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 08.03.21                                   

Government information:

What Parents/ Carers need to know about schools during Covid-19 outbreak - click here (last update was 31.12.20): translated versions:   Arabic  Bengali  Chinese – traditional  Chinese-simplified  

French  Gujarati  Polish  Portuguese  Punjabi  Romany  Somali  Turkish  Urdu

Guidance from Government, updated 22.2.21: National lockdown: Stay at Home

Guidelines for full opening for schools  - click here (last update 22.02.21))

BCC information:  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: 

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

                                      Mindfulness Calendar - 2 weekly, 5 minute wellbeing activities

                                     Back to School - 5 tips for Parents

Covid-19 symptoms? What to do...

If your child develops any of the following symptoms: new persistent cough, fever or a change in, or loss of, your sense of smell/ taste, you need to do two things: 1) You need to order a test immediately. You can do this online at nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119.        2) You and anyone in your household must immediately self-isolate until you receive the results of your test.   If the test is positive, you must continue to self-isolate for 10 days from when the symptoms started. Anyone in the household must continue to self-isolate for a total of 10 days. If the test is negative, everyone no longer needs to self-isolate and can return to normal.      

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.

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 - we would encourage your child(ren) to be in school and we are doing everything possible (& beyond) to keep everyone safe in school.  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? As from 8th March 2021, ALL children are expected to be in school.
• 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? 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.
• 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: 3.10pm Y5;  3.15pm Y6;  3.20pm  Y4  and 3.25pm Y3 except Fridays - these are 1.05pm Y3 & Y4; 1.10pm Y6 (from back entrance near bike park) & Y5 at 1.15pm.
• 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 children under Year7 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. It is preferable that masks are not 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? Lunchtimes will be staggered and children will remain in their year group bubbles, with cleaning between sittings. Free School Meals are as normal during term time and provided in school - if you think you are eligible but currently do not claim, click HERE to complete the online service to check. Any children not in school eligible for FSMs will have food packages available weekly - more info will be sent via email.
• How have the children who have returned been feeling? Children settle quickly,  follow the rules sensibly, self-regulate and tell 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 26.04.21 but our Breakfast Club & the Friday childcare group until 3.30pm as before. 
• 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. NHS Covid-19 website - click here for info & support
• 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. 
• Does the FSM Voucher scheme continue? No but if your child is not in school for Covid related reasons for an extended period & you are eligible for FSMs, the school will organising weekly food parcels.
• 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. For any other contact, ie to talk to Pastoral or a teacher, please contact school using phones, emails or, if requested, we can use Internet media (such as Zoom or Teams) to ‘meet’ with you.  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. There may be some limited mixing to support intervention groups or wraparound care.
• 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.  It has been agreed that adults working in the school will wear face coverings in communal areas and all visitors will wear face coverings except where 2m+ distancing is possible (ie in a year group assembly).
• 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 and wearing a face covering (unless exempt). 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?  Most school staff are now testing using LFD tests twice weekly.

  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 119 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 or any cold-like symptoms, you MUST arrange for testing, as per Government guidelines and isolate for 10days 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 or PHB appropriately and keep you fully informed.