13th December 2021

13th December 2021

Dear Colleagues,

Please see our weekly  round-up of schools' guidance update.

COVID Guidance

COVID Operational Guidance

• Further the recent concerns around the Omicron variant, we are reattaching the latest COVID School Operational Guidance.
• On 29^th November the guidance was updated on contact tracing and isolation, travel and quarantine, face coverings and vaccination of under 18 year olds to reflect new measures announced on 27 November 2021.
• On 2^nd December, this was updated further to have added clarification on the use of face visors and face shields by those who are exempt from wearing face coverings and what guidance children and staff must follow when travelling to England from abroad.

Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak

• Please see the following link to keep up to date with developments of actions for schools: Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• This document was updated on 9^th December - Following the Prime Ministers announcement on 8 December 2021, we have updated guidance on tracing close contacts and isolation, ventilation, asymptomatic testing, mandatory certification, recommendation to work from home if you can and clinically extremely vulnerable children and adults.

Secondary Schools - Asymptomatic Testing Guidance

• Secondary school pupils should undertake one test on-site at the start of term in their school asymptomatic test site (ATS) followed by one LFD self-test at home 3-4 days after their on-site test. They should then continue to test in line with government guidelines.
• Please see the following Google Drive link for documentation, including FAQs RP18.19 FAQ's for Asymptomatic testing in schools and colleges (PDF) [363KB], relating to the testing expectations for secondary schools for the return to school in January.

Rapid Symptomatic testing in specialist settings

• Please see the following link: Rapid asymptomatic testing in specialist settings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What does plan B mean for schools, colleges, universities and early years?

• Please see the attached link for a summary of what Plan B means for settings:

What does Covid Plan B mean for schools, colleges, universities and early years? - The Education Hub (blog.gov.uk)

Contingency Framework

• Schools can access the contingency framework by clicking on this link: Contingency framework: education and childcare settings
• All education and childcare settings should already have contingency plans (sometimes called outbreak management plans) describing what they would do if children, pupils, students or staff test positive for COVID-19, or how they would operate if they were advised to reintroduce any measures described in this document to help break chains of transmission.

It was updated as follows:

• updated advice to the face coverings section and Annex B to reflect that face coverings are now temporarily recommended in communal areas in all settings for adults and for pupils from year 7 onwards
• updated advice on tracing close contacts and isolation to reflect the change in measures for close contacts of suspected or confirmed Omicron cases
• amended Annex A to reflect the latest advice for testing for HE students

Other useful links:

• further education COVID-19 operational guidance
• providing apprenticeships during the COVID-19 pandemic
• COVID-19: actions for out-of-school settings
• SEND and specialist settings: additional COVID-19 operational guidance
• higher education COVID-19 operational guidance

SSPB Slides

Thank you to SSPB for attending the recent extra-ordinary meeting this week to share updates on coronavirus. Please find the slides attached here PH presentation to SSPB 9-12-2021 (PDF) [580KB].

Contingency Plans

We discussed in the meeting that schools should prepare a contingency plan ready for the holidays in case the government does decide to impose tighter restrictions. All of the communications to date suggest this will be a last resort and, therefore, it may be unlikely that schools will be asked to close. However, cases are rising and it is predicted to rise further throughout the Christmas period, so planning is advised in order to be prepared.

The LCRC will contact schools if they have intelligence to state that COVID cases are getting too high in an individual setting and will be the appropriate agency to discuss closures etc with. If schools find themselves in a challenging situation with high rates of staffing absences that are making it difficult for the school to operate, please contact either Public Health or Abi Preston to discuss individual concerns on a case by case basis. The council can then liaise with appropriate services to decide how best to proceed.

It was raised in SSPB that schools are having challenges with sourcing supply teachers, due to high staff absences. We were asked to provide some contacts of agencies. Whilst we cannot recommend any agencies, I have listed some agencies that I either used in Bucks or have heard of. Schools should do their own due diligence to decide if they wish to use these agencies.

Supply Agencies

• Academics  - 020 3031 4862
• Simply Education - https://www.simplyeducation.co.uk (various branches) 
• Supply Desk - 0203 948 5213, london@supplydesk.co.uk
• Worldwide Education & Care - 01753 306177, info@worldwideeducation.co.uk
• Tradewind Recruitment London - 0207 845 5450, london@twrecruitment.com
• Reeson Education - 0203 841 0777

Anti-Vaxx Escalation Process

NWL have asked that schools to complete this SBARs security form  Anti-Vaxx Security_SBAR Incident_Form (Word doc) [20KB] if there are any incidents of anti-vaxx behaviour and send this directly to nhsnwlccg.c-19.vac.group@nhs.net  / cc in Roving Team 19.roving@nhs.net so they are aware of any issues. In addition, please send any materials you or your school receive along with SBARS form to the same email in-box putting SCHOOL ANTI-VAX ACTIVITY / MATERIAL in the subject header. The incident and material will then be escalated through existing process through to NHSE region and nationally.

