COVID SAFETY INFORMATION

SAI PUBLIC SCHOOL

ON SITE SAFETY MEASURES FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS

UPDATED JANUARY 2022.

We will be following government guidelines as closely as possible and taking all possible precautions to protect the health and safety of both students and staff.

We will make every effort to enforce social distancing between year group bubbles and staff, except for when students and staff need to pass each other in corridors which government advice describes as low risk as it is only very brief closeness between students and staff.  We will focus our efforts on ensuring stringent protective measures in other areas.  These are detailed below:

Attendance

  • Students and staff should not attend the school site if they are feeling unwell or experiencing any symptoms of Coronavirus. 
  • Students and staff should also not attend the school site if they are self-isolating.
  • If a child is experiencing Coronavirus symptoms, please can parents/carers contact us as early as possible via the usual channels.  This will allow us to take appropriate next steps if necessary, in line with the government’s test and trace programme.
  • Parents/carers must inform the school by 8.30 am if their child cannot attend on a specific day.

 Face coverings

  • Students must have a plain face covering with them at all times.
  • Face coverings must be worn in communal areas by staff, visitors and students unless they are exempt.  Students will not need to wear face coverings outside of a building when moving between lessons.
  • Face coverings must also be worn in the PE changing rooms where students are in closer contact than in a classroom and ventilation is more challenging (we have added air purifiers to assist with this)
  • Students do not need to wear face coverings in lessons, but may do so if they choose.  Staff may teach in face coverings if they wish and staff should stay socially distanced from students where possible.  
  • Students should continue to wear face coverings on public and school transport, unless they are exempt.

Classroom procedures

  • Students will be seated apart from the teacher and must remain seated for the duration of the majority of lessons. 
  • The majority of rooms will be designed with students sitting side by side and facing the front. 
  • Teachers will teach from the front of the room, ensuring social distancing between them and students.
  • Students will be expected to bring in their own pens and books for their lessons; equipment will not be lent to students.
  • Students with LSA support may be removed from lessons at certain times for one to one support to take place. 
  • Windows should be opened in all classrooms where possible.

Minimizing general contact and entrance/exit to/from school site

  • Finish times to the school days have been staggered to minimize groupings of students on exit from the school site; students will also enter and exit the site from two different points.
  • Each year group will be allocated a separate area before school, at break and at lunchtime.  As far as possible, there will be no mixing between students across year groups.
  • Students will be provided with specific instructions where their social area is before school and how to enter this area. 

Hygiene practices

  • Students and staff will be expected to use hand sanitizer when they arrive in school.  This will happen on entrance to the first classroom of the day.
  • Students will be expected to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands every time they enter/return to a classroom throughout the school day.
  • Students will be reminded to wash their hands thoroughly when they have returned home.
  • All pupils will be able to use hand sanitizer/wash hands in the classroom if they sneeze/cough and if there is any other hygiene related concern.
  • We will continue to ensure good respiratory hygiene by promoting and implementing the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach.
  • Students must have a plain face mask with them at all times.  Students must wear face masks when instructed to do so, e.g. during a fire drill and when social distancing between year bubbles is not possible.
  • If you wish your child to wear a face mask all day then please contact the school.

Additional cleaning

  • Additional cleaning and disinfecting will be taking place in classrooms, toilets and corridors that are in use.
  • Classrooms will be cleaned at the end of the school and not used again until the next day.

There will be cleaners on-site throughout the school day cleaning high use areas (e.g. PE changing rooms which will be cleaned between lessons). 

  • Wherever possible (allowing for fire safety requirements) we will open windows and prop doors open so that these are not regularly touched and good air-flow is maintained.

Catering

  • All students will be able to access food and drinks at break and lunchtime.  There will be staggered access to canteens throughout the day. 
  • Students will need to bring in their own filled water bottle.  There will be access to water on site, however, only at specific times. 

Behavior

  • As always, in any event of poor behaviour / breaches of safety instructions from students, they may be isolated or excluded from school if this is judged appropriate by the school.  Our behaviour policy has been updated to reflect current circumstances and make clear potential consequences for Covid-related misbehaviour.  Where necessary, meeting with Senior Leadership and parents/carers will follow to discuss next steps.
  • All students must wear full school uniform when attending school; this will help us ensure the safety and security of the school site.

Additional Measures and Information

  • PPE equipment will be provided to all staff and additional PPE will be provided to those with first aid responsibilities or those who may have to come in close contact with students. 
  • Please note that testing is available to all secondary school staff and students and we will follow government guidelines regarding track and trace measures and any suspected cases that occur in the school community.