Corona virus/COVID-19

Where to find the latest information

Guidance for educational settings:

Updates on COVID-19:

Department for Education corona virus helpline

The Department for Education corona virus helpline is now available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:

Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UKPRN) available when calling the helpline.

The latest updates from Ofqual can be found here:

 

As a school within the Central RSA Academies Trust we completed a comprehensive risk assessment before opening to wider numbers of pupils in June 2020.

The results across the Trust from 1st June 2020 to the of end of summer term 2020 (20th July) are that there have been no reported positive cases amongst pupils or staff attending schools in our Trust. In this time period 7 potential cases were reported, all pupils and staff in those “bubbles” were sent home as a precaution and pupils’ parents or carers informed. All suspected cases proved to be negative and all pupils and staff in those bubbles were able to return to their respective schools.

The risk assessment covered the following areas;

  1. Awareness of procedures and policies
  2. Hygiene practices in classrooms and public areas
  3. Administering first aid to those presenting symptoms of COVID-19
  4. Managing suspected cases of COVID-19
  5. Spread of infection
  6. Clinically vulnerable staff
  7. Mental health concerns – staff
  8. Management of infectious diseases
  9. Governance and policy
  10. Vacant premises/re-opening of premises
  11. Emergency/fire evacuation
  12. Available capacity reduced by social distancing
  13. Organising small class groups
  14. Classroom based arrangements/class sizes
  15. Continued prioritisation of vulnerable pupils
  16. Pupils falling behind in learning
  17. Pupils eligible for free school meals
  18. Plans if staff numbers lower than required to teach classes
  19. Staff training
  20. Social distancing arrangements
  21. Pupil behaviour
  22. Transition planning
  23. Communication of Academy plans
  24. Academy building arrangements
  25. Contractors on site
  26. Costs of additional measures due to COVID-19
  27. Mental health concerns – pupils
  28. Transport arrangements
  29. Updates

The risk assessment was regularly updated as required with new information and legislation for example the change in RIDDOR reporting requirements.