Response Plan Covid-19

Kentstown NS Response Plan Covid-19

The Guidelines referred to in this document refer to the DES publication: COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of primary and special schools

  1. The School has Ratified a Covid -19 Policy.
  2. The school secretary will check the relevant websites daily at 1.30pm to keep up to date with public health advice, changes to any Government plans for the safe reopening of society and Department of Education updates. She will notify the principal of any changes and pass on this information in a timely manner to staff, pupils, parents and others as required by email or group WhatsApp.
  3. All staff will complete the required training now available online.
  4. We have appointed Ms Carmel Healy as our Lead Worker Representative Ms Laura Leathem will act as the Deputy Lead Worker Representative.
  5. All posters and signage will be in place.
  6. Classrooms have been de-cluttered and reconfigured to support physical distancing
  7. Updated the health and safety risk assessment
  8. Arrangements for necessary visitors such as contractors and parents with be restricted to essential purposes and limited to those who have obtained prior approval from the principal.
  1. Detailed Contact logs will be maintained of all visitors.
  2. To Minimise the Risk of Introduction of COVID-19 into Schools we will:
  • Promote awareness of COVID-19 symptoms
  • Advise staff and pupils that have symptoms not to attend school, to phone their doctor and to follow HSE guidance on self-isolation;
  • Advise staff and pupils not to attend school if they have been identified by the HSE as a contact for person with COVID-19 and to follow the HSE advice on restriction of movement
  • Advise staff and pupils that develop symptoms at school to bring this to the attention of the Principal promptly;
  • Ensure that staff and pupils know the protocol for managing a suspected case of COVID-19 in school
  • Everyone entering the school building needs to perform hand hygiene with a hand sanitiser;
  • Visitors to the school during the day should be by prior arrangement and will be received at the front lobby area – just inside the front door;
  • Physical distancing (of 2m) will be maintained between staff and visitors where possible.
  1. Symptoms of COVID-19:

Common symptoms of coronavirus include:

  • a fever (high temperature – 38 degrees Celsius or above).
  • a new cough – this can be any kind of cough, not just dry.
  • shortness of breath or breathing difficulties.
  • loss or change in your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you

cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

  • Fatigue
  • Aches and Pains

Other uncommon symptoms of coronavirus include:

  • sore throat
  • headaches
  • runny or stuffy noses
  • feeling sick or vomiting
  • diarrhoea
  1. The school will promote good respiratory and hand hygiene. Parents cooperation is vital. Posters will be displayed in each classroom and in common areas and teachers will remind pupils of correct procedures. Supplies of soap and hand towels will be checked and maintained by cleaning staff daily. Frequency of Hand Hygiene Pupils and staff should perform hand hygiene: On arrival at school; · Before eating or drinking · After using the toilet; · After playing outdoors; · When their hands are physically dirty; · When they cough or sneeze.
  2. In order to reduce the risk of infection pupils and their teachers will form Class Bubbles (i.e. a class grouping which stays apart from other classes as much as possible) See the 10 Class Bubbles listed in point 15 below.
  3. Staff will maintain a minimum of 1m distance and where possible 2m. They will also take measures to avoid close contact at face to face level such as remaining standing rather than sitting beside/crouching down. Teachers and staff will wear a face-covering when a physical distance of 2 meters from other staff or children cannot be maintained.
  4. Access to the school in the morning will be through 3 areas from 8.50am-9:10am. Parents are to keep their children in their cars until they can safely enter the school. Walking/cycling to school is encouraged as much as possible. Pupils will proceed straight to their classrooms through the designated doors – class teachers will be in the room.

Double Gates: 1s t  class  3rd class   5th class

Middle Door: 2nd   class  1st & 2nd class      6th class B 

Front Door:  Jnr Infants     Snr Infants    4th  class  6th   class A

  1. Departure from 2.40pm will be through the middle doors for all classes, one class at a time, class teacher will accompany their class. At 1.40pm Snr Infants will be collected from the Double Gates and Junior Infants from the front of the school.
  2. Break times will be staggered as follows:

