Fantastic News!
Language and Play is back up and running!
Admissions for Saint Joseph’s Infant School
St Joseph’s Catholic Infant School is a Christ centred caring and effective learning community, where pupils aged 3-7 years celebrate through prayer and worship their love of God. Walking in the footsteps of Christ we work together to prepare our children to be resilient, resourceful learners, to love one another and help others. Our aim is to provide the very best learning experience for each and every child.
Saint Joseph’s Infant school has excellent transition with St Joseph’s Junior School and St Joseph’s Catholic Sixth Form Centre, providing a Catholic education from 3-18 years. If you would like to become part of our family of Catholic schools and you would like us to be partners with you, as your child take the first steps in formal education please contact:
Ms Julie Beaumont Headteacher on 01639 882579 or
Email: stjosinf@npt.school
Nursery Classes September 2021 and September 2022 To ensure that we allocate places to Catholic children as is our mission, we are now collecting names for those children born between 1st September 2018 and 31st August 2019 and 1st September 2019 and August 2020
Dear parents,
Click below to see a letter welcoming our new Nursery children to St. Joseph’s.
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Infant School
Recovery Plan and Risk Assessment Version 3 for November 2020
Contents
Recovery Plan
Appendix 1 Keep Education Safe- Operational Guidance for School Settings
Appendix 2 Neath Port Talbot Check in, Catch Up and Prepare for Summer and September Arrangements
Appendix 3 School Risk Assessments for reducing the risk of Covid-19
Appendix 4 Operational guidance for schools and settings from autumn term
Appendix 5 Managing Movement Around Schools
Appendix 6 PPE Information Poster
Appendix 7 Disease Outbreak Plan for Wales (2020) Public Health Wales
Appendix 8 CIBSE COVID -19 Ventilation Guidance
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Infant School
Recovery Plan and Risk Assessment Version 3 for November 2020
This recovery plan has been developed in line with the guidance provided by the Welsh Government document, ‘Keep Education Safe (Operational Guidance for Schools and settings (Covid-19)’ (See Appendix 1)
Guidance provided by NPT Council, ‘Neath Port Talbot Check in, Catch Up and Prepare for Summer and September Arrangements’ has also supported the development of the plan. (See Appendix 2)
This plan should be read in conjunction with the school’s risk assessments for reducing the risk of Covid-19. (See Appendix 3) and Operational guidance for schools and settings from the autumn term (See Appendix 4), Managing Movement Around School (see Appendix 5), PPE Information Poster (see Appendix 6), Disease Outbreak Plan for Wales (2020) Public Heralth Wales (see Appendix 7) and 8 CIBSE COVID -19 Ventilation Guidance (see Appendix 8).
Our aims and decision making will be guided by two clear questions:
As we move forwards these simple questions will guide and inform all our decision making. We will not implement any plan unless we are convinced that it is the right thing to do and we can do it safely.
This plan has been developed using the following 5 key principles set out by the Education Minister:
Overarching Guidance for leaders and governors.
Recovery Plan and Risk Assessment for 3rd Phase of School Re-Opening November 2020
Rationale:
This plan will aim to ensure that we safeguard our community by:
Simple plan is:
Stay Clean. We wash our hands regularly and use the hand sanitisers provided.
Be Hygienic:
In all education, childcare and social care settings, preventing the spread of coronavirus involves dealing with direct transmission (for instance, when in close contact with those sneezing and coughing) and indirect transmission (via touching contaminated surfaces). A range of approaches and actions must be employed to control transmissions.
These can be seen as a hierarchy of controls that, when implemented, creates an inherently safer system, where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced. These include:
1) Prevention- Minimising contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, do not attend schools. They should remain at home and self-isolate and arrange a COVID-19 TEST. Those showing symptoms in school, should be in a separate room, supervised at a distance of 2 metres where possible until collected.
In yard. Children will line up keeping 2 m distance between class bubbles and collected by Teacher/ Teaching Assistant and accompanied to class.
Start time will be staggered for Year/Class Groups.
End of Day – Y2 Children will be released from front ramp to -parents who will be asked to wait, keeping socially distant in the yard between the main gate and the entrance to the school. Y1 (Mrs Turner’s Class) children will be released from the ramp exit 10 minutes later.
Release at end of Day – will be staggered.
Lunchtimes – will be staggered and food eaten in classrooms, tables to be cleaned before and after lunch, or eaten outside if weather permits.
