Coronavirus Update Page
Changes to contact tracing in schools- July 2021
Letter from Blackburn with Darwen Council regarding new Covid-19 variant and reminder of responsibilities
Covid reminders
Remember your child must stay at home if:
- they have one or more coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms;
- a member of their household (including someone in their support bubble or childcare bubble if they have one) has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms;
- they are required to quarantine having recently visited countries outside the Common Travel Area;
- they have had a positive test in the last 10 days;
- They have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or their public health protection team.
Travel abroad
The current government guidance regarding travel abroad is:
People are only allowed to travel abroad if they are legally permitted to do so .
You can only travel internationally where you have a legally permitted reason to do so, such as work.
Some jobs qualify for exemptions for certain travel related requirements, such as self - isolation and testing. See guidance on which jobs qualify for travel exemptions.
You may not travel abroad to go on holiday.
If you do need to travel overseas (and are legally permitted to do so), you may be required to complete a mandatory outbound ‘Declaration to Travel’ form. You must state your reasons for travel on the form before leaving the UK.
In addition, you should consider the public health advice in the country you are visiting. You should look at the rules in place at your destination and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice. You should do this even if you are returning to a place you’ve visited before.
On return to the UK
If you’re travelling to England you must either quarantine in the place you’re staying or in a managed quarantine hotel for 10 days because of coronavirus (COVID-19). What you need to do depends on where you travel in the 10 days before you arrive in England.
You must also get 2 coronavirus tests after you arrive in England. You’ll need to book these before you travel.
​February half term
Please see the most recent advice regarding staying safe during February half term:
https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2021/02/09/staying-safe-over-february-half-term/
COVID Tests for staff at Ashworth Nursery School
On Monday 25th January the Department for Education introduced asymptomatic testing for all staff working in schools. Today (5th February) we are pleased to say we received the tests for staff in our school. The tests are carried out twice weekly so that members of staff who may be carrying the virus, can be identified and asked to isolate in order to control the spread of the virus. Staff at our school will be asked to test every Sunday and Wednesday. Any staff who test positive will be required to self-isolate. This would mean that the Bubble which your child is part of, would also close for a ten-day period or until we get a negative result from a PCR test. As always if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch (01254 263312).
BwD advice on Covid
Why can early years settings like nurseries open and not schools – what is the difference?
Early years settings remain low risk environments for children and staff and there is no evidence that the new variant of coronavirus disproportionately affects young children.
0-5 year olds continue to have the lowest rates of coronavirus of all age groups. Evidence shows that pre-school children are less susceptible to infection and are not playing a driving role in transmission.
The reason schools have partially closed is not because they are unsafe but because additional measures are needed to contain the spread of the virus in the community. Doing that enables nurseries and childminders to stay open, support parents and deliver the crucial care and education needed for our youngest children.
For further information please click on the link below to the Government website:
Keeping children safe during lockdown and beyond
Letter to Parents from Public Health England
Let's Keep Talking - Mental Health Support
What Isolation means - Letter from the Local Authority
What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges in the autumn term
Covid - 19 - Absence - A quick guide for parents/careres
Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Useful links for parents whilst learning from home
Hungry Little Minds campaign features tips and practical activities that parents can do at home with children to support their early learning. There are many simple ways to help children learn and it does not have to be formal. Having everyday conversations, make-believe play and reading together all make a big difference to children’s development.
The BBC’s Tiny Happy People and the National Literacy Trust’s Family Zone offer more ideas and content.
The Department for Education (DfE) has published further guidance on how to Help children aged 2 to 4 to learn at home during coronavirus (COVID-19).
Introducing new local measures to control the virus spread
Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health has announced new local measures to help control the spread of Coronavirus. Please follow the link below for further information
https://theshuttle.org.uk/introducing-new-local-measures-to-control-virus-spread/
Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers
Walking, cycling, and travelling in vehicles or on public transport during the coronavirus outbreak.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers
Getting tested for Coronavirus
Guidance on coronavirus testing, including who is eligible for a test and how to get tested.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested
Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
Best Practice - How to handrub step by step images
Letter from Director of Children Services & Director of Public Health
Coronavirus update - 9th June 2020
Do not send your child to nursery if they have symptoms of Coronavirus. Please see link below.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/
Coronavirus update - 6th June 2020
The Director of Public Health has advised all schools in Blackburn with Darwen to delay their wider opening until at least 22 June in response to the regional rise in the R rate. Therefore we unfortunately will not be starting our phased opening from Monday 8th June as planned. Though we will be open for our vulnerable and critical workers.
Coronavirus update - 23rd March 2020
Following the announcement from the Prime Minister, nursery school is now closed except to a small number of children.
Please help defeat Covid-19 by keeping your child at home and following government advice about social distancing.
All families where children have been identified as vulnerable or parents are classified as being Critical to Covid-19 Workers have been contacted directly by the Headteacher.
If your situation changes and you require access to provision to support the Critical to Covid-19 Workers, then please email the school at office@ashworth.blackburm.sch.uk or phone the nursery on 01254 263312.
Corona Virus - Department for Education helpline
The Department for Education have launched a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)
For the latest information relating to Corona virus please visit: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Hand-washing Technique