Morning Break: 10:50 – 11:05 and Lunch: 12:20 – 12:45

                           Jnr Infants, Snr Infants, 3rd ,  4th , 5th                                                 

Morning Break:  11:10 – 11:25  and Lunch: 12:50 – 1:15

                            1st 2nd, 1st & 2nd , 6th A&B

  1. PPE equipment will be provided to all staff. Face coverings will be used by a teacher giving First Aid
  2. All toys and shared equipment will be cleaned on a regular basis for example weekly in accordance with Department guidelines. All teachers are aware of these guidelines.
  3. The contract cleaners will clean the schools on a daily basis. Yes Boss – the cleaners will be provided with and expected to comply with the Checklist For Cleaning – Appendix 7 of the guidelines. All staff will have access to cleaning products and will be required to maintain cleanliness of their own work area.
  4. Cleaning/Disinfecting rooms where a pupil/staff member with suspected COVID19 was present will be in line with the guidelines.
  5. An isolation area 2m away from all others has been identified in all classrooms for any pupil with a Suspected case of Covid – 19. Procedures will be followed as detailed in point 25 below. If there is more than 1 case in a classroom the wet room can be used – supervision by SEN teacher or Principal notified by intercom.
  6. All staff are aware of their statutory obligation to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of their colleagues and other parties.
  7. Parents and Guardians will be reminded of their responsibility to help keep Covid out of schools it is vital that they play their part. Vital assistance will include but is not limited to:

1.Ensure that your child does not have a temperature or show any symptoms of the COVID-19 virus prior to coming to school

  1. Ensure children wash and sanatise their hands before coming to school

3.Only the staff , pupils and authorised personnel are allowed access to the school building

4.In a case of emergency the school can be contacted by phone at 0419825458

5.If members of their family have travelled to restricted areas due to the  COVID-19 virus, within the last 14 days that the principal be informed before sending their child to school

6.Encourage their child to cycle or walk to school if possible to do so safely

7.Provide the school with updated emergency contact numbers

8.Observe and adhere to COVID-19 signage outside the school and avoid any congregation in the school car park

9.Drop off and collect children on time

10.All track suit tops,coats,caps,scarves,gloves etc. be labelled with their child’s name

11.That their child has a second fully equipped pencil case, with all items labelled, for school use only

12.Ensure that your child has a mask in their school bag in a ziplock bag for First Aid usage should it be required 

 

25. Dealing with a Suspected Case of COVID-19

If a staff member/pupil displays symptoms of COVID-19 while at school the following are the procedures to be implemented:

  • if the person with the suspected case is a pupil, the parents/guardians should be contacted immediately
  • isolate the person and have a procedure in place to accompany the individual to the designated isolation area via the isolation route, keeping at least 2 metres away from the symptomatic person and also making sure that others maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from the symptomatic person at all times
  • the isolation area does not have to be a room but if it is not a room it should be 2 metres away from others in the room
  • if it is not possible to maintain a distance of 2 metres a staff member caring for a pupil should wear a face covering or mask. Gloves should not be used as the virus does not pass through skin
  • provide a mask for the person presenting with symptoms. He or she should wear the mask if in a common area with other people or while exiting the premises
  • assess whether the individual who is displaying symptoms can immediately be directed to go home/be brought home by parents who will call their doctor and continue self-isolation at home
  • facilitate the person presenting with symptoms remaining in isolation if they cannot immediately go home and facilitate them calling their doctor. The individual should avoid touching people, surfaces and objects. Advice should be given to the person presenting with symptoms to cover their mouth and nose with the disposable tissue provided when they cough or sneeze and put the tissue in the waste bag provided
  • if the person is well enough to go home, arrange for them to be transported home by a family member, as soon as possible and advise them to inform their general practitioner by phone of their symptoms. Public transport of any kind should not be used
  • if they are too unwell to go home or advice is required, contact 999 or 112 and inform them that the sick person is a COVID-19 suspect
  • carry out an assessment of the incident which will form part of determining follow-up actions and recovery
  • arrange for appropriate cleaning of the isolation area and work areas involved.

The HSE will inform any staff/parents who have come into close contact with a diagnosed case via the contact tracing process. The HSE will contact all relevant persons where a diagnosis of COVID-19 is made. The instructions of the HSE should be followed and staff and pupil confidentiality is essential at all times.

 

  1. The Employee Assistance Service (EAS) is provided by Spectrum.Life under the logo of ‘Wellbeing Together: Folláinne Le Chéile’. Under the EAS, employees have a dedicated free-phone confidential helpline 1800 411 057

 

Middle Doors

Double Gates

Example of a reconfigured classroom to support physical distancing