Letters to Parents & Carers

20 December 2023

Dear Parents / Carers

As we come to the end of what has been a busy but rewarding Term, we are almost at Christmas and the end of 2023.

It has been fabulous where we have seen students enjoying the new Citizenship GCSE programme and the introduction of more NCFE Qualifications which they continue to work hard for.

Our Art programmes have been growing and some beautiful work is being produced. Diwali candle holders, Armistice wreaths and Christmas Jumpers to name but a few. Plus, some very thoughtful gifts, hand made for staff.

Student Council continues to come up with ideas which benefit whole school and Charity too. We were able to deliver over £700 worth of gifts for the Delivering Joy Campaign to children and pets and the students enjoyed the experience of going shopping for these items.

We now have an Eco Warriors group who recognise the importance of cleaning up our Planet and are taking part in activities in school and passing on their research to others. This is extended to our Duke of Edinburgh group who have been volunteering at Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary.

We have had visits to the Theatre, took part in skiing and ten pin bowling competitions, not to mention our school football team who have played in a tournament and in a new school league. They really are a credit and look so smart in their new kits.

We continue to see daily determination and care for others from our students and are exceptionally proud of their development. They were a credit to us when Ofsted visited and we look forward to the report in the New Year.

It is through the hard work of our staff who put every effort into making our school the best it can be for all our students. I cannot thank them enough.

We understand that Christmas time can be a difficult time for many and there is support available through Lancashire’s HAF Programme:

www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/school-holiday-activities/

Please check out our website, Facebook and Twitter pages which post information. We will have a Team of Safeguarding Designated Leads working over the Christmas period and if you have any concerns, please contact:office@roselynhouseschool.co.uk

If it is an urgent Safeguarding Concern, please contact 0300 123 6720 or out of hours 0300 123 6722. If a child is immediate danger, ring 999.

It remains for me to thankyou all for your continued support over the last term, look forward to the next one and in the meantime have a fantastic, safe Christmas and bring in the New Year with peace and positivity for the next one.

All the best from the TEAM at Roselyn House School and The RHISE Service.

Miss D ?

                                                                                                                      31 March 2023

Dear Parents / Carers

Firstly, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Easter and say what an absolutely fantastic Term we have had. Our students and staff never cease to amaze me. We have ended the Term with such a positive finish after a very successful and positive Parent’s Evening on Wednesday night. Thank you to all of you that participated, and it was wonderful to hear all the progress your children are making. It also made staff feel good with the praise you personally gave them. They deserve it wholeheartedly.

Our staff have done some fantastic, forward thinking training this Term in Autism, Trauma, Mental Health First Aid and Advanced Safeguarding.

We have made excellent progress in enthusing students particularly in reading and have developed some lovely, welcoming spaces which encourage them to do so, with the addition of lots of new books. This will continue to grow next term where our Year 7’s and 8’s will take part in Letterbox Books and Bookbuzz. More information to follow.

I am delighted to announce that we have completed our planting of trees in the main school grounds as part of the Green Trees Award and after 2 Terms of related activities,  we have been awarded the Bronze Award. This continues in our development of Eco Schools and in particular, our RHOC (Roselyn House Outdoor Curriculum). We are delighted.

As part of RHOC and Duke of Edinburgh Award, RHISE students are participating in a garden project where they are in the process of developing a market garden area and Zen garden at the main school site. They will grow plants, flowers, vegetables, fruit and provide habitats for wildlife along with an additional relaxing area for us all to enjoy. It is hoped that we will become more sustainable by being able to use some of our own produce in the future and extend to our Enterprise projects.

We have had 119 Unit Award Scheme Certificates completed and some students sitting their Functional Skills exams in the January series. We look forward to supporting further students in May and June to sit further Functional Skills and GCSE’s. We are delighted with the improvements we continue to see through our assessment and tracking of progress.

Our Student Council continues to grow in strength and this term have agreed new water bottles for whole school, Basketball and Football Nets. We are also looking at Football kits for next term. Older students are producing a poetry book which on completion will be shared with our younger students.

We have been running a Thankyou Postcard Art competition were students designed their own images which will be printed onto a postcard which is sent home each Month to say Thankyou to friends, staff and family members. We had four winners who have received £5 gift vouchers.

Our Art and Music curriculum continues to develop with more facilities being available onsite with a music room, outdoor musical instruments which are to be installed over the Easter break, NCFE Art and project groups.

We have also continued our charitable work towards our chosen charities, Hope Flowers School (Bethlehem), Voices of Children (Ukraine) and Comic Relief where we have raised £217. This is truly fabulous.

But… we couldn’t do any of this without your continued support and co-operation and of course your wonderful children.

