REPORTING YOUR TEST RESULTS

You must report results of your LFD tests both negative and/or positive on https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result

Once you have done this you will receive an email and/or text message from gov.uk confirming your result.  This must be forward to school email address: office2@victoria.staffs.sch.uk so that our records can be updated accordingly.

12th October 2021

We have been advised by the Local Authority to review our provision due to the high rates of Covid in Staffordshire. There are major concerns about the number of cases and the impact it is having on schools and families.  As we had kept many of our procedures in place, this means very little change for us as we have kept most of our procedures to ensure we are safe. We will continue to have a high level of cleanliness across the school, keep our year groups separate from each other, including staggered playtimes and lunchtimes and continue our open drop offs and staggered pick up. We will risk assess each event to see how safe it is.

Please ensure that if your child experiences any of the three main symptoms of Covid - a loss of taste and smell, a high temperature, a continuous cough, that you take them for a PCR test. In addition, the Local Authority requests that you take them for a PCR if they have any aches and pains, tummy aches, sore throat, runny nose, headaches, tired for no reason, or sneezing.

We are committed to keeping you informed about cases in school so you can make arrangements to keep your family safe and ask you to arrange PCR tests when we ask you to.

Thank you for your continued support of our school, enabling us to keep our children and staff safe.

Testing for people with symptoms

If you have any of the following symptoms of coronavirus:

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

Book a coronavirus test online or by ringing 119, and remain in isolation until you receive your test result.

Precautionary Symptoms

It is possible to catch coronavirus and not display any symptoms. Many people who have tested positive also displayed other symptoms. Staffordshire residents are therefore advised to book a coronavirus test as a precaution if they have symptoms such as:

• Headaches
• Aches and pains
• Feeling very tired for no good reason
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sometimes ‘tummy ache’ in children 

If you have one or more of these additional symptoms, book your test online and when you are able to, select the option “My local council has asked me to get a test”.

If you have these additional symptoms you can carry on going to school or work if you are well enough to do so, and only need to self-isolate if the test comes back positive.

Staffordshire National Testing Sites

As part of the national testing programme, Staffordshire has a number of drive- through, walk-through and mobile testing units in operation. These must be booked in advance online or by phoning 119.

There is good availability at all Staffordshire testing sites.

There are local sites at:

• Newcastle Ryecroft Car Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme;
• Keele University Science and Innovation Park, Keele;
• Beecroft Road Car Park, Cannock; 
• Stafford Education and Enterprise Park, Stafford; 
• Hagley Park School Site, Rugeley
• Meadowside Drive Car Park, Burton upon Trent;
• Bet365 Stadium, Stoke.

Staffordshire County Council - 

Welcome to the COVID Testing Appointment System

Who can get a test?

Anyone with coronavirus symptoms can get a test. Coronavirus symptoms are:

• a high temperature

• a new, continuous cough

• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

You can get a test for someone you live with if they have these symptoms. Do not get tests for people you live with who do not have these symptoms.

Tests are currently available for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire residents only

You can also get a test if:

• you live in England and have been told to have a test before you go into hospital, for example, for surgery

• your local council asks you to get a test

• you have been informed by Test & Trace that you are a close contact of a confirmed case

Book your COVID-19 test

If you or someone you live with has any coronavirus symptoms, you can book a test using this service on the link below.

Extra Measures for Burton

Burton Local Outbreak Control

Burton Extra – New advice for Anglesey, Shobnall, Horninglow and Eton Park

The Government is bringing in new laws in England on Monday 14, in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19.

In Burton, despite local efforts, the number of cases continues to rise. We are also introducing new Extra rules that Burton residents must follow along with the new national laws.

Unless people do, it is likely that the Government will step in and Burton could be put under “lockdown” with further bans on activities and businesses forced to close.

Burton Extra: How the Extra measures apply to you

• England: Anyone with symptoms must stay home and get a Covid-19 test. If you test positive you will need to stay home for 10 days. Children should not be sent to school if they have symptoms. 
• Burton Extra: Spot checks will be made on confirmed cases to make sure people are not going out.

