Working Together to Keep Safe and Support Learning

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OF OUR FAMILIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING ALL PUPILS BACK TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY 19th APRIL AFTER THE EASTER BREAK.

TAKE CARE AND KEEP SAFE.

If you have an update regarding COVID19 symptoms or a test (positive or negative) out of school hours, please email help@whitbyheath.cheshire.sch.uk to ensure school is notified at the earliest opportunity.

Ways you can help us all stay safe during the COVID19 pandemic

Thank you for your on-going support at this time, together we can work to ensure that we keep ourselves and others as safe as possible.

We continue to work closely with the local public health team to ensure we are following the latest Government guidance in school.

It is important that if you’re child or family member becomes unwell with any of the COVID-19 symptoms listed below that they get tested and you ensure your child does not attend school:

a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.

Although infection rates are coming down gradually in the area, we can all play our part to help reduce transmission of the virus by following these simple measures:

Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or hand sanitiser
Wear a face covering when entering public indoor buildings or travelling on public transport
Make space by keeping a two-metre distance from anyone outside your household, where possible
Self-isolate with your household and get a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms by calling 119 or visiting nhs.uk/coronavirus.
Self-isolate for 10 days if you are a contact of a confirmed case

We know that the virus is easily transmitted from person to person so it’s important that everyone continues to play their part and follows these measures to help keep our community, friends, family and neighbours safe. Pupils and families are also reminded to follow the COVID-19 safety measures we have in place at our school.

All adults to wear a face covering when visiting or entering the school premises including outdoor playground areas.
Parents/carers to arrive and leave promptly when dropping off/collecting their child – please do not congregate and maintain social distancing this includes both before and after drop off and collection times and pavements next to and across the road from our school.
Only one parent/carer should come to school premises for drop-off and pick-up.
Year 5 and 6 children with parent/carer permission to walk home alone are to avoid congregating outside school and mixing with children from our own or other schools and should go directly home.

Please remember the importance of HANDS – FACE - SPACE

Collection Points for COVID-19 Home Testing Kits

Home COVID-19 testing kits are available to collect at sites across Cheshire West and Chester. Kits can be picked up from Cheshire West and Chester Council no-symptoms testing centres and a number of libraries across the borough.
Community Collect points include:

COVID-19 no symptoms testing centre at Stanney Oaks Leisure Centre, in Ellesmere Port, from 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays

Currently, home test kits are still available at the existing collection points at Local Testing Sites, including:

Little Roodee Testing Centre, in Chester

Sealand Road Park and Ride Testing Centre, in Chester

Wellington Road Testing Centre, in Ellesmere Port.

Currently, Local Testing Sites are open from 2.30pm to 8pm to pick up tests, but this is subject to change.
If you receive a positive result from a home testing kit you will need to book a confirmatory test at a Local Testing Sites by visiting: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ or calling 119. You only need to self-isolate if you test positive with a confirmatory test.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, including a cough that will not stop, a high temperature or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste you must self-isolate immediately and book a test by visiting:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ or calling 119.
Cheshire West and Chester Council also advises residents to book a test as a precaution if you have other symptoms that may be related to COVID-19. These can include shortness of breath, muscle or body aches, fatigue, sore throat, headache, nasal congestion or runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting. However, it is important to remember that these are very common symptoms, and most people who have these symptoms will not have COVID-19. When booking a test for these symptoms, choose the option that the local council has asked you to get a test. If you only have these wider symptoms, you do not need to self-isolate unless you test positive for COVID-19.

Test & Trace Support Payment Scheme

Parents and carers of children who have been advised to self-isolate by their education setting or by NHS Test and Trace are able to apply for a Test and Trace Support Payment or discretionary payment of £500, if they meet the eligibility criteria. The extension of the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme, ensures that parents receive the financial support they need if they are unable to attend work due to childcare responsibilities.

To be eligible applicants must meet all of the criteria that:

they are the parent or guardian of a child or young person in the same household and need to take time off work to care for them while they self-isolate. This is limited to one parent or guardian per household for the child or young person’s self-isolation period
they are employed or self-employed
they cannot work from home while undertaking caring responsibilities and will lose income as a result
they meet all the other means-tested eligibility criteria for a Test and Trace Support Payment or locally determined criteria for a discretionary payment

That their child or young person:

is aged 15 or under (or 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and normally attends an education or childcare setting
has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or by their education or childcare setting because they have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19)

Once an application for a payment has been received, the local authority will get in touch with school to verify the details of the child provided on the application.

