COVID-19

    SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE TO VIEW LETTERS ISSUED FROM THE SCHOOL.

    Out of school hours please report positive cases of COVID-19 by email to reportCOVID@ushschool.org.  During schools hours please telephone school reception on 02380 325333.

    If you have any general questions about COVID-19 safety measures at USH or testing please email: coronavirus@ushschool.org


    SCHOOL COVID-19 RISK ASSESSMENTS:

    Mitigating the risk of coronavirus has been our key priority since March 2020 and our plans and procedures have been documented in our risk assessments.

    We continue to follow Government guidance on the safe opening of schools. Our system of controls and measures are fully documented in our risk assessments; please see the latest document below.

    Both staff and students receive a covid-safe induction at the start of each academic year to ensure our covid risk assessment is understood and implemented by all.  Staff continue to meet once a week, so they are clear on their ongoing responsibilities and are aware of any changes to routines.


    SAFETY MEASURES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS (GENERAL):

    • Students and staff working in well ventilated rooms
    • Good hand hygiene, sanitising on entry and exit to school and rooms
    • Twice weekly home testing (staff and students)
    • Enhanced cleaning (see below)
    • Use of face coverings in enclosed and crowded places (recommended - optional)
    • Students will be expected to fully comply with all safety procedures and support the school community, without unnecessary challenge
    • Student will bring in their own writing equipment
    • Students will bring in their own water bottle
    • Students must ensure they have funds on their cashless catering account, if they wish to use the canteen. To ensure the safety of our staff, we cannot accept coins to top up accounts within school; we want parents to work with us to minimise the exchange of money between home and school
    • Students must be careful and considerate in their behaviour; social distancing with staff and minimising close interaction with peers
    • Students must ensure they travel to and from school safely, exhibiting covid-safe and respectful behaviours in and out of school.


    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR PARENTS TO HELP US REDUCE RISK:

    • Please do not send your child into school if they are unwell, or have any signs of coronavirus. Please tell us quickly if this is the case
    • Where possible, please communicate with us by phone and email to minimise face-to-face meetings - please be aware we will continue to hold some parent meetings using IT, such as Zoom
    • Meetings with staff need to be organised in advance, so that safety measures can be considered – no unexpected drop-ins, please
    • We cannot accommodate the volume of parents calling into school daily with forgotten lunch boxes, PE kits and instruments – please support your child to get organised the night before
    • Please make sure we have up-to-date contact details for you, so that we can call you if your child becomes unwell
    • Students will be asked to sanitise their hands on arrival to school, during social times and when leaving classes/school
    • Should a distance-learning package need to be re-instated because of a class, year group, school, or local outbreak, the school will communicate accordingly and children will be expected to continue learning from home

     

    PASTORAL SUPPORT:

    We are aware that the pandemic has been a difficult time for many families. USH has a whole school approach to the promotion of good mental health. As normal, please get in touch with your child’s Tutor, or Head of Year, if there are things you feel we need to know.


    SITE CHANGES:

    There have been many changes to the school site as we have adapted our school to make it covid-secure; they include:

    • Hand sanitiser stations across the school
    • Increased medical provision, separating general first-aid and those students displaying coronavirus symptoms
    • Introduction of new one-way systems 
    • Covid safety signage across the site
    • Installation of screening at visitor points


    ENHANCED CLEANING:

    We have increased our cleaning capacity with an additional cleaner on site throughout the school day. Cleaning checklists are rigorously followed to ensure high-risk contact points (door handles, taps, toilets, etc.) are being thoroughly cleaned.


    USEFUL LINKS FOR PARENTS:


    Get a test to check for coronavirus:

    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

    *** The test needs to be done in the first 5 days of having symptoms.


    NHS 111

    Get advice from NHS 111 if you are worried about your child, or not sure what to do. NHS Link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/


    The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline:

    This remains available to answer questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) relating to education and children’s social care. Please listen carefully to the available options and select the most appropriate to your nursery, school, or college’s current situation.


    Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline by calling:

    Phone: 0800 046 8687

    Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm


     


 Video Guides

How to take a COVID-19 saliva test

Introduction to Rapid Lateral Flow Testing

Step by step guide to COVID-19 self-testing

Reporting a COVID-19 Home Test Result using TestRegister.co.uk

Step by step guide to ACON Flowflex nasal only testing

USH Return to School Covid Risk Assessment updated 24.2.2022 USH Return to school coronavirus risk assessment Updated 1.2.2022 Whole School Covid Letter 2.2.2022 Whole School Letter 20.01.2022 HIOW SALIVA TESTING NEWSLETTER 10.01.2022 COVID Update Letter for Parents 11.01.2022 USH Covid Risk Assessment 4.1.2022 Covid Update Whole School Letter - 10.12.2021 Updated Covid Safety Risk Assessment Whole School Letter - Covid Update 29.11.2021 HIOW Saliva Testing Newsletter Covid Update 19.11.2021 Covid Update For Parents 22.10.2021 COVID risk assessment updated 21.10.2021 COVID-19 Saliva Testing Programme Factsheet Saliva Testing Letter for Parents October 2021 Covid Update for Parents 24.09.2021 Return to School Covid Risk Assessment UPDATED 16.09.2021 Return to School Risk Assessment September 2021 including Open Morning Return to School Risk Assessment September 2021 A whole school update letter from Mr Woods - 21st July 2021 Consent form for COVID-19 Testing - July 2021 Privacy Notice - Student Testing at Home Government guidance on changes in schools from 19th July 2021 Contact Tracing from 19 July 2021 COVID Safety at USH Letter 16.6.2021 Q&A Document March 2021 USH Lateral flow testing risk assessment at home March 2021 Reporting a COVID-19 Home Test Result using TestRegister.co.uk Home Testing Letter Privacy Notice - school testing Easy Guide to Covid Self Test A guide to regular testing for parents with children at nurseries, schools and colleges An Introduction to Rapid Self-Testing for COVID-19 Covid Self-Test Instruction for Use USH Covid Risk Assessment 1.3.2021 Information leaflet - how to do your COVID test PowerPoint to explain student testing at USH March 2021 USH Return to school coronavirus risk assessment 19.2.2021 New Local Testing Letter 17.02.2021 Joint Privacy Notice HIOW COVID 19 Saliva Testing Data Protection Covid Testing FAQs For Parents USH Testing Update Letter 04.02.2021 USH COVID Risk Assessment 25.1.2021 USH COVID Risk Assessment 18.1.2021 USH Covid Risk Assessment 5.1.2021 Lateral Flow Testing Guide for Keyworker students (testing in w/c 11th January 2021) Communication from Mr Woods (31st December 2020) Start of Term Arrangements (28 December 2020) How to Do Your Test Information Sheet COVID Testing Consent Form Dec 2020 End of Term Track and Trace Headteachers Communication - Whole School to Remote Learning From 15.12.2020 COVID-19 Risk Assessment Update Dec 2020 Headteacher Year 11 Parent Letter Covid Update - SIngle Case 04.12.2020 Communication from Mr Woods 05.11.2020 USH Return to school coronavirus risk assessment 2.11.2020 Communication to Whole School 29.10.2020 Communication to Year 9 Parents 29.10.2020 COVID Update (23.10.2020) COVID 19 Letter from Mr Woods 21.10.2020 COVID 19 Single Case Letter 19th October 2020 USH Return to school coronavirus risk assessment (updated 5.10.2020) Return to School COVID-19 Risk Assessment (dated 7.9.20) Test and Trace - A Letter from Public Health England General Covid Update from Mr Woods 28.09.2020 PHE Letter to Parents Sept 2020 Useful information COVID-19 symptoms grid Site Map September 2020 USH Plan for September 2020 Headteacher Letter July 2020 Headteacher Letter August 2020