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 (FAQs further down the page).   Updated 01.04.22                         

Government information:

What Parents/ Carers need to know about schools during Covid-19 outbreak - click here : translated versions:   Arabic  Bengali  Chinese – traditional  Chinese-simplified  French  Gujarati  Polish  Portuguese  Punjabi  Romany  Somali  Turkish  Urdu

CORONAVIRUS – a reminder of the current Government guidelines, click here.

NHS Covid-19 website - click here for info & support

BCC information:  For Parents & Carers of children with SEND - click here          Mental Health information & support - click here            

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

Links to resources that can help you help your child with C-19: 

   Self care support        Advice for young people       Advice for Parents & Carers

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

The guidelines from the Government have been fully relaxed as of 1.4.22. We explain our position here:

As per the DfE/ Government guidelines, currently we insist that children with symptoms or who have tested positive for Covid-19 isolate for 3 days.  

Symptoms are:

A high temperature: any new high temperature where the person feels hot to touch on their chest or back (you do not need to measure the temperature);  A new continuous cough: coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours;   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.

Cold/ flu like symptoms – the delta & Omicron variants can present symptoms of sore throat/ runny nose. Please note that common cold symptoms, including runny nose, are normal - keep your child at home for a day or two and if other symptoms don't appear, they can return to school. If other symptoms appear, please get your child tested asap.

If your child is ill, as with any illness, do not send them to school. 

Note: Self-isolation for a remaining cough after 7 days is not necessary as the cough can linger for a few days, even weeks, after having the virus.

If your child is due in school but is self-isolating, you must ring or email the school to inform us of him/her not attending

and the reasons why – as we would normally would expect for any absence.    

At all times, as we always expect, please call the school by 9.15am to inform us as to why your child is not in school and keep us informed.

Thank you for your support in these unusual times.

• Can I talk to someone if I am unsure about sending my child to school? Of course - if in any doubt about anything, including around Covid concerns or procedures, we would strongly advise contacting us to discuss this - please email our office enquiry@bellfield-jun.bham.sch.uk or phone into school  – we’re here to help.
• Does the school have a risk assessment for the Covid-19 crisis? Yes. You can read this document by clicking HERE - this is reviewed as appropriate if there are any changes to the guidelines from the DfE/ Government or PHE advice. Also, we have an Outbreak Management Plan in case cases rise in our school, which can be found HERE.
• What other precautions are still in place in school?  Adults continue to have the choice to wear face coverings in communal areas and when meeting visitors - this is strongly recommended by the school. Ensuring good respiratory hygiene - continue to promote the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach (we ask you encourage this at home also). Everyone must wash/ hand sanitise their hands on entering school and regularly during the day. 
• 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. 
• Will I be fined if I choose not to send my child into school? Yes. The Government have said that as schools are fully open, 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, it is important to contact us to talk about this so we can find ways to support you and your family.
• Can I send my child to school with PPE/ hand sanitiser? 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. The Government/DfE state that face masks are not required by children in school and should be removed at the entrance. However, we feel there should continue to be choice for staff, children and families. Therefore, 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. It is preferable that masks are not 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.  Any questions, please contact us.
• How are lunchtimes being organised? Lunchtimes are back to normal.
• Are Breakfast Club & after-school clubs open? Yes.
• What do I do if my child is ill? As usual, you must contact the school before 9.15am. 
• How is the school supporting home learning? If children are at home for a period, such as due to isolation or shielding, the school will continue to provide Home Learning Packs & work online on our learning platform  - usernames and passwords for all our online learning support are in the children's home learning planners.
• How do I share my child's learning from home? Please send any work in via the year group emails, on the Learning Platform or it can be handed in at the office/ to the teacher on return to school. 
• As an adult/ Parent/ Carer of a child, can I come into school? You can come in the main entrance to the reception office only, using the provided hand sanitiser at the door and wearing a face covering. Please try to make an appointment to see specific staff.

• Will there be COVID-19 testing and contact tracing in education and childcare settings?  No - unless there is guidance from PHE.

• 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 or PHB appropriately.