Anti-bullying Week Monday 23rd – Friday 27th November

 

At Oaklands, Anti-Bullying Week 2020 is happening from Monday 23rd – Friday 27th November and has the theme ‘United Against Bullying’. It is coordinated by the Anti-bullying Alliance, which is based at the National Children’s Bureau. This year, more than ever, we’ve witnessed the positive power that society can have when we come together to tackle a common challenge. Anti-Bullying Week is no different. Bullying has a long-lasting effect on those who experience and witness it. But by channeling our collective power, through shared efforts and shared ambitions, we can reduce bullying together. From parents and carers, to teachers and politicians, to children and young people, we all have a part to play in coming together to make a difference.

 

During Anti-Bullying week our children will be taking part in a range of activities which promote kindness, positive friendships and team work. We are inviting all of our staff and children to take part in ‘odd sock day’ on Friday 27th . They can come to school wearing odd socks (the brighter the better) and make a voluntary donation of £1. All money raised will be donated to the Anti-Bullying alliance.

If you would like more information about the anti-bullying alliance or would like to have a look at some of their resources please go to… http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/anti-bullying-week/anti-bullying-week-2020- united-against-bullying

 

We’re all a piece in the puzzle, and together, we’re united against bullying

Many of our children love to cook and as such we have developed a food curriculum to support children to develop key skills e.g. cutting, spreading, measuring.  We have shared some of the step by step visual instructions in the Curriculum section of our website.  

https://oaklands-school-leicester.secure-primarysite.net/cooking-ideas/

Why don't you have a go at home with your child.

 

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

Coronavirus Update for Hares, Rabbits, Dormice Class

  

I am writing to advise you that another staff member in the school has been tested positive for Coronavirus. However, I would like to reassure you that the staff member was not in your child’s class. I have spoken at length to Public Health England about the classes and the safety measures we have been taking within our school. The children in that specific class and their staff team have now been asked to self-isolate.

Following Government Guidance & Public Health advice, your child should continue attending school providing they remain well. This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools

However, if your child becomes unwell with a new and persistent cough, or a high temperature, or has a loss of or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia), you MUST keep them at home and you must follow guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, which sets out that your child should self-isolate for at least 10 days and you should arrange to have a test to see if they have coronavirus (COVID-19). You can book a test online at nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or call 119. Please email the results of any tests taken by members of your household during the isolation period as we need this information in order to safely bring your child back to school. Please email any results to office@oaklands.leicester.sch.uk.

Please be vigilant in continuing to look for the symptoms of Coronavirus. If your child or a household member has symptoms of Coronavirus and you need further advice you can call NHS 111.

If your child has nausea, diarrhoea or any other signs of illness, you MUST keep your child off school for at least 48 hours after the last bout of their illness. Please ring the school office to let us know.

 

Unfortunately, this situation does mean that many of our staff team are now self-isolating and this can consequently have a knock on effect on staffing across the school. As you can appreciate, we endeavour to ensure that each class is staffed with familiar adults who know the children in order to respond effectively to their individual needs and keep them safe. We will continue to monitor the staffing situation carefully. Please continue to check Weduc messages regularly as this will be the initial way in which we would contact you if there are changes to the situation in school.

 

If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. Your child’s safety is our utmost priority.

Regards

Sarah Osborne

(Headteacher)

With current restrictions in place, Leicester has had to adapt its Diwali celebrations for this year. However, the ‘visit Leicester’ website has some amazing ways to share the festival celebrations. Leicester’s virtual Diwali celebration will help bring people together for an experience they can share with loved ones and friends wherever they are in the world. Members of the public can send in their personal video messages, which will be included in an hour-long package of entertainment that will be streamed on the Visit Leicester website on Saturday 14 November. Find the link here. 

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

All parents/carers have been sent information relevant to their specific pathway bubble via our Weduc messaging app today. 

