Further information about school supervision for children of 'key workers' is available in the 'Notes' section of this website. Choose the 'Parents' menu.

In light of recent events surrounding COVID-19, a note has been issued to all families. This note details what plans the school have put in place surrounding any POTENTIAL closure.

 

We are being led, as always, by DENI and PHA guidelines. All events, activities and trips are under review. Should trips need to be cancelled or postponed, parents will be informed. As the situation changes daily, the school will keep parents informed through various social media platforms as well as this website.

 

We are ensuring that all Key Stage 2 children have updated their c2k passwords and will have access to Google classrooms, where appropriate. Please keep checking online for activities and updates including the year group pages on this website.

 

We are sending packs of work home with the children today - this is only to be used in the event of closure!

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Updated Advice 10 March 2020

To Parents/Guardians

Good Afternoon

The Government continues to update its advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19) – its website is updated regularly at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public.  Please check this website for updates and information – particularly if any member of your family undertakes travel outside of UK.   

The school is working closely with Public Health on this issue and following its advice. We ask all parents to keep up to date with any relevant information and to communicate with the school if there are any concerns at all.

The current advice to returning travellers is:  

1.  Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people if you’ve travelled to the UK from the following places in the last 14 days, even if you do not have symptoms:

• Iran
• Hubei province in China
• Special care zones in South Korea (Daegu, Cheongdo, Gyeongsan)

2.  Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people if you’ve travelled to the UK from the following places, even if you do not have symptoms:

• Italy (since 09 March)

3.  Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people if you’ve travelled to the UK from the following places in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath, even if your symptoms are mild:

• mainland China outside of Hubei province
• South Korea outside of the special care zones
• Cambodia
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Laos
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Singapore
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next.

 

PREVENTING SPREAD OF INFECTION

There are general principles anyone can follow to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• washing your hands often, preferably with soap and water. Only use alcohol sanitiser if handwashing facilities are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport
• covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in a bin. See Catch it, Bin it, Kill it
• people who feel unwell should stay at home and should not attend work or any education or childcare setting
• pupils, students, staff and visitors should wash their hands:
  • before leaving home
  • on arrival at school
  • after using the toilet
  • after breaks and sporting activities
  • before food preparation
  • before eating any food, including snacks
  • before leaving school
• if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• avoid close contact with people who are unwell
• clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• if you are worried about your symptoms or those of a child or colleague, and feel you or they may be at risk, please telephone your GP for advice. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment
• see further information on the Public Health Agency website.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has updated its COVID-19 advice in line with the rest of the UK in light of new cases emerging in several countries.  At this school we will continue to be vigilant of any child who has recently returned from a holiday and is presenting symptoms such as a cough, fever or difficulty breathing

The Public Health have advised schools of the following:

 

For suspected virus

Any child or staff who returns to school and has travelled to Northern Italy (not including, Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar since 19 February 2020; or China, Thailand, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau in the last 14 days and is presenting symptoms of a have cough, fever, or difficulty breathing, should follow the following guidelines.

 

People who become unwell should be advised NOT to go to their GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital but to telephone their GP, or 999 if an emergency (i.e. if they are seriously ill or injured or your life is at risk), and explain which country they have returned from in the last 14 days. You can do this on their behalf if this is easier.

 

We will encourage children to tell their teacher or a member of staff if they feel unwell.

 

For those who have been in contact with a CONFIRMED virus case

Even though you do not have any symptoms, the public health advice is to stay at home (called self-isolation) for 14 days following contact with a confirmed case, in order to limit potential spread of novel coronavirus to others.

 

If a case of COVID-19 (PUPIL, student or staff) is suspected in our school, the advice from Public Health says there are no restrictions or special control measures required while laboratory test results for COVID-19 are awaited. There is no need to close the setting or send pupils or staff home. Therefore, until the outcome of test results is known there is no action to be taken. People who test negative for COVID-19 will be advised individually about return to school.

Further advice, please visit https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/covid-19-coronavirus. 

There are some tickets remaining for Friday's PSA Quiz Night with Speedquizzing NI - Friday, 7,30pm for 8pm start at Cooke Rugby Club. Parents, why not invite some friends, make a team and come along? The 'smart quiz' format means there's no cheating and everyone can have a go! You can send money in to school with your child or buy tickets from the school office. Everyone welcome!

Parents...
Any remaining school photo orders can be sent into school tomorrow. Orders can still be placed online at https://orders.coolforschoolphotography.com/start/ today or tomorrow. With the busyness of half-term, it can be easy to forget so this is a 'last chance' for everyone.
Thanks

Thank you all for your amazing support for our coffee morning today! We managed to raise a fantastic £715.40 to this very worthwhile cause!! This money will be added to the collection from our Sponsored Aerobics event in May.

 

HUGE thank you to the wonderful kitchen staff who not only made all the hot food for us but donated the items personally. Once again the kindness and generosity of the Cairnshill family shines through!

School is open this morning. Please take care and allow extra time for your journey. We understand that some children may be late due to the weather - don’t take any risks, there will be no late marks today. Please do not drive into Cairnshill Drive; other streets are passable with care. Wrap up warm and we’ll see you soon.