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Venture Academy

Venture Academy

MacIntyre Academies

COVID-19

Updated 3rd January 2022

As I am sure you are all aware, the Government has announced some guidance for schools due to the rise in Omicron cases of COVID-19.

The main changes you need to be aware of are:

Testing

  • All pupils will be required to take an LFD test in school on their return on Wednesday 5th January. 
  • All staff and pupils are still expected to test twice weekly at home on a Wednesday and a Sunday. Please use this form to report your results -  LFD Testing Results Form

Self-Isolation

  • If you test positive for COVID-19 you must book a PCR immediately. If this is positive then you must isolate following the guidance. You can take an LFD on day 6 of isolation and again 24 hours later on day 7 and if they are both negative then you are free from isolation and can return to school

Close Contacts

  • If you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and you are fully vaccinated then you do not have to isolate but you must carry out daily LFD tests for 7 days and continue your normal daily activities
  • If you have been identified as a close contact but you are not vaccinated for medical reasons then please inform the Principal immediately for further action
  • If you have been identified as a close contact and are not vaccinated for personal reasons, you will need to continue to isolate for 10 days - please speak to the Principal in this instance

Face Masks

  • From 2nd January 2022 it is highly recommended that all staff and pupils wear face masks in the classroom (secondary age pupils)

If you need help with any of the above please speak to Emily Hopkins-Hayes (Principal) or Jennie Nicholls (Business Manager) at school. 

Archived - Updated 12/12/2021

England is following Plan B of the Government's COVID-19 response plan. England is also at alert level 4 meaning that transmission levels are high and the pressure on the NHS is increasing.

What this means - Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

  • Wear a face covering in all indoor places and on public transport
  • Get tested if showing symptoms and isolate as required
  • Work from home if you can
  • Get vaccinated
  • If you meet indoors then let fresh air in - it is safer to meet outdoors

We strongly advise that when you are eligible, you get the booster vaccination to protect yourself and your loved ones. If you have not been vaccinated (for reasons other than medical) we would also strongly advise that you get the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as you can.

You will receive a text from the NHS when you are eligible and you can book your vaccinations here: Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk) 

When you should self-isolate under the new guidance:

  • If you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (Omicron) then please self-isolate for 10 days as per the guidance (even if vaccinated and boosted)
  • If you have been vaccinated and are a close contact of someone who has tested positive (NOT Omicron) then please make sure you undertake DAILY lateral flow tests.
  • If you have not been vaccinated then you need to self-isolate if identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for ANY strain of Coronavirus.

Please report a positive result (LFD or PCR) to the school immediately by phoning 01564 792514 or emailing Jennie Nicholls at jennie.nicholls@macintyreacademies.org 

Update 09/12/2021

Due to the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 causing concern due to the rising number of cases and the fast infection rate, the government has changed the guidance. To prevent the spread of the virus in school to keep us all safe:

  • All staff, visitors, contractors and pupils will be asked to sanitise their hands on arrival to the school and be encouraged to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds regularly
  • All staff, visitors, contractors and secondary age pupils (where able) to wear a face covering in all communal areas of the school including the corridors, hall, staff room, main office and in the classrooms when walking around
  • All staff and pupils to continue carrying out twice weekly LFD tests at home on a Wednesday and Sunday and inform the school immediately of a positive result
  • In the event of a positive LFD then all staff & pupils MUST immediately book a PCR test and remain at home until a negative PCR is received. You can book a PCR test here Book a PCR
  • If a positive PCR result is received then the person with COVID-18 must isolate according to current advice from the NHS (10 days).
  • We have installed C02 monitors and air purifiers in high traffic areas of the school to monitor the air quality
  • Windows must be open in all rooms that are in use to allow for air circulation and ventilation
  • We have provided all classrooms with extra cleaning supplies including disinfectant wipes to be used on door handles and surfaces in-between lessons and to clean any shared items of equipment, PPE including face masks, disposable gloves and hand sanitiser. We also have foggers in school to disinfect a whole room quickly if necessary or after am outbreak of COVID-19
  • We ask all staff and families who have plans to travel abroad to inform a member of the senior leadership team and check the guidance around testing and quarantine rules here:  Travel abroad from England during coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Asymptomatic home testing 

As you are aware we are going to start using Coronavirus home Self-Test Kits to support the health and safety measures already in place as per new Government guidelines.

  • To be used twice weekly between 5pm Sunday and 7am Monday, then again between 5pm Wednesday and 7am Thursday. 
  • Please use this form to record the results of the test https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ErPCopgesk25hFL9oOVT0Sv9KpJ6y5ZMqHSyQ9c1rCBUN0RCNFc4RlY3V0RXQ0lITEQwWFNMSDcyTi4u
  • If your child has a void or positive result please make our Business Manager aware via email jennie.nicholls@macintyreacademies.org immediately 
  • If the home test indicates that your child is positive, a PCR test will be required so please book that as soon as possible via the Government website to confirm the result. 
  • If your child has a positive test result they will need to isolate for 10 days or until they receive a negative PCR test result, whichever comes first.  Household members DO NOT have to isolate of they are under the age of 18 years 6 months and/or have been double vaccinated.
  • You will need to upload your child’s individual test results directly to the NHS Test and Trace website as per the step by step guide in the kit.

The home testing kit contains a step by step guide to help with the swabbing, processing and recording but please make yourself familiar with this and contact Jennie Nicholls via the email address above should you have any questions.     

Staff and pupils will continue to receive their home test kits from us. If you need more home testing kits then you can order them for your household here Order coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow tests - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Undertaking regular, rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing helps reduce transmission of the virus. Parents and other adults in households with children at school, who do not have symptoms, can now access regular rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing. This includes childcare and support bubbles.

Tests are fast, easy and completely free. There are different ways for a household, childcare or support bubble to collect their test to take at home, twice-weekly:

  • Through your employer, if they offer testing to employees
  • By collecting a home test kit from a local test site – anyone aged 18 or over can collect 2 packs of 7 tests
  • By ordering a home test kit online – please do not order online if you can access testing through other routes, this frees up home delivery for those who need it most - https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

If you have any queries about the tests, please call 119 (free from mobiles and landlines). Lines are open every day from 7am to 11pm.

Children of primary school age (and below) without symptoms are not being asked to take a test.

Testing is voluntary, but strongly recommended to all who are eligible. Alongside the vaccine, washing hands, wearing face coverings, and maintaining social distancing, rapid testing plays a vital role in reducing transmission rates. Getting into the habit of regular testing as part of our everyday lives will help us all to play our part and do what we can to protect each other.

Please find below some useful links:

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline is available to answer questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents/carers and young people can contact this helpline by calling:

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

  1. COVID-19 Risk Assessment updated 03.01.22
    pdf
  2. COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan
    pdf
  3. COVID-19 Quick Reference Guide for Families Sep 2021
    pdf
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