Organisation of School Day
Staggered Approach
We will as far as possible keep them in their class bubbles. To do this we will stagger the start, lunch, end of the school day.
Class | Arrival | AM Break | Lunch | PM Break | Pick Up |
Y2 AW | 8:45 | 10:15-10:30 | 11:55-12:25
(Dinner Ladies 11:40-12:40) |
1:30-1:45 | 2:45 |
Y1 ST | 8:55 | 2:55 | |||
Y1/R JJ | 8:55 | 9:45-10:00 | 11:35-12:05
(Dinner Ladies 11:20-12:20) |
1:15-1:30 | |
Reception EM/KT | 8:55 | 2:55 | |||
Nursery AM | 9:00 | – | 11:30 | ||
Nursery PM | 12:15 | 2:45 |
*For those children with siblings we will be flexible
Minimising Adult Interaction
We will stagger entrance and leaving times to the school to promote essential adult social distancing.
Drop off to both sides of yard. (Only exception to this will be if a child is ill). They will then be collected by a Class Teacher/ Teaching Assistant.
At the end of the day Year 2 (then 10 mins later Y1/ Mrs Turner) pupils will be released from the side ramp to the front of the school. Reception and Year 1 pupils from the main playground.
Simple Guidance Principles for Staff
Saint Joseph’s Infant School Recovery Plan Checklist
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What needs to happen? | Before returning | On return | Ongoing | Actions needed and who is doing it | Completed |
SLT and governors should ensure transparency in relation to guidance. Follow and recheck the appropriate government Covid guidance and updates on all issues.
Produce plan, share with governors and sign-off plan
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· | · | · WG guidance is checked daily.
· New information will be shared with staff and Governors · Risk assessment will be continually updated. It is a working document.
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Ongoing
Updated daily |
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Risk assessments need to be carried out as required and adapted:
· COVID19 Secure Risk Assessment · Classroom Risk Assessment · Vulnerable Staff Risk Assessment · Cleaning |
· | · | SLT/ Bursar/ Teachers review/ carry out RA | To be completed by Friday 29th June. Reviewed Sept 2020.Reviewed Oct 2020. Reviewed 9th November 2020. |
Staff, Governors and Wider Community
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Checklist | Before returning | On return | Ongoing | Actions needed/ thoughts | Completed |
Plan for the phased return of pupils. Organisation (classroom, staffing, year groups, pods, siblings, etc.) | ü | ||||
Ensure strategic and wellbeing meetings are held with all staff.
Make time for all staff to talk to senior leaders about their personal situation if required: · Thoughts on returning, fears, concerns about returning, · what will be easy to accomplish, what will be hard, · fatigue (Staff have continued to work), · changes in circumstance, retirement, pregnancy, bereavement. · additional worries about members of their family and friends. · Remind them of any internal support plan/system that is in place · Discuss ability to return to work. |
· | · | · | · Team meetings continue via Microsoft Teams.
· SLT ensure meetings with staff and regular contact · Maintain focus on signposting to essential well-being services. · Well-Being services highlighted in staff update on Teams.
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All staff consulted
By Tuesday 1st September 2020. |
Check with latest WG guidance Identify staff who can’t return to school at this point those with shielding letters or those who have been identified as high Risk in the All Wales Covid 19 Workforce Risk assessment Tool and consider if they can work from home. | · | · | · SLT review staffing weekly.
· Checked on self-declarations and current screening advice. · HT contacted all staff on 25th May. · Seeking advice from LA on security/clarity for different groups of staff shielding. |
Completed before staffing rotas compiled. | |
Consider options if necessary staffing levels can’t be maintained (including school leaders and key staff like designated safeguarding leads and first aid providers). | · | · | · Have ‘stand-by’ staff and protocol for support for a pod if required. | Staffing rotas planned and agreed by Wednesday 3rd September 2020 |
Staff, Governors and Wider Community
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Checklist | Before returning | On return | Ongoing | Actions needed/ thoughts | Completed |
TEST,TRACE,PROTECT strategy
A record of all visitors- discuss need to include mobile number/email Set up School Internal Covid Tracking to ensure safe return to school for those isolating/ Positive result |
· | · | · | JBR/CJ review existing system | |
Review SEN – learners with special educational needs. Specific help for the changes in routine, plan for changes eg. Social stories (JBE/CL/JJ) | HB- Social story?