Further details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme-claiming-financial-support/claiming-financial-support-under-the-test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme?utm_source=22%20March%202021%20C19&utm_medium=Daily%20Email%20C19&utm_campaign=DfE%20C19

Local Community Support Initiatives - led by parents and carers from our school.
Two local initiatives, set up by parents of children at our school, provide support for all families during these difficult times:
The Whitby Community Cupboard can be found on Facebook. https://m.facebook.com/whitbycommunitycupboard and was started by Louise Raby and Lucinda Golightly (both parents at our school) to help prevent food waste in the community.
After finding there was a lot of surplus food after collecting and distributing from various organisations, they decided to offer it out into the community via their community cupboard. Linking with local shops such as the Co-op and Tescos, they receive donated food that is close to sell by dates but is still useable to be shared with the community.
Donations from families are also welcome as anything donated that families aren’t able to use will be valuable for other families
A small donation is requested where possible when members of the community come to shop via the community cupbaord; as little as £1 here and there helps them to continue to offer this service, all proceeds go directly to Whitby Community Cupboard.

Gemma Fildes (also a parent of children at our school) has set up a FREE Whitby Heath uniform swap shop to enable families of Whitby Heath pupils to swap and pass on used uniforms that still have life in them. Further information about this great initiative can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/256120535992355/

Cheshire West and Chester have provided signposting for families for help and support during these difficult times for everyone:

Useful resources and information for famillies:

Healthy Start Vouchers

Are you eligible for these vouchers? If you’re pregnant or have a child under 4, you could get Healthy Start vouchers to help buy some basic foods. This important means-tested scheme provides vouchers to spend with local retailers. Pregnant women and children over 1 and under 4 can get one £3.10 voucher per week. Children under 1 can get two £3.10 vouchers (£6.20) per week. Terms and conditions apply. To find out more visit: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

We know that times are extremely hard at the moment, the pandemic is putting strains on many families and residents within Cheshire West and Chester, and beyond. There is a wide range of support available to you as parents across the borough which can help you if you feel that you may need it.

For further information or for support visit:

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/news-and-views/incidents/coronavirus-covid-19/how-to-get-help/how-to-get-help.aspx

The pages cover: Dedicated helpline for people who need support, Support and advice on council tax, Support for vulnerable people, Domestic abuse advice and support, Support for businesses and employers, Coping with coronavirus, NHS bereavement advice and support, Test and Trace support payment.

Help in Emergencies for Local People (HELP)

The HELP scheme is a discretionary scheme offering local welfare assistance including: • support for exceptional needs • limited payments for emergency funding in a crisis • to help people moving out of care

All awards are subject to a means test, which means we will look at your income and expenditure. This includes income that is available to you, including income we usually ignore when looking at your claim for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction. Funding will be made on a one-off basis and will be restricted to one award in any 12 month period. Normally awards will be restricted to provide help with food vouchers or recycled goods. For information on who can apply, and how you can apply, visit:

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/housing-benefit-council-tax/help.aspx

Employment and benefits support

If you are affected by coronavirus or its effect on the economy, there is a wide range of support available. The Understanding Universal Credit website provides information about the changes the government has brought in to support people who are already claiming benefits, need to claim benefits, or are at risk of losing their job as a result of coronavirus. To find information you need about Universal Credit and other benefits visit: https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-benefits-support/

Benefits and Job Centre Plus Universal Credit (UC)

If you have any queries please use your UC journal to make contact, if you have a change in circumstances please report this on your home page. If you are unable to access your digital account, please contact 0800 328 5644. There may be a longer waiting time than usual on the telephony service as they are experiencing high call levels. Legacy benefits.

If you claim Job seekers Allowance (JSA), Income Support (IS) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) please contact your relevant benefit on 0800 169 0310 if you have any queries. Please listen carefully as the options may have changed since you last rang. You can contact your local jobcentre by ringing 0800 169 0190 and you will be put through to/or a message passed to your local jobcentre. Jobcentres are limiting the number of people allowed in the offices during Covid-19 so please only attend a jobcentre if you have a booked face to face appointment or have no other way of contacting Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Local jobcentres can support with both ensuring you receive the correct benefit to support you whilst you are looking for work and if your circumstances mean you are currently unable to look for work. They can provide advice and sign posting to local support organisations. They work closely with both partners and providers to offer a range of training that is relevant to the local economy and is most likely to enable customers to gain skills to return to work.

Support with finding work

Jobhelp -The Department for Work and Pensions new website aimed at getting Britain back to work. The aim of the website is to highlight the range of support and advice on offer to help jobseekers find jobs, and employers get the people they need, all in one place. Jobhelp is a good place to start if you are looking for work. Their website provides a range of support:

https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/

Money matters

The Live Well Cheshire West site provides a range of support for a range of different money related matters, including: • Budgeting, banking and managing money • Money and benefits • Paying for care • Grants and funds • Debt • Help in a crisis

Visit: https://livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Categories/3748

Citizens Advice Cheshire West

Free, impartial advice and information on a range of issues. Advice is independent and completely confidential. Information to help you make the right choices if you are in debt. Such as how to avoid losing your home and how to get your finances back into shape.

Help can include: • working out how much money you owe and the debts you should pay back first • budgeting your bills • getting a bank account • starting a pension • dealing with creditors • gambling advice and/or problems with tax

For further information visit: https://www.citizensadvicecw.org.uk/debt-and-money

or telephone: 03445 766111

(phone lines are open Monday-Friday 10am to 4pm.

