Some of you may be finding the information and guidelines a bit confusing, so I want to outline a few basic rules that we ALL have to comply with and follow. 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact school.

YOU CAN NOT VISIT FAMILIES IN OTHER HOUSEHOLDS OR MEET THEM OUTSIDE unless you have formed a ‘SUPPORT BUBBLE’ with another family or have a CHILDCARE bubble. (A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household.) Having parties or social gatherings with extended family members is NOT PERMITTED. 

If you, your child or a member of your household has symptoms, DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL. Seek a test and STAY ISOLATED with the WHOLE HOUSEHOLD until you get a negative result OR you complete the 14 day isolation. 

Anyone identified as a close contact must isolate for the full 14 days (from last contact) even if they have had a negative test result. This is because they may have the virus but it cannot yet be detected by the test and they could unknowingly spread the virus further.

Masks MUST be worn in enclosed spaces by those over 11 years old (unless exempt). We have asked that you also do this on collection / drop off times outside the school gates for added safety. 

And remember:  HANDS - FACE - SPACE

By ignoring these rules you are putting ALL of us at school at significant risk.

Thank you.

We have partnered with the COVID Symptom Study to help make sure our students are as safe as possible, whilst doing our part in creating the world’s largest scientific dataset of COVID-19 in children.

We are asking all parents to join the COVID Symptom Study, by downloading the free app and taking less than 1 min a day to report how your child/children are feeling each day. With all parents reporting daily via the app, the app will provide a powerful tool for helping the school and parents understand COVID in the community and help keep our students safe. Importantly, the information you report will be invaluable to critical scientific research into COVID in children and for public health purposes - the Study will be sure to share any findings from their research with you.

So we are asking all parents to download this app as soon as possible. The app is available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Simply create a profile for yourself and for your child/children. To join our school network in the app and receive personalised COVID insights about our school, go to Edit Profile for your child’s profile > School Network > enter our school’s Unique School Network Code (see below) > select the Bubble that your child belongs to.

Our Unique School Network Code is A216D4V. To avoid outsiders joining, please do not share this code with anyone who is not a parent of our school.

For more information including full instructions on how to join and use the COVID Symptom Study app please head to: https://covid.joinzoe.com/schools

What is the COVID Symptom Study app and why should you use it?

The COVID Symptom Study app is a not-for-profit initiative that was launched at the end of March 2020 to support vital COVID-19 research. The app was launched by health science company ZOE with scientific analysis provided by King’s College London. Now, with over 4 million contributors globally, the Study is the world’s largest ongoing study of COVID-19.

All data collected in the app is used anonymously and for public health purposes only. ZOE takes data security and privacy very seriously and enforces best practices to ensure all data is protected. ZOE is required to protect all data by law. As the work that ZOE does takes place in the UK, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation applies.

For our school’s Covid updates, please see the school website:
https://www.mayflower-pri.essex.sch.uk/

Mrs. Bartholomew

The Mayflower Primary School

Latest Government Announcement 31st Oct 2020

I am sure you are all aware of the latest from the Government, announced last night, regarding a new national lockdown from Thursday 5th November. At the moment I have absolutely NO more information than you, but I expect schools will be hearing from the DfE and the Local Authority in due course.

In the meantime, despite already following all the rules to the absolute letter, we had already taken the decision to make a few further changes at Mayflower to ensure the continued safety of our pupils and staff. These changes mainly revolve around lunch and playtimes, so won’t actually affect parents at all. All pupils will be eating in classrooms and the playground will be even more segregated than it was before. Please ensure all Year 3 and 4 pupils have a change of footwear as, to make this possible, they will be using the field daily, whatever the weather. 

I would like to thank all of you who are adhering to social distancing and wearing masks outside the school gates but I am now going to INSIST that from Thursday 5th November you DO NOT mix households outside school (keep at least 2 metres apart) and that you ALL wear masks at the start and end of the day. I am quite sure that this will be welcomed by many, but not by some. However our main priority, as always, is the safety of our children.

If you are exempt from wearing a mask for medical reasons, please ensure you are wearing a badge or lanyard saying so, to avoid embarrassment when asked to mask up. I am personally exempt from mask wearing, due to a medical condition, but I choose to wear one for the safety of others. 

Thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding in these difficult times. 

Mrs B 

Guidance to parents/guardians as to when you should book a coronavirus test for your child

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-parents-and-guardians-when-you-should-book-a-coronavirus-test-for-your-child/letter-to-parents-and-guardians-when-you-should-book-a-coronavirus-test-for-your-child

Please click on the link below to see what parent and carers need to know about early years providers, school and colleges during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak?utm_source=a4f2c389-4567-489e-bfe9-f60d374c0313&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

Essex County Council has asked us to share this website with you.
In response to the Coronavirus crisis, Essex Welfare Service has been set up to support the most vulnerable in our community.

