School's latest response to Covid 19 can be seen below or on the attached images from the school letter:

16^th March 2020

Dear Parent/Carer,

This letter aims to update you on our preparations within school in response to the spread of Coronavirus (Covid 19) 1.45 p.m. on 16.3.2020. Updates from the Department for Education, Knowsley Council and Public Health England have been used as a basis for our planning. We recognise that people will understandably be concerned at this time; therefore we just want to reassure you that the school is monitoring the situation closely, is in regular contact with relevant authorities and has comprehensive plans in place.

Currently, there are no school closures in Knowsley. The Local Authority will continue to advise schools of actions in line with Government recommendations.

Day to Day Response

We are encouraging all of our staff and children to follow Public Health guidance and keep high levels of personal hygiene; this includes making sure that we are directing children/students and staff to wash their hands:

• • before leaving home
  • on arrival at school
  • after using the toilet
  • after breaks and sporting activities
  • before food preparation
  • before eating any food, including snacks
  • before leaving school

Children can bring hand sanitiser to school with them to use throughout the day if they wish but please be assured that we have plenty of hand wash available in school for children to use.

Our standard cleaning processes will continue but are also taking extra precautions within our cleaning arrangements and making sure that frequent contact points such as door handles are cleaned more regularly.  Our Cleaning Provider has assured us that plans are in place to provide an enhanced or deep clean quickly as and when required.

We have talked to the children/students about the virus and how it is spread so that they can make sensible choices and follow the Public Health Guidance and ensure they carry tissues to ‘Catch it, Kill it, Bin it.’

Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:

• new continuous cough and/or
• high temperature

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild infection

Generally, these infections can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. There is no evidence that children are more affected than other age groups – and it is important to remember that very few cases have been reported in children so far.

If you or a family member present with these symptoms the advice of health professionals is to self-isolate for 7 days. Guidance on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

After 7 days, if anyone is still unwell, then seek medical advice NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access call NHS 111. If symptoms worsen during your self-isolation, seek prompt medical advice.

If children feel better after 7 days and no longer have a temperature, they can return to school. The guidance does say that a cough may persist for several weeks in some people, despite the Coronavirus infection having cleared.

Reporting Absence:

Parents or Carers should inform the school as soon as possible of the reason for a child’s absence and provide any further information that may be required. During this time all absences relating to COVID-19 symptoms or precautionary self-isolation will be authorised by the school.

Communication

Information will be shared with parents/carers via letter, the school website www.eastcroftpark.co.uk, Parentapps and Twitter @EastcroftPark

ALL information in relation to changes at school will be posted on official channels and I would ask that you do not rely on other sources such as non-school related social media to inform decision making.

Planning in Place:

The Council is working to ensure that any local response to COVID-19 is co-ordinated and services to schools are included in this planning. Contingency plans are in place for Council services to schools and we are receiving regular updates in relation to this.

An important part of our preparations are making sure that we have contingency plans for a variety of scenarios, including a temporary closure if instructed to do so by Public Health England.

We have made the decision to cancel any non-essential visitors to school and staff have been instructed to not attend any non-essential meetings offsite.

Currently, we have planned for 3 separate scenarios. However none of the scenarios are currently in operation.

1. Instruction from Government to close for a specified period of time

If we are instructed to close the school, parents/carers will be informed by letter and the information will also be posted on the school website, Parentapps and Twitter. Plans to reopen will also be posted on the school website, Parentapps and Twitter.

Teachers will set work for pupils via Seesaw. Class teachers will post work appropriate for their pupils.

The school website also has a number of links to educational sites, games and activities.

Class teachers may also provide booklets and other materials were appropriate.

All children will be provided with a home reading book and a library book.

Please keep in mind that we’re only sending out this information to help the school community prepare. There are currently no plans to close.

1. Instruction to implement social distancing and limit the contact of groups of people

If we are instructed to implement social distancing the school will consider cancelling whole school or large gatherings. We may also stagger break times and lunch times.

1. Staff absence levels cause the need for closure

If the school is affected by significant staff absence we may implement partial closure i.e. some classes maybe able to attend school while other classes are closed. Children who are unable to attend will be set work as outlined above.

We hope that implementing such plans will not be necessary but we will always make decisions with the needs, health and welfare of children first. 

Thank you for your continued support and your understanding in this matter.

Yours sincerely

Julie Withey

Headteacher