Latest News | Cherry Oak School

Various Supports over Christmas

Wed 16 Dec 2020 Birmingham Education partnership (BEP)

The number of young people and families facing different levels of vulnerability and need is higher than ever right now and with holidays there is potential for things to get worse when people miss the normal support they may rely on in term time.

For Parents/Carers

Urgent mental health help line: ring 0121 262 3555 for advice and support. This line is available 24 hours, 7 days a week and can be used whether you are known to the service or not.
Foodbanks: https://www.findfoodbanksbrum.org.uk/project_category/food-banks/
Domestic Violence: Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid www.bswaid.org
Helpline: 0808 800 0028. Open 7 days a week 9.15am – 5.15pm (closed bank holidays)
Finally, a reminder that there is a lot of other early help in the city for all young people and families. Click here for see a whole range of offers: Birmingham Children’s Partnership - Resources | Birmingham Children’s Partnership - Resources | Birmingham City Council

For Children and Young People

Kooth: www.kooth.com (Online chat, resources and direct help for 10-25yr olds)
Pause (Mental health and emotional wellbeing support): to register and request support online via https://www.forwardthinkingbirmingham.org.uk/services/13-pause or call the registration line 0207 841 4470.

Coronavirus Testing for Schools from 2021

Tue 15 Dec 2020 Department for Education

Coronavirus testing for schools and colleges from January

Today we have announced that from January teachers and pupils will have access to rapid testing to help keep schools and colleges open throughout the spring term.

From January, and starting with secondary schools, including all special schools and alternative provision, the education workforce will be eligible for weekly on the spot tests. This will help identify asymptomatic cases – which make up a third of all cases – limiting the spread of the virus. This will be backed up by daily testing for staff who have been in close contact with a positive case therefore eliminating the need for self-isolation; allowing them to continue to come into school or college.

Students and pupils will be eligible for daily testing if they have been in close contact with a positive case.

You can read the press notice and a detailed Q&A for parents, but here is a summary of the key details of the announcement:

Teachers and pupils will have access to rapid testing from January.
Staff who are in close contact with cases will be eligible for daily testing, eliminating the need for immediate self-isolation. Only if a daily test returns a positive result will the staff member need to isolate.
Testing will roll out as rapidly as possible from January, starting with staff and moving quickly on to serial testing of students.
It is the decision of the individual school or college when they would like to begin accessing this new dedicated testing capacity.

Detailed operational guidance and training materials are available to secondary schools and colleges so they are able to use the new testing capacity from the first week of the spring term.

Friday 4th December 2020

Fri 04 Dec 2020 Amy Findlay Head of School

To Parents/Carers,

COVID-19 update:

I wrote to you last week to report an unconfirmed positive case at school. This has been confirmed as a positive case so all actions we took were correct. There have been no further cases and the case is now in good health. Staff and pupils who have been isolating will return to school on Wednesday 9th December.

Unfortunately, we have had situations where some families have not been following guidance and so I must remind everyone:

If anyone displays symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, then they and their household must complete the appropriate self-isolation period until the person with symptoms receives a negative test result.

You must not send your child to school if anyone they live with is displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

You must not send your child to school if they are displaying symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild.

If you child develops symptoms of COVID-19 in school then you will be contacted to collect your child immediately.

If your child displays any symptom of COVID-19 and takes a test, then you must phone school to discuss the results of the test. Even if a child tests negative then public health advise that they should not return to school until they are symptom free for 48 hours. School and family will make the decision if a child is fit to return to school. This decision is not to be made by transport and families should not be contacting transport to make arrangements without schools knowledge.

Christmas:

The festive period is always a very happy time in school and it is with real sadness that we have had to cancel our usual events. We are still trying to keep some celebrations in place and allow the children to have a positive end to the term.

Friday 11th December will be Christmas jumper day. Your child is invited to wear a Christmas jumper to school that day. We will not be taking any donations in school.

Wednesday 16th December will be Christmas dinner. If your child normally has a school dinner then they will be eating the school prepared Christmas dinner that day. If your child does not normally have a school dinner but you would like them to have the Christmas dinner then please contact us to make arrangements for this.

On Thursday 17th December, Father Christmas will be visiting school in an appropriately socially distanced way!

We will be doing our usual end of term talent show on Friday 18th December but classes will take part remotely and watch each other from their classes.

We are still very happy for your child to bring Christmas cards into school for their friends. In line with our COVID risk assessment, any cards that come into school will be kept in school for 3 days before being sent home. To allow time for this, the last day we can accept Christmas cards is Tuesday 15th December.

