Please see the information below from Durham County Council and the Health Protection Team:
Schools leaflet -winter illnesses
This is a reminder of information sent out last term.
by billkirtley
Please see the information below from Durham County Council and the Health Protection Team:
Schools leaflet -winter illnesses
This is a reminder of information sent out last term.
by billkirtley
Please see the information below from Durham County Council and the Health Protection Team:
The latest data from UKHSA shows that scarlet fever cases continue to remain higher than we would typically see at this time of year. Currently, there is no evidence that a new strain is circulating. The increase is most likely related to high amounts of circulating bacteria and social mixing. It is therefore advisable to be alert for symptoms and seek medical advice accordingly.
Scarlet fever is usually a mild illness, but it is highly infectious. Look out for symptoms in children, which include a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel. On darker skin the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel.
Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you suspect a child has scarlet fever. (See our advice to parents below).
Early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection.
If a child has scarlet fever, they should stay home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.
Scarlet fever is caused by bacteria called group A streptococci. These bacteria also cause other respiratory and skin infections such as Strep throat and impetigo.
In very rare occasions, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive Group A strep. Whilst still uncommon, there has been an increase in invasive Group A strep cases this year, particularly in children under 10.
Our advice to parents:
There are lots of viruses that cause sore throats, colds and coughs circulating. These should resolve without medical intervention. However, children can on occasion develop a bacterial infection on top of a virus and that can make them more unwell.
As a parent or carer, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact NHS 111 if or your GP if:
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
Good hand and respiratory hygiene are important for stopping the spread of many bugs. By teaching your child how to wash their hands properly with soap for 20 seconds, using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, and keeping away from others when feeling unwell, they will be able to reduce the risk of picking up, or spreading, infections.
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The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) has confirmed changes to the 2023 key stage two (KS2) tests schedule in England, due to the additional bank holiday set to take place on Monday 8 May 2023, in honour of the King’s coronation.
Ministers have decided that KS2 tests will take place in the same week, with tests following the usual order but each taking place one day later than originally planned. As such, the new schedule will be as follows:
by billkirtley
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Tomorrow (Friday 18 November) is Children in Need day. As Friday is PE day for some of our classes, we will not be asking the children to dress up because some of them will need to be in their PE kits. However, all children are welcome to wear any Children in Need accessories they may have.
We are aware of the strain on household budgets at the current time and we will, therefore, not be asking the children to bring a donation into school.
If you wish to donate, please follow the link below to the Children in Need donation page:
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The Local NHS in the Northeast and North Cumbria have developed advice for parents and carers of children and young people around some common childhood illnesses. Please see the poster below:
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Please see the letter below from the Spennymoor Foodbank and a certificate from the County Durham Foodbank:
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Please see the letter below which contains details about how to provide consent and also a link to further information about the nasal flu spray. You will be asked for our school code which is: HD114070.
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Please see the information below from Durham County Council:
Free swimming is once again available in the October Half Term and further information is available here: https://www.durham.gov.uk/freeswimming
Ahead of the school holidays, we want to remind everyone about good hygiene at our swimming pools and leisure venues. Please make sure you wash your hands and shower before using our pools. If you have been unwell, particularly with a tummy bug, please don’t use the pool for at least 48 hours. If you have been diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis you should not use swimming pools for 14 days after symptoms have resolved.
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Please see the information below about job vacancies with Chartwells:
Please feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested.