July 2021
May 2021
Please remember – If your child test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms within 48 hours (Before 4pm on the 28th May ) of being in school, please contact the school on office@kennington.school. The school will be asked to assist in identifying close contacts and advising self isolation, as your child may have been infectious whilst in school.
If your child tests positive for coronavirus (COVID19), having developed symptoms after 48 hours (after 4pm on the Sunday 30th May ) since being in school, the school should not be contacted. Parents and Carers should follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Track and Trace.
If anyone should test positive for COVID over the holidays, which affects their return to school on Monday 7th June 2021 please email office@kennington.school
April 2021
March 2021
From tomorrow, NHS Test and Trace is reintroducing confirmatory PCR testing for positive LFD tests conducted at all assisted testing sites, including schools and colleges. This means that all staff, pupils and students who get a positive LFD test, whether at home or supervised at their school or college, should get a confirmatory PCR. The PCR test should be booked immediately either online or by calling 119 and should be undertaken within 2 days.
Staff, students and pupils who had a positive LFD test result, and their close contacts and other members of their household, should self-isolate immediately in line with NHS Test and Trace guidance and while awaiting the PCR result. If the PCR test is negative, it overrides the LFD test and the staff member, pupil or student can return to school or college, and their close contacts can end their self-isolation.
In January, when the prevalence of the virus in England increased, NHS Test and Trace temporarily paused the requirement to do confirmatory PCR tests for positive LFD tests that were conducted at an assisted testing site. This followed advice from PHE that, when coronavirus (COVID-19) prevalence rates are high, the performance of LFD tests and PCRs are broadly comparable and expected to be indistinguishable when used at test sites, significantly reducing the need for routine confirmatory testing.
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd593xo1ijFd3AR2CcD5L3A
From 1 March 2021, if you’re a member of a household, childcare bubble or support bubble of staff or a pupil you can get a twice-weekly test.
From 1 March 2021, if you’re a member of a household, childcare bubble or support bubble of staff or a pupil you can get a twice-weekly test.
Get a test through your employer
Your workplace may offer rapid lateral flow testing to you. Contact your employer to find out more.
Take a test at a rapid lateral flow test site
You can take a rapid lateral flow test at a local site. Testing at these sites is assisted, which means you will swab yourself under the supervision of a trained operator.
You may need to book an appointment.
Find your nearest rapid lateral flow test site.
Order home test kits online
If you cannot get tested at your workplace, or are unable to go to a test site or collect test kits, you can order a home test kit online.
Do not order online if you can get a test through other methods. This frees up home delivery for those who need it most.
Order rapid lateral flow home test kits
Collect test kits
You can collect 2 packs of home test kits at a local collection point. Each pack contains 7 tests.
Anyone 18 or over can collect.
Most collection points are open from 1.30pm to 7pm. You can check online if the location is open or busy before you go. You do not need to make an appointment.
Do not visit a collection point outside opening hours, as it may be used to test people with coronavirus symptoms outside these times.
Find your nearest home test kit collection point.
For your ease the test centres where kits can be collected are as follows:
| Location | Site Name |
| Swale | Bridge Road Car Park |
| Tonbridge & Malling | Ditton Youth Centre Car Park, Kiln Barn Road, Aylesford |
| Folkestone | The Stadium Car Park, Church Road, Folkestone |
| Dartford | Car Park at Acacia Hall |
| Maidstone | Shepway Green Youth Centre Car Park, Cumberland Ave |
| Margate | Dreamland Car Park (LTS & RTS) |
| Gravesham | Lord Street Car Park, Gravesend |
| Canterbury | Car Park Gate 6, North Holmes Road |
| Canterbury | University of Kent – Rutherford Car Park |
| Medway | Jellicoe Building Car Park |
| Medway | Christ Church, Luton Road |
February 2021
Dear All,
What brilliant news- all back on the 8th of March, we are so looking forward to seeing all the children together again.
We will be returning to everything just as it was before we closed for the Christmas holidays, however we will update you about all the arrangements over the next couple of weeks.
We really can’t thank you enough for all your cooperation and hard work supporting your children’s schooling over the last few months. We recognise that it has been a challenging time for all, but together with our teachers you have been amazing.
Please continue to support the online lessons, for the next couple of weeks, because when the children are back in school we will continue with this learning.
Looking forward to seeing you all soon. Take care and stay safe
Lynn Seal and Julia Bell.
Latest Guidance
From Department for Education:
Guidance on what the new national restrictions mean for education and childcare settings
We have published information on what the new national restrictions mean for education and childcare settings. This guidance is for early years providers, schools, further education providers and children’s social care settings.
We have also published information for higher education providerson how the new national restrictions affect the higher education sector.
Guidance on school attendance
Our guidance on the new national restrictions makes it clear the government is continuing to prioritise the long term future of children and young people therefore early years settings, schools, colleges and universities will remain open.
It is very important for children and young people to attend their education setting for their wellbeing and long-term development.
