Back to school - message to parents and carers

Dear parent/carer

With schools and colleges across Birmingham preparing for the return of all pupils and students from 8 March, we are writing to thank you for everything you have done throughout a challenging year and to ask for your continued help and support over the coming weeks and months.

Clearly, the reopening of our schools and colleges to all pupils and students must be done in a safe way, which is why it is important that we all continue to follow the guidance - at all times.

Schools and colleges will be taking additional measures to ensure that children and young people can learn in as safe an environment as possible. They will be sharing their new arrangements with you once they have been finalised, so please continue to support your school or college by following their rules.  Continue to follow the current routines until the new plans have been communicated and come into effect.

As each institution is different their plans and rules will vary, but there are some things we all must do:

• remember social distancing and don’t congregate at school gates at drop off and pick up times
• engage in any testing programmes your school may have in place
• encourage your children to follow the school rules including any face coverings and class or group bubbles
• If you or your children are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please do not attend school. Instead, stay home and book a test.
• If you have tested positive for the virus your children should not attend school for 10 days of you showing symptoms.
• if your child has been sent home from their class bubble and told to isolate, your child must stay at home and not go out, whether they are experiencing symptoms or not. They must also stay home regardless of whether they have had a negative test. The rest of the family does not need to isolate unless your child develops symptoms.

The earlier that children and young people with symptoms stay off school/college, the fewer other children and staff will need to isolate as a precaution. This way we can reduce any potential disruption to other children and staff and help keep schools and colleges open.

The vaccine roll-out and falling case rates mean we can now start the gradual return to normal life and the reopening of schools and colleges to more pupils is a welcome step forward. But we must all do everything we can to ensure that is done in the safest possible way. By working together and following the guidance, we can ensure we keep our children, teachers, lecturers and other staff safe.

In closing, we want to thank you for the way you have supported your children’s schools and colleges at this difficult time. We understand how challenging remote education has been and your continued support and cooperation has been vital throughout a very tough year. You really have made a difference, so thank you.