregnant
We are anticipating that a number of our staff will be off due to sickness and because of underlying medical conditions. We will therefore not be able to guarantee that familiar, known staff will be working with your pupils. We have sent homework packs in the post and if you chose to keep your child at home we will update these when you ask us to do so.
Physios, speech and language and school nurses have informed us that they will not be coming into school until further notice. If you need to contact any of these professionals please do so directly. If you have an urgent query that cannot wait until when we return please use the Kemball email address as a form of contact. This will be looked at regularly.
Thank you for your support over this difficult time.
Take care of yourselves and your families over the coming weeks.
Kind regards
Lisa Hughes
Head Teacher