School attendance continues to be mandatory although the expectations have changed for children who have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable.
Schools should consider any concerns from pupils, parents and households, who may be reluctant or anxious about attending school and put the right support in place to address this.
The usual school attendance powers and duties continue to apply, including schools and local authorities’ ability to use parental responsibility measures, such as fixed penalty notices, where appropriate.
Further information can be found in our guidance on recording attendance in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19) during the 2020 to 2021 academic year.
Guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable staff and children
The Department of Health and Social Care has published guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from coronavirus (COVID-19).
This guidance advises individuals who are clinically extremely vulnerable to work from home and not to go into work. Individuals in this group will have been identified through a letter from the NHS or from their GP. Staff should talk to their employers about how they will be supported, including working from home where possible, during the period of national restrictions.
All other staff should continue to attend work, including those living in a household with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable.
We now know more about the virus, and most children who were identified as clinically extremely vulnerable at the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are no longer identified as such. Schools should encourage parents to speak to their GP or specialist clinician, as soon as possible, if they have not already done so, to understand whether their child should still be classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.
Those children whose doctors have confirmed they are still clinically extremely vulnerable are advised not to attend school whilst this advice is in place. Where a conversation with a GP or specialist clinician has not taken place, the public health advice is that the child is still clinically extremely vulnerable and they are advised not to attend school. In these situations, we expect schools to be able to offer clinically extremely vulnerable children access to remote education, in line with previous guidance.
Guidance for clinically vulnerable staff and children
Staff and children who are clinically vulnerable or have underlying health conditions but are not clinically extremely vulnerable, may continue to attend early years, childcare and school settings in line with current guidance.
Trainee teachers are critical workers and able to go on placement in schools
Initial teacher training trainees are classed as critical workers and are therefore able to undertake practical training experience in schools and to travel to and from their placement, in line with the arrangements agreed with their host school. We are asking local authority public health teams to ensure they make this position clear in their discussions with schools.
DfE Announcement 24 January 2020
| Further coronavirus (COVID-19) measures announced by the Prime Minister Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced further national measures to address the rising cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in England. These measures will begin to come into force from Thursday onwards. It is vital that children and young people continue to receive an education, therefore, schools, colleges and universities will remain open. Full details of the new measures and when they come into force can be found in the guidance on what has changed: 22 September. We are reviewing our guidance, in particular on the rule of six, to understand where further clarity is needed on how it applies in education settings, such as group indoor sports in further education colleges and universities. Guidance on the use of the NHS COVID-19 app in schools and further education colleges On 24 September, NHS Test and Trace will launch the NHS COVID-19 app to help control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). It will do this by alerting people who may have been exposed to infection so that they can take action. The app will be available to download for anyone aged 16 and over. This means that some students in year 11, students in years 12, 13 and in further education colleges will be eligible to use the app and benefit from its features. We have published guidance for school and college leaders and staff on the use of the NHS COVID-19 app in schools and further education colleges. This guidance provides information on how the app works and sets out actions required to use it within schools and further education colleges in England. Guidance on ordering additional coronavirus (COVID-19) testing kits Anyone who experiences any coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms should get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test at a testing site or at home. This includes all pupils, teachers, and staff. All schools and further education providers have been provided with an initial supply of 10 test kits to complement these main access routes. These test kits should only be used in the exceptional circumstance that an individual becomes symptomatic and you believe they may have barriers to accessing testing elsewhere. Access to these tests will help symptomatic staff who test negative, and are not close contacts of confirmed cases, to get back to work as soon as they feel well enough. Schools and further education providers should order additional test kits if they have run out, or are running out, of test kits.Additional test kits can be ordered online and will be supplied in boxes of 10, with one box provided per 1,000 pupils or students. You will be able to make a new order for test kits 21 days after you receive a delivery confirmation email telling you that your previous supply of test kits has been sent. Further information on how to order test kits can be found in the guidance on test kits for schools and further education providers. Updated guidance for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak We have updated our guidance for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to include information on the use and disposal of face coverings, the safety measures required during visits from parents, external professionals and non-staff members, and guidance on the use of private and public outdoor spaces. We have also provided information on the re-establishment of supervised toothbrushing programmes and supporting staff and children’s wellbeing. Full details of the changes that have been made are listed at the start of the guidance for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19). |
Helpful links from the DfE
Details on Phased wider opening of schools: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/details-on-phased-wider-opening-of-schools-colleges-and-nurseries
Implementing protective measures: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings
Parents may wish to discuss Coronavirus with their children to alleviate growing concern, BBC Newsround have a friendly and informative page with child appropriate articles and links that we recommend – Please click here for BBC Newsround
For the latest information from Public Health England regarding COVID-19, Please click here
Public Health England have a comprehensive list of guidance that can be found here : Please click here for Public Health England
Keeping children safe online during COVID-19: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-children-safe-online?utm_source=b7f7afa2-831f-4e7f-ab12-e1b27917d611&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate
Coronavirus
Handwashing advice
It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.
The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.
Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