Designed for people who are without the support of family, friends or neighbours we are co-ordinating requests and referrals for support and connecting them to volunteers who want to do their bit at this exceptional time of need.

https://www.essexwelfareservice.org.uk/  

Educational Psychology Service Parent Helpline

Do you have concerns about your child’s education or development that you would like to talk through with an Educational Psychologist (EP)?

Call our

Parent Helpline

01245 433293

Mondays and Wednesday 1pm – 5pm

(during term time)

What is the Parent helpline?

The helpline is for carers and parents of children and young people up to the age of 19 with concerns about their children’s education or development.

What will happen during a call?

You will talk to a qualified Educational Psychologist who will listen to your concerns and work with you to find a positive way forward.

What will happen after a call?

It will be a discrete piece of work with no follow up from the EP. 

The helpline is confidential and personal details will not be recorded and nor will information be passed onto other sources.

Monday 20^th April

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update - Letter to Essex Parents and Carers

Dear Parent / Carer,

Firstly, I want to thank you for your contribution to the national response to the Coronavirus pandemic.  For the majority of you, being at home with your child(ren) and supporting their continued learning, alongside your own work and wellbeing, is a significant challenge in what are both unprecedented and worrying times.   However, we do know that this action is helping to reduce the spread of the virus and helping to save lives.

You will be aware that last week the government confirmed that the lock down will continue for at least another three weeks.   However, alongside this news is constant speculation about when and how schools across the country will be reopened.   I want to confirm that at this time these messages are pure speculation – neither your school nor the local authority has any information about what plans the government are considering once the lockdown is eased or when that might be.

Re-opening schools will be complex, even if that is partial re-opening.   The priority, of course, will be to ensure that it is safe for all children, staff and parents when they return to school.   At present, for those few families that are accessing school provision, you will know that social distancing is being practiced alongside good hand hygiene, and whilst some learning is being supported, it is far from the reality of normal school life.   For schools to re-open, clear guidance on social distancing will be required as well as ensuring that the majority of staff can return; we are aware that for some their personal circumstance means that they are required to ‘shield’ or live with family members who are shielding, which may mean that they need to socially isolate themselves and not return to work.  

As with all decisions the government are making in relation to coronavirus, the scientific evidence will be required to underpin the timing of the decision to re-open schools as well as the process for this.

To support all parents at this difficult time, yesterday the government launched a series of measures for families to assist with remote education, wellbeing and general support.   The guidance can be found here alongside a whole list of on-line resources for you to use.  If your child(ren) has SEND need, support can also be found in these resources.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-your-childrens-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19?utm_source=cab989cd-0d5a-4ac7-9145-6445159c785f&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources

In addition, from today, the BBC are launching bitesize daily lessons, details of which can be found here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/dailylessons.

As you will be aware, schools are also providing as much support as they are able to with home learning resources.

Schools in Essex are making regular contact with all families during the school closure period; if you haven’t already had contact from your school, this is something that will begin to happen from this week.  This is an opportunity for you to engage with your school with any support you may need with home learning and to discuss any wellbeing concerns you may have.   If everything is all fine, please also report that to your school.

I want to assure you that there is no expectation that your child(ren)’s education should continue as it would if they were attending school daily.   All schools and the local authority fully understand that during this unprecedented time, normal education across the country has been suspended.  Therefore, any daily support, both in terms of academic learning and physical and emotional wellbeing you can provide is to be applauded, and please do not worry about your ability to replace your child(ren)’s normal education during this time.   When schools do re-open, they and the local authority will work as hard and as quickly as possible to bridge any gaps in your child(ren)’s learning.

If you have any queries concerning this letter, please raise them directly with your school.

On behalf of your school and the local authority I would like to thank you for your continued support during this difficult time.

Yours sincerely,

Clare Kershaw

Director of Education

Essex County Council

You can help to slow down the spread of Coronavirus.

• Make sure you and your children follow these general principles to prevent spreading any respiratory virus.
• Wash your hands often - with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, alternatively use an alcohol-based sanitiser if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If you feel unwell, stay at home, and do not attend work or school.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin.
• Clean and disinfect any frequently touched objects and surfaces at home.
• If you are worried about your symptoms, you should call NHS 111 - do not go to your GP or any other healthcare environment.

Department for Education Coronavirus helpline - this helpline has been set up to answer questions about the virus related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline.

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

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus