Dear parent/carer,

We hope that you have had a relaxing break and wish you all a Happy New Year. As you may be aware schools were sent additional guidance yesterday and hence our message today to provide an update relating to this.  We include some additional information as well to ensure we have the smoothest possible start to the spring term.

Facemasks

To keep everyone as safe as possible (and unless exempt) all students will be strongly recommended to wear a face mask within lessons, this in addition to the expectation that they wear a facemask at all times when in all communal areas of the building. When it is not raining or inclement weather students will be expected to be outside of the building t breaktimes and lunchtimes. Hence we advise them to bring a coat to school and wear plain white underlayers if they wish to provide additional warmth.

The expectations in relation to face masks will be next reviewed on Wednesday 26th January 2022 and we will update you following this review. We thank you in advance for checking that your child has a minimum of 2 masks with them every day in school. Having multiple masks will mean that they can change their mask during the day should they wish to.

Covid isolation guidance – updated

Your child must isolate and not return to school if they have tested positive for Covid 19 through a lateral flow or PCR test. If they have had a positive lateral flow a PCR test should be booked and your child would need to isolate until the result of this. If the result of the PCR is negative your child can return to school, if positive they continue with their isolation.

Your child must also isolate if they have Covid-19 symptoms until they receive a negative PCR test result. They symptoms are:

• A loss of taste or smell
• A new and persistent cough
• A high temperature (above 37.8 degrees but if you don’t have a thermometer they are hot to the touch).

If your child has any of these symptoms you need to let us know using the covid-19@durring.com email address.

Stopping isolation:

Your child can stop self-isolating after 7 days if:

• they do a LFT test on 6 and 7 of the isolation period
• both tests (taken a minimum of 24 hours apart) are negative
• they no longer have a high temperature

Please note that both tests (day 6 and 7) would need to return negative results. If either test returns a positive result your child would need to isolate for the full 10 days with the day/date of the first symptoms counting as day zero. If your child was asymptomatic then day zero is counted as the date of their test.

Return to school timing and LFT testing

For the minority of parents/carers who have still not indicated a consent preference in relation to the return-to-school LFT testing please can we request that this is done as a matter of urgently via https://forms.gle/KyzwUYHqLFWUHBJ39. Please refer to previous emails if you wish to confirm the specific time/date of your child’s LFT test/return to school.

The recommendation has now changed and even if your child has tested positive for Covid-19 within the last 90 days, they are strongly encouraged to take part in the return-to-school LFT testing (but only after completing any currently active isolation period). Should you have any testing specific questions please email Mrs Dedman (AHT) on Sdedman1@durring.com.

Other return information

We are keen to have a smooth and settled return to school. Please can parents/carers support this by ensuring your child:

• has a personal supply of sanitiser and is reminded to use this regularly during the day in school,
• is in full uniform and ready to meet all personal presentation expectations,
• is reminded that we start the term on week 1 of the timetable,
• checks they have completed any outstanding homework and have their school bag and necessary equipment ready for lessons.

 

The specific year group return to school information (sent before the end of term) can be found below:

• Year 7 information
• Year 8 information
• Year 9 information
• Year 10 information
• Year 11 information
• Testing Schedule – all year groups

 

We thank you once again for your continued support.

Chris Woodcock

Head of School