See here for the latest news and updates

• Coronavirus Testing in Schools from January 2021

  Tue 15 Dec 2020 Department for Education

  Coronavirus testing for schools and colleges from January

  Today we have announced that from January teachers and pupils will have access to rapid testing to help keep schools and colleges open throughout the spring term.

  From January, and starting with secondary schools, including all special schools and alternative provision, the education workforce will be eligible for weekly on the spot tests. This will help identify asymptomatic cases – which make up a third of all cases – limiting the spread of the virus. This will be backed up by daily testing for staff who have been in close contact with a positive case therefore eliminating the need for self-isolation; allowing them to continue to come into school or college.

  Students and pupils will be eligible for daily testing if they have been in close contact with a positive case.

  You can read the press notice and a detailed Q&A for parents, but here is a summary of the key details of the announcement:

  Teachers and pupils will have access to rapid testing from January. Staff who are in close contact with cases will be eligible for daily testing, eliminating the need for immediate self-isolation. Only if a daily test returns a positive result will the staff member need to isolate. Testing will roll out as rapidly as possible from January, starting with staff and moving quickly on to serial testing of students. It is the decision of the individual school or college when they would like to begin accessing this new dedicated testing capacity.

  Detailed operational guidance and training materials are available to secondary schools and colleges so they are able to use the new testing capacity from the first week of the spring term.

• Last day of Autumn term

  Wed 09 Dec 2020 Julie Fardell
  Victoria School will be open as usual on Friday 18 December 2020. The first day back after the Christmas break is Monday 4 January 2021.

• Notifying the school of any COVID-positive cases over Christmas

  Wed 09 Dec 2020 Julie Fardell

  We hope that all of our Victoria Community families have a happy, safe and healthy break over Christmas.

  However, if your child who attends Victoria School tests positive for COVID at any time up until Sunday 20/12/2020, please email me immediately on: j.fardell@victoria.bham.sch.uk

  This will be necessary for the school to identify any close contacts during your child's potentially infectious period so that they can be instructed to self isolate. You will also need to engage with NHS Track and Trace to identify any personal close contacts.

  If your child contracts COVID or needs to be in self isolation at any time later in the Christmas holiday, simply call the school on 0121 476 9478 and leave a message if your child will not be in school on Monday 4 January 2021.

  Despite all of this - we wish you a happy and restful Christmas break.

• Enteral Feeders back on deck tomorrow

  Thu 03 Dec 2020 Julie Fardell
  More good news - Children who receive enteral (Tube) feeds can return to school tomorrow. This does not include those children who are isolating (LOR, LJA, RKH and MSI Unit) or those who require regular suctioning. We are still awaiting confirmation from Birmingham Complex Care and NHS School Nursing Service as to when those children who require regular suctioning can safely return to school.

• COVID 19 - Good News!!

  Thu 03 Dec 2020 Julie Fardell
  Great news - no new COVID cases for 3 days now and those who have been isolating are beginning to return.

• PE at Home Advent Calendar

  Wed 02 Dec 2020 Helen
  There are some ideas of things you could try saved in the PE section of Home Learning - adaptations will need to be made for some children.

• Parents Sensory Festival - Hirstwood Training

  Wed 02 Dec 2020

  Victoria staff recently participated in Hirstwood training and feedback was very positive. Tickets for this event are £12.50.

   

  'The live Festival will take place on Saturday 5th December 2020 and although we want you to be there we know that it’s not always possible. So the sessions will be recorded where possible and available to watch online until the evening of 12 December 2020.'

   

  More information and how to book is on:

   

  https://hirstwood.com/parents-sensory-festival/

   

• Face Coverings to be used on School Transport fby pupils aged 11 and over unless exempt

  Mon 30 Nov 2020 Department for Education

  Updated guidance on the use of face coverings when travelling to school or college

  Face coverings are an important measure in reducing the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19), particularly in enclosed spaces. Children aged 11 and over are required to wear a face covering on public transport in England, unless exempt for health, age or disability reasons.

  From 2 December, in accordance with advice from Public Health England, children and young people aged 11 and over must wear a face covering when travelling on dedicated transport to secondary school or college, unless they are exempt.

  Schools should support local authorities in promoting the use of face coverings when travelling to and from school or college and help them to resolve any issues of non-compliance where appropriate.

  The ‘Hands. Face. Space.’ campaign urges everyone to continue to wash their hands, cover their face and make space to control infection rates. The NHS has released a ‘Hands. Face. Space.’ video that may be a useful resource when communicating the importance of wearing a face covering on transport directly to children and young people.

  Further information on face coverings can be found in our guidance on transport to school and other places of education: 2020 to 2021 academic year.

• COVID Update 30/11/20

  Mon 30 Nov 2020 Julie Fardell

  We have had a further 3 staff test positive to COVID. All are from MSI. The total now stands at 14 staff and 2 pupils. The classes affected are LOR, LJA, RKH (all in 14-19) and the MSI Department.

   

  Isolation for the first bubble (LOR/LJA) will come to an end later this week and for MSI early next week.

• COVID Update 27.11.20

  Fri 27 Nov 2020 Julie Fardell

  We now have 13 positive cases in school - 2 pupils and 11 staff across the MSI Unit and 14-19 classes: LJA, LOR and RKH, with some pupils and staff from LBW also isolating due to exposure to potentially infectious persons prior to their symptoms occurring.

   

  REMINDER: Please observe social distancing and wear a mask if you are at school to drop off or collect a child. Do not attend if you or a household member are unwell, have COVID symptoms or are awaiting a COVID test.

   

  Hands - Face - Space