Swine ‘flu, School Emergency and Closure Procedures
The recent advice about swine ‘flu has led to us reviewing our procedures in school for handling the outbreak, including our response should we be asked to close. We are prepared for such an eventuality and I wanted to reassure you that we have suitable plans in place, in line with the government guidance.
The government advises that the school should remain open, unless local health officials recommend we close to reduce the risk of the infection spreading. We already have plans in place to reduce the risk to pupils should anybody display symptoms in school, including an isolation area and additional hygiene measures, such as antiseptic hand spray. I can also give you an absolute assurance I will place pupils’ health before all other considerations.
We have reviewed our procedures should the need arise for the school to close. Given the difficulties we had informing local radio stations when we closed due to snow, we have developed three additional means of keeping you up to date. Our first method will be to send all parents a text message via our truancy call system. It is therefore important we have an up to date mobile telephone number on record and I ask that you inform us of any recent changes. Secondly, we will update our website (www.st-wilfrids.wakefield.sch.uk) and finally we will update our telephone answering message under the school news option. We hope these new procedures, together with the traditional route of informing local radio stations will help reduce any confusion. We will also use this system if we have to close for any other reason in the future.
There are a number of websites where you can read more information about the ‘flu pandemic. The most useful site to start with is NHS Direct: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
The advice can be summarised as continue to act as normal, unless you display ‘flu like symptoms. If this is the case, you should stay at home and contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647. Please do not visit your doctor’s surgery or a hospital in the first instance. Other advice focuses on good hygiene, such as using a tissue, regularly washing hands and cleaning commonly touched surfaces.
Please be sensible if your child displays ‘flu like symptoms. Keep him or her at home and seek appropriate medical advice.
I do hope this webpage answers most queries but please contact school via a note to your son or daughter’s form teacher if you have any further questions.
Michael Pyle -
Headteacher
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