Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Information for Parents regarding COVID19 Contact Tracing over the Christmas Holiday perio

  Tue 15 Dec 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  I am writing to clarify the expectations around reporting cases of COVID19 and undertaking contact tracing over the Christmas holiday period.

   

  As you know schools have played a vital role in reducing the spread of COVID19 over the last 9 months. One way in which they have done this is by undertaking contact tracing on behalf of the Essex Contact Tracing team. They identify any individuals who have been in close contact at school with someone who has tested positive for COVID19, during the time that is considered the contagious period. This is from 2 days before the person’s symptoms are displayed. Those individuals are then required to self-isolate for 10 days because they are at risk of having contracted COVID19 and being contagious themselves.

   

  This contact tracing will not be taking place in the usual way during the Christmas break when schools are closed and there is less chance of school-based contacts existing.

  Please follow the guidance below if your child begins to show symptoms of COVID19 during the Christmas break.

  If your child develops symptoms of COVID19 within 48 hours of being in school

  You must seek a test for your child and the household must isolate at home until the test result is returned. You should let the school know that this has occurred.

  The quickest way to obtain a test is to book a test at your local testing centre via https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. Please do not use postal tests unless absolutely necessary as these take longer.

  If the test result is positive for COVID19, you must inform the school, who will identify if there are any other individuals within the school community who are impacted by this.

  If the test result is negative, you should inform the school and you do not need to take any further action.

   

  *Please note new email address.

  You should contact the school on covidinfo@milwards.essex.sch.uk 

   

  Emails will be checked between the hours of 10-11am and 3.30-4.30pm

  You must provide the following:

  • Name
  • date of symptoms starting
  • date test result received
  • Please provide evidence of this result.

   

  If your child develops symptoms of COVID19 more than 48 hours after their last day in school

  You must seek a test for your child and the household must isolate at home until the test result is returned.

   

  If the test result is positive for COVID-19, having developed symptoms more than 48 hours since being in school, (Monday 21^st December onwards) you must contact NHS Test and Trace and follow the advice given by them:

  www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/

   

  You should contact the school if your child will be absent, in time for the first day of the new term.

   

  If your child has no symptoms of COVID19 but tests positive within 48 hours of being in school

  It is important to follow the guidance around accessing a test only when the individual is showing signs of COVID19. However, if your child is asymptomatic and returns a positive test result within 48 hours of last being in school, please let the school know straight away.

  *Please note new email address

  You should contact the school on covidinfo@milwards.essex.sch.uk 

   

  Emails will be checked between the hours of 10:00 -11:00am and 3:30 - 4:30pm

  You must provide the following:

  • Name
  • date of symptoms starting
  • date test result received
  • Please provide evidence of this result.

  If you are contacted by the school because your child is identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID19, they must self-isolate for 10 days.

  I would encourage you to adhere to social distancing and all COVID19 social mixing guidance for the remainder of term to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus as the last thing we want is anyone being unwell or required to self-isolate over the holiday period.

   

  Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing support.

   

  Yours sincerely

  Linda Chesworth

  Head Teacher

• Parent letter

  Tue 15 Dec 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  New Term  - Change of Start Date Arrangements

   

  Monday 4^th January 2021 - A Remote Learning Day at Home

   

  I am writing to advise you that on Monday 4^th January the children should remain at home for a

  remote learning day. Teachers will provide work for the children to do at home on this day.

   

  Children will return to school as normal on Tuesday 5^th January 2021.

  The reason for this is to give the senior leadership team in the school the chance to review the COVID situation in terms of staffing and pupils at the beginning of term and to make plans for the school. The remote learning day is suggested by the Local Authority and supported by the Governing Body.

   

  COVID 19 Contact Tracing During the Christmas Holiday Period and

  New School COVID Email Address

   

  The DfE has asked schools to continue their role in COVID 19 Contact

  Tracing during the holiday up to 24^th December.

   

  Please see the attached letter with details. This is based on a model letter from the Local Authority.

  We have set up a new email address purely for COVID notifications.

   

  With immediate effect, please notify the school about all things COVID-symptoms/test results/isolations via this new email address below. Do not use the admin or welfare email addresses.

  Thank you.

   

  covidinfo@milwards.essex.sch.uk

   

   

  With best wishes,

   

  Linda Chesworth

  Head Teacher

• Poppy Day

  Tue 17 Nov 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  I am delighted to tell you that our school community raised £1,345 for the British Legion. This is excellent news! Thank you and well done to everyone who joined in with our fundraising. This is excellent news!

