Ensuring a COVID-Secure School Environment September 2021
We are looking forward to welcoming you to Roedean in the new academic year
Ahead of the new academic year, I am writing to let you know that Roedean continues to thrive, despite the situation over the last 18 months. We have implemented a robust range of measures throughout the School, to ensure that the environment is safe and secure. Current UK Government guidance indicates that some measures can begin to be relaxed slightly, but we will maintain a strong focus on good hygiene protocols, and these are outlined in this booklet. We are fortunate that the School sits on a spacious 112-acre site, where the students can exercise and enjoy sport in the fresh air, spend time outside overlooking the sea, and take part in our rich and varied co-curricular programmes. Although our intention is to remain careful and cautious, I am confident that our remarkable community spirit, and the strength the girls get from this, will help us to face this situation together. I look forward to welcoming you to Roedean in September. Oliver Blond, Headmaster
CONTENTS Principles for a Covid-Secure School and Working Environment
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Four-Point Covid Prevention Plan
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Strategies for the Prevention of COVID 5 Health Centre and Facilities
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What To Do in Case of Illness
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What you must bring to School Each Day
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Getting to and from School
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What will the School Day look like?
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What How to Wash Your Hands
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Principles of a COVID-Secure School and Working Environment These principles are designed to make everyone in our community feel safe and comfortable at Roedean: • • • • • •
To ensure that all pupils continue to receive a high-quality education To create an environment where it is safe for everyone to return to School To keep people secure, and avoid contact with people who are unwell To ensure that effective protective measures for girls and staff are in place To follow all statutory guidance and best practice To ensure control systems are in place to reduce the risk of transmission
Four-Point COVID Prevention Plan This four-point plan is intended to underline the main areas of focus to keep our entire community safe and protected: 1. Ensure good hygiene for everyone – everyone is required to wash their hands frequently and use hand sanitiser, including on entry to school, when moving between locations, and before and after eating. Everyone is required to use tissues and dispose of them correctly, remembering to ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’. 2. Maintain appropriate cleaning regimes – the school will continue to adopt an enhanced cleaning regime, particularly after break and lunch times. 3. Keep occupied spaces well ventilated – where possible and practicable, all shared spaces should have open windows and doors to encourage the flow of fresh air. 4. Follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19 – asymptomatic on-site testing will be available to all pupils at the start of the year, after which twice-weekly lateral flow tests will be provided for use at home. All pupils who need to self-isolated will be offered appropriate support and resources. The school will continue to work alongside Public Health England and follow their advice in the event of a confirmed case. The school will continue to follow government guidelines on all Covid measures, which may change throughout the course of the academic year.
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Strategies for the Prevention of COVID INDIVIDUAL HYGIENE To maintain robust procedures for hand hygiene, which include hand washing or sanitisation. To maintain robust procedures for respiratory hygiene.
CLEANLINESS AND SANITISATION To ensure enhanced cleaning regime. To reduce physical transmission through surfaces.
VENTILATION All shared spaces will, where possible, have open windows, vents or doors to encourage air flow.
RIGOROUS PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES To follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing continued cases of COVID-19. To carry out rigorous risk assessments ahead of all school activities.
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The following tables outline the strategies implemented to fulfil the requirements of the principles, and these are reinforced throughout the School with clear signage:
INDIVIDUAL HYGIENE Strategy
What is in place
How it is implemented
To maintain robust procedures for hand hygiene, which includes hand washing and sanitisation
• Hand sanitiser is available in every room, and on entry points to the School, Houses, and transport • Boarders’ use of boarding facilities for hand-washing increases access to washing facilities for all during the day
• Through induction and training programmes for all staff and pupils • Frequent hand-washing and use of hand-sanitiser is a requirement for all, including: • on entry to school • when moving between rooms and different areas • after breaks • before and after eating • when using school transport
To maintain robust procedures for respiratory hygiene
• Bins and tissues are available in every room
• Everyone is required to use tissues and dispose of them in a bin, following the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ guidance
VENTILATION
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Strategy
What is in place
How it will be implemented
To reduce air-borne transmission
• All shared spaces will, where possible, have open windows, vents or doors to encourage air flow.
