Teacher Bulletin: a roundup of the latest coronavirus advice and guidance

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Teacher Bulletin

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Welcome back

Last week was an exciting week for pupils, parents and school staff as children and young people returned to schools and colleges and were reunited with friends and colleagues. We hope you enjoyed welcoming pupils back.

 

Children cheering outside standing underneath balloons and a sign reading 'welcome back'

 

Resources to support rapid testing in schools and colleges

Tailored information and guidance to support rapid testing in schools and colleges is available on the document sharing platforms for primary schools and secondary schools and colleges.

As pupils start to test at home we have step-by-step information to support the transition to home testing step-by-step guide to COVID-19 self-testing on YouTube. Additionally, translated guidance on how to self-test is also available. Please do include the link to translated guidance in any communications you share.

We have also regular blogs which provide further information on reducing risk in schools and colleges, including testing for staff, students and families.

 


 

Regular testing of staff and pupils in schools and colleges over the Easter holiday

It is important for staff and students to keep testing through the Easter holidays to manage the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), as part of a regular habit of testing at home every 3-4 days (twice a week). NHS Test and Trace will be supplying sufficient test kits to schools and colleges to enable this to happen. 

A letter template has been added onto the secondary schools and colleges document sharing platform to support communications to parents and carers.  

 


 

Testing for parents and households of staff and pupils

Parents and other adults in households with children or staff at nursery, who do not have symptoms, can now also access regular, rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing. This includes childcare and support bubbles. 
 
There aredifferent ways for a household, childcare or support bubble to collect or order their test to take at home, twice-weekly. 
 
Please share this information with your households and parent networks to help answer any questions they may have. Nurseries, schools and colleges should not give test kits to parents, carers or household members and should not order more test kits for this purpose. Secondary school and college students will continue to access testing through their school or college. 
 
Children of primary school age (and below) are not being asked to take regular rapid tests. 
 
Testing is voluntary, but strongly recommended to all who are eligible. Alongside the vaccine, washing hands, wearing face coverings, and maintaining social distancing, rapid testing plays a vital role in reducing transmission rates. Getting into the habit of regular testing as part of our everyday lives will help us all to play our part and do what we can to protect each other. 

 

     

Support available for schools:

Other opportunities:

  • Free period products for learners

    All schools and colleges can order a range of free period products for learners. Log on to the phs portal to order products and find practical support and guidance on the scheme on gov.uk. If you have any questions, contact phs customer services on 01827 255500 or periodproducts@phs.co.uk.

  • New opportunities to live and work abroad

    The Turing Scheme, the new global programme to study and work abroad, will open to applications this month to fund projects from September 2021. The scheme provides funding for administrative costs for pupils and accompanying staff on a placement, as well as additional financial support for participants from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Find out more about the scheme visit the website and sign up to the scheme’s mailing list for updates.

  • Apply to join a Behaviour Hub 

    Behaviour Hubs are a fully funded programme that will be launched in the summer term supporting schools with an Ofsted ‘Requires Improvement’ judgement to improve behaviour in their setting by equipping heads and senior leaders with the tools to re-set and establish effective behaviour routines and systems. Apply by 22 March 2021 to be part of the first cohort of partner schools who will have access to training from DfE behaviour advisers, will be matched to exemplary schools and MATs for bespoke coaching and advice and will form hubs to learn from each other. For more information visit GOV.UK or email the Behaviour Hubs team.

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