We will be updating this page with information regularly – please check back.
19 March 2020
Due to the recent announcement from the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, that all UK schools must close due to the spread of Coronavirus, we are writing to officially notify you of our closure from Monday 23rd March 2020.
The Prime Minister has advised that children should not be left with older grandparents or older relatives who may be particularly vulnerable to the Coronavirus.
Vulnerable children and children of key workers will continue to be able to come into school as normal. We only intend to open to our own pupils.
Key workers are currently defined as –
- NHS staff
- Teachers and support staff
- Police and community support officers
- Frontline civilian police staff
- Prison officers and staff
- Probation officers and trainee probation officers
- LA officers and LA/ NHS social workers
- Uniformed staff in fire and rescue services
- Armed forces personnel and some civilian MOD personnel (ie clinical staff, MOD police, uniformed fire and defence) and some discharged personnel
- Highway agency traffic staff
- LA environmental health officers/practitioners
- Care workers
- Food/supermarket drivers and other workers.
The DfE have also said that both parents need to be key workers.
Please notify us immediately via the office email address below if you are in this category so that we can plan accordingly. You will need to tell us:
- which area of employment you are working in
- your child’s name and class
- whether they will be coming into school in term time
- whether you will want them to come into school during the Easter holidays
Vulnerable children include those who have a social worker and those with educational health and care plans. Attendance at school will not be enforced, but if your child is in the ‘vulnerable’ category, school will need to contact you regularly.
Our staff have been working hard behind the scenes to devise a learning schedule to ensure that your child still has the opportunity to continue their learning remotely. Daily emails will be sent to you via the class Google Groups.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the closure, please do not visit the school but email office@mayfield.cambs.sch.uk.
As soon as we have an official date to re-open, we will communicate this with you via email and the school website.
Until then, we would like to offer our very best wishes and hope that anybody affected by this unprecedented virus makes a speedy recovery.
18 March 2020
Because it is currently so difficult to anticipate the number of pupils in school and order accordingly, from Monday 23rd March Lunchtime will be working to a different menu:
16 March 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
We are writing following the government update this afternoon:
If you of anyone in your household has symptoms of the coronavirus
- New persistent cough and/or
- Fever and/or
- Flu-like symptoms
then the entire family should self-isolate for 14 days.
We are continuing to prepare for the eventuality of the school closing and would be grateful if you would respond to the google groups sent out today as soon as possible. We want to identify anyone that is not able to access learning on-line.
We now have a further two teachers self-isolating because they are in the vulnerable category – Mrs Caisová and Miss Bate. Mrs Barnes is also away from school as a member of her family is self-isolating. We are currently juggling our teaching staff to manage all of the absences.
Paula Ayliffe and Sarah Stepney
Headteachers
15 March 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
We are writing to inform you that two members of staff are self-isolating for seven days. One is a year one teacher and the other a member of our site staff. Providing the symptoms subside they will be back in school after the seven days have passed.
We understand what worrying times these are for everyone. As of this morning, Sunday 15th March, there are only four confirmed cases in Cambridgeshire out of a local population of 651,482.
This week we will be planning arrangements for distance learning in the event of the school being closed.
The following action is required: if you do not have access to the internet at home on an iPad or laptop for your child to use please can you let us know as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Paula Ayliffe and Sarah Stepney
Headteachers
13 March 2020
The updated advice we have been given is as follows, and is taken from the Public Health Information Website. Further information can be found at: Covid-19 Stay At Home Guidance
“Symptoms
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
- new continuous cough and/or
- high temperature”
Mayfield also suggest that if you have flu-like symptoms that you follow the same advice laid out below.
“Main messages
- if you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, do not leave your home for 7 days from when your symptoms started. (See ending isolationsection below for more information)
- this action will help protect others in your community while you are infectious
- plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home
- ask your employer, friends and family to help you get the things you need to stay at home
- stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home if possible
- sleep alone, if possible
- wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water
- stay away from vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, as much as possible
- you do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999
Why staying at home is very important
Staying at home while you have coronavirus (COVID-19) helps to protect your friends, colleagues and the wider community. It will also help to control the spread of the virus.
While you are staying at home, make sure you do the following things:
Stay at home
You should remain in your home. Do not go to work, school, or public areas, and do not use public transport or taxis. You cannot go for a walk.
You will need to ask friends or relatives if you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication. Alternatively, you can order medication by phone or online. You can also order your shopping online. Make sure you tell delivery drivers to leave items outside for collection if you order online. The delivery driver should not come into your home.”
12 March 2020
During these very uncertain times we have been considering some simple measures to put in place to reduce the possibility of the spread of infection.
The following will be put into effect from Friday 13th March 2020
- Children and staff will wash their hands on arrival at school (and before lunchtime)
- Adults and children will not shake hands with one another/visitors
- All children should have their own named water bottle in school which should go home daily to be washed
- Disposable cups will be provided in the classroom where a child does not have/or cannot find their water bottle
- Paper towels will be provided in the classrooms for drying hands when the hand driers are in use
- Antibacterial gel will be provided at the school office for visitors to use before entering the school
- If your child has been in contact with anyone who is awaiting results of a coronavirus test then they should not attend school until a negative result is received
We also ask that your children wash their hands before coming to school in the morning and at the end of the day when they get home.
We are asking all hirers to please comply with the actions below:
- Please inform all members of your group that they should not attend if they have been in contact with or travelled to any places with Coronovirus
- Please ask members of your group not to attend if they are displaying any symptoms associated with Coronovirus
- Please feedback information about suspected or confirmed cases to the school