Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Distance/Remote Learning
We have set up a specific page for remote learning, while nearly all students are working from home. This is designed to outline the school's approach to remote learning, underpinned by research, as well as useful documents and help for families.

For any questions related to distance learning, please contact Mr Davies, Assistant Head by email. 

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Information about Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China in December 2019. The incubation period of COVID-19 is between 2 and 14 days. This means that if a person remains well 14 days after contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus, they have not been infected.

A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China in December 2019. The following symptoms may develop after exposure to someone who has COVID-19 infection

• new continuous cough;

• high temperature; and/or

•  loss of taste and/or smell.

Generally, these infections can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, such as older people and/or those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. There is no evidence that children are more affected than other age groups – very few cases have yet to have been reported in children.

How COVID-19 is spread?
From what we know about other coronaviruses, spread of COVID-19 is most likely to happen when there is close contact (within 2 metres) with an infected person. It is likely that the risk increases the longer someone has close contact with an infected person.

Prevention
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus. There are general principles anyone can follow to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including

• students/staff who feel unwell (or develop high temperature or a new cough) should stay at home for 10 days;

• washing your hands often - with liquid soap and water, or use alcohol sanitiser if handwashing facilities are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport;covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in a bin. Students, staff and visitors should wash their hands
  
  1) before leaving home;
  2) on arrival at school;
  3) after using the toilet;
  4) after breaks and sporting activities;
  5) before food preparation;
  6) before eating any food, including snacks; and
  7) before leaving school.

• avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands;

• avoid close contact with people who are unwell; 

• if you are worried about your symptoms or those of a child or colleague, please use the Coronavirus COVID-19 symptom checker on NHS Direct Wales. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment;

• see the latest information about novel coronavirus on the Public Health Wales website.

In the event of a full/partial school closure (short-term and/or long-term)
The school will only close where there is direct guidance/recommendation from appropriate authorities eg. Public Health Wales and/or where there are insufficient numbers of staff available to safely deliver an education to students. In the event of a school closure, staff will not be able to access the school site. Therefore, in this situation the school will

• Provide students in all year groups (with increased support for those students preparing to sit public examinations in the summer) with online materials to facilitate distant learning;

• Provide paper-based materials for those students who do not have access to either a mobile device and/or internet (as part of the preparation phase the school will seek to identify where this is the case);

• Communicate with families/students on a regular basis to provide updates on recovery phase ie. safe return to normal school life.

Upon return to 'normal practices' the school will

• Undertake a learning audit for examination classes to identify skills-gaps in readiness for the summer series;

• Communicate with relevant awarding bodies to make them aware of any requirements for special considerations;

• Respond to any ongoing support required for students and/or staff. This may include counselling services.

Communication
Throughout the UK Government response phases to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) the school will work closely with relevant authorities to make decisions which are in the interests of the all members of the community. However, to support the safety, wellbeing and continued learning of students the school asks that all families

• Sign up to the school twitter feed @Caldicot_Sch to be able to access relevant information in the eventuality of a partial/full closure;

• Ensure that the school has the correct email address in order to maintain communication throughout the process;

• Talk to child(ren) about hygiene practices and make use of relevant sites to reduce anxiety.

Useful Information
UK Government (COVID-19)
Welsh Government (COVID-19)
Public Health Wales