14^th July 2021

Dear parents and families

Firstly, I want to thank you for your patience, understanding and support during what has been a difficult few weeks for some of our classes, children and staff.

I want to give you the best information and support possible during these difficult weeks.

We have been affected right across the school by the staff and children needing to isolate following current Government Guidance on the management of Covid in schools.  We have had two confirmed cases of Covid in the school in the last 6 weeks. This is a relatively small number and this is in some part due to the staff and children sticking to the daily Covid safety regime that we have in school.

I am, however, increasingly concerned by the number of children in school who are coming in obviously unwell.  This week we have had several children who are coughing continuously and on closer examination have temperatures.  These are both symptoms of Covid and whilst I appreciate that children will get coughs and colds and have temperatures as normal childhood illnesses, at this moment in time we are having to be extra vigilant for everyone’s safety.   No one wants to spend the first part of their summer break having to isolate or feeling poorly.

I am therefore asking you to be very aware of your child’s health at this moment in time.

Do not send your child to school if they present with any of the following symptoms:

• a high temperature – this means they feel hot to touch on their chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if they usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed that they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal for them

If you are asked to isolate your child at all please take them for a PCR test straight away.  We can provide postal test if this is better for you.  This will mean that we can really keep track of the potential cases in school and in the bigger picture of the Wigan Borough.

I do not want any child to be away from school for any time longer than necessary but please understand that by insisting on PCR tests it keeps everyone as safe as possible – your child’s safety and the safety of the adults in the building is our only priority.

Our school Covid risk assessment is still in place and we will be continuing with all our safety measure right up until the end of term on Wednesday 21^st July at 12:30pm.

This letter is not intended to cause worry to any of our families but is intended to present you with the facts so that you as parents/carers are able to make informed decisions.  I am aware that some families/members of staff have holiday plans, have events planned or are planning to visit family members they haven’t seen for months.  I wouldn’t want you to miss out on these things if your child tested positive, the bubble had to close again or your child had to isolate again so close to the end of term.

I hope that I have given you enough information to allow you to make an informed decision on what is right for you and your family at this moment in time.  I am hopeful that when we return to school in September some of these measures may be relaxed a little and that school can return to some form of normality.

Thank you for your support at this difficult time.  Please stay safe and take care.

Yours sincerely

Joanna Murphy

Headteacher