Vaccinations Update

The JCVI have approved the second dose of vaccinations for 12-15 year olds. The NHS are currently planning how this will be rolled out but there is likely to be a need for a further consent form. We have asked that they consider using an electronic system from the NHS to gather consents from parents which we hope would mean this would be less onerous on schools. We are awaiting news on whether this is feasible. Schools will be asked to host the clinics for the second doses, similar to the first dose. The NHS will update us in due course and we will share any information as soon as we receive it.

SIMS Direct Annual Entitlement Contract 2022/23 - ESS Ltd

The LBH Procurement Team are engaging with Education Software Solutions (ESS) for the SIMS Direct Annual Entitlement Contract 2022/23 to look at renewal options and will advise schools next week of the outcomes.

We are aware that there is a deadline of the 31^st December 2021, but please delay any confirmation requests with ESS until further guidance is received from The LBH Procurement Team.

Partnership Model Updates - SAVE THE DATE - 28th January 2022 10am - 12pm

We would like to invite all Headteachers in the Borough to a meeting on 28^th January 10am - 12pm to share the proposal for the Partnership Model. We would love to have as many Headteachers present as possible. The steering group, which has consisted of a number of primary and secondary Headteachers, ISOS and the LA have been working hard to develop an offer which we hope will be attractive to our schools in the Borough and we look forward to sharing more details with you at the meeting.

It is currently scheduled to take place in the Council Chambers at the Civic Centre, however, we will assess this closer to the time depending on the restrictions that may be in place. If it is not possible to meet in person, we will aim to hold the meeting remotely.

We hope to see you there!

Reminder of 2 Impending Deadlines - Year 2 Phonics Checks and FFT subscriptions 

This is a reminder that all Year 2 Phonics Autumn Screening checks need to be uploaded via S2S or the approved spreadsheet by the end of the Autumn term.  These must be checked and approved by the Business Performance Team and uploaded to the DfE COLLECT system before 20^th January 2022. 

Also Heads are asked to confirm whether they will be subscribing to FFT in 2022/23 (start date 01/04/2022). Please could you confirm by email to Steve Buckingham SBuckingham@hillingdon.gov.uk by Wednesday 15th December 2021 whether you will be subscribing for 2022/23.  For existing subscribers, if we do not hear by that date we will assume that you will be continuing.  This item was originally carried in the Education Weekly Update of 22^nd November 2021. 

Confidential Egress Phishing Alert

Please see NAFN security alert regarding a recent Egress phishing incident impacting schools.

Egress_Phishing_Email_Alert_10122021 (PDF) [429KB]

Time to Read - Online Library Sessions for Reception Classes 

All children in reception classes should be receiving or will have received a Time to Read pack from Booktrust, these packs were being sent out directly to schools from November. The Library Service are offering some online class visits via Microsoft Teams for reception classes to support the Time to Read initiative. 

These sessions will be on the following dates and will be run by one of our library staff. They will read the Time to Read book for this year, I Am A Tiger by Karl Newson and Ross Collins and talk about the library and reading for pleasure. 

• Tuesday 25th January, 2-2.45pm  
• Wednesday 26th January, 9.45-10.30am 
• Thursday 27th January, 9.45-10.30am  

Please email Sam Everett severett@hillingdon.gov.uk if you have any questions or you would like to book a class onto one of the sessions. 

Free World Book Day Author Events with Hillingdon Libraries For KS1, KS2 & KS3 

We are excited to offer a range of free virtual author visits in the run up to world book day 2022 for schools in Hillingdon. We are delighted to have world book day author Sharna Jackson on board alongside authors John Dougherty and Jenny Pearson, with further names to be confirmed. Events will run from 22^nd - 25^th February.

If you would like to hear more, including being first to hear the final programme and how to book places, please email Rosie Whittle rwhittle@hillingdon.gov.uk 

On behalf of the Council, I would like to wish all of our schools a restful Christmas break and a Happy New Year!

Kind regards,

Abi Preston