Please have a safe and restful Easter Break. We have sent out 2 weeks Food Vouchers and in the links below Easter Activities and warm spaces, Lancashire County Council are offering.

www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/school-holiday-activities/

www.lancashire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/cost-of-living/warm-spaces/

The warmest wishes,

Miss D ?

Headteacher

Roselyn House School and The RHISE Service

                                                                                                                                                           16^th December 2022                      

A very Merry Christmas to you all,

It has been a wonderful term for us all at Roselyn House School and The RHISE Service and we continue to see daily determination and resilience in our students who have done exceptionally well and it is marvellous to see.

We have seen our Student Council grow in strength and have now elected Student Governors to represent the students on the Governance Body. The Council continue to bring new ideas to the school and recognise the wellbeing of others.

There have been problem boxes placed in school, coffee and chat mornings, appreciation letters, school photographs to name a few suggestions. Our school is developed by the needs of our students and their voice on the student council brings this to the forefront of everything we do.

This has recently been seen through our successful pop-up Christmas Fayres where students have made crafts and goodies to sell through enterprise projects. This has helped to raise money for our nominated charities. Well done to all involved.

Our Eco and Green Schools work goes from strength to strength with a weekly topic being the focus each week. Students work well on doing things everyday to help save our Planet.

We have had great success with Duke of Edinburgh Award this Term with students combatting fears and pushing themselves to the limits in some difficult weather conditions. It shows the determination these guys have. This has also been seen through our Sports Leader work and we now have a school football Team who are playing regular weekly matches against other schools.

Our Numeracy and Literacy workshops continue to go well along with individual interventions and Word of The Week and Weekly Literacy Focus.

A massive well done to everyone!

It is through the hard work of our staff who put every effort into making our school the best it can be for all our students; even when times can be challenging. We are constantly thinking of new ways and what best suits our students.

Sadly, this Term we have two staff leaving.

Mr Lancaster who has been with us for almost 12 years is moving on to pastures new closer to home. He has brought so much to us in those years and particular through his teaching in Nurture and through Forest Schools. He has helped to bring on so many of our students through his Nurture Programmes of Study and helped them to develop positive attitudes and skills towards learning. He will be greatly missed but we wish him the best of luck at his new school. We will miss his guitar playing and musical flair, particularly at Christmas Time.

Also Mr King, who has been an Outreach Tutor and Adulthood Pathway Lead for The RHISE Service for 6 years. He has helped so many students along the way to develop independence, gain confidence within their selves and find what hidden skills they never knew they had. He has been original in his approaches and brought refreshing competitions and schemes to the school. In particular NCFE Photography and students being able to express life as they see it through the camera. He moves on to become a PCSO and will continue to make a difference in the local community.

We offer out a massive thankyou to both of these staff and will always keep you in our hearts and the difference you have made to so many of our students’ lives.

We appreciate that Christmas Time can be a difficult one for some of our families and in particular, with the cost-of-living crisis at the present time. We will be sending FSM Vouchers and we want to inform you of safe/ calm and warm spaces if things become difficult at home. There is also further information on our school website.

Roselyn House School - Home

Lancashire Libraries are all warm and welcome spaces, where you can find:

• a warm drink
• a space to sit
• free computers and Wi-Fi
• charging points for your phone or laptop
• events and activities
• help from staff to find information

Find a library to view facilities, what’s on and opening times. All the libraries have disabled access.

Search for events at the libraries where you can get together with others for a chat, play board games or learn something new.

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/cost-of-living/warm-and-welcome-places/

https://events.lancashire.gov.uk/search/index.asp

We will have a Team of Safeguarding Designated Leads working over the Christmas period and if you have any concerns, please contact:

 office@roselynhouseschool.co.uk

or send a request through the school website

 Roselyn House School - Contact Us

If it is an urgent Safeguarding Concern please contact 0300 123 6720 or out of hours

0300 123 6722. If a child is in immediate danger ring: 999

It remains for me to thankyou all for your continued support over the last term, look forward to the next one and in the meantime have a fantastic, safe Christmas and bring in the New Year with a smile and optimism.

All the best from the TEAM at Roselyn House School and The RHISE Service

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

20 July 2022

Dear Parents / Carers

As we reach the end of yet another academic year at Roselyn House School and RHISE, it has been a year of challenges, both with Covid and all the building works that have gone on at the main school site.

Everyone has coped unbelievably well and despite all of this, we have seen excellent outcomes from our students with progress being made across the whole curriculum and particularly, at a social level. Students seem to have become closer together and have learnt more than ever to understand others’ differences and needs.