• Everyone is responsibile for ensuring fresh air and ventilation in classrooms and offices.
CLEANLINESS AND SANITISATION Strategy
What is in place
How it is implemented
To ensure an enhanced cleaning regime
• A regime of frequent cleaning is in place, to ensure thorough cleanliness throughout the site, including all rooms, touch-points, and equipment
• Everyone is responsible for cleaning their desks in classrooms as required
To reduce the physical transmission through surfaces
• An enhanced cleaning regime across the site is required • The regular use is disinfectant spray for classrooms and offices is obligatory
• There is thorough touch-point cleaning and disinfection of communal areas • Pupils sanitise all shared equipment desks, and chairs
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RIGOROUS PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES
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Strategy
What is in place
How it will be implemented
To follow public health advice on testing, selfisolation and managing continued cases of COVID-19.
• A COVID Committee has been established to represent all areas of the School • All departments have a copy of this booklet, outlining the School’s Covid-19 protocols and strategies
• The COVID Committee make all final decisions, and share action points with departmental leads • Departmental leads engage in the preparation and implementation of Covid-19 strategies
To carry out rigorous risk assessments ahead of all school activities
• Relevant risk assessments are in place for all schoolbased activities, including clear guidance about how to undertake them safely
• Risk assessments are stringently followed, and adapted and updated if required as circumstances change • All staff and pupils are made aware of the robust risk assessments and control measures in place for all aspects of the School
Health Centre and Facilities
Key Issues
Roedean’s Approach
School Medical Staff
Our highly-trained medical team consists of 1 doctor, 3 nurses, and 3 counsellors
Health Centre Facilities
The Health Centre is well-equipped, and staffed at all times
COVID-19 Testing
All pupils will be offered 2 lateral flow tests on site when they return to school in September.
In addition, all boarding house staff are first aid trained
There will be on-going deep cleaning and disinfecting, in line with Government guidelines
Pupils and staff will take part in a programme of twice-weekly lateral flow testing at home throughout September, and for as long as this remains a government recommendation. Any tests that are required in order for pupils to travel can be arranged through school. If any pupil is required to book and take a PCR test, the school will support them in this process. Isolation Facilities
Roedean’s trained medical and boarding teams will care for your daughter if she needs to spend time in the isolation facility It is located within the Health Centre, with 4 bright and spacious rooms, which are well-ventilated rooms and have sea views Fresh food will be brought from the Dining Rooms All rooms will also be provided with fresh fruit, bottled water, and snacks Each room has workspace, including an office chair, stationery, and wifi access There is an additional isolation facility within 2-minutes’ walk of the Health Centre
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What To Do in Case of Illness If a pupil is unwell at home: • pupils who are unwell must not come to school • they should alert the School by emailing attendance@roedean.co.uk • they should also alert Miss Bye immediately if they have tested positive for COVID-19 During the school day: • pupils must alert a member of staff if they feel unwell • they should put on a face mask and proceed via an outdoor route to the Health Centre, avoiding contact with other pupils and staff • they will be seen by the Health Centre staff and placed in the Health Centre isolation room until they can be collected by parents • parents should book an NHS PCR Test at the first opportunity During the evening: • boarding pupils should alert a member of staff if they feel unwell • they should immediately put on their face mask, return to their boarding room, and pack an overnight bag • they will then transfer to the Health Centre isolation room via an outdoor route and remain there until their NHS test • they will be cared for safely by boarding and health centre staff Process for quarantine: • any pupil who has any relevant symptoms will remain in the Health Centre isolation facility until they have taken an NHS test • if the test is positive, they will remain in isolation for a minimum of 10 days, and will be cared for by boarding and health centre staff • if the test is negative, but the pupil remains unwell, they will stay in the isolation room and seek further medical advice • if the test is negative and the pupil feels better and has no relevant symptoms, they will return to school. Staff illness: • Staff should not come into School if they are unwell and should report absence in accordance with the procedures in the staff handbook • if any member of staff tests positive, they should alert the School immediately and remain at home in self-isolation for a minimum of 10 days and follow all medical advice NHS Test and Trace Anyone asked by the NHS Test and Trace service to self-isolate for 14 days must do so, and alert the School immediately. 10
What You Must Bring to School Each Day FOR PUPILS: a personal bottle of hand sanitiser and a pack of tissues a break-time snack (nut-free) and filled water bottle your mobile phone, if you wish, but it must be switched off when you arrive, and handed in to your Head of Year (Years 7-10) or kept in your bag (Years 11-13)
FOR STAFF: a personal bottle of hand sanitiser and a pack of tissues Facemasks can be worn by staff and pupils, but are not mandatory. They should be worn in all indoor communal areas where adequate ventilation cannot be guaranteed.
