26th May 2021
Dear parents and carers
Thank you
As half term approaches, I’d like to thank you for all your vital support in helping to ensure that Windy Nook has reopened to all safely. Your co-operation at the start and end of the school day has been greatly appreciated and we are delighted at how well the children have settled into new routines. It has been lovely to have them back and the staff and I wish them a very restful and safe half term holiday.
COVID-19 Procedures & Protocols during the Half term Holiday
Unfortunately, the virus is still prevalent in the community and there remains the possibility that members of our school community will catch COVID-19 or display symptoms of COVID-19 during the holiday. I am writing to explain the procedures we will follow and the protocols we expect you to follow in any such cases.
As I am sure you are aware, there are three main symptoms of COVID-19 and they are;
- A high temperature
- A new and persistent cough
- A loss of taste or sense of smell
If your child displays any of these three symptoms it is really important that you;
- Keep your child and any siblings at home
- Book a test immediately using this Online Form or ring 119
If your child tests positive for COVID-19 having had symptoms after school on Thursday 27th May, on Friday 28th May, or Saturday 29th May, please follow the guidance below;
As soon as you get a positive test result for your child, we ask that you contact school immediately using the school email address
windynookprimaryschool@gateshead.gov.uk
All members of your household will need to isolate for 10 days from the date symptoms developed.
As soon as we are informed of a positive result in this time period, we will inform all families in your child’s class that a positive case has been confirmed and that the children in the class who are deemed to have been in close contact with the child will need to isolate for 10 days from the last contact. We will have conducted a robust and prompt Risk Assessment with Gateshead Council’s Public Health Team to identify which children in the class bubble are deemed to have been in close contact with the child.
What happens if my child displays symptoms of COVID-19 during the rest of the half term holiday?
If your child displays any of the three symptoms from Sunday 30th May it is still really important that you;
- Keep your child and any siblings at home
- Book a test immediately using this Online Form or ring 119
In the event of a positive result during this time frame, we will not need to notify any other parents as it will have been 48 hours since the last close contact. We ask that you notify us by email, and we will contact you on Monday 7th June to advise you when your child can return to school.
We do know these are anxious times for families and we have asked a lot of you. You have responded brilliantly thus far, and we really appreciate your understanding and cooperation; thank you. This continues to be an important time in our combined fight against COVID-19 and your part in keeping everybody safe cannot be underestimated. Working together, we hope to minimise the transmission of this virus and protect everyone in our school, and the wider community, as much as we can.
Thank you in advance and enjoy the half term break.
Stay Safe.
The Windy Nook Primary Team
To download a copy of this letter please click on the link below or should you require a paper copy then please ask at reception:
Half term COVID19 Procedures and Protocols
