Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Covid-19 Update – 31st December 2020
Following the recent Government announcement and news reports, I wanted to provide an update on the arrangements for the beginning of the Spring Term 2021. The Government is clear that SEN schools should be open. Therefore, all schools will open as planned on Monday 4th January.
It is important to highlight that Trust schools will continue to operate and ensure that the wellbeing , health and safety of pupils and staff remains the priority. Trust schools will continue to review the offer for all pupils and offer flexibility as Cornwall has now been placed in Tier 3 and we do expect disruption during the next few weeks as infection rates potentially rise.
Further Government SEN guidance is expected tomorrow to support schools and explain in detail the testing requirements for pupils and staff. Testing kits and resources will be delivered to schools on 4th or 5th January. As soon as we have received and interpreted the guidance and have planned our approach we will, of course, write to you again outlining details.
To support the delivery of the Government testing requirements, I would like to inform you that all Trust schools will be closed to pupils on Friday 8th January for an additional Inset day. This is advised by the Government to ensure that staff receive the necessary training and the logistics are in place to implement testing from the 11th January.
I would like to reiterate that we do not have all of the information and guidance at the moment. There is a lot of national information and communication messages which can be confusing and there is also a lot of misinformation. It is important that, if you have any questions, concerns or queries, you contact your school and the Headteacher will answer any questions and/or provide support. Please follow the usual procedures to report to school if your child will be absent.
Thank you for your ongoing support, patience and cooperation.
May I take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy New Year.
Yours sincerely
Guy Chappell
Director
The Special Partnership Trust
Dear Parents / Carers & Staff
Covid-19 - End of term and holiday period arrangements
We have finally reached the end of the Autumn term. At times it has been quite challenging and I wanted to thank you for your support, kindness and patience. The school community has worked tirelessly to support each other and, whilst aspects have been difficult, the strength in the partnership is something worth celebrating.
I wanted to draw your attention to the end of term and holiday period arrangements. As you know, Curnow School closes to students at 1pm on Friday 18 December. During the holiday period we have made arrangements should you need to contact the school following a member of your household displaying symptoms of Coronavirus or receiving a positive test result. Where a student or staff member tests positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) having developed symptoms more than 48 hours since being in school, the school should not be contacted. In this circumstance, contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace should be followed. For the first 6 days after teaching ends (18 December – 24 December), if a student or staff member tests positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, please contact the school on 07825 213079 or via email at trackandtrace@curnowschool.org.uk. We will assist in identifying close contacts in school and advising self-isolation as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school. The school staff member on call will access emails and telephone messages between 9.00am and 12 noon each day between 18 - 24 December. Should there be a positive case, the school will contact you via telephone or text message to inform you of a close contact and whether you should self-isolate.
School staff are not on-call during the holiday period. Following the end of the 6 day period the school will not conduct any track or trace monitoring. Where students and staff are required to self-isolate due to contact with a positive case after the first 6 days following the end of term, the school does not need to be informed of their absence until the first day of the new term.
Please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the school senior leadership team, or myself, if you have any questions or queries.
Take care over the holiday period. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Guy Chappell
Director
Special Partnership Trust
email: gchappell@specialpartnership.org