Arrangements for the start of term (January 2021)

(All information correct as of 4.1.21 1pm)

4^th January 2021

Dear parents and carers,

Re: our approach to the staggered return to school

I hope that this letter finds you and your family well and that despite the restrictions in place and a number of our students, staff and families self-isolating or testing positive for the virus, you were able to enjoy the Christmas break.

The Secretary of State for Education announced to both schools and the general public last week a number of changes for the new term as a result of a high infection rate among secondary age students and in response to increased rates of transmission nationally. Tower Hamlets was announced as one of the Covid-19 contingency areas of the UK and as a consequence the government has implemented a staggered return for students at the start of term (see link).

On the week commencing 4^th January:

• From Wednesday 6^th January, vulnerable pupils and the children of critical workers will attend school in person. Should you wish your child to access this provision, you are requested to complete this online form. (Please note that there is a reminder of who counts as vulnerable or a critical worker attached to the end of this letter).
• From Wednesday 6^th January, we will offer full-time remote education to all other students during this week. This will be as close as possible to the education they would receive if they were in school. Students will be able to access this through their Google Classroom accounts. Full details are on the school website – https://www.stepneyallsaints.school/for-students/google-classroom/
• At the moment vocational exams are scheduled to go ahead as planned. These students should attend exams as normal and report to the designated room(s) on arrival.
• On Tuesday 5^th January teachers will be contacting targeted students as part of our Academic Review Day

On the week commencing 11^th January:

• Students in Years 11 and 13, vulnerable pupils and the children of critical workers will attend school in person

On the week commencing 18^th January:

• All students will return to school for face-to-face education.

Please note that the current contingency areas will be reviewed by the government on Monday 18^th January and as a result details may change. We will keep you fully informed whenever we have any government updates.

The staggered return to school is to give us time to establish a COVID-19 testing system within the school. Here is what we know so far about the rapid testing programme recently announced by the government:

• Students who are identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive will be eligible
• All staff will be eligible
• While testing will be optional, we will strongly encourage staff and students to take part
• We will not ask your child to participate in testing without your consent. Further details will follow this week.
• Those students returning to school first will be offered testing first
• If someone tests negative, they will still need to follow our social distancing and hygiene measures
• If someone tests positive, we will ask them to self-isolate in line with government guidance

As soon as the government publishes more information on the testing programme, we will let you know by via the school website.

Thank you so much for your continued support as we respond to this evolving situation and we look forward to welcoming your child back to school in line with the dates above.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Woods

Headteacher

A reminder of the definitions of ‘critical workers’ and ‘vulnerable pupils’

Critical workers are those who work in:

• Health and social care
• Education and childcare
• Key public services (including the justice system, religious staff, charities delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting)
• Local and national government (those who are involved in delivering the coronavirus response or essential public services)
• Food and other necessary goods
• Public safety and national security
• Transport
• Utilities, communication and financial services

Vulnerable pupils are those who:

• Are assessed as being in need, including those with a child in need plan or child protection plan
• Are looked after by the local authority
• Have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• Have been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by the school or LA, including children who:
  • Are on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services
  • Are adopted
  • Are at risk of becoming NEET (‘not in employment, education or training’)
  • Are living in temporary accommodation
  • Are young carers
  • May have difficulty engaging with remote education at home (for example due to a lack of devices or quiet space to study)

If you are not sure if you or your child fall under these definitions, please contact the school on info@stepneyallsaints.school.

Vulnerable pupils and the children of critical workers who wish to attend school should arrive in full school uniform at 8.40am on Wednesday 6th January through the main school entrance. They will follow the same curriculum and timetable as usual, as will students learning from home.