 

I have spoken at length to Public Health England this morning, who have confirmed that we have taken the correct course of action in the staff members and children who have been asked to self-isolate. Willow pathway; Frogs, Squirrels, Robins, Stoats, are advised that they will not be in school until Friday 20th November; and Hedgehogs class must self-isolate/stay at home until the same date. Chestnut pathway; Owls, Badgers and Beavers, are all asked to self-isolate until Monday 23rd November. Transport have been notified of these dates. However, if your child is in Cherry pathway (Dormice, Hares, Deers & Rabbits), they are advised to continue attending school providing they remain well. The latest Government Guidance for Schools can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-and-childcare-settings-new-national-restrictions-from-5-november-2020

 

For those children currently expected to attend school, if they become unwell with a new and persistent cough, or a high temperature, or has a loss of or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia), you MUST keep them at home and you must follow guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, which sets out that your child should self-isolate for at least 10 days and you should arrange to have a test to see if they have Coronavirus (COVID-19). You can book a test online at nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or call 119. Please email the results of any tests taken by members of your household during the isolation period as we need this information in order to safely bring your child back to school. Please email any results to office@oaklands.leicester.sch.uk.

 

Please be vigilant in continuing to look for the symptoms of Coronavirus. If your child or a household member has symptoms of Coronavirus and you need further advice you can call NHS 111.

 

If your child has nausea, diarrhoea or any other signs of illness, you MUST keep your child off school for at least 48 hours after the last bout of their illness. Please ring the school office to let us know.

 

If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. Your child's safety is our utmost priority.

Thank-you for your support,

Regards

Sarah Osborne

(Headteacher)

Friday 6^th November

Dear Parents/Carers,

Coronavirus Information

 

  I am writing to advise you that a staff member in the school has been tested positive for Coronavirus. 

 

The children in that specific class and their staff team have now been asked to self-isolate.

 

Following Government Guidance, your child should continue attending school providing they remain well. This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools#soc

However, if your child becomes unwell with a new and persistent cough, or a high temperature, or has a loss of or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia), you MUST keep them at home and you must follow guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, which sets out that your child should self-isolate for at least 10 days and you should arrange to have a test to see if they have coronavirus (COVID-19). You can book a test online at nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or call 119. Please email the results of any tests taken by members of your household during the isolation period as we need this information in order to safely bring your child back to school. Please email any results to office@oaklands.leicester.sch.uk.

Please be vigilant in continuing to look for the symptoms of Coronavirus. If your child or a household member has symptoms of Coronavirus and you need further advice you can call NHS 111.

 

If your child has nausea, diarrhoea or any other signs of illness, you MUST keep your child off school for at least 48 hours after the last bout of their illness. Please ring the school office to let us know.

 

If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. Your child’s safety is our utmost priority.

Regards

Sarah Osborne

(Headteacher)

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

Information regarding the National lockdown restrictions from 5th November can be found on the Government website here.

 

We are clear that the Government have said that schools will remain open:

 

'The Government will continue to prioritise the wellbeing and long-term futures of our young people and will not be closing schools, colleges or universities. It remains very important for children and young people to attend, to support their wellbeing and education and help working parents and guardians. Senior clinicians still advise that school is the best place for children to be, and so they should continue to go to school. Schools have implemented a range of protective measures to make them safe.'

 

The new measures will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2nd December. At the end of the period, the Government have said that they will look to return to a regional approach, based on the latest data.

 

Please continue to be vigilant, and only send your child in to school if they are well.

The most important symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of any of the following:

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

You MUST NOT send your child in to school if they have any of the symptoms above. You should keep your child at home and arrange to have a test. The test needs to be done in the first 8 days of having symptoms. If your child has symptoms they must self-isolate for ten days from when the symptoms started. A test can be booked here or call 119 between 7am and 11pm.

 

Please also keep your child at home if they are unwell with sickness, diarrhoea or a bad cold. In this instance, they should remain at home for 48 hours after the last bout of sickness or diarrhoea. If you have any concerns or queries about whether you should send your child in to school, please do call us on 0116 2415921.

