Bellfield Junior School

FAQs during C-19 crisis for Parents

We all have questions about C-19 and how it affects us. Here we try to answer some of those questions about the current situation in school.                                                                                           Updated 17.09.20

Government information:

What Parents/ Carers need to know about schools during Covid-19 outbreak - click here (last update was 10.09.20): translated versions:   Arabic  Bengali  Chinese – traditional  Chinese-simplified  

French  Gujarati  Polish  Portuguese  Punjabi  Romany  Somali  Turkish  Urdu

Guidelines for full opening for schools  - click here (last update 10.09.20)

Letter from BCC regarding what the council is doing to support safe opening of schools

NHS Covid-19 Test & trace app - click here 

BCC information:  regarding schools during the Covid-19 outbreak

                                      What we need to do in B'ham to stay Covid-19 safe

                                      For Parents & Carers of children with SEND - click here

                                      Mental Health information & support - click here

                                      Building children's resilience during C-19 - click here

                                      Supporting children going back to school - click here

                                      Bereavement support from: Edward's Trust   'Beyond the Horizon'

                                      Child Bereavement UK  

BBC video - how to wear a face mask correctly - click here

Links to resources that can help you help your child with C-19 and in preparing to return to school: 

   Self care support

                                     Advice for young people

                                     Advice for Parents & Carers

                                      Mindfulness Calendar - 2 weekly, 5 minute wellbeing activities

                                    Going back to school - work through this with your child(ren)

                                        Tips for Returning to School - video (8min)

                                     Back to School - 5 tips for Parents

• Can I talk to someone if I am unsure about sending my child to school? Of course - we would encourage it, but if you'd like to discuss it further, please email our office enquiry@bellfield-jun.bham.sch.uk or phone into school and talk to us – we’re here to help.
• How can I look after my child's mental health & well-being? See links above - also: The Pastoral Team (Miss Harvey & Ms Benn) are in school and here to support you, whether that's just to listen or to get you the support you need. Please contact the office via email or phone. 
• Which children are allowed in school? ALL children are expected in school unless they are ill or isolating - you must contact the school to inform them.
• Will my child be taught by their usual teacher? Yes
• Does the school have a risk assessment for the Covid-19 crisis? Yes. You can read this document by clicking HERE - this is reviewed weekly and if there are any changes to the guidelines from the DfE/ Government.
• Will I be fined if I do not send my child into school? The Government have said that all children must return to school and that the usual prosecution procedures will apply  - this means you can be fined up to £1000 per child per parent/ carer if you do not send your child to school. However, if you do have concerns about your child being in school, please contact us to talk about this so we can find ways to support you and your family.
• What are the times for bringing/ collecting my child? 8.35am Y6;  8.40 Y5;  8.45am Y4 and 8.50am Y6 - gates close at 8.55am.  Collection: 3.20pm Y5&6 (6 from the main doors) and 3.25pm Y3&4.
• Can I send my child to school with PPE/ hand sanitiser? The Government/DfE (click here, and here) state that face masks are not required by anyone in school and should be removed at the entrance. However, we feel there should be choice for staff, children and families. Therefore, yes - this is your choice for you to provide and send your child to school with a face-mask if you so wish, to be worn in communal areas. However, if your child is to wear a face mask, you must discuss with them how to wear the mask, not to keep messing with the mask and to keep their hands away from the mask as much as possible. Masks will not be allowed to be worn during lessons as this hinders the learning. The school reserves the right to ask children to remove face masks if they are not being worn properly and/or keep being messed with as it will not be doing the job they are designed to do. We will inform you should this be the case.  Further, if you wish to send your child to school with their own hand sanitiser, that is fine too, as long as it has their name on, is kept with them and not shared with others. Any questions, please contact us.
• How are lunchtimes being organised? As per the newsletter in July and letter 18 August, lunchtimes will be more staggered and children will remain in their year group bubbles, with cleaning between sittings. Free School Meals will restart - if you think you are eligible but currently do not claim, click HERE to complete the online service to check.
• How have the children who have returned been feeling? They have settled really quickly, followed the rules sensibly, self-regulating and have been telling us how much they missed the school... and us! It's been a very happy place. 
• Are Breakfast Club & after-school clubs open? Yes. Normal after-school clubs will begin wc 14.09.20. We are extending our Breakfast Club to run from 7.30am and an afterschool ChildCare group (Mon-Thurs) that will run from after school until 6pm. Click here for more details
• What do I do if my child is ill?As usual, you must contact the school before 9.15am. If your child, or any member of the family are showing signs of the symptoms being potentially Covid-19, see the guidelines below - follow Govt instructions, get tested and keep the school informed.
• How is the school supporting home learning? During this crisis, we have provided projects, work and links to excellent work sites via the website. We have also been producing weekly work packs.     The Government is supporting digital home learning in the future, so if something like this crisis happens again, support is readily available - and it will support children who are at home for other reasons - ie extended illness. We are currently developing the Learning Platform to support further home learning and will keep you up to date as we get this up and running.
• How do I share my child's learning from home? Please send any work in via the year group emails or it can be handed in at the office. The new platform will allow work to be uploaded and marked also.
• Does the FSM Voucher scheme continue? No - This scheme ended on 31st August and went back to normal pre-Covid-19, with children eligible receiving FSMs in school.
• As an adult/ Parent/ Carer of a child, can I come into school? The current advice is that, where possible, please contact school using phones, emails or, if requested, we can use Internet media (such as Zoom) to ‘meet’ with you. However, if you do need to speak with us in person, you can only enter through the main reception doors – where there will be a one-way system. Please follow the arrows and the instructions of staff. There is a hand sanitiser in this area also, that we will ask you to use. You may be asked to have the NHS Test&Trace app so you can scan our Q code or you may be asked to complete a T&T form.
• How are you ensuring everyone in school is safe? We will have year group 'bubbles' (a 'bubble' - bubbles are groups that then do not mix with other groups to protect everyone, such as separate classrooms, playtimes, lunchtimes & times in/out of school), depending on the size of the classroom. 
• We have a strict one-way system into, out of and around school, with 2m distancing that everyone must follow. We ask that Parents/ Carers wear face masks around our premises.
• Staggered timetables to come into school, leave school and for break/ lunch times. Ensuring good respiratory hygiene - promote the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach. 
• Everyone must wash/ hand sanitise their hands on entering school and regularly during the day. 
• We have cleaners who are regularly going around school cleaning all communal areas, and classrooms at break/ lunch times.
• PPE is available for staff, especially where 2m is not possible - ie when there is a medical issue. 
• Where do I bring my child to school/ collect them? Please bring all children/ come to collect your child through the steps entrance from Vineyard Road and you will need to follow the one way system, leaving through the gates onto Bellfield or the back alleyway, maintaining social distancing rules. You will not be able to use the back alleyway as an entrance at the current time.

• Will there be COVID-19 testing and contact tracing in education and childcare settings?  Testing is already available for all school staff and their household members - call 119.

  All those children eligible to attend school, and members of their households, will have access to testing if they display symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).

  To access testing, you should use the 111 online coronavirus service.   This will enable them to get back into childcare or education, and their parents or carers to get back to work, if the test proves to be negative.

• PLEASE NOTE: if anyone in your house have symptoms of C-19, you MUST arrange for testing, as per Government guidelines and isolate for 10-14days or until the test result is negative.

• What happens if someone in school tests positive for Covid-19?  In the event of a child or member of staff testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), we will follow the guidance from the Government and PHE appropriately.

• Where are the letters and information about my child's year group at this time? HERE and HERE