Covid19/Coronavirus Update- Sunday 15th March 2020

As you have no doubt heard from news outlets over the last few days the messages from UK and Republic of Ireland on how they are currently dealing with the Covid19 outbreak is different. Unsurprisingly this has caused our Political Parties to disagree on what should happen in Northern Ireland.

The latest advice from the PHA, NHS and Education Authority in Northern Ireland is that schools should remain open. We know that many schools are off for Saint Patricks Day on Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th March and are due to open again on Wednesday. We are due to be open tomorrow (Monday 16th March) and at the present time this will remain the case unless the advice we receive changes. School is closed on Tuesday 17th March for Saint Patricks Day.

We understand that parents may make the decision to keep their child at home tomorrow (Monday 16th March) and wait for updated news over the next few days and we fully understand and respect your decision. The majority of our staff are parents too. Updated guidance from EA is that any child who does not attend school over concerns about Coronavirus/Covid19 will have a newly created code entered for those absences. This will be different from the previous illness/holiday/medical appointment/representative honours/unexplained absence codes currently in use.

Any pupil with symptoms i.e. dry cough, high temperature should not come to school and any pupil who has recently returned from abroad (Any country which has increased its coronavirus response i.e. Italy, Spain, France, Belgium etc.) should remain at home and monitor themselves.

Any pupil attending school should bring their own water bottle (The Water Fountain in School will not be in use).

Staff are working exceptionally hard in unprecedented circumstances and preparing work for the inevitable school closures as and when they come. The ‘Home Learning Packs’ that were sent home on Friday should not be used until you receive confirmation that school is closed.

Those parents of pupils in P6 who are wishing to take the GL/AQE Transfer Test in November should email Mr Bayne at ibayne452@c2kni.net to register their interest ASAP

If you have not already done so please download the app from the school website and enable notifications to be received. 

I know everyone would like definite answers to questions such as when will school close etc but in an ever evolving, fluid situation this is not possible and we are taking our direction from the NI/UK Government and our Education Authority.

If you are in any doubt then please use your own judgement as to whether or not to keep your child at home and as a school we will support your decision and over the coming weeks our staff will endeavour as professionals to cater as much as possible for your child’s learning in whichever form that may take.

Yours sincerely,

Mr I. Bayne

Principal

Coagh Primary School

ibayne452@c2kni.net