I am writing to inform you that we have had a number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in within the school. The academy has acted swiftly to ‘track and trace’ all learners and staff that have had direct or close contact with the confirmed learners.

This has resulted in a high level of staff and learners needing to self-isolate. Due to these circumstances, we are regretfully having to close the academy to all Year 8 learners from Friday 20^th November to Monday 30^th November.

Please be assured that this is not a measure that we have taken lightly.  However, given the staffing levels and the impact of COVID-19 we have no alternative but to close the school to Year 8 and switch to our Distance Learning Programme on Microsoft Teams.  We look forward to welcoming our Year 8s learners back to the academy on Monday 30^th November 2020 at 8:40am.  For my staff and I, their safe return cannot come a moment too soon.

We understand that your child is at a critical juncture in their education and therefore we seek your support to ensure that the intervening time is productive and that learners are accessing the wide array of provision that we have in place for them.  I cannot stress enough, the importance of us working together to minimise the effect of the year group bubble closing.  Your support is critical to ensuring that our learners are accessing the high quality lessons available to them in all curriculum subjects on Microsoft Teams.

As you are no doubt aware, Microsoft Teams is an important platform which we utilise to provide the virtual lessons which learners have to complete each day.  Learners should be familiar with how to access this software having recently been given a Microsoft Teams refresher.  Should it be the case that  they are not confident in how to access and use the platform then please see the instructions attached to this letter or visit the ‘Refresher Vodcast’ link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M45fZ1Lnayg&feature=youtu.be.

During the time they are at home, along with the virtual lessons and other assignments provided to them, they must continue with preparations for their end of term assessments.    Along with any textbooks or notes that may help facilitate this, I would like to remind you that there a multitude of learning and revision opportunities through the following sites:

• Hegarty Maths https://hegartymaths.com/ (Login details are stuck to your child’s planner.)
• Century Tech https://www.century.tech/  (Login details are stuck to your child’s planner.)
• BBC Bitesize https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
• The National (Oak) Academy https://www.thenational.academy/
• SENECA https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/ (A user name & password will need to be created.)

It is important that learners adhere to the National lock down guidance and stay at home during the time that the academy is closed to Year 8 learners.

What to do if your child develops symptom of COVID 19

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms  will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

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

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

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

If your child does develop symptoms , you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoMicrosoft /. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.

How to stop COVID-19 spreading

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19.

Do:

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• wash your hands as soon as you get home
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

If you need any additional help from the academy  in the interim, please do not hesitate to contact us via helpline@beaconhillacademy.org.uk.  We will aim to get back in touch with you in a timely fashion.

As always, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support at this challenging time. 

Yours sincerely,

Mr S Dhami

Principal