See here for the latest news and updates

• Virtual Open Day at SCCB - Bournville

  Wed 30 Sep 2020 Andrew

  For families considering options for colleges when learners leave Victoria, please see details below from South & City College Bournville about their virtual open day next week.

   

  This Open Day will be a virtual one this year in which the students can register online   https://www.sccb.ac.uk/about-us/open-days   The colleges will be open for anyone who would like to enrol late for this year.

  Open Days | South & City College Birmingham Virtual Open Day: 6 October 2020 (4:30pm–7pm) Due to lockdown regulations in Birmingham, our October Open Day will now run as a Virtual Open Day on 6 October – and registration is open now! www.sccb.ac.uk

• Test and Trace - A Letter from Public Health England

  Fri 25 Sep 2020 NHS

  Dear parents and guardians,

  This is an important letter to share some information on how we can work together to make sure we can continue to give children and young people the best education in the safest way possible. One important part of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of pupils, parents and our communities is testing for coronavirus. We all have a duty to make sure that the right people have access to get tested at the right time. Every time a test is used inappropriately, a person with Covid-19 symptoms may miss out on getting tested. Therefore, I ask that you all follow these principles: ▪ You should only book a test if your child has any of these three coronavirus symptoms: 1. a high temperature: any new high temperature where your child feels hot to touch on their chest or back (you do not need to measure the temperature) 2. a new continuous cough: coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours 3. a loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste: a noticeable loss of smell or taste or things smell and taste different to normal ▪ Your child does not need a test if they have a runny nose, are sneezing or feeling unwell but do not have a temperature, cough or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste because these are not normally symptoms of coronavirus. ▪ If you are unsure about whether to get a test, please check the official list of symptoms on the NHS website, which is reviewed regularly: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/ ▪ Only the person with symptoms should get a test. You do not need to get a test for anyone else in the household unless they also have any of the three symptoms listed above. All members of the household need to self-isolate whilst waiting for the test result. ▪ If the person with symptoms’ test comes back positive, other members of their household should continue self-isolating for 14 days and only get a test if they develop coronavirus symptoms. ▪ If a pupil in a class or bubble tests positive for coronavirus, anyone who is advised to self-isolate does not require a test unless they subsequently develop symptoms. No one else in the same class or bubble as the symptomatic person needs to take any action unless advised by the school. Schools have detailed guidance and access to a Department for Education and Public Health England helpline for advice and support. Contacts of a person who has tested positive must follow the guidance carefully and in full, which means they must stay at home for 14 days. This is because it can take several days following contact with an infected person before an individual develops symptoms or the virus can be detected. Students should only book a test if they get symptoms. The NHS has produced some guidance to help parents understand when their child can and cannot attend school which you may find useful: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthybody/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/ It is vital for children’s learning and future opportunities that they are able to return to school and college. It is therefore vitally important that all we work together and do our bit to make this possible.

  Yours sincerely, Professor Viv Bennett CBE Chief Nurse and Director Maternity and Early Years | Public Health England Head of World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Public Health Nursing and Midwifery Follow me on Twitter: @VivJBennett

   

  Dr Susan Hopkins Interim Chief Medical Officer | NHS Test & Trace Deputy Director | Public Health England Consultant in Infectious Diseases & Microbiology Royal Free, London

• A Letter to parents from the Director of Public Health - Birmingham

  Mon 21 Sep 2020 Dr Justin Varney

  21st September 2020

  Dear parent/carer,

  It’s been wonderful to see children back at school, learning and seeing their friends again. I know the past few months have been hard on all of us and I’d like to thank you for your continued support. You will have seen some changes to the way your school operates so I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of why these are vital to the safe running of school; please remember that although many aspects of society have opened up again, although in a different way, the virus has not gone away. While changes will vary from school to school, depending on such things as building layout and number of pupils, the differences you will notice could include: − Staggered drop-off and collection at the start and end of the day to minimise the number of people at the school entrance. − Children will be in ‘bubbles’ to reduce contact as much as possible, but allow them to learn and play with friends. − If a child or staff member within a bubble shows symptoms or is infected then the bubble may need to isolate, but the school will communicate with parents if this happens. − Asking children to wash their hands even more than usual, use hand sanitisers and follow any one-way systems while staying apart as much as possible. I know some of these changes may be hard to get used to, and they may be frustrating, but they are entirely in order to keep all children, staff and parents safe. I would therefore ask for your continued patience and consideration as we all do our best to help each other get through this difficult and unusual time. School staff have been working so hard to ensure schools are a safe environment for learning and playing, so please do what you can to support them and each other and we will get through this. Please also keep in mind that it is important that we all play our part in not going for a test unless we have one of the three covid symptoms, a temperature, new continuous cough or loss of sense of taste or small, or if we are asked to by the NHS or public health teams. Birmingham City Council Director of Public Health 10 Woodcock Street Birmingham B7 4BL If you have any questions or concerns, please speak direct to your school – they are here to help.

