Coronavirus Latest Update
Covid-19 (Coronavirus)
Daily Update 19th March 2020 (18.30 p.m.)
1. Status Report, and tomorrow (Friday)
Today, student attendance was 60%, only a little down on yesterday. Staff absence was very similar to yesterday, so (bucking the trend for most local schools) we were able to run very nearly a full timetable. If staffing levels are the same tomorrow, we should be open to all year groups. If this changes and we need to part-close to one year group, you will be advised by our messaging service and the website by 7.30 tomorrow morning.
- My child’s cough has gone; can I send him in ?
Please don’t. If you have kept your child away from school with symptoms (raised temperature, persistent cough), you should be self-isolating for 14 days. Symptoms can be very mild, even barely noticeable, and over within a day or two; without testing, it’s impossible to say if it was covid-19 or not, and the medical advice is to be very cautious. If your child has been ill with no covid-19 symptoms, eg headaches, nausea or sickness, stomach problems and is now well, then they can come in. (This will apply to the special provision next week, as well).
3. Provision for “Keyworkers” and vulnerable students.
We could not wait any longer for guidance on who are deemed “key workers” , so have had to guess, and have contacted you via our messaging service. We are asking for potential key workers and parents/carers of vulnerable students to identify whether they would like to take the advantage of the provision to “look after” students in College next week and the Easter Holiday. Please can you reply urgently ? We need to know approximate numbers in order to deploy staffing and work out a programme of activities, and this starts on Monday !
4. School Transport
School transport routes will run normally next week, so vulnerable students and children of key workers can get to schools. This advice replaces the previous advice that school transport would not run. It has not been specifically confirmed, but I assume that the timings would be as normal as well.
5. Public Examinations
We have been told that further guidance and clarification will be issued tomorrow (Friday, 20th March). I have tried to keep personal opinions out of these updates, but I am so angry that this was not clarified in the first place. The distress caused to huge numbers of students across the country since yesterday’s announcement (witnessed to some extent in College this morning) is unacceptable.
6. Students in Receipt of Free School Meals
There has been some guidance (for schools). The link is
Because of our largely rural catchment area, the voucher scheme is most appropriate for us, but again we await further information.
- Friday 20th March is a non-uniform day
It has been a difficult week or two for students. Therefore, as a gesture towards some fun, I have granted a “student voice” request to make tomorrow a non-uniform day (it would have been next Friday). Minimum contributions of 50p please, for Childrens’ Hospice SW.
LINKS AND FURTHER INFORMATION
The following link is the government’s advice to schools, last updated on 16th March.
Guidance to Educational Settings About Covid-19
The next link is to Devon County Council News Centre: Health and Wellbeing (Coronovirus advice) page:
Devon CC News Centre – Health & Wellbeing – Coronovirus advice
The next link is to a Babcock (Devon) webpage for parents with children with SEND.
https://www.babcockldp.co.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-support-for-schools-parents-and-pupils
Department for Education Coronavirus helpline:
Phone: 0800 046 8687 Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)
Should you have any specific queries regarding Covid-19 and Clyst Vale, please call the main switchboard on 01392-461407 and ask for Mrs Ann Hopkins (College Manager).
Thank you for your continuing support and understanding. It has been a difficult time.
Kevin Bawn, Principal