Getting To and From School FOR THOSE USING ROEDEAN TRANSPORT: • • • • •
as far as possible, pupils should sit next to others from their year-group bubble face masks should be worn hand sanitiser must be used on entering the minibus minibuses will be ventilated at all times drivers will wear PPE, and vehicles will be cleaned and sanitised after each journey
FOR THOSE USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT: • if possible, pupils should avoid using public transport • if this is necessary, wearing a face mask is advised • avoid touching surfaces and hands should be sanitised or washed as soon as possible afterwards
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What Will the School Day Look Like?
Has the school day changed?
There will be a new school day from the start of term and the outline is below: – 08:20-08:45 – Tutor & Registration – 08:45-09:35 – Lesson 1 – 09:40-10:30 – Lesson 2 – 10:30-10:50 – Break – 10:50-11:40 – Lesson 3 – 11:45-12:35 – Lesson 4 – 12:35-13:10 – Lunch – 13:10-14:00 – Activity 1/Prep – 14:00-14:50 – Lesson 5 – 14:55-15:45 – Lesson 6 – 15:45-16:00 – Tea – 16:00-17:00 – Activity 2/Prep – 17:10 – Minibus Departure Lessons will be 50 minutes long and will begin at 8:20am.
What will my experience be like in the classroom?
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You will use hand sanitiser on entry to your classroom. You may wear a face mask if you wish to do so At the end of the lesson, you will be asked to clean your desk and chair using paper towel and spray – this will ensure the desk is nice and clean for the next person
How will weekday lunchtimes be organised?
At the start of the lunch period, all pupils will return to their tutor rooms to drop off their bags: in good weather, you will then go to your outdoor year group zone, and your Head of Year will then invite you to the dining room when it is time for lunch; in bad weather, you will remain in your tutor rooms and wait to be invited to the dining room – after eating, all pupils will return to their year group zone All pupils will sanitise their hands on entry into the dining room Food will be served by the catering team, and drinks, cutlery, and napkins will already be on the tables – pupils may visit the chiller cabinets to choose salads and cold desserts
KEEP SAFE
KEEPTO SAFE WELCOME ROEDEAN
WELCOME TO ROEDEAN HAND HYGIENE Please sanitise your hands frequently – also regularly wash your hands with soap and water.
FACE MASKS
CLEANING Please wear a face mask when you are in all The school will maintain an enhanced cleaning indoor communal areas. regime. VENTILATION SOCIAL DISTANCING
Please keep doors and windows in shared
Please maintain social distancing whenever spaces open if possible. possible and follow current guidelines. COUGHS & SNEEZES Please cough or sneeze into a tissue or your
ONEsleeve WAY SYSTEM – ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ – and wash your
hands. Please follow the directions indicated when moving around the School.
FACE MASKS
Face masks are optional and can be worn if preferred.
HAND HYGIENE
Please sanitise your hands frequently – also STAY HOME IF regularly wash your hands with soap and water. Please stay away if you have a fever, difficulty breathing, a loss of taste or smell, or a new continuous cough, or if someone in your household has symptoms.
AVOID TOUCHING SURFACES
Please avoid cross-contamination by not touching surfaces, or your eyes, nose, and mouth. THANK YOU
COUGHS & SNEEZES Please cough or sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve – ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ – and wash your hands.