  Yours sincerely,

  Dr Justin Varney

  Director of Public Health Birmingham City Council

• QAC Open Day Events Update

  Thu 17 Sep 2020 Andrew

  For those parents who are beginning to consider options for when their young people leave Victoria School please visit this link. It explains how Queen Alexandra College (QAC) will be conducting their open days differently this year:

   

  https://www.qac.ac.uk/news/qac-open-day-events-update/1361.htm#.X2MUEBBKjIV

• Virtual Parents' Evening

  Sun 13 Sep 2020 Julie Fardell
  This week is our opportunity for a virtual Parents' evening. You will be contacted individually by your child's class teacher, for a discussion specifically about your child, their needs and your priorities for them. The class staff will also offer you the opportunity to participate in a whole class "virtual meeting" with the full staff team and all parents/carers to share information about the running of the class, the timetable, routines, expectations, etc. We encourage you all to attend. There will be no face-to-face meetings as we usually have.

• Tighter Coronavirus restrictions in Birmingham

  Sun 13 Sep 2020 Julie Fardell

  You will be aware that the rate of Coronavirus infection is increasing in Birmingham and as a result, tighter restrictions are coming into force. What does this mean for your child?

  Victoria School remains open for all pupils except those who require regular Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs) such as suctioning*, nebulising and ventilation. (*Those who require only oral (mouth) suctioning can return from Monday.)

  Students in year 7 and above (Key Stages 3,4 and 5) should bring a face covering to wear at school when in communal areas outside of lesson times. There may be some children who can't wear a face covering because of respiratory or behavioural issues. No-one will be prevented from attending school if they do not wear a face covering, but we do encourage everyone who can, to wear one.

   

  If your child has a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a change to their senses of taste or smell, DO NOT SEND THEM TO SCHOOL. Stay at home and ring 119 or go to www.nhs.uk/coronavirus to arrange a test. They must isolate for 10 days or until their test result comes back negative. Other household members must isolate for 14 days. 

  If your household is isolating, you cannot come out to drive your child to school.

   

  If your child develops symptoms at school, they will be kept in isolation and you need to collect them immediately and arrange for them to have a Coronavirus test.

   

  Please assist us to stop the spread of the virus by limiting to one, the number of adults accompanying a child to school. Please maintain social distancing from other parents, staff and children when you are dropping off / picking up your child.All school visits are strictly by appointment.

  Remember that frequent, rigorous handwashing for at least 20 seconds with soap and water is the best way to control the virus.

   

  REMEMBER:

  HANDS - wash your hands

  FACE - cover your face

  SPACE - leave enough space between yourself and others

   

• School Transport

  Thu 03 Sep 2020 Julie Fardell

  We are very aware that many families have been unhappy about arrangements and communication regarding school transport which started again today. It is a massive undertaking and involves many stakeholders: the children and young people, their families, the school, Birmingham City Council Travel Assist who commission the service and employ the guides, and National Express Accessible Transport (NEAT) who provide the buses, employ the drivers and work out the routes. Jayne Griffiths , who is Victoria School's Transport Coordinator has been working tirelessly, assisted by Di Tate, Pastoral Care Manager, to liaise with Travel Assist and NEAT to identify the gaps in service so they can be rectified. We appreciate your patience while this is sorted out. Parents who choose to drive their own children are eligible to apply for a cash mileage allowance. Application is via Travel Assist. Hopefully the initial problems will soon be ironed out and transport will resume working effectively.

   

  We have 2 extra buses this year: 32 buses plus taxis and parent pick-ups. Therefore, we need to maintain the double pick-up times in the afternoon. Buses: 6, 17, 18, 23 and  26 , together with taxis and parents picking up will only be able to enter the car park after the first run of 27 buses has departed, usually at about 3.15-3.20pm. This means that all children should depart school by  3.35pm.

   

  Please do keep in touch with us regarding any transport difficulties.

• Sad News - Clare Blackshaw

  Thu 03 Sep 2020 Julie Fardell
  It is with great sadness that I pass on the news of Clare Blackshaw's death on 31 August. Clare had a very long history with Victoria School and was wholly committed to the welfare and education of the pupils. Clare began working at Victoria as a teacher and gained promotion to the role of Assistant Head Teacher. Upon her retirement, Clare was appointed as Clerk to Governors of the newly formed Federation Governing Board, a role she held right up until her death. Although a very busy role, Clare also was extremely active on the committee of Friends of Victoria and over the past few years, fulfilled the role of Treasurer. Clare was active in preparing for and attending every Spring Fair, Summer Fair, Christmas Market and Santa Special. She liaised with Phab Camps for the children, and coordinated tickets to the Zoo, Circus and various special events for pupils and their families. Even this was not enough to fill her time. Clare was also a very regular volunteer , helping our young people with their reading and language development. Outside of school, Clare was a longstanding member of St Laurence Church and its choir. Clare passed away after a short illness. She will be very much missed for her great gentleness, dignity, hard work, generosity, care and concern for our young people. We will pass on details of her funeral (which we are hoping to live stream) and a collection in her memory, as they come to hand.