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Posts in Parents category.
13th March 2020
Dear Parent/Carer
REACH School Coronavirus Contingency Planning
The government has publicised widely that we all have a responsibility to take steps to reduce and delay the impact of the current coronavirus outbreak. I wanted to let parents know what action the school is taking to support those aims, and to reassure them that we are taking the outbreak extremely seriously.
We are planning for the worst but working towards the best by making sure we have prevention measures in place, and preparing contingency plans for staff and students. We will follow all instructions and advice from Public Health England, Birmingham City Council and the Department for Education.
To try to reduce the rate the virus spreads, we have reminded all students on hand hygiene and shared the government advice on staying safe.
All staff and students need to:
- Wash their own hands frequently
- Avoid unnecessary contact (no shaking hands)
- Avoid touching their face
- Sneeze and cough into the crook of their elbow (not their hands)
- Put used tissues in the bin.
I would ask that you as parents please help by informing the school in the usual way if your child is feeling unwell, especially with a cough or raised temperature. If they are exhibiting these symptoms, then please keep them at hone for the 7 days that the government are advising.
Please also inform us if your child or member of the family has been in contact with someone from a category 1 area, or someone who has tested positive for Corona virus. Members of the public who have been in contact with the virus in this way are advised to call NHS helpline 111 and self-isolate for 14 days.
Please see this government website for more information: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus- covid-19/
If a number of pupils and staff are affected by the virus and are required to be absent from school, we may have to take the decision to send groups of pupils home so that we can safely accommodate the remainder. If this is the case, priority will be given to Year 11, who are closest to their exams. Parents will be informed by text if we have to send pupils home, so please let the school know if you have changed your contact details recently and not yet updated the school.
The school may in the future be required to close because of the coronavirus following instructions from Public Health England, and we may have to close at short notice. Again, parents will be informed by text and a message posted on the website.
During any school closure, pupils can continue with school work. All pupils have access to Active Learn and to My Maths and all subjects are currently preparing revision packs to be sent home for students.
If Year 11 pupils wish to contact their teachers by email, then they must let us know and we will ensure they have a REACH School email account. Emails from other addresses will not be responded to.
Be aware, though, that if a member of staff is unwell themselves, or having to care for a poorly member of the family, they may not be able to respond to the email.
During any school closure, the school will continue to communicate with pupils and parents via texts and the school website. Please check regularly for updated messages.
At the time of writing, the school has been informed that exams in the summer are going ahead as planned, and so pupils should continue to work hard to prepare for these. If that news changes, we will keep you informed.
Thank you for your understanding and co-operation in helping us at REACH School to do our part in keeping everybody safe and well.
Below you will find information that you will need to be aware of when taking your exams.
Documents and Policies for Students
| Student Exam Handbook |
| Privacy Notice |
| Social Media |
| Written Exams |
| On Screen Tests |
| Non-Examination Assessments |
| Coursework |
| No Mobile Phones |
| Warnings to Candidates |
Documents and Policies for Staff
All students with SEND are identified on entry to the school. Students are supported within lessons, one to one and with outside agency support.
Some of the outside agencies that come into school are the Communication and Autism Team, Pupil and School Support Services, Speech and Language Therapist, Educational Psychologist and the Sensory Support Services when needed.
The SENCO and Assistant SENCO are always willing to speak to parents about any needs they feel their children may have and how they can be best supported in school.
Please see the Reach SEND Policy and SEND Information Report for detailed information of how students with SEND are supported within Reach School.
Our SENCO is Amanda Thomas. Our Assistant SENCO is Alison Miller
In the pastoral team we support students and families on a wide range of issues from short term interventions to more long term work. This covers everything from attendance to safeguarding, home visits to in school support. We work alongside families and outside agencies to ensure that needs are met in a safe and friendly way.
To ensure that all students who attend REACH School are supported to overcome any barriers to their education so they can fulfill their potential and achieve. We also look at behaviour initiatives to engage the students and reward them for their positive achievements. This can range from a positive nomination from individual staff, end of term trips to voucher reward incentive.
https://www.forwardthinkingbirmingham.org.uk/
https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/
Attendance is at the very core of REACH School, if we do not attend we cannot expect to achieve. With good attendance students can expect to receive a full-time education which maximises their opportunities and realise his/her true potential, supporting the raising of standards of achievement.
Within school we actively discuss and promote attendance on a regular basis with all students ensuring they understand the benefits of good attendance. Attending that school not only benefits them academically, but has a positive impact on their physical, emotional and social development as well. We adopt a rewards system to benefit those that have good attendance and engage those that may need support. For students that do need a little encouragement we offer a range of support systems to help get them back on track.
We strive to build positive relationships with all parents and carers as your support is vital to our success. We will be in constant contact to discuss not just the negatives but the positive successes your child achieves.
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive school. Staff will work hard to support all students to access their education. We utilise the benefits of being a small, close knit school to develop positive relationships and work dynamically with students to support them through their day.
We will endeavour to provide a welcoming, caring environment, whereby all students thrive and work with students and families to enable each student to attend REACH School regularly and punctually.
All parents and carers have a legal responsibility to ensure their child is attending school.
REACH school uses Birmingham City Councils Fast Track process to take legal action against the parents/carers of those with poor attendance.
More information can be found here.
Government Guidelines can be found here.
