I’m sure you’re all aware that we had to close our Year 5 class bubble last week due to there being a positive test recorded in that bubble. Dudley Public Health then advised that all children and staff in that bubble take a PCR test. Further positive tests then came back over the weekend. Overall, there was a small number of positive tests, of which most showed one of the wider symptoms (i.e. sore throat, runny nose, etc) and a tiny number were asymptomatic. Thankfully, none of the children were very ill.

I, along with our Chair of Governors, had a very long, detailed meeting with Dudley LA yesterday. There were people there from Children’s Services, Public Health, Health and Safety, amongst others. All our policies and procedures were gone through thoroughly. Everyone at the meeting was happy that what we had in place was everything that could be expected and that the procedures were robust. Obviously, nowhere can 100% guarantee that there won’t be transmission of any infectious disease but I want to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to minimise the risk as much as possible.

The precaution taken to close breakfast and after-school club was taken based on advice from Public Health. The provision provided by these clubs includes strict adherence to bubbles within the room; each class bubble has there own designated area both within the room and outside, and all staff wear PPE throughout each session. We have been told by Public Health that it is important that this provision is kept open, but there may be the possibility of this provision having to close again in the future if a similar situation occurs. I want to reiterate that Public Health were happy with the procedures in place for both breakfast club and after-school club.

We are asking that as many families as possible take up the household Lateral Flow Tests and do these regularly.

The link for requesting LFTs for your household is here:

https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

If your child is showing any symptoms we will ask you to take them from school and book a test. We would also ask that you keep your child off school whilst awaiting the test results. We would also ask that you do this for all siblings in the household.

We are requesting that any sibling who has been isolating because of a positive test of someone in their household takes a Lateral Flow Test before returning to school. This will give you as a family peace of mind and will also help to ensure that we safeguard everyone; there have been asymptomatic cases that no-one has been aware of. Obviously, this is your personal choice but we hope you understand why we are requesting that you do this.

Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to keep school as safe as possible and I’d like to thank all of you that are doing everything you can from your end too.

Take Care and Stay Safe

Mr Dunn