Covid 19 and Flu Vaccination Information for Parents
Latest updates
Coronavirus updates for parents, carers, pupils and staff
UPDATE 12/01/2021:
This information for parents on our remote education provision.
UPDATE 07/01/2021
Guidance on Remote learning for year 7, 9, and 10. Please see the letter attached
Parental Correspondence Jan 21
UPDATE 05/01/2021
Further guidance on the opening of Educare and Remote learning. Please see the letter attached
050121 Whole School Letter ref Shutdown
UPDATE 31/12/2020:
Please see the attached letter regarding the changes to January start of term and testing program.
Start of term information January 2021
UPDATE 18/12/2020:
Dear Families
You may have seen the announcement on 17th December 2020, that the Government will be offering all secondary schools help and support to test as many secondary-age students as possible, for Covid-19, in January. The Government has yet to inform us in detail of how the testing will be carried out in schools but it will involve the training of staff or volunteers and the setting up of specialist facilities. Once we have all of the information, at the start of term, we will be able to write to you with more details.
The Government has taken this step because it considers that the return to school at the start of January will take place in exceptional circumstances when winter infection risks are acute and at a critical point in national efforts to control the Corona virus. Testing as many secondary school students and staff as possible for the virus, at the beginning of January, will help ensure that schools continue to be the safest place for pupils to learn.
We hope you will welcome the introduction of testing in schools as a positive step in managing the virus and its implications. Testing will help to identify positive cases before a full return of students and help maximise attendance alongside the arrangements for regular testing already announced.
This testing is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged. The Trust will be organising arrangements for testing in the new year and all relevant consents will be required, but it will be voluntary.
- Preparations to identify and train staff, identify and prepare facilities and begin the introduction of the testing, will commence during the w/c 4 January.
- In order to facilitate this, the Government has decided that the Year-11 students will return in the first week of January as already planned, but all other students will not return to school until the 11th January. This is not an extension of the school holiday and students in years 7, 8, 9 and 10 will be required to engage in virtual learning from home. We have also set work that will be brought home as a hard-copy.
- As well as our examination year students, from the 5th January, we will also offer on-site provision for vulnerable children and children of critical workers.
- We will provide remote education to all other pupils, before a full return to school by 11 January. The groups attending school from 6th January will be prioritised for testing, alongside the school workforce.
Other students that can return are:
· Children whose parents or carers are critical workers as defined by DfE
· Children who are classed as vulnerable
If your child will be attending school, and not in Year 11 or Sixth form, please notify your child's pastoral lead and reception@utcplymouth.org
Have a restful break
Jo
Critical workers and vulnerable children who can access schools or educational settings
All other children in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 will receive remote learning and will return to on site education on 11th January 2021
Jo Ware
Head of School, UTC Plymouth, BA Hons/ M.Ed
UPDATE 15/06/2020 0800:
Our RA and Certificate for opening to Year 10 and 12 students (See below)
UPDATE 18/05/2020 15:00:
Latest update to a possible return to school letter to parents (See below)
UPDATE 01/04/2020 15:00:
Latest update of Online Safety Letter for Parents and Staff (See attached letter)
UPDATE 01/04/2020 10:00:
Latest update of Safeguarding policy COVID-19 (See attached policy)
UPDATE 23/03/2020 14:20:
UPDATE: COVID-19 Response for Key Workers and Children Letter
In order to comply with our government’s social isolation strategy we have decided to minimise travel and contact by amalgamating two of our Reach South sites. UTC Plymouth students currently eligible for in school support will now meet and attend their sessions at: Plymouth Academy of Creative Arts , 22 Millbay Rd, Stonehouse, Plymouth PL1 3EG. This will start from Tuesday 24th March.
Please see attached letter for more information.
Regards
Jo Ware
Head of School
UTC Plymouth
UPDATE 20/03/2020 14:10:
Update of Confirmation of Critical Worker Status
Late last night the Government announced the list of workers who are considered to be critical to the fight against COVID-19. If a parent works within one of these critical sectors they are entitled to ask schools to provide care for their children.
We have previously sent out information with a list of possible key workers that was incomplete. I would ask you to disregard the previous letter and work from the updated letter which is now attached.
UPDATE: 19/03/2020 14:00
As I am sure you are all aware, schools and colleges have been instructed to close from Monday 23rd March 2020. For those self isolating with immediate effect, learning will be delivered online. We will be closing the school building to students, except those who have parents working in the NHS and emergency services, or in any other position classed as a ‘key worker.’ Further details regarding this area will be published at a later date following on from Government communication. If you feel your child needs the option to be in school, please contact us via reception@utcplymouth.org
Regards
Jo Ware
Head of School
UTC Plymouth
UPDATE: 18/03/2020 16:20
Dear Parents/Carers
I am writing to further update you with regards to the current situation concerning the Coronavirus. Sixth Form students are now going to be working at home until further notice. For the time being, the school is still open to all other year groups. However, all students now have all the work they need both in electronic and hard copy form should it become necessary to close the school.
If you are collecting work for your child, please visit reception tomorrow (Thursday 19th March). If you have any other queries please contact reception at reception@utcplymouth.org or Jo Ware directly at jo.ware@utcplymouth.org.
Further updates will continue to be sent out daily.
Yours faithfully
Jo Ware
Head of School
UTC Plymouth
Further information and guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response