Headteacher Update (23/11/2020)
23/11/20
Dear Parents/Carers,
A few bits of new information and reminders.
Children in Need
Since settling in with their new teacher after half term, the children have marked Remembrance Day and taken part in Children in Need. As a school, we raised £353.78. This is fabulous, especially at a time when many people are struggling.
Parents’ Evenings
Instead of Parents’ Evenings, teachers will be contacting you by phone during the week beginning 30th November. You will be able to book a time. Details will be sent out early this week. This is a change of date to the one on the website.
PE Clothing
On the days that the children do PE they can come into school in suitable clothing eg. jogging bottoms, sweatshirt. (Not branded football kit please.)
Punctuality
We are being as flexible as we can in opening gates and doors in the morning. We have noticed that there is an increasing number of children arriving at school late. This disrupts their learning for the day and also often means that staff have to cross bubbles to take them to their class. It is so important, as a life skill, that children learn to be on time.
Bubble Closure
The Reception bubble has had to close and will reopen on December 4th. Details of this are in a letter on the website with links to guidance to follow. The Nursery bubble has reopened today.
Attendance
We totally understand that there may be anxiety around sending your children to school at present. Please be assured that we are following all Government and local authority guidelines. Please continue to send your children to school unless they are ill or having to isolate. We want them to have the best chance of making up lost learning. If you have any concerns about this please contact us. If a pupil is isolating or you can’t get them to school because other children in the household are isolating this will be authorised. We are not referring pupils to Education Welfare because of COVID-related absences (therefore no fines) and we are not going to use attendance as a criteria for any achievement rewards.
Christmas
We won’t be able to do many of the activities that we usually do for Christmas but there are many things that we can do safely: Children can bring in Christmas cards but only for the children in their class, the church at Clifton village will be recording an assembly that the children can watch, children will have the opportunity to write a letter to Santa and receive a letter and gift in return (organised by the local community), In Harmony will be recording the children playing to share with the whole school and we are hoping to be able to watch a panto! (Please ensure that class teachers know if you do not wish your children to take part in Christmas activities.)
School meals
As has been said before, our school dinners are great! While some schools are still only providing sandwiches, we are providing a choice of hot meals. There are some photos being put on the website – sorry that you can’t taste! Please consider school meals if your children don’t have them already.
It’s really great to see so many of you when I’m on the gates. Thank you so much for your continued support and feedback.
Take care,
Ruth Guy-Clark
Headteacher
Positive case of Covid in Reception (Letter for Reception Parents)
Date: 22/11/20
FOR PARENTS OF RECEPTION PUPILS AT Dovecote Primary School
Advice for Child to Self-Isolate for 14 Days
This morning we have been advised by Public Health England that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the school, this is a pupil in reception.
We have followed the national guidance and have identified that your child may have been in close contact with the affected pupil. In line with the national guidance, we recommend that your child now stays at home and self-isolate until Friday 4th December. Reception classes will be closed until this date.
We are asking you to do this to reduce the further spread of COVID 19 to others in the community.
If your child is well at the end of the 14 days period of self-isolation, then they can return to usual activities.
Other members of your household can continue normal activities provided your child does not develop symptoms within the 14 day self-isolation period.
Please see the link to: Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119 .
All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.
The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.
Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community
If you are able can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period
Please see the link to the PHE ‘Stay at Home’ Guidance:
Symptoms of COVID 19
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
- new continuous cough and/or
- high temperature and/or
- a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/ or by phoning 111.
How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- wash your hands as soon as you get home
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
Further Information
Further information is available at
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Yours sincerely,
Ruth Guy-Clark
Headteacher
Positive case of Covid in Reception (Letter for all Parents)
Advice to All Parents 22/11/20
Dear Parents,
We have been advised by Public Health England that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the school. This is a pupil.
We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
The children who may have been in direct prolonged contact with the confirmed case have been informed (Reception) and will be staying at home for 14 days.
The school remains open, although Reception is closed, and your child, if not in Reception, should continue to attend if they remain well.
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.
Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home.
If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.
Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community
If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
- a new continuous cough
- a high temperature
- a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
If your child or anyone in the household does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/ or by phoning 111.
How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- wash your hands as soon as you get home
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
Further Information
Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Yours sincerely,
Ruth Guy-Clark
Headteacher
Welcome to Dovecote Primary & Nursery School
I am delighted to welcome you to our school website. We hope you find it useful, informative and interesting. The pupils, staff, governors and parents are rightly proud of the school and the exciting opportunities that we offer. Our school motto is ‘Children First’ and we place that at the heart of all the decisions we make.
Our aim is
You will be able to find out about Lab_13, our In Harmony project, the Secret Garden, Spanish, ICT, sports activities,
Enjoy exploring the site and getting a flavour of all the great things that happen at Dovecote.
Dovecote is at the heart of its community and we see your child’s education very much as a partnership. We want to involve families from before the start of
On the website, we have tried to include all the practical information that you could want to know about our school. If you have a question that is not answered, please get in touch and we will get back to you.
Our Reading Newsletter
Take a look at our reading newsletter for November 2020. Building an ethos of reading for pleasure is important to us. One part of that is buiding a comminity of readers. Our newsletter is one way of communicating the news in regards to reading with all stakeholders at the school- children, familes and staff.
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Upcoming Events
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