Please check this page frequently for the latest news about COVID-19 coronavirus and the impact on schools.
September 2021
Please see below letter which includes important information about changes to Covid guidance in Schools
Changes to Covid-19 guidance for parents and carers letter
September 2021 Coronavirus Risk Assessment
Find out what you and others in your household must do, how to get a test and more about self-isolation, at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
St Joseph’s is following current government advice in all matters relating to COVID-19.
School is now mandatory for all pupils so all children must attend every day. Non-attendance may lead to a referral to Islington Education Welfare who have the authority to issue Education Penalty Notice fines (EPNs).
If there is any reason why your children cannot attend school, please telephone the school by 8.55am on every day of absence. This is a very important safeguarding measure so that we know the whereabouts and welfare of all children. If you are unable to contact the school by telephone, you may email office@st-josephs.islington.sch.uk with absence information.
If the school is not able to establish a reason for absence, staff may carry out home visits and may also seek the advice of Islington’s ‘Children Missing in Education’ service.
For any communication that must be sent via email, please send general enquiries/information to office@st-josephs.islington.sch.uk
If you have a specific concern about your own child, please contact the school office to arrange an appointment with the appropriate member of staff. Please note that this appointment may be conducted by telephone call.
Government remote education guidance:
The government’s ‘Remote education good practice’ guidance (link below) has been used by St Joseph’s Primary School for the curriculum and delivery of remote education . The guidance offers non-statutory suggestions which we have considered in relation to the context of our school.
Since 23rd March 2020 we have developed our remote education offer and systems and our Remote Learning Guide can be accessed following the below link.
Remote Learning Guide for Parents January 2021
The government has asked all schools to plan for any disruption to schooling during the 2020-2021 academic year and we will continue to develop our remote education offer and systems using our school self-evaluation monitoring activities which also include gathering feedback from children and their parents.
In order to enable effective capacity for the remote education expectations set by the government during an individual’s isolation, class isolation, group isolation or local lockdown the school follows the government’s ‘Guidance for full opening’ (link below).
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak
Interactive Platforms:
Nursery, Reception and Year 1 children access their remote education via the Tapestry management information system (link below).
Parent Guide to Remote Learning Year 1
Children in Years 2-6 access their remote education via the Seesaw management information system (link below).
Wednesday 10th February 2021
Please see the link for this half-term’s Wednesday Word Booklet below.
Please note, due to extra weeks/pages contained in the Half Term Booklet, we have included a page turn facility on the link below to improve users’ experience (rather than a static pdf).
https://www.paperturn-view.com/uk/wednesday-word/holiday?pid=MTA101634&v=18.9
Please see the link for this week’s Wednesday Word below.
https://www.paperturn-view.com/uk/wednesday-word/prayer?pid=MTA101634&v=17.8
Wednesday 27th January 2021
Please see the link for this week’s Wednesday Word below.
https://www.paperturn-view.com/uk/wednesday-word/teacher?pid=MTA101634&v=16.7
Websites used to supplement learning:
Chromebooks for children who cannot attend school due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
For the 2020 to 2021 academic year, Department for Education (DfE) has provided Chromebooks to St Joseph’s to help children and families in need to access remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19). Devices have been made available for disadvantaged children in certain year groups who:
- are affected by disruption to face-to-face education at their school
- have been advised to shield because they are clinically extremely vulnerable
Get internet access for disadvantaged children
In addition, the DfE is working in partnership with mobile network operators to help schools support disadvantaged pupils in years 3 to 11 who rely on a mobile internet connection when their face-to-face education is disrupted by coronavirus (COVID-19).
Disadvantaged families may be able to benefit from free increases to their mobile data if they’re a customer of either:
- EE
- O2
- Sky Mobile
- SMARTY
- Tesco Mobile
- Three
- Virgin Mobile
- Vodafone
The amount of data available to families will vary by provider. Data will be increased until the end of July 2021.
If you require support on either the above, please email the school office@st-josephs.islington.sch.uk
Children Returning to Primary School – Health Information for Parents and Carers
Symptoms of coronavirus in children
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot, for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – this means they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
What to do if your child has symptoms
If your child has any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:
- Get a test to check if they have coronavirus as soon as possible.
- You, your child and anyone else you live with should stay at home and not have visitors until you get the test result – only leave your home to have the test.
Anyone in your support bubble should also stay at home if your child has been in close contact with them since their symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started.
What is a support bubble?
Important
Get advice from NHS 111 if you’re worried about your child or not sure what to do.
- For children aged 5 or over – use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service.
- For children under 5 – call 111.
What to do if your child seems very unwell
Children and babies will still get illnesses that can make them very unwell quickly. It’s important to get medical help if you need it.
Urgent advice:Call 111 or your GP surgery if your child:
- is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C or higher, or you think they have a fever
- is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39C or higher, or you think they have a fever
- has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature (fever)
- has a high temperature that’s lasted for 5 days or more
- does not want to eat, or is not their usual self and you’re worried
- has a high temperature that does not come down with paracetamol
- is dehydrated – for example, nappies are not very wet, sunken eyes, and no tears when they’re crying
Immediate action required:Call 999 if your child:
- has a stiff neck
- has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it (use the “glass test” from Meningitis Now)
- is bothered by light
- has a seizure or fit for the first time (they cannot stop shaking)
- has unusually cold hands and feet
- has pale, blotchy, blue or grey skin
- has a weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their usual cry
- is drowsy and hard to wake
- is extremely agitated (does not stop crying) or is confused
- finds it hard to breathe and sucks their stomach in under their ribs
- has a soft spot on their head that curves outwards
- is not responding like they usually do, or not interested in feeding or usual activities