Dear Parents and Carers,

With the rapidly changing advice by the Prime Minister on 16/03/20 regarding Coronavirus, please read my latest instalment.

We continue to follow all the appropriate guidelines from Public Health England and the guidance issued by the Department of Education with regard to how educational settings should handle the current situation. 

On the 16/03/2020 the advice changed again and any self- isolation should now follow for a period of 14 days. This is true for all family members.

We will still send any adults or children home if they exhibit either of the following- a new, dry and persistent cough and/or a high temperature/fever. This will obviously affect children, parents and staff and therefore could impact on the day-to-day running of the school.

If or when we find ourselves in this situation, may I remind you that the following actions may be taken:

• Putting classes together with shared staff

• Dividing classes between teachers
• Closing down classes

All decisions we make will be for the safeguarding of your children.

We have now made the decision to place the school into a “mini lockdown” until further notice.

This means that only long standing staff and children will be allowed into the school buildings.

All outside stakeholders/agencies including-

• parents
• sports coaches
• music teachers
• workshops
• visitors
• trips
• courses for staff
• after school clubs
• assemblies

will either not be allowed past the school office or cancelled until further notice.

In this way I am attempting to limit social contact and restrict school activities to only necessary

work but also allow us to keep a routine in place- as much as is possible in these ever changing days.

As I said in yesterday’s letter, it is really important to keep up the routine for the children and we will endeavour to do everything in our power to keep all our children happy, healthy and safe.

A reminder to check the school website and school APP regularly for emergency updates and to inform us of any change in your contact details- enquiry@forestdale.bham.sch.uk

Again, thank you for your continued support in these unprecedented times. Please do not hesitate to contact me via telephone or email if you have any queries. I have kept the contact details at the end of the letter for your information.

Please look after yourselves too,

Best wishes

R James

Head teacher

Useful contacts-

Department for Education-

DfE coronavirus helpline for parents relating to education: 

0800 046 8687  (Monday -Friday 8am to 6pm)

Email: dfe.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk

Public Health England-

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england

NHS symptom checker- click and follow the links-

https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19