We have a record number of students who have taken GCSE, Functional Skills ,Entry Level Certificates and AQA UAS. We look forward to the results which are available 18^th August 2022. The results will be emailed to students.

We are excited by all the building works being completed before we come back in September and to be back into sparkling and more modern classrooms, whilst maintaining our homely feel.

We will also have permanent additions to the outside of main school too with additional log cabins for Nurture and Therapy, outdoor reading and music area, wellbeing area and more areas for play including basketball and table tennis.

We are welcoming our own Speech and Language Therapist from September along with continuing with our Play Therapist.

We have a large intake of Year 7 and Year 8 students for the coming year and look forward to meeting them all.

We have more students moving to Sixth Form at The RHISE Centre and further developments within Adult Pathway and Enterprise. Students have completed some wonderful projects in creating a new chill out zone, upcycling furniture and the whole Centre is going to be decorated.

We have once again been able to award the Sports Trophy along with the Literacy Award Trophy for exceptional progress and would like to extend a well done to all students who participated.

Sadly, at the end of the Summer we are saying goodbye to Miss Holmes, Assistant Headteacher who has been with us for 16 years. Professionally, Miss Holmes came to ourselves as a Teaching Assistant and later qualified as an English Teacher whilst working alongside myself delivering English to the school and later becoming the Lead.  Miss Holmes has brought so much to the school and in particular, her work within Safeguarding and for Looked After Children. She has worked tirelessly to bring understanding to the School and has delivered many a successful INSET to the staff group with her knowledge of SEND and specific diagnosis.  Miss Holmes has worked with some of our most complex and challenging students over the years with great success. She has achieved Stonewall Silver status for the School and is aiming towards Gold before she leaves. She will be sadly missed but will be remembered by everyone who has been fortunate enough to cross paths with her. Miss Holmes has left a lasting memory with many and will continue to be part of the Roselyn family in some capacity. We wish her well in her new venture moving forward working with animals for a change instead of young people.

Mr Wilkinson, after 5 years, will also be leaving us to have a change in career and we cannot thank him enough for the development of vocational provision, profiling and post 16 applications that he has brought to the School. He has been part of the vocational development and in particular Sixth Form and The RHISE Service where he has put his expertise to help students find the skill areas that suits them best and future training/ education on leaving us. We promise to carry on the good work you have done and foundations you have successfully laid. We wish you well in your future career and hope you don’t have to work too hard.

Finally, Mr Hartley, our Maths Teacher at RHISE will be moving to a new school. He actually did two stints with ourselves totaling seven years. He was instrumental in the developments of The RHISE Service and finding out the best individualised programmes that would be suitable for our students. We wish him well and hope he continues to bring positive educational experiences and exam success to many more students for years to come.

We would also like to congratulate Mr Birkenhead who I am sure you are all aware of by now. He has proven his dedication to the school and continues to give relentless support for both staff and students alike. He strives to support the school in being the best it can be. For this, he is being promoted to a Deputy Head, (in addition to Miss Willacy) and I look forward to working with him to develop the school even further moving forward. Really well done. This is quite an achievement but one that is well deserved.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff group as they continue to work extremely hard and all have the best interest of students at heart. They really are an exceptional group of people and we admire and appreciate them all greatly. A special shout out has to go to Mr Cooper, our Chef who achieved a 5 star rating for our school kitchen this year and has produced fantastic food not only for school dinners but as food packs during school holidays.

We have some wonderful new developments for September and this will include our new 1-4 levelling system which will feed into a new style End of Term reports, introduction to Parents/ Carers evenings and Annual Review process.

We will continue to provide FSM Vouchers for the Summer period and a catch-up resource pack for each student.

Finally, I hope that you all have a safe, restful and fun six weeks break.

Miss D ?

                                                                                                                        7 June 2022

Dear Parent/Carer,

This letter is to remind you that our school is participating in Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass is a unique Police and Education early intervention safeguarding partnership which ensures that a child/ young person's school/ college is informed, prior to the start of the next school day, that there has been a domestic abuse, vulnerable child or missing incident to which the child or young person has been exposed, and which might then have an impact on them in school/ college the following day.

Each school/ college is informed of all such incidents, not just those where an offence can be identified or those which are graded as high risk. The partnership recognises that all domestic abuse, vulnerable child and missing incidents can be harmful to children and young people. This information will be shared throughout the year, including holidays and weekends. Information will only be shared with the school/ college by the police where it is identified that a young person was present, witnessed or was involved.

