Posted 19th October 2021
Mr Wilding has sent an update to parents regarding INSET Days, the upcoming Non-uniform day and COVID-19,
To all parents and carers.
Good morning, from LCS.
As we approach the end of half-term, I would like to inform and update you on a few current issues.
INSET Day
Friday 22nd October is an INSET Day and school will be closed to students. Staff will be working remotely and not from school, so the building will also be closed to visitors, on this occasion. As Reception staff will also be working remotely, telephone calls will not be answered, however email will be monitored throughout normal school hours. Please do not contact school via telephone on Friday 22nd October and only contact via email if completely necessary.
During Friday 22nd October and over the October half-term holiday, urgent safeguarding concerns can be reported using the dedicated email address contact.safeguarding@littleover.derby.sch.uk. More information about reporting safeguarding concerns during school holidays can be found on our website at https://www.littleover.derby.sch.uk/safeguarding.php
Non-uniform day
The planned Non-uniform day for students will take place on Thursday 21st October, which will be the last day of half-term for students. The suggested donation for this is £1 and Mrs Wilson has emailed all students about how this money should be paid, following current Covid-19 guidance.
All proceeds from the day will go to our PSA, to fund projects across the school.
Covid-19
Please see the link below to view a letter to all parents and carers from Dr Robyn Dewis, Director of Public Health. In this letter, Dr Dewis outlines the current situation with Covid-19 cases in Derby and asks for the support of parents and carers in managing the current situation.
Letter from Dr. Robin Dewis - Director of Public Health
Dr Dewis has asked all Derby schools to consider further measures to help reduce the current levels of Covid-19 across the city, most of which we have already implemented at LCS. We are currently considering a change to our procedure around identification of close contacts and I will update all students, parents and carers on this at the start on next half-term.
The wearing of Face Masks in school will continue when students return from holiday on 1st November and will be reviewed again early next half-term. Assemblies and staff meetings will also continue remotely via Microsoft Teams until November 5th, at the earliest, after which a decision will be made whether to continue with this until the end of term.
Below, you can find a letter previously sent out by the School Age Vaccination Team, highlighting a Covid-19 ‘catch up’ vaccination programme for over the holiday, next week. We have received calls from some parents and carers that the telephone number quoted in the letter does not appear to be accepting calls, but I have been assured the number is correct and parents/carers are advised to keep trying if they cannot get through.
Covid-19 Vaccination Catch-up Programme Letter
We have received a new batch of LFD tests, which will be distributed to students in the week beginning 1st November. These tests are slightly different to those students have taken so far, as they require a nasal swab, only.
Additional instructions for taking these tests at home will be sent out early next half-term with the test packs and we would continue to encourage twice-weekly home testing for the foreseeable future, including during the holiday, to help keep cases of Covid-19 down in school.
My next planned update to parents and carers is on 1st November, unless there are significant developments I need to inform you of in the remainder of this week.
I would like to wish all students, staff, parents and carers a happy holiday for next week and I hope everyone can get the well-earned rest we all need.
There are lots of events organised for young people and families in Derby over the holiday period. Derby Quad, for example, are running various activities, which can be found at the link below. Many of these activities are free of charge:
https://mailchi.mp/fe39cc8c4ea7/bfi-film-academy-at-quad-last-chance-to-book-4826722?e=9ad0e1e7c3
Running the school day-to-day remains extremely difficult, but we continue to make progress despite the challenges we face and our students continue to impress us with their determination and resilience. I have never been as proud of our students as I have been during this first half-term of the new school year.
Best wishes.
Keep safe.
J Wilding
Headteacher
Posted 11th October 2021
Due to rising COVID-19 case numbers, face mask rules will now apply to all year groups whilst indoors until the end of this half-term.
To all parents and carers.
I have had a lengthy conversation with the Local Authority this morning, regarding our current Covid-19 case numbers for students across the school.
Cases are still much higher in Year 11 than any other Year Group, but numbers are beginning to increase across the school, with students testing positive through both LFD and PCR tests.
We have been advised to take the following action for the next 2 weeks until the end of this half-term, when the situation will be further reviewed.
- Face masks will be reintroduced for all Year Groups in classrooms, food queues, indoor social areas and when moving across the school site.
- A trial of PCR testing will be introduced for students in Year 11, where test kits will be provided for students to use at home and returned to school the following day. Plans for this are currently being organised with the Local Authority testing team and further information will be sent as soon as we have it. All Year 11 students will be given a PCR test kit, but students should not take this test if they have tested positive within the previous 90 days. Unused kits should be returned, alongside completed ones.
- Students in all Year Groups are asked to continue sanitizing their hands on arrival to school each day and are reminded to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with them at all times.
- Students should continue to maintain social distance, where possible, and keep close contact to a minimum.
With face masks not being as widely used in the community as they were prior to the summer, I am aware that some students may no longer have face masks they regularly wear outside school. I would ask all students to bring their own face masks from tomorrow, however, to reduce pressure on school stocks.
Students with exemption cards should show these to staff, as previously.
The situation with Covid-19 in all schools continues to be constantly changing and in introducing the measures outlined above we are following our agreed Outbreak Management Plan, in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19 amongst school students and staff.
Your support is, as always, greatly appreciated and the situation will be reviewed at the end of October.
Thank you.
Keep safe.
J Wilding
Headteacher
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