A? |
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Management of Confirmed cases of COVID-19 – Follow Positive COVID 19 Case Protocol Version 4 30th October 2020
Cluster- is defined as 2 or more cases among learners or staff within 14 days or an increased rate of absence due to suspected or confirmed cases of COVBID –19
A potential incident is defined as two or more confirmed cases of COVID –19 among learners or staff who are direct close contacts, proximity contacts or in the same “contact group*” in the school, within 14 days. * same class
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· | See Disease Outbreak Plan for Wales (2020)
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Wellbeing of Head teacher, staff and SLT safeguarded. | · | · | · Regular meetings.
· Signposting to services. · Regular contact with CoG and HT.
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Reassure and consult with staff about expectations for planning on return to work | · | · | · | · Expectations around how to plan for the class- See resources from ED P
· Tuesday and Wednesday will be Preparation for return of whole school · Lunch Time supervisors informed of return to work, they will be allocated to one pod |
Ongoing. |
Ensure all teams have accessed training for new ways of working. Includes:
e.g. Catering team and safety protocols. Cleaning staff and use of PPE/safe working practice Health and Safety management for SLT Briefings led with staff on ‘safer’ teaching practices. |
· | · | · | · SLT lead all teams and arrange training. Checked by HT on 22nd June. | Completed by 22nd June |
Letter to Parents
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· | · | · Shared on web/ Teacher to Parents | August 2020
Update September 1st 2020.October Update. November Update. |
The risk assessments and recovery plan will be monitored and reviewed on a weekly basis.
Appendix
Appendix 1 Keep Education Safe- Operational Guidance for School Settings
https://gov.wales/keep-education-safe-operational-guidance-schools-and-settings-covid-19
Appendix 2 Neath Port Talbot Check in, Catch Up and Prepare for Summer and September Arrangements
Appendix 3 School Risk Assessments for reducing the risk of Covid-19
Appendix 4 Operational Guidance for schools and settings from the autumn term
Appendix 5 Managing Movement Around Schools
Appendix 6 PPE Information Poster
Appendix 7 Disease Outbreak Plan for Wales (2020) Public Heralth Wales
Appendix 8 CIBSE COVID -19 Ventilation Guidance
Fluoride varnish can be applied by dental teams at your family dental practice and at some nurseries and schools.
Fluoride varnish is a golden gel that is applied to a dried tooth surface. It has a pleasant taste and a fruity smell. It helps to prevent tooth decay by strengthening the teeth, and has shown to be most effective if applied to the teeth at least twice a year.
The varnish hardens on the tooth just after being applied, so the fluoride can be in contact with the outer surface of the teeth for a long period of time. The golden colour can take a few days to fade.
How is the fluoride varnish put onto the tooth?
The process is quick and easy.
In nurseries and schools, the varnish will either be applied within a visiting dental mobile unit or the dental team can bring their special portable equipment into a quiet, private area of school.
Only specially trained dental staff can apply the fluoride varnish. They have strict rules of hygiene and infection control. A clean pair of clinical gloves is worn and a new fluoride application pack is used for each child. The child’s teeth are gently wiped with a cotton wool roll and the correct amount of fluoride varnish is applied using a small disposable soft brush.
Please Note: If your child normally takes fluoride drops or tablets, they should not have fluoride varnish applied.
Aftercare Instructions
Try not to let your child eat hard foods such as apples, carrots or crisps today to avoid the varnish being scraped off the tooth surfaces.
We will arrange to paint your child’s teeth with the fluoride varnish again, at school, in about 6 months time.
If your child has problems or an allergic reaction after today’s application, please inform the school or Designed to Smile team.
Your child has not had a detailed examination. It is important that your child attends a dental practice regularly for check ups and let your own dentist know that your child has had fluoride varnish applied at school.
Is fluoride varnish safe?
Yes when applied at the correct dose, fluoride varnish is safe.
Children can have fluoride varnish applied up to four times per year. Children taking part in Designed to Smile may have fluoride varnish applied twice a year in school or nursery. If your child has had fluoride varnish applied in school, it is a good idea to tell your dentist so that they can space out other applications to increase the benefit.
Children who swallow too much fluoride can develop white spots on their teeth. That’s why it is important not to let your child eat toothpaste. Fluoride varnish is applied at school only twice a year therefore the risk of developing white spots as a result is tiny.
