Welcome to St George's School (Updated March 2022)
Welcome to our school. Please be aware that we are experiencing a rise in Covid-19 cases at the moment and, as we wish to keep the school fully open and attendance high, we ask the community to be aware of any symptoms in the household, and isolate their child if infected. Remember, the large majority of people inside a primary school have not been vaccinated (because they are young) and this increases the risk of adults being exposed to the virus and contracting it several times. We therefore experience acute shortage on the team, which weakens our service for you and your child. The guidance below should therefore help you to support your child, and help keep your family and the school community safe.
My child has a new persistent cough, or is hot to touch, or has loss or change in taste or smell. What do I do?
- You should isolate your child until they are feeling better, we normally ask for this to be five days since falling ill. If they take a test that shows them to be 'negative', they may attend school if well enough.
- They should be kept away from school for more than five days if they continue to be hot to touch and not tesetd.
My child has a positve LFD Test result at home, but is not showing symptoms. What do I do?
- You should isolate your child for up to 5 full days (Day 1 being the first day after testing)
Face coverings
All visitors to the school are welcome to wear a face covering in communal areas.
School attendance
Children and young people must continue to attend school unless they develop symptoms likely to be COVID-19 or have tested positive. We continue to aim for at least 97% attendance across the school.
Special Events
School performances and special events can continue to take place if the schools’ risk assessment deems it appropriate. However, if a school has a high infection rate, we will review the risk assessment and if necessary, make appropriate changes. This could include cancelling the gathering/event at short notice or moving the event online or outside. When gathering indoors and/or attending an event, face coverings should be worn, and we would encourage that an LFD test is taken before attendance. The decision not to hold events with a parent audience has the full support of Essex County Council.
Message from the School
Please find below the arrangements for the current term. The school is operating differently to reflect the wider opening of society, whilst being prepared to reintroduce the 'bubble' system if required. We are calling this our 'hybrid system', which may be changed and altered over time. We are currently in a 'living with Covid phase', and continue to alter our procedures to respond to local conditions.
Woodlands Morning Arrival (All Years)
Gates Opened : 8:40am
Families use current ‘one way drop off’ system, entering the North Gate and exiting the East Gate. Please feel welcome to drop your child off at the classroom door between 8:40am and 8:55am.
Registration : 8:55am
Formal Session Start : 9:00am
Woodlands Afternoon Departure
East Gate Opened : 2:50pm (for Reception) to start waiting on the playground.
Classes Handed Over : Badgers C1 3:00pm, Hedgehogs C2 3:02pm, Rabbits C3 3:04pm
West Gate Opened : 2:55pm (for Year 1) to start waiting on the playground.
Classes Handed Over : Nightingales C4 3:05pm, Robins C5 3:07pm, Woodpeckers C6 3:09pm
East Gate : 3:05pm (for Year 2)
Classes Handed Over : Falcons C7 3:10pm, Owls C8 3:12pm, Sparrowhawks C9 3:14pm
Towers Morning Arrival
The gates will open at 8:40am, and children will be able to enter the site. The playground will be supervised by a member of the school team, and your child will enter the school straight away.
Gates Opened : 8:40am (South Year 3, West Year 4, East Year 5, North Year 6)
Children enter the school and get ready for 8:50am registration for 9am session start.
Families bring their children to the gate of their youngest KS2 child. All KS2 children in that family can enter via that gate, there is no need to drop your Key Stage 2 children off and separate gates. .
Towers Afternoon Departure
Gates Opened : 3:05pm (Some families start to arrive from the Woodlands site)
Year 3 (South Playground) : Class 10 3:20pm, Class 11 3:22pm, Class 12 3:24pm
Year 4 (West Playground) : Class 13 3:20pm, Class 14 3:22pm, Class 15 3:24pm
Year 5 (East Playground) : Class 16 3:20pm, Class 17 3:22pm, Class 18 3:24pm
Year 6 (West Playground) : Class 19 3:20pm, Class 20 3:22pm, Class 21 3:24pm
Families should feel free to move through the site in order to collect different children. Please note that the gates will not be supervised by members of the school team, and all parents and carers retain responsibility for their own children on site, and must keep them closely supervised.
Staying Safe Means Better Attendance!
- The current Covid-19 variant is spreads quickly, including through school children.
- If a member of your household has a continuous cough, is hot to touch, or has a change or loss of taste or smell, the poorly person should isolate for five days.
To assist safety:
- Please feel welcome to wear a mask on the playground. This is encouraged by the school.
- Do not drive your car close to the schools. Please do not drive in:
- Canterbury Road (the school end)
- Barrington Road
- Claudius Road
- Grimston Road
Please leave these roads free for adults more space to be socially distanced, allowing families with children more space on the pavements.
Your child should not attend school if:
- They are unwell and showing at least one symptom of Covid-19.
- They have tested positive for Covid-19 on a LFT test (home type)
Most self-isolation periods are for a full five days.
Take care everyone,
Mr Carl Messer (Headteacher)
Covid Symptoms or Positive Tests at the Weekend
- If a child registered at St George's School receives a POSITIVE test result for Covid-19, and the school is closed (eg evenings or weekends) please call and leave an anserphone message on 01206 506800
All children attending:
- Must only do so if well, free from Covid-19 symptons, and not testing positive.
- Must be collected from school immediately in the event that they show symptoms of Covid-19 (a new persistent cough, are hot to touch, or have loss of smell or taste).
- Must arrive on time, and be collected on time to avoid cross infection and protect the administration team.
- Wear their PE Kit to school on PE days. We will inform you of these days as soon as possible.
By taking precautions, the whole community is protecting the school, which in turn enables children to attend school for as many days as possible. We aim to have at least 97% attendance at school even with these measures in place.
Contact Us:
- The main entrance will be closed to all but essential enquiries. Please do not try to enter the school building unless absolutely necessary. Visitors may speak with us via the intercom.
- Call us on 01206 506800
- Email us using the email addresses below.
Contact
Administration contact@stgeorgesschool.org (Enquiries)
Mrs Dale jdale@stgeorgesschool.org (Towers Campus)
Mrs Cooke tcooke@stgeorgesschool.org (Woodlands Campus)
Mrs Vicarey avicarey@stgeorgesschool.org (Safeguarding and Child Protection)
SEN Issues senco@stgeorgesschool.org
Welfare Issues nurture@stgeorgesschool.org
Telephone 01206 506800 ( 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday)
Asking for Help
StarLine on 0330 313 9162. StarLine is an independent body, staffed by teachers and Ofsted employees, who are available to give advice to families. Be aware that the call will be charged at the local rate.
Staying Safe Whilst Learning Online
The following websites may be useful in helping families to keep their children safe whilst working online.
www.ceop-police.uk
www.childnet.com
www.internetmatters.org
www.net-aware.org.uk
www.parentinfo.org
www.saferinternet.org.uk
www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/safeguarding/schools-protecting-children-abuse-neglect
After School Clubs:
3:30pm – 4:30pm
Some clubs operate later in the evening. Day to day arrangements are subject to change depending upon the learning plans, weather etc.