Download letter here: Letter to parents Mandatory facemasks
17th September 2020
Dear Parent or Carer
Following the Government announcement concerning the increased restrictions placed on 7 Local Authorities I am obliged to inform you that the wearing of face masks and coverings is mandatory as of tomorrow (Friday 18th September 2020).
Students and staff MUST wear face coverings in all indoor communal areas such as corridors, when moving around school, in social spaces such as the Dining Hall, in queues. the LRC and Hall. This is for the safety of all. Students are not required to wear face coverings during lessons within their Bubble or whilst eating or drinking in the Dining Hall.
The specific guidance from Government is as follows;
Where local restrictions apply
In areas where local lockdowns or restrictions are in place, face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils (in years 7 and above) in areas outside classrooms when moving around communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain such as corridors.
Exemptions
Some individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings. This applies to those who:
- cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment or disability
- speak to or provide assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expression to communicate
The same exemptions will apply in education settings. Please contact the school regarding this.
We have a supply of disposable masks if students don’t have one and a large number of visors if any students would welcome them in addition to the fabric mask. We have been allowing students to acquire a Seaham High School mask free of charge through using their Reward points already this week. If your child is prone to losing them, like one of mine, then additional masks can be purchased from ourselves at the cost price of £2, through Parent pay. Students are free to wear their own masks and do not have to wear a school branded mask. All masks must be appropriate to a school setting, however.
I have included Government advice on the wearing of masks below- it is vital you read this and talk it through with your child.
I realise that this is a most depressing message and one I never envisaged when I became Headteacher that I would be compelled to send. I apologise that it is necessary but I have said all along that at the moment education is secondary and Health and Safety is the paramount consideration. Please talk this through with your children as many will be anxious and some of the younger ones in particular will no doubt be alarmed. Help us to help them understand why this is necessary- even if it is not a decision you yourself are comfortable with.
Once again thank you for your continued support
Yours sincerely
Geoff Lumsdon
Head Teacher
How to wear a face covering– A face covering should:
- cover your nose and mouth while allowing you to breathe comfortably
- fit comfortably but securely against the side of the face
- be secured to the head with ties or ear loops
- be made of a material that you find to be comfortable and breathable, such as cotton
- ideally include at least two layers of fabric (the World Health Organisation recommends three depending on the fabric used)
- unless disposable, it should be able to be washed with other items of laundry according to fabric washing instructions and dried without causing the face covering to be damaged
| When wearing a face covering you should: | When removing a face covering: | ||
| · wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser before putting a face covering on | · avoid wearing on your neck or forehead
· avoid touching the part of the face covering in contact with your mouth and nose, as it could be contaminated with the virus · change the face covering if it becomes damp or if you’ve touched it · avoid taking it off and putting it back on a lot in quick succession (for example, when leaving and entering shops on a high street)
|
· wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser before putting a face covering on | · avoid wearing on your neck or forehead
· avoid touching the part of the face covering in contact with your mouth and nose, as it could be contaminated with the virus · change the face covering if it becomes damp or if you’ve touched it · avoid taking it off and putting it back on a lot in quick succession (for example, when leaving and entering shops on a high street) · wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser before removing · only handle the straps, ties or clips · do not give it to someone else to use · if single-use, dispose of it carefully in a residual waste bin and do not recycle · if reusable, wash it in line with manufacturer’s instructions at the highest temperature appropriate for the fabric · wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser once removed
|
SEAHAM HIGH SCHOOL
