Dear Parent/Carer,

With the rising rates of Covid19 transmission and Nottinghamshire now under tier 3 restrictions and Leicester under tier 2 restrictions, following a risk assessment and based on the government guidance which was updated on 22^nd October 2020 for local restrictions in high or very high areas, I have taken the decision to adopt the additional measures applied to schools, specifically, that all students and staff are required to wear face coverings in corridors and in communal areas.  This will be effective from Monday 2^nd November.

The academy and Bottesford are categorised as tier 1, however, this masks the risk of increasing transmission.  There are a number of staff and pupils travelling in from high risk areas and also parents and members of the local community working in the cities of Leicester and Nottingham, therefore, this does increase the risk of transmission.  

I have consulted with the Leicester Education Effectiveness Team, who consulted with Leicestershire Health Protection team and they have been supportive of the use of face coverings in corridors and communal areas as an additional measure, taking into account the above.

Students should arrive at school on Monday in their face mask.  They will sanitise their hands on entry to the school site as they have been doing and remove their mask when they get into their tutor room and then sanitise their hands once more, in line with hygiene protocols for the use of face coverings.  Each time students move from one classroom to another, they will be required to wear their face mask and remove it in the classroom and complete the hand sanitising routine.  Face coverings should be put on and removed  by the straps and not touched at the front.  All students will require a small, sealable plastic bag to store the face covering in.

For those students taking a school lunch, they must wear their face covering whilst queuing for food and remove it when they sit at the table to eat.  The face covering must be put back on before clearing away and whilst walking back to their bubble area.

Please contact the academy if there is a medical reason which exempts your child from wearing a face covering so this can be discussed further.

As a reminder:

• Do not send your child to school if they have Covid-19 symptoms or if a member of the household is displaying symptoms.
• Support in collecting your child if we find it necessary to send them home if they display Covid-19 symptoms and get a test.  Inform the school immediately of the results, positive or negative.
• If the test is positive, follow the ‘stay at home’ guidance by Public Health England.
• If you need to accompany your child to school, only one parent should attend.
• Do not enter the site unless you have a pre-arranged appointment.
• Adhere to the drop off and pick up times.

Year Group	Staggered Start Times	Staggered Finishing Times
Year 7	8.25	2.50
Year 8	8.30	2.55
Year 9	8.35	3.00
Year 10	8.40	3.05
Year 11	8.45	3.10

 

• Discuss with your child the need for good hygiene and regular sanitising/washing of hands.  There is a programme of more stringent hygiene and cleaning measures in place across the school.
• Face coverings must be worn on entry to the school site, in corridors and communal spaces and placed in a plastic bag brought from home, when not being used. 

 

This additional measure will help and support us in keeping the Belvoir community safe, further reduce the risk of transmission and in keeping the academy fully operational during these uncertain times.

Please ensure your child has a face covering each day for school.  Thank you for your continued support.

 

Mr L S Newton

Headteacher