If your child normally takes fluoride drops or tablets, they should not receive fluoride varnish applications at nursery or school.
Can all children have fluoride varnish applied?
Every child joining the programme must have written consent given by their parent or guardian.
The consent form asks questions about past medical history and we particularly want to know if your child has ever had to be hospitalised following a severe asthma attack or has an allergy to colophony or sticking plaster.
It may not be appropriate for some children to have the varnish applied. We will keep you informed before visiting school if this is the case.
If a child has a sore mouth or broken skin around the mouth or an infectious illness on the day of the dental team’s visit, then fluoride varnish will not be applied. We would let you know about this in writing.
Every time you eat or drink something containing sugar, plaque bacteria on your teeth make acid which attacks the tooth surface. After a while, a hole or cavity forms. This is called tooth decay. To stop tooth decay:
Vegetable Sticks
Cheese and Crackers
Fresh Fruit
Pitta Bread and Hummous
Bread
Toast
Milk and water are the only safe drinks for young children.
Fruit juices contain natural sugar (fructose) and should only be offered at mealtimes.
Diet drinks contain artificial sweeteners which do not cause decay but are acidic which dissolve the surface, causing dental erosion.
Always ask for sugar free medicines
Sugar in cakes, biscuits, sweets, chocolate, jam, preserves, fizzy drinks, squash, milk shakes
Fruit Juice: the natural sugars can cause tooth decay. Fruit juices are important in providing vitamin C and reaching our 5-a- day, but drink at mealtimes only.
Dried Fruit: can cause tooth decay. The natural sugar has been released from the fruit cell as part of the drying process, so eat at mealtimes only.
Whole fruits and vegetables are a very important part of a healthy diet. They do contain natural sugars but are in a safer form within the fruit cell.
Milk is a very important part of a healthy diet. It contains natural sugar but a safer type.
Some snacks can contain more sugar than you realise. Here are some examples of popular snacks that contain large amounts of sugar which can be harmful to teeth.
Smile https://www.designedtosmile.org/welcome-croeso/welcome/
Toothbrushing at home
This year, because of COVID-19, we will not be running the Design to Smile scheme in school. Here is some really useful guidance for you to follow with your child.
Fluoride toothpaste helps to keep teeth strong. Children can use a fluoride-containing (1000- 1450ppm F) toothpaste.
Brush your child’s teeth twice a day, especially last thing at night before bed.
For children under 3 years, use only a smear of toothpaste.
For children over 3 years, use a pea-sized amount.
Don’t let them rinse afterwards, just get your child to spit out the toothpaste. SPIT DON’T RINSE is the most effective way to use fluoride toothpaste. This is a good message for adults too!
But, don’t let your child eat toothpaste.
Children under 8 years need help with brushing.
Remember to take your child’s brush and paste with you when you visit family and friends and when you go on holiday.
Even if your child joins in a nursery/school toothbrushing programme, it is still important that they also brush their teeth at home twice a day.
What can I do if my child won’t allow me to brush their teeth?
Thank you for working with us!
Quick Guide to Drop off Routine
Staggered Start to the school day.
Staggered Approach
We will as far as possible keep children in their class bubbles.
To do this we will stagger the start, lunch, end of the school day.
Class | Arrival | AM Break | Lunch | PM Break | Pick Up |
Y2 AW | 8:45 |
|
2:45 | ||
Y1 ST | 8:50 | 2:55 | |||
Y1/R JJ | 8:55 | ||||
Reception EM/KT | 8:55 | 2:55 | |||
Nursery AM | 9:00 | 11:30 | |||
Nursery PM | 12:15 | 2:45 |
Arrival Routine:
We are trying to keep everyone safe. To avoid children getting cold and wet and avoid congestion, please arrive promptly at your designated drop of slot. See above* However, should you arrive early please work with us, DO NOT enter the yard, please queue at 2m distance in the lane behind Norman Street.
If early please wait in cars/ or leave a little later. Ms Beaumont will invite one group of children into the yard at their time slot. Once in the yard please use the footprints to keep socially distant and stand 2m apart. Parents are asked not to go on the steps to the Nursery unit.
One Way System:
To improve social distancing parents are asked to walk UP the lanes BEHIND Norman Street and to exit along the lane to the right towards town/ Norman Street.
Thanks again for working with us to keep everyone safe!