Welcome Parents and Carers,
A warm welcome back to everyone and a hello to all our new families. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Mrs Aggarwall, and I am your Headteacher (Acting).
I am sure our senior leaders need no introductions, but I think it is helpful to list their names and responsibilities here so that you know who to contact if you need any support or advice:
- Miss Ali — Acting Deputy Headteacher
- Mrs Dickins — Assistant Headteacher for Early Years (Nursery and Reception Classes)
- Mrs McKenzie — Acting Assistant Headteacher for Years 1, 2 and 3
- Mrs Bachoo — Assistant Headteacher for Years 4, 5 and 6
- Mr Revens — Interim SENDCo
- Mr Watts — Interim Business and Personnel Manager
It has been a brilliant start to the year and I have seen so many happy faces as the children have returned to school. We are glad to have them back and are impressed with how well they have settled in to Belmont this week. Our whole school ‘Exploration’ this term is called “Once upon a me...”. Pupils will be learning about their rights, diversity and inclusion in and out of school. Our curriculum always has strong focus on mental health and wellbeing. You will receive year group newsletters next week to give more information about what your child will be learning this term.
We have had a few questions about the new rules for isolation which we would like to clarify. This has been taken from the Government guidelines:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirusoutbreak/schools-covid-19-operational-guidance#tracing
As with positive cases in any other setting, NHS Test and Trace will work with the positive case and/or their parent/carer to identify close contacts. Contacts from a school setting will only be traced by NHS Test and Trace where the positive case and/or their parent/carer specifically identifies the individual as being a close contact. This is likely to be a small number of individuals who would be most at risk of contracting COVID-19 due to the nature of the close contact. You may be contacted in exceptional cases to help with identifying close contacts, as currently happens in managing other infectious diseases.
Individuals are not required to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and any of the following apply:-
- they are fully vaccinated
- they are below the age of 18 years and 6 months
- they have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
- they are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
Instead, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test. We would encourage all individuals to take a PCR test if advised to do so.
I would like to reassure you that we are fully committed to keep you, your child and our staff safe. Though there may be further challenges ahead in relation to the pandemic, we really hope that the worst of the disruption of children's education is over. However, we would like to reassure all parents and carers that we will continue to follow government guidance in all of our decisions.
We are an outward facing school and look forward to building positive partnerships with you, your child and the local community.
If you have any questions our queries, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs P Aggarwall
Headteacher (Acting)