Domestic Abuse

Some children and adults could be facing increased risks as we all asked to stay at home due to COVID-19. It is important you know you're not alone.

The Council is continuing to work with other agencies to offer you support and encourage you to make contact when out on an essential trip (like shopping) to ask for help.

Open the Door signposts to local and national help, encouraging people to start a conversation about domestic abuse and bring it out from behind closed doors. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger call 999.

For advice and support visit:

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/news-and-views/incidents/coronavirus-covid-19/how-to-get-help/domestic-abuse.aspx

Silent Solution 55

IF YOU NEED CALL 999 FROM A MOBILE

If making a sound would put you or someone else in danger and the operator cannot decide whether an emergency service is needed, your call will be transferred to the Silent Solution system. The Silent Solution is a police system to help people who are unable to speak, but who genuinely need police assistance. You will hear an automated police message, which lasts for 20 seconds and begins with ‘you are through to the police’. It will ask you to press 55 to be put through to police call management.

Please see the attached Silent Solution 55 information sheet for further details.

Free School Meals

Free School Meals does not include Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) where all government funded schools offer free school meals to pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. If your child was receiving UIFSM but you believe you may be eligible for Free School Meals please apply here https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/education-and-learning/school-meals.aspx

ParentPay

Thank you to everyone who has activated their ParentPay account. We now use this system to send out whole school letters via email and for payments for both dinners and activities.

If you do not have a bank account, payments can be made at any Pay Point outlet. If you require a Pay Point card, please contact the school office to request one.

‘Moving Forward Together With Hope’

For many people things are difficult right now, and that’s why we’re supporting the @NSPCC who are still there for children who need their support now more than ever.

Whether you want support and advice for adapting to family life in lockdown, or you’re worried about a child, the NSPCC are there to help.
Whether you’re juggling childcare with working from home, or your children are feeling anxious about the coronavirus, the NSPCC have got tips and advice for you.
Visit the NSPCC coronavirus hub for information and advice to support you and your children.
Home isn’t a safe place for every child. With schools closed and children spending more time at home, you might have spotted something that’s worrying you. If you’re worried, talk to the NSPCC. The helpline is free, and you don’t have to say who you are. The helpline is open 7 days a week.

If you’re worried about a child, please call their helpline on 0808 800 5000or you can email help@nspcc.org.uk

Barnardo’s ‘See Hear Respond’ service

See Hear Respond is a service provided across England by Barnardo’s and other national and local community-based organisations in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The programme has been created to help children and young people in England who are experiencing harm and increased adversity during this period by providing support to those who are not being seen by social care or other key agencies.

Working with its partners, Barnardo’s aims to reduce the likelihood of harm and ensure other support and protective networks are in place using:

online digital support, including advice and information, online counselling and a telephone helpline
face to face interventions, such as support for groups at risk outside the home and one to one support
reintegration into education, including assessments and the delivery of support pathways back to education

See Hear Respond accept referrals from any source either through the Freephone number 0800 151 7015 and via their online referral hub.

CWAC Safeguarding Chrildren Partnership - Queensberry AP (Click here)

Queensberry AP

"Queensberry AP has been born out of a combination of many things; our own experiences of mainstream and specialist education sectors, our previous successes working with extremely vulnerable students, recognising the need for an alternative for hard to reach students within Cheshire West and the importance of practical learning with achievable outcomes for disengaged students."

"With a combined experience of over 30 years working with some of the most vulnerable and difficult to engage young people and families, we are immensely passionate about the work that we undertake. With a wide breadth of experience across a number of sectors including SEBD schools, Social Care and as senior leaders within a Pupil Referral Unit setting and mainstream schools, the interventions we have developed are based upon our own personal experiences and support young people, families and professionals from a wide range of backgrounds."

"The partnership we have developed with Her Majesty’s Prison Service has helped to support with our model of early intervention and ensures that young people receive support and guidance from adults with real-life experience of the issues that our provision aims to challenge and combat."

NHS Track and Trace Scams

We have been informed by Cheshire West and Chester that there has been an increase in scam calls in relation to NHS Track and Trace where people are being asked to pay for a home testing kit etc.

NHS track and Trace Service will never ask you to pay for a test, ask for bank details, passwords or pin numbers. Never share personal details if you are not sure who you are talking to.

NHS Coronavirus Helpline

This is a 24 hour crisis line for all residents of Cheshire West, Cheshire East and Wirral - 0300 303 3972

Useful Internet Safety websites:

NSPCC - https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GEN_-_Safety_-_[BMM]&utm_term=internet_safety&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI06eznY

jt5wIVC7DtCh18VQfWEAAYASAAEgKhyfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thinkyouknow - https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ (advice from the National Crime Agency to stay safe online).

Internet Matters - https://www.internetmatters.org/

Parent Info - https://parentinfo.org/

ICON - Speak to someone if you need support such as your family, friends, Midwife, GP or Health Visitor about infant crying. Click on the ICON link to take you to the webpage.