Classes will also be doing festive activities and as part of our modern foreign languages curriculum, we will be exploring Germany in the last week. Your child’s class teacher will write to you with about any class specific events.

As you are all aware, this is my last term at Cherry Oak School and I will be leaving to take up a Head Teacher position at a new school in January. My last day at Cherry Oak School will be Friday 18th December. You will hopefully have seen the update that a new Head Teacher, Ross Ashcroft, has been appointed to start at Cherry Oak School in January. Ross is spending some time in school and we are working closely to ensure a smooth handover.

Warm Regards

Amy Findlay, Head of School

Advice to All Parents – Potential Single case of COVID-19

Fri 27 Nov 2020 Amy Findlay Head of School

Dear Parents,

We have been advised that there is a potential positive case of COVID-19 within the school. Unfortunately the case cannot be confirmed but due to the symptoms that the case is displaying and the fact that they are a close contact of a positive case of COVID-19 outside of school, we have been advised by Public Health that
we should treat this case as a positive case. We are waiting on further guidance from our local public health team and will contact you with further guidance if necessary.

In the meantime, we are following guidance as if this were a confirmed positive case. This is the guidance that must be followed unless we receive further information. We know that you may find this concerning but are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

The small number of children who have been in direct prolonged contact with the case will have received an individual letter and will be staying at home for 14 days. If you have not received individual contact from us then your child has not been identified as having direct prolonged contact.

The school remains open and your child should continue to attend if they remain well.

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared.
Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.

Further information is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-
guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home.
If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.
Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.
If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

a new continuous cough
a high temperature
a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/.

If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at
https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.

How to stop COVID-19 spreading

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19

Do

wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
wash your hands as soon as you get home
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you
cough or sneeze
put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Further Information

Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

I would like to remind everyone, that the guidance is clear that if anyone displays symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, then they and their household must complete the appropriate self-isolation period until the person with symptoms receives a negative test result.

You must not send your child to school if anyone they live with is displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

You must not send your child to school if they are displaying symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild.

If you child develops symptoms of COVID-19 in school then you will be contacted to collect your child
immediately.
Yours sincerely

Amy Findlay
Head of School

Be Empowered Workshop – Early Support Programme for SEND Parent Carers

Thu 26 Nov 2020 Kate Thompson

Every Wednesday evening from 6pm-9pm for 6 weekly sessions Starting Wed 6th Jan 2021, and then continues on Wed 13th Jan, Wed 20th Jan, Wed 27th Jan, Wed 3rd Feb and finishes on Wed 10th Feb 2021

We warmly invite you to join in a series of evening online workshops that have been written and led by trainers who are parent/carers of a child with additional needs themselves.

These workshops are for parent/carers of children and young people of any age, with any additional need, following diagnosis. They are an attempt to support parent/carers through times of change and at whatever stage of the journey participants may find themselves. If you are interested in accessing these evening workshops online, you will need to have a laptop/computer/smartphone with a camera.

Please note, due to increased demand we may not always be able to offer places automatically. If you are placed on a waiting list, you will be offered a space on a future set of workshops this academic year.

Please apply by completing and signing the attached booking form and consent to either

Sarah Adams (Early Years Inclusion Support) Sarah.Adams@birmingham.gov.uk Tel: 07827 082751

or,

Oenca Fontaine (Parent Engagement Consultant) Oenca.Fontaine@birmingham.gov.uk

Deadline for receiving bookings is Friday 11th December 2020!

https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/cherry-oak-school/UploadedDocument/ada4ec1fbc924178af42e05e829a4ccd/online-evening-bew-booking-form-jan-feb-2021.docx

Anti-Bullying Week

Mon 16 Nov 2020 Claire Kings

The theme for Anti-Bullying Week 2020 is:

United Against Bullying.

Anti-Bullying Week will happen from Monday 16th - Friday 20th November and will start with Odd Socks Day to mark the first day of Anti-Bullying Week.

We take bullying extremely seriously in school. We are always working with the children at school to ensure they understand what bullying is, and what to do if they or any of their friends feel they are being bullied.

Here is a PowerPoint we will be using during the week with children to help their understanding of bullying and what they should do, who they should speak to if they are worried.

Anti Bullying Presentation - Click Here

If you are ever worried about your child or you feel you need to discuss any matter regarding bullying, please contact the school immediately so we can address the matter and support you and your child.

Here is a link to the Anti-Bullying Alliance website for more information and resources available.

https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/

We Will Remember Them

Wed 11 Nov 2020 P.Serge

This year in Creative Arts and Design Technology we have led a community arts project that takes our school art out into the community without compromising any Covid-19 restrictions. The staff and pupils have totally embraced the making process, using recycling and upcycling where possible.