Nominated members of staff, known as Key Adults, have been trained to liaise with the police. At Roselyn House School / The RHISE Service our Key Adults are:-

Mr Birkenhead

Miss Holmes

Mrs Higgins

They will be able to use information that has been shared with them, in confidence, to ensure that we can make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children or their families. The Key Adults will keep this information confidential and will only share it on a need to know basis, for instance, to teaching staff for the child or young person. It will not be shared with other school students.

This national initiative has been implemented across the whole of the Lancashire Police area. If you would like some more information about it, you can view it online at www.operationencompass.org.

We are keen to offer the best support possible for our pupils and a recent review of Operation Encompass showed that it is beneficial and supportive for all those involved.

Yours sincerely,

Sharon Damerall

Headteacher

Summer 2022 Exam Timetable

21 April 2022

Dear Parents/ Carers,

It is wonderful to see the positivity from Students following the Easter break and I truly hope you had fun and were spoilt with Easter eggs.

I wanted to inform you of current updates and let you know that we have returned and already have some positive cases of Covid 19 and students and staff who are displaying symptoms.

We continue to follow PHE guidance particularly around hygiene, ventilation and reduction in numbers for groupings.

Coronavirus advice

The Government has removed the remaining COVID-19 restrictions in England, including the use of lateral flow testing.

COVID-19 along with many other respiratory infections such as flu can spread easily and cause serious illness in some people.

What should students do if they have symptoms of COVID-19?

Students are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and either have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to attend school or do normal activities. They should only return when they feel well.

If a student aged 18 or under tests positive for COVID-19, they should stay home for at least 3 days (the isolation period is 5 days for those aged 19 or over). Following this period students can then return to school as long as they no longer feel too unwell to attend and do not have a fever.

We have managed the situation well and would ask that we are mindful of each other and by keeping away from school when ill, protects others and minimises disruption. This will be authorised absence and remote learning offered where a student is well enough to do it.

Exams

Exam Boards have provided advance information on the focus of the summer exams to support students’ revision in the majority of A level and GCSE subjects. You can find links to advance information on the AQA website. Teachers will inform students of this.

Advance information varies across different subjects and specifications.

What if a student gets symptoms or tests positive at the time of an exam?

As is normal in a standard examination series, candidates are expected to complete examinations to receive a grade. There may be exceptional cases where this is not possible. Exams have been spaced by a minimum of ten days between the first and last exam in any subject, to reduce the chance of students missing all exams in a subject because of illness.

Students should follow the advice given above in exam situations. So, if they have a high temperature, the advice is to stay at home and avoid contact with others, until the student no longer has a high temperature and is well enough to attend their exams.

See https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ for more advice and guidance about symptoms and how to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus.

Thankyou once again for your continued support and we look forward to a wonderful Summer Term.

Miss D

Headteacher

Roselyn House School / The RHISE Service

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            August 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you are all well and safe.

As you are aware, the Government require two Lateral Flow Device tests to be undertaken prior to our return in September.

On Monday 6^th September and Thursday 9^th September we intend to provide doorstep testing for you child. This will mean that two members of school staff will turn up to your home, hand you a Lateral Flow Test Device and ask your child to take a swab. The staff will then determine the result on the doorstep.

We have attached a diagram of how the swabbing should be done. On the day of the testing your child will have remote learning so that the staff responsible for testing can get around all students. We will provide lunches for these days.

Bubble Leads will be in touch to discuss this with you and to allay any anxieties you or your child may have.

Staff will also resume twice weekly testing.

Your child will follow their normal Timetable on the days they aren’t being tested.

If your child tests positive then they will be advised to book a PCR Test and asked to self-isolate.

We have enclosed a consent form for you to fill in with regards Lateral Flow Testing and would ask you to complete and return to Mrs Mercer.

Once again, thankyou in anticipation of your continuing support.

Warmest wishes

Miss Damerall

Headteacher

Roselyn House School

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            19 July 2021

Dear Parents / Carers

Re: Changes to contact tracing in education and childcare settings

As you know, the Prime Minister announced on 12 July that Step 4 of the roadmap would go ahead on 19 July.

One of the key changes that will take place from 19 July is that education and childcare settings will no longer be asked to conduct routine contact tracing. As with positive cases in any other setting, NHS Test and Trace will work with either the positive case – or in the case of children – the parents, carers or guardian of the positive case to identify close contacts.

NHS Test and Trace already manages the contact tracing process for the rest of society – including children who have recorded a positive PCR test – and has expertise in supporting people to identify close contacts.

This letter sets out in more detail below how that process will work and what you need to do if your child tests positive for COVID-19.

Self-isolating and taking a test

1. If your child has symptoms, they and other members of the household should self-isolate – and you should inform their education or childcare setting. You should immediately order a PCR test for them. If the PCR result is negative, they and other members of their household can stop self-isolating (unless instructed to self-isolate for other reasons). If the PCR result is positive, they, other members of their household and any close contacts identified by NHS Track and Trace must self-isolate until 10 days after the onset of symptoms.

