The north-west region continues to have very high levels of Covid-19 and we have been asked to prepare for staff absence and plan how we will minimise the disruption to education.

We will continue to implement the plans we have had in place since November. Where possible, we will utilise our existing staff to cover absence, including calling on part-time staff to work additional hours. We also have a good working relationship with supply agencies and can often request particular teachers who have previously worked at FJS. If all of these options are unavailable we will combine groups and deploy support staff under the direction of a teacher. We have also been asked to consider class closures and returning (temporarily) to home learning via SeeSaw. This would be a last resort and we would always aim to provide as much notice as possible.

To support us in these difficult circumstances, please continue to be vigilant for any Covid symptoms – bearing in mind that many children have been generally ‘unwell’ or just had a headache, sore throat or cold-like symptoms before testing positive. Please remind children that these issues are national and, although they may find it difficult to believe, this won’t last forever. In the meantime, they should support one another and be prepared that sometimes they may not have their class teacher or teaching assistant.

You will hopefully be aware that there have been changes to guidance around testing. A positive result from a lateral flow test does not have to be confirmed with a PCR test (from Tuesday, 11th January) and the number of days spent in isolation has been reduced. It is now possible to end self-isolation after 7 days, following 2 negative LFD tests taken 24 hours apart. The first LFD test should not be taken before the sixth day. From 14 December 2021, adults who are fully vaccinated and all children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 are strongly advised to take a LFD test every day for 7 days and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result. All of this information can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Thank you again for your support and stay safe.

P A Swift
Headteacher