Whether it’s finding fun things for the kids to do, paying for extra childcare, or even just all that extra food they seem to eat, the school holidays can be a struggle for many families. Covid-19 has meant that many people’s incomes have been reduced and children and young people are keen to get out and spend time with their friends.

This Summer our Fun and Food programme is providing fun activities with healthy food for children and young people. Activities are provided by range of partners including schools, voluntary and community sector groups and sport and leisure services.

For information on Fun and Food activities during the Summer holidays check out www.durham.gov.uk/FunAndFood

We will be adding activities to the list throughout the holidays so please keep checking back to find out more about the fabulous opportunities in our community.

We have been asked to share the following information from the NHS about coughs and noisy breathing in young babies so that parents have access to this information over the summer break.

10930 NHS Orange Book-Durham

Reporting symptoms after school closes for the Summer break

If your child develops symptoms of coronavirus at any point over the Summer break you must book a test.

If your child develops symptoms up to and including Sunday 18 July which result in a positive test you must inform the school at byersgreen@durhamlearning.net.

Please include the name of your child, their class and the date that their symptoms started, as well as your own contact details.

If your child develops coronavirus symptoms from Monday 19 July onwards, they must be tested and, if positive, follow the advice of Test and Trace. You do not need to inform the school of any symptoms which occur on or after this date.

Please see our end of year newsletter below:

16.07.21

Thank you to those who were able to attend the Share Sound Grand Finale on Wednesday night. We hope you enjoyed it!

If you weren’t able to attend live, would like to re-watch the event or share with family and friends, we are pleased to include a link to the event recording below.

Recording

A recording of Share Sound: Grand Finale is now available to watch online here: https://youtu.be/4XQXx5nn_1k

This link is available for the next seven days and will expire on 15 July 2021.

Feedback

We’d love to hear your feedback on your event experience and what we can do to improve similar future events. If you haven’t already done so, we’d be really grateful if you would complete this short feedback survey: https://uk.culturecounts.cc/s/KwYJy

The survey will take roughly 6 minutes to complete.

Bonus content!

We’ve popped together a playlist of bonus music from the project for you to enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN7WQ3fvTHs&list=PLxpKb1aFn_fBbZKKKWYJPcKQ0c8oz7Som

Want to find out more about Share Sound and the work of Orchestras Live? Subscribe to our monthly e-news or follow us for behind the scenes updates from all our projects on Instagram.

With best wishes

Orchestras Live and the Share Sound team

Dear Parent,

We have been advised that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the school.

We have carried out a full risk assessment and identified anyone who has been in close contact with the affected case and have recommended that they stay at home and self-isolate until 10 days after their last contact.

Your child has not been identified as a close contact and therefore does not need to make any change to their usual routine, including school attendance.

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19

For most people, especially children, COVID-19 will be a mild illness.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of:

• new continuous cough and/or
• high temperature and/or
• a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

If your child develops any of these symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home and you should arrange a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test for them.

Testing can be arranged by calling 119 or via gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

If your child has developed symptoms, all other household members must begin to self-isolate, this means staying at home, not go to work, school or public areas, even for exercise.

When you receive the result of your child’s PCR test, further advice will be provided via the NHS Test and Trace Service.

If your school asks you to arrange a PCR test for your child without symptoms.

If there are any additional cases reported within school and you are identified as being in close contact with a case you will be advised to self isolate and arrange a PCR test.

How to stop COVID-19 spreading

There are things we can all do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19:

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• wash your hands as soon as you get home
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
• keep a regular flow of fresh air into indoor areas.

Help, support and further information.

To help you comply with the requirement to self-isolate the County Durham Together Community Hub can provide access to essential supplies, financial support and emotional support as well as other services. Please visit durham.gov.uk/covid19help or call the Community Hub on 03000 260260 for further details.

There is also support available the coronavirus section via durhamlocate.org.uk

Useful Websites

www.gov.uk/coronavirus

www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

www.durham.gov.uk/coronavirus

www.durham.gov.uk/covid19help

www.durhamlocate.org.uk

SCHOOL CLOSURE – This morning we received notification of a positive Covid test at our school and, in line with guidance, we are having to identify close contacts. As the case could potentially involve some people from across school, we are closing school today while we identify all close contacts. We will be back in touch with further information as soon as possible.

Please see the letter below from Amanda Healy, Director of Public Health for County Durham and Jim Murray, Head of Education and Skills:

Parents Letter – End of Year Activities June 2021_

Dear Parents/Carers

Unfortunately, we will be unable to host our usual end of summer term activities in school this year. With rising numbers of cases, both nationally and locally, and a considerable proportion of the population still not fully vaccinated, we have opted for a cautious approach to the end of the school year. However, even given the current restrictions, we will ensure that the final few weeks are as enjoyable and memorable as possible for all our children.

We are currently awaiting further information from the DfE regarding their plans for how schools will be expected to operate from September 2021. We hope to be in possession of any such information before the end of this term in order to be able to communicate the expectations to everyone before school closes for the summer break.

There will be no change to the organisation of teaching staff from September 2021, which will remain as follows:

• Class 1 (Reception) – Miss Morgan
• Class 2 (Y1/2) – Miss Forth
• Class 3 (Y3/4) – Mrs Bradwell
• Class 4 (Y5/6) – Mrs Mowbray
• Miss Dodds – Y5 English & maths/intervention
• Miss Jewett – PPA cover

Kind regards

Mr W. Kirtley
Headteacher