Our families have also embraced this and made beautiful poppies, and shared stories of loss through military action and frontline service.

We took our moment, as a school community, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th Month and marked this with pupils and staff who wished to stop and remember.

Members of our local community were welcome to stand on the "public side of our school" and share this in the best way possible for a community fragmented by unprecedented times. Local PCSO's joined us, as parents, local residents and staff and pupils from St Mary's and University School were also invited to join us whilst adhering to national restrictions and social distancing. The local community in and out of school have enjoyed our display, and stories have been shared by the passing public.

Well done Cherry Oak for pulling together "We will remember them ....."

Advice To All Parents. Notification Of A Single Case Of COVID-19

Tue 22 Sep 2020 Amy Findlay Head of School

Dear Parents,

We have been advised by Public Health England that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the school.

We know that you may find this concerning but are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

The small number of children who have been in direct prolonged contact with the confirmed case will have received an individual letter and will be staying at home for 14 days.

The school remains open and your child should continue to attend if they remain well.

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home.

If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.

Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community

If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

a new continuous cough
a high temperature
a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.

How to stop COVID-19 spreading

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19

Do

wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
wash your hands as soon as you get home
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Further Information

Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Yours sincerely

Amy Findlay

Head of School

Letter To Parents From Dr Justin Varney Director Of Public Health Birmingham

Tue 22 Sep 2020 Dr Justin Varney

Dear parent/carer,
It’s been wonderful to see children back at school, learning and seeing their friends again. I know the past few months have been hard on all of us and I’d like to thank you for your continued support.
You will have seen some changes to the way your school operates so I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of why these are vital to the safe running of school; please remember that although many aspects of society have opened up again, although in a different way, the virus has not gone away.
While changes will vary from school to school, depending on such things as building layout and number of pupils, the differences you will notice could include:

− Staggered drop-off and collection at the start and end of the day to minimise the number of people at the school entrance.
− Children will be in ‘bubbles’ to reduce contact as much as possible, but allow them to learn and play with friends.
− If a child or staff member within a bubble shows symptoms or is infected then the bubble may need to isolate, but the school will communicate with parents if this happens.
− Asking children to wash their hands even more than usual, use hand sanitisers and follow any one-way systems while staying apart as much as possible.

I know some of these changes may be hard to get used to, and they may be frustrating, but they are entirely in order to keep all children, staff and parents safe.
I would therefore ask for your continued patience and consideration as we all do our best to help each other get through this difficult and unusual time. School staff have been working so hard to ensure schools are a safe environment for learning and playing, so please do what you can to support them and each other and we will get through this.
Please also keep in mind that it is important that we all play our part in not going for a test unless we have one of the three covid symptoms, a temperature, new continuous cough or loss of sense of taste or small, or if we are asked to by the NHS
or public health teams.

If you have any questions or concerns, please speak direct to your school – they are here to help.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Justin Varney
Director of Public Health

Birmingham City Council
10 Woodcock Street
Birmingham
B7 4BL

Update On Coronavirus Procedures At Cherry Oak School

Mon 14 Sep 2020 Amy Findlay - Head Of School

You will be aware that the rate of Coronavirus infection is increasing in Birmingham and as a result, tighter restrictions are coming into force.

What does this mean for your child?

Cherry Oak School remains open for all pupils.

As all pupils are below year 7, no pupils will wear a face covering in school. Staff will wear face coverings when moving around school, for example in corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained. They will continue to wear PPE when working directly with children, for example with personal care tasks.

If your child has a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a change to their senses of taste or smell, DO NOT SEND THEM TO SCHOOL.

Stay at home and ring 119 or go to www.nhs.uk/coronavirus to arrange a test. They must isolate for 10 days or until their test result comes back negative. Other household members must isolate for 14 days. Please refer to the table of guidance of different scenarios.

If your household is isolating, you cannot come out to drive your child to school.

If your child develops symptoms at school, they will be kept in isolation and you need to collect them immediately and arrange for them to have a Coronavirus test.

Please assist us to stop the spread of the virus by limiting to one, the number of adults accompanying a child to school. Please maintain social distancing from other parents, staff and children when you are dropping off / picking up your child. All school visits are strictly by appointment.

Remember that frequent, rigorous handwashing for at least 20 seconds with soap and water is the best way to control the virus.

REMEMBER:

HANDS - wash your hands

FACE - cover your face

SPACE - leave enough space between yourself and others

Covid-19 Pupil Absence Guide A Quick Reference For Parents & Staff