 

Many thanks for your support in helping is to keep our school community safe. If we receive any more specific advice relating to the National Lockdown and how it affects us at Oaklands, we will of course update you. However, we currently expect the school to remain open and look forward to seeing children again tomorrow.

 

Regards

Sarah

Sarah Osborne

(Headteacher)

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

I am very pleased to be able to inform you that school will be open again on Monday. I have notified transport accordingly. 

 

Following public health advice & government guidance, your child should return to school on Monday providing they remain well. This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools#soc

 

However, if your child becomes unwell with a new and persistent cough, or a high temperature, or has a loss of or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia), you must keep them at home and you must follow guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, which sets out that your child should self-isolate for at least 10 days and you should arrange to have a test to see if they have coronavirus (COVID-19). You can book a test online at nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or call 119.

 

Please be vigilant in continuing to look for the symptoms of Coronavirus. If your child or a household member has symptoms of Coronavirus and you need further advice you can call NHS 111.

You must keep your child off school for 48 hours if they have nausea, diarrhoea or any other signs of illness. Please ring the school office to let us know.

 

If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are committed to keeping our Oaklands community safe at all times, and we are particularly grateful for your support during this pandemic.

Have a good weekend,

Regards

 

Sarah Osborne (Headteacher)

Dear Parents/Carers,

I am writing to update you following my message yesterday about the school being closed today. I have been in contact with Public Health and the Local Authority this morning and they have advised that we have followed all the correct steps to keep our school community safe by closing the school today.

Our premises officers have both been advised to self-isolate, but neither have symptoms since being in contact with the person who has tested positive for Covid 19. I want to reassure you that none of our children came into contact with the person who has tested positive. There is no need for any of our children or other members of staff to self-isolate as a consequence.

Unfortunately, due to being unable to arrange for a cover premises officer at such short notice, the leadership team along with the Chair of Governors have had to make the decision to close the school again tomorrow. As you will appreciate, our premises officers play a key role in ensuring that our children are kept safe and secure during the day, and with health and safety being a priority, we must be confident that we can open the school and keep everyone safe.

Therefore, I am writing to inform you that Oaklands will be closed again tomorrow, Friday 30th October. We will of course keep you updated.

Regards

Sarah Osborne

(Headteacher)

Dear Parents/Carers,

                                   I am sure you will agree that this half term has flown by. We were delighted with the way in which our Oaklands children returned in September and settled in to their new routines. They have continued to develop their understanding of the changes in school and build relationships so that we all now have a new normal at Oaklands. The children have adapted incredibly well, and with the support of our incredibly hard-working staff team, children across the school have been making fantastic progress already!

I know that the entire Oaklands team would like to thank-you for supporting us by keeping children at home if they have any illness, helping to keep everyone safe. Your communication with the school has been very much appreciated. Please do continue to let us know if you are keeping your child off school for having any of the symptoms of Coronavirus or if they have any other illness. This is helping us to respond extremely quickly if we do have any concerns about Covid-19. The recent rise in Coronavirus cases nationally continues to concern us all. We therefore ask that after half term, you continue to be vigilant and only send your child in to school if they are well. We will endeavour to keep you all updated about what is happening regarding Coronavirus. Currently, we are pleased that the school has been able to stay open to ensure that our children benefit from the continuation of their education and are grateful that our Oaklands family has worked so well together to keep everyone safe.

Thank-you to those parents who drop off and collect children from school, who have followed the instructions given about staying in cars and arriving at specific times. This has certainly made the car park a safer place and has helped to ensure that the ‘bubbles’ work from the beginning of the day, right to the end.

Finally, I would like to remind you that school opens again on Monday 26^th October. We do hope that you all have a restful half term, and we look forward to seeing your child back again after the break.

Many thanks for your support,

Regards

 

Sarah Osborne (Headteacher)