Preparation for possible school closures

No schools have been directed to close at this point, however, Martlesham Primary Academy has taken guidance and advice on what needs to prepared and carried out in the case of mandatory school closures issued by the government. We are preparing to ensure all pupils still receive daily learning activities as well as resources they may need to record their learning. We are also looking at ways that families can stay in touch with the school and how we can continue to offer early help and services remotely.

If you do not have internet access at home, please let the school office know as soon as possible.

Cleaning Procedures

We would like to reassure you that cleaning of the school is being prioritised with extra care given to high contact surfaces such as door handles and light switches.

We are asking all visitors to wash their hands upon entering and exiting the reception area, even if only visiting for a short time.

Self-Isolation

To support the delay of the spread of the virus, the DfE has asked anyone who shows certain symptoms should stay at home for 7 days, regardless of whether they have travelled to affected areas. This means people should stay at home and avoid all but essential contact with others for 7 days from the point of displaying mild symptoms. The symptoms are:

• A high temperature
• A new, continuous cough

The main messages are:

• The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough and/or high temperature. If you have these symptoms, however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. A normal temperature in babies and children is about 36.4C, but this can vary slightly from child to child. A fever is a high temperature of 38C or more. (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/)
• if you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 daysfrom when your symptoms started. (See ending isolation section for more information)
• if you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
• it is likely that people living within a household will infect each other or be infected already. Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.
• for anyone in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14-day isolation period. (See ending isolationsection for more information.
• if you can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.
• if you cannot move vulnerable people out of your home, stay away from them as much as possible.
• if you have coronavirus symptoms:
  • do notgo to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
  • you do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home
  • testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home

• plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home and consider what can be done for vulnerable people in the household
• ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home
• wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water, or use hand sanitiser
• if you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999

If you have made the decision for your child to self-isolate, please inform the school office that this is the reason they are not at school. This should be through the usual procedures of contacting the school office by 9am. Your child will not be able to return to school for 7 days, even if they feel better and no longer display the symptoms.