Vranch House is a centre for the treatment of over 2,000 outpatients with physical difficulties, a provider of various therapies throughout Devon and an independent Day School in Exeter for children with significant physical difficulties.

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Last updated: 18/03/2024

Parent's Newsletter April 22

Date added: Tuesday 20th September 2022
Latest updated: Thursday 23rd February 2023

Dear Parents & Carers,

Re: Easter Updates

 

COVID – 19 update

As per my last update, Vranch House staff will not be continuing with twice-weekly asymptomatic Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing.  As a bare minimum, we will ensure that as of the start of the summer term, from Monday 25th April 2022, all staff will:

·         continue to wear face coverings when working inside Vranch House buildings and/or whenever in direct contact with children.

·         maintain the present elevated levels of hand and surface sanitising with alcohol-based or otherwise sporicidal cleaning products.

·         request that all visitors to our school and clinics also follow these measures accordingly

·         immediately report to the school any possible COVID symptoms and either take a lateral flow test and stay away for 5 days before they return to work in the first instance.

Revised guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) states the following as revised possible symptoms:

  • a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature 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
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
  • shortness of breath
  • feeling tired or exhausted
  • an aching body
  • a headache
  • a sore throat
  • a blocked or runny nose
  • loss of appetite
  • diarrhoea
  • feeling sick or being sick

You should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 10 days if you or your child have symptoms of COVID-19 and either:

  • have a high temperature
  • do not feel well enough to go to work/school, or do your ‘normal’ activities

Your child can come back to school, college or childcare when they feel better or do not have a high temperature.  If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can come to school. 

There is more guidance for people with COVID-19 symptoms and other respiratory infections on GOV.UK. at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19

The Vranch House Management Team have reviewed our COVID Risk Assessment and our revised approach to returning to school after a positive COVID Test result is as follows:

You can end your self-isolation period before the end of the 10 negative days, if you get a negative LFD test from 5 days after the day your symptoms started, and another LFD test on the following day (day 6).   

The second LFD test should be taken at least 24 hours later than the first.   If both test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative LFD test result. 

Transition event for Parents & Carers of pupils currently in Year 6

We know that our pupils, and their families, become comfortable with routine and familiar with certain groups of staff and pupils.  We understand therefore that your child’s transition into secondary school is one that may seem a little daunting at this point!  I have spoken individually with a number of the families who this effects and have been discussing with Zoe Gilbert, our Lead Teacher – Secondary, how we can best put your minds at ease.

Zoe has been working on a short film that will form part of a package of materials around transitioning from the Lower school into our Secondary provision.  We will be holding a coffee morning in May 2022 to share these information packages, and the film, with parents of current Year 6 pupils.  There will also be an opportunity to visit our Secondary provision and discuss any particular queries or concerns you may have with Zoe and I.

Dates for your diaries

Monday 11th April to Friday 22nd April 2022 (inclusive) – Easter Holiday – School closed to pupils

Monday 25th April 2022 – Summer term begins

Saturday 9th July 2022 – Summer Fête – due to the huge success of the Christmas Fête, Chelsea and Chloe are in the process of organising a similar, yet seasonally different, event.  Save the date and watch this space for further details…

 

Yours sincerely


Ian Norton

Head of Education