Solway Community School is at the heart of the community in Silloth. Established over 50 years ago, we have a reputation as school where students of all abilities excel. Our big strength is our small size – everyone knows everyone else; yet we are able to provide a wide range of courses to match learners’ strengths and interests. We know everyone – and we help them develop into unique and self-confident individuals.

Re: Arrangements for priority childcare/education in Solway Community School next week

Further to the letter from Dan Barton at Cumbria County Council regarding the situation with Covid-19, I am writing to advise you of the arrangements for next week. I can confirm that Solway Community School will be open on Monday 23^rd March from 9.30 – 3.00 in order to provide priority childcare for parents who have been identified as key workers, and who cannot make any other arrangements for childcare.

The situation will develop over the week depending on the level of demand that we experience on Monday morning and we will keep you informed as soon as we can.

Arrangements and protocols for how children will physically register at school on Monday morning are being worked through. Parents should bring identification and proof of employment.

With thanks in advance for your support and patience in this unprecedented and difficult situation.

Yours sincerely

Judith Schafer

Executive Headteacher

 

School Closure

Dear Parents/Carers

As you will be aware, all schools in England are closing on Friday afternoon (20th March 2020) as part of the measures being taken to suppress the spread of Coronavirus. Over the last week, various year groups have been sent home from both Beacon Hill and Solway as staff numbers due to self-isolation made it impossible to operate the school safely. I would like to thank all parents and students for the support we have received and the mature and sensible manner in which students have engaged with learning at home which has been put into place over the last few days.

Staff are working hard to make sure that students’ learning can continue remotely, and I am delighted that many students have been in regular touch with staff and are already completing lessons and sending work back. This will continue next week and after Easter. If any students have problems accessing work, please contact the school and we will try to help. Students will be working largely online; we would like to remind students all we have taught them about keeping safe online. Use the internet wisely and beware of anything you don’t recognise.

It is important that all students recognise the reasons why schools are closing, and stay at home as much as possible, both to slow the spread of the disease, and to make sure their education is compromised as little as possible.

The situation is particularly difficult for Year 11 students, whose GCSE exams in the summer have been cancelled. I am confident the Secretary of State will listen to their concerns over qualifications, and that a way will be found to make sure no students are disadvantaged as a result of the current pandemic. To support Year 11 students, we are sourcing materials from Sixth Forms and FE colleges for them to work on over the next weeks and months which will help them make the transition to the destinations they are heading to in September.

I am aware there remains some confusion over provision for children of key workers and vulnerable children next week. We are waiting for guidance to come from the Local Authority about which schools will be asked to remain open to provide this. Please be assured we will pass all information on as soon as it is available – please watch out for messages on Facebook and the school website.  This is a fluid situation which is changing by the minute and we will be in touch as needs be to keep you updated on the current situation.

This is a worrying time for everyone and I would like to thank you all for your support and patience. If you have any concerns, please do email the school and we will do our best to help. We are looking forward to welcoming our students back to school as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we hope you all stay well.

Yours sincerely

Judith Schafer

Executive Headteacher, Solway and Beacon Hill Community Schools

Coronavirus Update and School Closure

Wellbeing

Attached some very useful wellbeing tips that might be of use to parents and students.

Wellbeing Tips

Advice to Schools

Letter from the Chair of Governors about a change to the management structure in school.

Coronavirus – 13th March Update

Dear Parent/Carer

School response to COVID-19 (coronavirus)

Cases of coronavirus are predicted to increase. This means the likelihood of a student, parent or member of staff testing positive or being in contact with a confirmed case and being advised to self-isolate is increasing. The current situation is that if there is a confirmed case at school then Public Health England will advise on the appropriate and proportionate steps to take. Where a student or staff member is self-isolating due to contact with a confirmed case the current national advice is that schools should remain open.

We are not aware of any cases that affect our school community currently. However, students should stay at home for seven days if they have a fever or a persistent dry cough. If you or your child are unwell, so not go to a GP surgery or hospital. Use the NHS 111 line if:

• you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
• your condition gets worse
• your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

I would like to reassure you that the health and wellbeing of students and staff is our top priority. Having carefully considered the current situation in Cumbria, we are going to take the following measures with immediate effect:

1. There will be no parent meetings in school unless you are notified otherwise on an individual basis. This means the Year 9/10 Parents’ Evening, due to take place before Easter, is postponed.
2. Students and staff will not move between Solway and Beacon Hill until further notice.
3. All trips and visits planned for before Easter are postponed and will be rearranged for next term. This includes the Cumbrian Award trips planned for next week. We will take advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) about the bike challenge to Spain planned for May. Decisions on other trips planned for later in the year such as Duke of Edinburgh expeditions will be made nearer the time. Please be aware it may be necessary to take decisions to cancel trips at short notice.
4. All sports fixtures will be cancelled until further notice.
5. We will look to minimise visitors in school. Anyone who does come into reception will be asked to sanitise their hands and be given a copy of the Public Health England leaflet ‘Advice on coronavirus for places of education’ (attached).
6. We would ask you to consider carefully any travel arrangements you might be planning over the Easter holidays. Please be aware that the guidance about this, which can be found on the FCO website, frequently changes but it could mean that a period of self-isolation might be necessary on your return. Please notify us immediately at the start of the summer term if this is the case.

We are aware that students in Year 11 will be anxious about upcoming exams. Please be assured we are seeking advice on this from the awarding bodies and we will inform students and parents of proposed actions as soon as we know.

In addition to these actions, we have put in place a number of measures with the students. This includes briefing them in form time and assemblies, putting notices and signage up in every classroom and around the school to encourage good hygiene and regularly checking the soap dispensers to ensure that there is always an adequate supply.

We will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation closely and follow the advice from Public Health England and the Department for Education. The Department for Education’s advice page for schools can be found using the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

The most important advice is to limit the spread of the virus. Health-care professionals stress the importance of hygiene and hand washing. They recommend:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water
• Catch it, Bin it, Kill it: Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in a bin
• People who feel unwell should stay at home

Students, staff and visitors should wash their hands:

• After using public transport
• Before leaving home and on arrival at school
• After using the toilet
• After breaks and sporting activities
• Before eating any food, including snacks

We will continue to highlight this important advice to students. We will contact parents/carers immediately with any new arrangements that may have to be put in place if circumstances do change in any way.