2. If your child has a positive result from a lateral flow device (LFD) test, they and other members of the household should self-isolate – and you should inform their education or childcare setting. You should immediately order a confirmatory PCR test. If the confirmatory test is taken within two days and the result is negative, they and other members of their household can stop self-isolating (unless instructed to self-isolate for other reasons). If the confirmatory PCR test is positive (or is taken more than two days after the LFD), other members of their household and any close contacts identified by NHS Track and Trace must self-isolate until 10 days after the LFD test.
3. PCR tests can be booked online through the NHS Test & Trace website or by calling 119.
4. PCR test results will be recorded with NHS Test and Trace automatically, but you should also communicate the result to the education or childcare setting during term time or summer provision.

Contact tracing

5. If your child gets a positive PCR test result, NHS Test and Trace will contact you, using the details you registered when ordering the PCR test. You and/or your child will be asked a series of specific questions designed to identify who your child has been in close contact with. Being in an education or childcare setting with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will not necessarily mean a person is identified as a close contact.

6. You will be asked to provide the contact details, if you know them, of any of the individuals – or their parents or guardians – who have been identified as close contacts. NHS Test and Trace will then get in touch with these close contacts and provide appropriate instructions or advice (see below).

Self-isolation and/or testing of close contacts

7. At present, anyone identified as a close contact is legally required to self-isolate and must not attend their education or childcare setting (the only exception is if they are participating in a daily contact testing trial). Anyone identified as a  non-household close contact by NHS Track and Trace must self-isolate until 10 days after the date of their most recent contact with that person. If they live in the same household, they must self-isolate until 10 days after the date of that person developing symptoms (see point 1 above) or, if that person was asymptomatic, the date of their test (see point 2 above). NHS Test and Trace will notify you of the day on which the self-isolation period ends.
8. Close contacts are also advised to take a PCR test. If the test result is negative, they must still complete the full self-isolation period, as the test will not detect all positive cases. If the result is positive, they will need to self-isolate for a further 10 days – and NHS Test and Trace will contact them to identify any close contacts.
9. From 16 August, if the close contact is under 18, they will not have to self-isolate (in line with the policy for fully vaccinated adults) but will be asked to take an PCR test immediately, other than for very young children identified as non-household contacts, and they will not need to self-isolate while awaiting the results of the test. If the PCR test is positive, they will be required to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of the test. NHS Test and Trace will then get in touch to identify close contacts (see points 5 and 6 above). Further guidance on these changes to self-isolation will be provided shortly.

We recognise how difficult the past 18 months have been and the sacrifices that all families, education and childcare settings have had to make. This has been an enormously challenging time for everyone and we would like to take the opportunity to thank you for everything you have done.

Yours sincerely

Sharon Damerall

Headteacher

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            15 July 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

As we hurtle to the finishing line on Monday, we would all like to start by saying how amazing everyone has been this year. The students, the staff and of course yourselves. Everyone should be applauded. It’s had its ups and downs and many new challenges but working together, we have made it a success. Thankyou each and every one of you for this and please pass this on to your children/ young adults who have not only been a credit to the school,  but also society.

As you may have seen in the press, there is a lot of changing information with regards Schools and Bubbles from 19^th July following the unlocking of restrictions. We continue to receive daily updates from the DfE but have also had to make decisions ourselves so that we can successfully plan for September. We need to be organised for our students and cannot wait for last minute guidance.

With this is mind, we wanted to inform you of the way September will look.

As part of our consultation process throughout the last year, we have realised that operating Bubbles has been beneficial for students and they have increased their attainment as a result. It has improved their overall attitude to learning and friendship groups. It has minimised distractions and reduced negative behaviour. We have discussed this in depth with our students and the majority felt very anxious about the school opening up as one whole unit after spending over a year, in some cases, in Bubbles.

We will therefore continue to operate in smaller groups from September onwards.

It has been recognised that the use of individual classrooms/ workstations has been beneficial for Covid safety and also in developing independence in our students. It provides them with a more ‘work like’ base and allows them to be responsible for their own equipment and resources. It also means these can be cleaned and limit access to them to stop the spread of Covid or other viruses.

We will be able to have more movement with some of our staff and although this will be kept to a minimum, we may facilitate some cross over to improve curriculum delivery and experiences for our students.

Timetables for September will incorporate a new whole school curriculum pathway which will run across School and RHISE. There will be an increase in opportunities and extended hours in School. (Students at RHISE will have more hours and remote learning days will only be used if students have to self-isolate). We believe strongly that we need to take forward positives from a challenging time which has lead to improvement of the whole School.

