Link to Remote Learning for children:

Policy and Procedural Updates during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Updates and Information for The Cathedral School of St Peter and St John RC Primary

We will use this forum, as well as the text messaging and emails systems currently also used to update everyone on important and relevant information about the current situation. 

Friday 20th March 2020

Please read your email for the most updated letter from school.  Thank you.

Wednesday 18th March 2020

Our nursery class will remain closed tomorrow and Friday, and at this moment in time we are expecting to be able to re-open next Monday 23rd March.  We will update you on this again on Friday.

We continue to follow the advice and guidance of the Local Authority and the DfE and again would confirm that we are rigorous with the necessary hygiene standards required - thorough hand-washing, not touching faces, use of hand sanitiser etc.  After this week, school will stop any usual visitors coming into school - this could be any multi-agency support staff who would normally come into school to support specific children or groups of children from the Local Authority or from external companies, any music teachers will not come in and our children will no longer leave school to attend outside activities such as swimming or educational visits off site. In this fast changing environment, we are adapting on a daily basis as necessary. 

As we move forward, and if school remains open then it could be that your child will be taught by a different teacher as classes may have to be merged.  We will do everything possible to ensure your child continues to receive their usual levels of excellent education in a safe and secure environment.  We are working now, everyday to ensure that if school does close, then there will be work packs, a daily timetable to follow and online resources on this site's class pages for your child to complete.  More information to follow.  Like you, we wait and listen every day for the updates and as soon as we have more to tell you we will.  Please be assured though, that your children are our highest priority at this stressful time, and our prayers and thoughts are for you all!

We have some excellent links for you below that you and your child/ren may wish to access:

Social stories/stories with visuals for Primary age children

A Carol Gray social story about corona virus at https://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pandemics-and-the-Coronavirus.pdf?fbclid=IwAR23zxNlbEumpw4oKlM7Xy3VlKnA25b8Gi53N6YiFIeKB9Vx0LQypSPYzzg

Another nice visual story to explain to children: https://twitter.com/thelovelymaeve/status/1238399538878087169 or also available at https://www.thedadsnet.com/this-free-book-is-great-for-explaining-covid-19-coronavirus-to-your-children

Also https://www.ppmd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Corona-Virus-Free-Printable-Updated-2-The-Autism-Educator-.pdf

Ideas to support adults / older children

There is a link for older pupils and adults too focusing on looking after our emotional well-being.

https://afsp.org/taking-care-of-your-mental-health-in-the-face-of-uncertainty/?fbclid=IwAR3ScDBfuhV5INKyutAG9IPNm4JnjjLOmHxv5w8SR9pBbDDU-8Hhy1QH-L8  

1. Link with parent-focused ideas from Special Needs Jungle about how to support children with anxiety around coronavirus, including an easy-read explanation for children and adults with learning difficulties:

https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/calming-coronavirus-anxiety-children-everyone-else/#Update

1. For parents, carers and older pupils there are relevant web links from the American Psychological Association about social distancing, anxiety and perspectives about coronavirus information sources.. 

American Psychological Association

• Keeping Your Distance to Stay Safe: With the number of COVID-19 cases increasing every day, psychologists offer insights on how to separate yourself from others, while still getting the social support you need.

• Seven crucial research findings that can help people deal with COVID-19 : Psychological research on past crises can help people cope with the daily — sometimes hourly — newsflashes about the coronavirus.

https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2020/03/covid-19-research-findings

• Five Ways to View Coverage of the Coronavirus: Tips to help you manage anxiety, put news reports in perspective and maintain a positive outlook.

https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/pandemics

• Speaking of Psychology: Coronavirus Anxiety : Podcast, psychologist Baruch Fischhoff, PhD, explains why we worry about new risks more than familiar ones, how to calm our anxiety and what are the psychological effects of being quarantined.

https://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/coronavirus-anxiety

Tuesday 17th March 2020

Due to staffing issues (NOT Covid-19 related), school is having to close the nursery class tomorrow Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th and Friday 20th March 2020.  When further information is known, we will update parents.  We are hoping that this issue may be resolved for the nursery to re-open next week but we will provide an update by end of school day this Friday 20th March.

A letter is being emailed to all parents today which states the following:

Coronavirus Pandemic 2020 Update

17 March 2020

Dear Parents/Carers

I am sure you are aware of the challenges facing our school, and community at this time of uncertainty with regards the Coronavirus (CO-VID 19) Pandemic.

We are receiving regular updates from the government (gov.uk), Department for Education (DfE), and Salford Local Authority. We will endeavour to keep you updated through our lines of communication: email, text messaging and on the school website.  

Please do ensure that you are receiving messages through one of these lines of communication to keep up to date with any changes to our school operations if and when they occur.

For the past 2 weeks now we have been following national guidance and promoting good hygiene in school with more than regular hand washing and using and discarding of tissues for sneezes.

Thank you to all the parents who have sensibly contacted school to seek advice if their child should attend having reported an illness or absence. This is helping us keep our other children and their families safe.

We have taken the decision today to close the nursery class only (not applicable currently to any other class) due to staff shortages – not Covid-19 related, for the next three days and we hope this will be resolved soon so children can come back into their nursery setting.

From today, the School Leadership Team have decided to encourage and promote a programme of ‘social distancing’ in school. We have stopped our usual social gatherings e.g. collective worship, class and whole school assemblies, staff meetings etc. We apologise for any inconveniences caused by this but we may have to also cancel or postpone other upcoming events e.g. residential visits, parent meetings, swimming lessons etc.  We will record some performances we had planned and post them on the school website for you to view, when possible.

 For now, we will endeavour to remain open so that your children continue to receive an education in school and you can carry on with your daily lives knowing your children are safe. If the situation changes, we will of course inform you and keep you updated with any news we receive.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to us.

Yours sincerely

Mrs Hanley

Mrs D Hanley

Head Teacher

Salford School Closures

Any schools that are closed, for whatever reason, are listed on the Salford Local Authority website and can be viewed by clicking this link:

http://www.salford.gov.uk/schoolclosures.htm

Government Information about Coronavirus

The most current information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic can be viewed at the government website on the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public