Rhydri Newsletter 7.9.21
Welcome back, I hope that you all had a good summer.
Breakfast Club Update
Following discussions with the Catering department we now hope to reopen the Breakfast Club on Monday 13th September.
This means that from now up to the morning of Friday 10th September, drop-off arrangements will remain as they are for this week; gates will open at 8.40am (giving a 20 minute window for drop-off before the school start time of 9am) for Bronze / Silver / Gold and 8.50am for Rainbow. Pick-up will be 3.25pm for Reception and 3.30pm for Bronze / Silver / Gold. With regard to the reopening, the Breakfast Club provision will be regularly risk assessed against the latest Covid guidance received from the Welsh Government and will only continue if all associated / identified risks can be mitigated.
As has been the case in the past year, social distancing is still required for all visitors to the school site.
Breakfast Club (runs from 8am – 9am) will accept attendees from 8am - 8.30am.
As so much time has elapsed since the last time Breakfast Club was able to run they will need new application forms for all pupils who wish to attend whether they attended before or not. This is to ensure that their records / contact details are as up to date as possible, as although hosted on the school site, Breakfast Club is run by the Catering service and they manage their own records. They require a form per child meaning that siblings will have separate forms. These forms are available from the school office as well as being on the last page of the School Prospectus which is available on the school website. The forms can be handed in to the school office this week.
Welsh Government Update
We have been asked to share with you the following update which has been prepared by WG.
Changes to contact tracing and self-isolation from this September
As we return to school, there are some new arrangements in place when someone tests positive for COVID-19. These changes have been made possible by the vaccination programme and the significant reduction in numbers being hospitalised and suffering severe illness due to COVID-19 over recent months.
If your child tests positive for COVID-19 using a PCR test, NHS Test, Trace, Protect (TTP) will contact you, using the details provided when the PCR test was ordered. They will ask questions designed to identify recent close contacts of your child, and for contact details - if you know them - of the individual or their parent/guardian. TTP will then get in touch with these close contacts to provide instructions or advice.
Those who are under 18 or fully vaccinated are no longer required to self-isolate if they are identified as close contacts. But they will be contacted to let them know that they’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. They will also be offered two PCR tests and provided with information and advice on how to minimise the risks of onward spread. If your child is identified as a close contact, they can still attend school unless they develop symptoms or are advised otherwise by TTP. Please continue to let us know if your child tests positive.
If a child tests positive, only a minority of their classmates will be identified as close contacts. But if there is a pattern of cases TTP may ask us to update you on the situation and remind you of key steps, including advising you to keep an eye out for new symptoms your child may develop, and to stay away from vulnerable family and friends in the short-term.
We do expect that there will be cases of COVID-19 across our community over the coming weeks, but this does not mean that COVID-19 is spreading within the school. Please continue to be vigilant for symptoms. If you are in any doubt, order a PCR test for your child at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
Anyone with symptoms - a new continuous cough, fever or high temperature or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste - should remain in self-isolation until the test result is known. You can find the latest information on self-isolation arrangements at www.gov.wales/self-isolation.
We recognise how difficult the past 18 months have been and the sacrifices that all families have had to make. Thank you for everything you have done to support your child and your school.