The School Timetable will continue to operate on AM/ PM sessions with Education in the Outdoors along with the classroom. RHISE students will have Healthy Lifestyles/ Sports/ Outdoor Education/ D of E all incorporated into their Timetable to give more option for being in the outdoors. This has worked well in reducing risk, motivating students, providing new opportunities for learning and promoting Healthy Lifestyles. It has also allowed us to achieve our Eco Schools Green Flag status.

There will be increased sessions for our Pathway to Adulthood Curriculum, PSHE, Employability, Communication and Life Skills.

For our students’ continuity is key, so to maintain some aspects of the ‘Bubbles’ is important in case we have to reintroduce procedures.

The Government has now advised along with LCC that face-coverings should continue to be worn on school transport. We have also said that anyone who wants to continue wearing them in School can do so.

We will continue with hygiene measures including hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, maintaining cleaning regimes and sending students/ staff home who develop symptoms. Temperature tests will continue prior to transport.

We are currently in the process of producing an outbreak plan which is based on our risk assessment and procedures that have been in place during the pandemic. We will be guided by Local Authority and Union advice.

We will still be responsible for contract tracing 6 days into the Summer Break but are lead to believe that from September this will be managed by Test and Trace. We do not have any information yet on how this will work.

We will in terms of our risk assessment look closely at who ‘close contacts’ are and these individuals will be asked to self-isolate. This should mean that whole Bubbles should not have to close unless there is an outbreak. We will continue to minimise any disruption as best as we can.

Any students who display symptoms should not come into school and take a PCR test, with the household self-isolating.

Asymptomatic Home Testing is being paused throughout the Summer break apart from students and staff involved in Summer School. However, if staff and students wish to continue to do them, they can still have test kits. These may have to be sought from pharmacist’s dependent on numbers available to School.

We will stagger our students’ return in September and conduct ‘doorstep testing’ for the first week. This will ensure that we catch cases when people have been mixing before their return. Students will then be expected to do home tests again. It will be reviewed at the end of September. These will take place on Monday 6^th September and Thursday 9^th September. Group Leads will be in contact with regard timings and Remote Learning will take place on these 2 days. The other days, if students have a negative test, they will be in school. Staff will also complete 2 tests before they return.

If a student tests positive on an LFT, they will be asked to take a PCR.

We will be conducting weekly welfare calls in the Summer break and providing 2 sets of food vouchers for £45 each. These will be emailed.

Our Summer School will be taking place from 31^st August and will be a mixture of new starters and students who are high risk. This will equate to about 12 students who will follow a programme of education catch up, Team building and celebration. Letters have been sent out to offer places.

We will continue to risk assess individual students and staff and adjustments will be made where appropriate/ necessary.

It remains to say that we are almost at the end of the School Year and would like to congratulate our leavers on their achievements, despite the difficult 17 months they have faced. Exam results are available on 12^th August and we look forward to the results. We are sad to say goodbye but are delighted to know they have further education and training placements set up and wish them well. We will monitor progress and can’t thank people enough for their kind words and appreciation.

Have a wonderful Summer Holiday, continue to stay safe and we will see everyone very soon.

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            10 June 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you all had a relaxing Half -Term break and enjoyed the sunshine. We have welcomed students back with a positive start and in particular, those students who are sitting their Functional Skills exams this week.

On Wednesday of this week, Matt Hancock announced that Greater Manchester and Lancashire are going to receive a ‘strengthened package of support’ to tackle the rise in the Delta coronavirus variant.

The government website has been updated to state:

‘… wherever possible, you should try to meet outside rather than inside, keep two metres apart from people that you don’t live with unless you have formed a support bubble with them)- this includes friends and family you don’t live with, minimise travel in and out of affected areas.’

There will be :

•         Rapid response teams

•         Extra covid-19 testing

•         Military support

•         Supervised in-school testing

Individuals are also advised to continue to work from home if they can and get tested twice a week.

Further information can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-measures-in-additional-areas-to-tackle-delta-b16172-variant

In light of this we will be looking at offering on site LFT testing for students on Mondays and Thursdays in each Bubble for those students who do not complete tests at home.

Timetables won’t be affected but we may have to change some of our activities to minimise travel and contact.

We can assure you that we are continuing to keep up protective measures for the safety of all our students, staff and families.

Please continue to support your child in the importance of wearing face coverings and testing. Please remember you can also get twice weekly tests and when eligible have the vaccination.

Warmest wishes

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            27 May 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

I wanted to write to you to remind you of procedures over half term.