   

  Linda Chesworth

  Headteacher

• COVID checklist

  Thu 17 Sep 2020

   

  Covid-19 Related Pupil Absence

   

  A quick reference guide for parents and staff (September 2020)

  What to do if…	Action Needed	Return to school when…
  …my child has Covid-19 symptoms: A high temperature (even if it goes down quickly) A new continuous cough Loss or change to taste or smell	- Do not come to school - Contact school to inform us - Self-isolate the whole household  - Get a test  - Inform the school immediately about the test result	…the test comes back negative or a period of 10 days has passed since the symptoms started, and the child feels well.
  …my child tests positive for Covid-19.	- Do not come to school. - Contact school to inform us. - Agree an earliest date for possible return (minimum of 10 days). - Self-isolate the whole household.	…10 days have passed since symptoms began, even if they still have a cough or loss of taste/smell. (These symptoms can last for several weeks.) AND the child feels well.
  …my child tests negative.	- Contact school to inform us. - Discuss when your child can come back (e.g. same day/next day).	…the test comes back negative.
  …my child is ill with symptoms not linked to Covid-19.	- Do not come to school. - Contact school to inform us. - Ring on each day of illness.	…after 48 hours following the last bout of sickness or diarrhoea (as per attendance policy)
  …someone in my household has Covid-19 symptoms.	- Do not come to school. - Contact school to inform us. - Self-isolate the whole household.  - Household member to get a test.  - Inform school immediately about test result.	…the test comes back negative.
  …someone in my household tests positive for Covid-19.	- Do not come to school. - Contact school to inform us. - Agree an earliest date for possible return (minimum of 14 days). - Self-isolate the whole household.	…the child has completed 14 days of isolation.
  …NHS test and trace has identified my child as a close contact of somebody with symptoms or confirmed Covid-19.	- Do not come to school. - Contact school to inform us. - Agree an earliest date for possible return (minimum of 14 days).	…the child has completed 14 days of isolation.
  …NHS test and trace has identified a household member (other than my child) as a close contact of somebody with symptoms or confirmed Covid-19.	- The household member must self-isolate for 14 days. - Child can continue to attend school.	…child can continue to attend school
  … a sibling attending another school has been sent home to self-isolate due to their being a positive case in their school.	- Sibling must self-isolate for 14 days. - milwards child(ren) can continue to attend.	…child can continue to attend school
  … my child has travelled abroad from a country or territory that is NOT on the exempt list of countries.	If returning from a destination where quarantine is needed*: -  minimum of 14 days self-isolation for all those who travelled. - contact school to inform us you are back in the country and we will agree an earliest date for possible return to school.  - Self-isolate the whole household.   *Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) – for up to date travel information	…the quarantine period of 14 days has been completed.
  … my child has travelled abroad from a country or territory that IS on the exempt list of countries.	If returning from a destination where quarantine is NOT needed: - Check the current Exempt countries and territories list to confirm the country you have travelled from or through is on the exempt list. - Ring school to inform us you have returned to the UK and agree a return date to school.	… you have informed the office of your return to the UK (the office will ask you a few questions about your travel).
  …I have travelled from a country that requires us to quarantine (but my child didn’t travel).	- As long as you do not have / have not had symptoms in the last 14 days, your child can continue to attend school. - The person who has travelled MUST NOT leave the house, including to do pick-ups and drop offs.	…child can continue to attend school
  …we have received medical advice that my child must resume shielding.	- Do not come to school. - Contact school to inform us. - Shield until you are informed that restrictions are lifted and shielding is paused again.	…school inform you that restrictions have been lifted and your child can return to school again. …you receive medical advice that your child may return to school.
  …my child’s bubble is closed due to a Covid-19 outbreak in school.	- Child must not come to school. - Support your child at home with remote education provided by your school. - Your child will need to self-isolate for 14 days. - Other siblings may continue to attend school.	…school inform you when the bubble will be reopened.
  … I am unable to get a test for someone in the household who has symptoms	If you are not able to get a test in the first 5 days of having symptoms, your child and anyone they live with must stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days. Anyone in your support bubble must also stay at home.	…the child has completed 14 days of isolation.

   

• Safeguarding

  Thu 10 Sep 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Safeguarding

   

  I wanted to make contact with you in light of the recent concerns online that you may have seen on social media. Please look under the Key Information/Safeguarding tabs on our website for further information. We suggest you don't discuss the content of this with your children.

    

  Please remember that it is really important to monitor your child’s online use. If we become aware that your child has seen any distressing content online which has affected them, we will inform you immediately and offer support in school. If you become aware of anything at home - please share this information with us so that we can support your child.

   

  Useful Websites

  • ​CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection)
  • Childnet 
  • Internet Matters​
  • Net Aware 
  • NSPCC​
  • Parent Info​ 
  • Safer Internet  ​

  Best wishes,

   

  Linda Chesworth

  Headteacher

• Covid19 - trip advice

  Sun 15 Mar 2020
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/covid-19-travel-guidance-for-the-education-sector

• Covid19 - guidance

  Sun 15 Mar 2020
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

• Covid 19: guidance for educational settings

  Sun 15 Mar 2020
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

• https://www.yourharlow.com/2020/03/12/milwards-year-3-pupils-showcase-their-work-at-the-gibberd-gallery/

  Thu 12 Mar 2020

• Parenthub

  Wed 22 Aug 2018 K.Barrow

  Please sign up to parenthub our communications app.

  The introduction can be found in letters.