• England:If you test positive, everyone you live with and other people you have been in close contact with will need to stay in for 14 days
• Burton Extra: Follow-up letters are being sent and visits will be made to homes to make sure people are not going out

• England: Face coverings mut be worn on public transport and in shops
• Burton Extra: Checks are being carried out. Fines will be considered for those not wearing one

• England:From Monday it will be against the law for people to meet in groups of more than six. A limited list of exemptions to the “rule of six” will be published on the Government website
• Burton Extra: You should avoid meeting with other households. If you must, this should be with no more than one other household in one week and no more than the maximum number

• England: No more than 30 at weddings, funerals and organised sports activities
• Burton Extra: Applies to all religious ceremonies. Under-3s and over-65s should not attend

• England:Shop, pubs and restaurants must follow the national Covid-19 guidance.
• Burton Extra: Spot checks and risk of closure for businesses who ignore the rules. No more than two customers allowed in small shops

We are counting on you to go the Extra mile to protect your family and your community

September 2020 Back to School - Active School Travel

Can you walk, scoot or cycle either all or some of the journey to and from school? September 2020 Back to School is not the normal start of the school year for any of our Staffordshire Schools, or their pupils. There is a risk that if more parents choose to use the car for the whole of the school journey areas will see increased congestion, parking problems and air pollution. 

Why? 

As a parent here is why active travel is the choice for you:

• Walking, scooting or cycling helps pupils reach the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
• Active travel helps pupils develop road safety skills.
• Active travel keeps our streets free from congestion and is good for the environment.
• Active travel helps pupils arrive at school alert for lessons.
• It's free!

Great tips to make your walk, cycle or scoot to school the fun:

https://youtu.be/bgaFPoN1P5A

Walking cycling or scooting to school doesn’t just help the environment, it helps you to be fit and active and ready to learn:

https://youtu.be/JTfJmyZJVSA

How?

Tips for making active travel easier and the school gates clear of traffic and safe:

• Pushed for time? Walking, cycling or scooting can take less time than in the car, especially if you re-time your journey outside of busy periods. If time still feels tight, commit to actively travelling to school for a couple of days a week and then step it up when you’ve cracked the morning routine.
• Too far to walk or heading to work? Park and stride it. Where can you leave your car and walk the last 10 minutes.
• Bad weather? Keep the all-weather wear to hand and make the journey to school fun.
• Map out and try out a new route now so that you and your children are more aware and confident.
• Make it fun - arrange to meet friends and walk together or turn the journey into a game. Are you on a nature trail or playing ‘I Spy?’
• Buddy up - could you take turns with other families to walk to school? It’s fun for your kids to walk with their friends and easier on you.
• Walk home and not both ways - is the walk to school too tricky? Can you do the walk home?
• Using childcare? Does your childcare provider build walking into their day?

Did you know that going to school in the car could mean you’re exposed to twice as much air pollution than walking, cycling or scooting the same route so why not walk, cycle or scoot? Here’s some great tips to start the day the right way:

https://youtu.be/IQIpTvJv_zA

Game on! Games to make every school journey an adventure:

• iSpy - See if you spot an object that begins with each letter of the alphabet and then swap over!
• Scavenger hunt - Create a shortlist of things your children need to look for on their journey. The one that spots most wins!
• Nature sleuth - Nature is all around no matter where you live. So, how many cats did you see? Which bird is loudest?
• Categories - Think of a category, like flowers, colours, animals, vegetables, and take it in turns to name something in that category.

Link to list of professions listed as Keyworkers

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

You can help to slow the spread of Coronavirus!

• Make sure you and your children follow these general principles to prevent spreading any respiratory virus:
• Wash your hands often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or an alcohol-based sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If you feel unwell, stay at home and don’t attend work or school.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home.
• If you’re worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111 – do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment.

The following chart may be helpful to understand the differences between the Coronavirus, a common cold and Flu

• Up-to-date information from Gov.UK:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19
 

• Public Health England:

https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/101-coronavirus-/resources/5052
 

• NHS - Symptoms and Treatment

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

• Advice on Home Isolation:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-self-isolation-for-patients-undergoing-testing/advice-sheet-home-isolation

Department for Education Coronavirus helpline

This helpline has been set up to answer questions about the virus related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline.

• Phone: 0800 046 8687
• Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
• Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)