Your child should continue to take part in home testing over the holiday period on a Monday and Thursday morning and record the result via the NHS website. Bubble Leads will make welfare calls in the afternoon in order to collect results for school.

In this instance if your child tests positive, they will be asked to self- isolate and advised to get a PCR test. If your child has a positive result then this should be reported to school via Mrs Smith rachel@roselynhouseschool.co.uk up to and including Thursday 4^th June 2021. She will check her emails at 4.00pm each day and ring you following this to advise. If your child is in a Bubble with someone who tests positive within this time frame, they too will be asked to self- isolate. From Friday 5^th June , you should report to NHS Test and Trace and follow their instructions; although Bubble leads will continue to support with the welfare calls.

I once again want to thank staff who are giving up time of their school holidays in order to continue this process. They really have gone above and beyond for our students and families over the last year.

Many are currently working hard on grades and assessment for GCSE exams and are preparing for some students to sit Functional Skills exams when we come back after the break. These have taken extra planning so as to be Covid safe.

May I also take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support in following our Covid Risk Assessment and Procedures and for helping to keep staff and students as safe as possible.

Please have a wonderful half term break, continue to stay safe and we look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday 7^th June.

Warmest wishes

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            14 May 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

We hope everyone is doing well. 

Please note we will be continuing to request that students and staff wear face coverings in school and on transport. We will review this after half term. 

We are concerned that there have been two Covid outbreaks in a school and a college in the Leyland area. There are also increased concerns around the area that some of the students come from with an increase of the new variant.  We currently have some Covid cases within our families too.

Despite the Government decision, many other schools are continuing the use of wearing face coverings and it is likely PHE Lancashire will announce further advice shortly.

Students have followed this really well and we have been proud of their maturity to keep everyone safe. 

Thankyou once again for your support.

Miss D

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            15 April 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

Good afternoon everyone and what a wonderful start to the new Term we have had. Sunshine and smiles all round!

Thankyou, for supporting your child with home testing over Easter and the doorstep testing this week. The numbers of participants did drop over Easter but have picked up again this week.  We have started back with between 73% and 91% attendance across the Bubbles which continues to amaze us. Thankyou!

You should by now have received home test kits for next week for your child to conduct their-selves. Please encourage them to do so. We would ask that they complete the test on Monday and Thursday morning prior to coming to school.

If they have a positive result, please inform school and do not send your child in. Also, if your child is displaying symptoms, please do not send them to school. You will be asked to self- isolate and asked to book a PCR test. Otherwise, normal Timetables will resume.

If you would like to continue receiving support for testing your child, we will be able to offer this facility within school on an individual basis or by doorstep testing. Please contact your Bubble Lead to discuss this.

Over the next two weeks, some staff are due to have their second covid vaccinations, as we were fortunate enough to have been invited as part of the Health and Social Care offer to receive them. For some staff these will take place during the school day at local hospitals. This will mean that they will need time off. We aim to manage these with little or no disruption but accept there may have to be some minor changes to Timetable. It is important that these continue in order to further protect our staff, students and families.

The Government advice with regards face coverings for students and staff will currently remain in place, to be worn on transport, in school corridors and classrooms. This applies to alternative provisions. They do not need to be worn outside.

We look forward to everything this Term has to offer and sharing with you the success of our students over the next week.

Warmest wishes

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            25 March 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

I wanted to write to you again before Easter and remind you of procedures moving forwards. We continue to have great success with Lateral Flow Testing with an average of 76% of students taking part. This is fabulous. Our attendance continues to be superb too with between 71%- 100% across the Bubbles.

We wanted to remind you that your child should take part in home testing over the Easter period on a Monday and Thursday morning and record the result via the NHS website. Bubble Leads will make welfare calls in the afternoon in order to collect results for school.

In this instance if your child tests positive, they will be asked to self- isolate and advised to get a PCR test. If your child has a positive result then this should be reported to school via Mrs Smith rachel@roselynhouseschool.co.uk up to and including Thursday 1^st April. She will check her emails at 4.00pm each day and ring you following this to advise. If your child is in a Bubble with someone who tests positive within this time frame, they too will be asked to self- isolate. From Friday 2^nd April, you should report to NHS Test and Trace and follow their instructions; although Bubble leads will continue to support with the welfare calls.

I really want to thank staff who are again giving up time of their school holidays in order to continue this process. They really have gone above and beyond for our students and families over the last year.

As I have previously mentioned on our return to school on Monday 12^th April and Thursday 15^th April, we will attend at your home to carry out ‘doorstep testing’, where staff will process the results. Remote Learning will take place on these days.

