Woodfield Newsletter

Friday 15th January 2021

We began the testing of staff and pupils who are working on site last Friday, and continued the program this week to test all staff on site. The process worked well, the pupils who took part were all able to complete the procedure easily, and it is pleasing to report that all tests were negative. More details regarding the testing program are available below, including a video I encourage you to show your child, which demonstrates the testing procedure in it's entirety, and information on our website.

There is also a virtual coffee morning next week. If you are able, please drop in, it's on Tuesday 19th January. See further details below.

If there are any updates to the situation, we will communicate these via email, SMS, the school website, @WoodfieldSC on twitter and in this newsletter.

Virtual Coffee Morning: Tuesday, 19th January, 10:45 am - 11:45 am
We will be holding a virtual coffee morning for parents to meet with and speak to members of the Woodfield Leadership Team. Parents will be able to listen to updates regarding the what is happening at school, pupil's online learning, lateral flow testing, and any other school issues that need to be discussed. There will be time to ask questions etc of Mr Cooper and his team.

Patsy will arrange invitations, and if you have any questions regarding the event, please contact her on her usual channels (phu@compasslp.co.uk, 0300 303 0610 on Thursdays or Fridays)

Contact with School
Your child's teacher or member of class team will have been in contact with you this week. As we've had a few role changes, please use the updated contact list if you need assistance, or contact the office in the usual manner. This list is always up to date on our website.

Mass Testing Programs in Schools
You may have heard that testing for those without coronavirus symptoms is beginning across the country using new, quicker COVID-19 tests known as ‘lateral flow devices.’ The therapy team have produced a fantastic video which shows you exactly what the testing procedure involves.

Up to one third of people who have coronavirus are asymptomatic. By testing we will help to reduce the spread in school and college settings through asymptomatic transmission. Whilst the testing in not compulsory, I am encouraging those returning to Woodfield School to consent to being tested.

We recognise that the self-swabbing part of the test may cause significant concerns for some children and young people with SEND and their families. Some of these concerns may be alleviated by discussing them with school and agreeing strategies to help reduce anxiety and putting in place any reasonable adjustments (if the individual has a disability). Parents and carers may want to look at the Mass Testing Guidance for Specialist Settings for further information

We will be looking to test all staff and as many pupils as we can as they return after the Christmas break. In addition, any staff member or student who has come into contact with positive cases in our school can be tested daily for seven days to allow them to remain in school as long as that daily test is negative.

Those taking the test will be supervised by trained staff and volunteers. The lateral flow tests are easy to undertake, using a swab of your nose and throat. For those who are unable to self-swab please refer to the Mass Testing Guidance for Specialist Settings for further information about options. Results (which take around half an hour from testing) will be shared directly with the individual participant. The school will inform the pupil of a positive test result. Parents or legal guardians will also be informed. The pupil (and parent) will also receive a text and/or email notification of a positive or negative result from the online NHS system. Tests are free of charge and we will send you further information and a consent form

Sufra Food Bank
Woodfield is also a referrer to Sufra Foodbank. A charity that provides support to vulnerable families in need of additional help. They provide essential food and toiletries to families experiencing an acute crisis. The size of their food parcels depends on the size of the family that needs support but typically last between 5 to 7 days. They also offer other support such as:

Community kitchen - hot meals being delivered to those without cooking facilities as well as the elderly and isolated.
Advice services & refugee support
NHS Emergency Food Aid Service - food packs for patients
Community garden

This is a confidential service and any referral will be treated with strict privacy within the school. If you would like to discuss further, please contact Patsy.

Annual Reviews of EHC Plans
Annual reviews, in the current circumstances, need to take a different form. A review meeting, even if by necessity briefer than usual, can be carried out as advised by the Coronavirus Act 2020 for the Secretary of State for Education. due to the need to assign some staff from working on annual reviews to delivering the rapid testing program, the timeframe for delivering annual reviews may be adjusted. You will be well informed of any changes.

In order to complete the Annual Reviews of EHC Plans this academic year, Woodfield School will conduct reviews, virtually or over the telephone rather than face-to-face where this can be done following the guidance on reducing transmissions of coronavirus (COVI-19). Therefore parents or carers will not be invited into school for a review meeting.

An invitation e-letter will be sent out with more details as your child's' review approaches. (Please note that the Local Authorities have stated there is a backlog with amending ECHP’s). We will be happy to chase it up for you but just so you know ultimately it is the Local Authority who updates the EHCP. You will be entitled to a draft copy of all reports.

Please note; we have a change in our GDPR policy as to how we send review paperwork of your child to you. We will no longer send reports to parents’ personal email accounts. As of September 2020, we will only use your child’s email set for all correspondences for Annual Reviews. This encourages access to knowledge and sharing of information in a safe and controlled way from us to you.

You will be contacted via text to inform you when an email is sent, upon opening the email an access code will be sent to your phone to allow you access to the documents.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please email on wf-senreviews@compasslp.co.uk or contact the school and speak with the SEN Administrator who will be more than happy to support you.

Proposed dates for reviews:
Autumn Term 2020 - Oct -Dec (Year 14, 13 and 9)
Spring Term 2021 - Jan - April (Year 13, 12, 11, 10 and 9)
Summer Term 2021 - May- July (Year 8 and 7)

Assistance from local councils
Local councils have set up guides for residents with regard to how to access a range of assistance over this time, be it medical, financial, business or even how to volunteer to assist others.

You can view these offerings from local councils by clicking the links below.

Brent
Barnet
Harrow
Ealing
Camden
Westminster

Makaton is a language programme that is used in conjunction with speech to aid the pupils’ understanding of language and help them communicate with each other more effectively. Makaton is used across the school in lessons and break times. We would love for you to learn some signs so that you can sign with your child. See the We Talk Makaton website for more.

Have a good weekend

Nick Cooper

Important dates

Term dates are subject to change, parents and carers will be informed of any changes.

If you would like hard copies (paper) of any document on our website, please contact the school office and they will arrange this
.

Woodfield School is part of Compass Learning Partnership, a charitable company limited by guarantee (company number 8905350, registered in England and Wales) that has its registered office at Woodfield School, Glenwood Avenue, Kingsbury, London, NW9 7LY

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Woodfield School · Glenwood Avenue Kingsbury · London, Lnd NW97LY · United Kingdom