The reason why we are conducting these controlled tests is that from 29^th March, six people or two households will be able to once again meet outside and in people’s gardens. This means that more of our families and staff will have the opportunity to mix again. As a safety precaution, due to the fact that home testing is new and may not be carried out in all cases over Easter, this will allow us to identify and isolate any positive cases in the first week back, to reduce the risk of Covid spreading in School/ RHISE. We will also deliver further home test kits. Any positive cases will be asked to self-isolate and will not need to do a PCR test.

Following on from this, the week after we will ask students to independently carry out home tests on a Monday and Thursday morning prior to being picked up for School/ RHISE. They will record their results on the NHS website and inform the transport member of staff of their result. If your child is positive, they should not attend school and we would prefer if you could ring through. Your child’s timetable should run as usual from this week. We will continue this procedure in line with government procedures. (Please note that Bubble 2 will receive welfare calls on Thursdays as per timetable).

If any Parents/ Carers feel that their child still needs support in carrying out home tests, please contact your Bubble Leads and appointments will be made to support or carry out doorstep testing.

Finally, food packs and meals will be delivered tomorrow for Easter and will continue to be provided on the first week back for the days students are tested. I would like to send my compliments to our chef, Mr Cooper, and thank him for how hard he has worked in providing delicious meals over these difficult times. I know they have gone down a treat.

Please have a wonderful Easter break, continue to stay safe and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in a couple of weeks time.

Warmest wishes

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            18 March 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

Thankyou once again for supporting the roll out of testing at school and RHISE, it continues to be a success with the majority of students taking part. Our attendance this week has been between 71% and 100% across the Bubbles and this continues to be amazing.

As you may know, the next expectation from the Government with regards testing is for students to carry out home testing. With this in mind, next week we will continue to attend at your homes but on Monday will demonstrate to your child how the home test is done and recorded. We would ask that your child has a phone/ laptop available to be able to be shown how to record results. Staff will also record results as per school procedures.

On Thursday, testing staff will once more attend and supervise your child doing the test and recording the results for their-selves on the NHS website and also passing the results to staff.

The actual test is the same procedure but your child will process the results their-selves rather than staff doing it. It will be like a fun, Science experiment!

It will then be the expectation that your child carries out 2 tests per week over the Easter holidays. Home test kits will be handed out on the Thursday visit.

In order to help with the reporting of these test results, we would ask if they can be carried out on the Monday and Thursday mornings. Bubble lead staff will then make welfare telephone calls in the afternoons of these days to collect the results. If a home test is positive then your child will be asked to do a PCR test at a test centre and the household will be asked to self-isolate.

Staff will also continue to do twice weekly tests during the Easter break.

For the first week back after Easter (week commencing Monday 12^th April 2021) we will then come back out on the Monday and Thursday to do the ‘doorstep tests’, where staff will once again process the results. This will help with the accuracy of results following the 2 week break and make the return to school safer. We will then be able to hand out home test kits on the Thursday for students to continue their-selves.

May I also remind you that any member of your household can also do Home Lateral Flow Tests and can either pick them up or have them delivered to the house. Unfortunately, school cannot give these out.

To find your local rapid test collection centre, simply type in your town or postcode and hover over the marker to find out opening times and further information.

https://find-covid-19-rapid-test-sites.maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/findatestcenter.html

You can also take a test at a community assisted test site if you prefer. Again, simply put in your town or postcode and hover over the marker to find out opening times and further information.

https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/find-covid-19-rapid-test-sites

If you are unable to collect test kits, go to a test site, or get tested at your workplace, you can order a home test kit online on the following supplementary conditions:

https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

If you have any queries regarding this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Bubble Leads.

Warmest wishes

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            24 February 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you are all well and safe.

I am sure by now you have heard the Government announcement with regard a roadmap out of lockdown and the expectation that all students will return back to school on 8^th March 2021.

I have attached a letter from Gavin Williamson, The Education Secretary.

The Government are requiring that secondary students have 3 Asymptomatic Lateral Flow Tests from their start back until home tests are sent out. The expectation is that schools will have on site testing facilities. We have been in discussion with the Department for Education with regards what this means to us as we transport students to and from School/ RHISE and would be in a very difficult situation of having to return a student home if they tested positive. We have been informed that this is not safe for us to do.

Therefore, on Monday 8^th, Thursday 11^th and Monday 15^th March we intend to provide doorstep testing for you child. This will mean that two members of school staff will turn up to your home, hand you a Lateral Flow Test Device and ask your child to take a swab. The staff will then determine the result on the doorstep.

We have attached a diagram of how the swabbing should be done. On the day of the testing your child will have remote learning so that the staff responsible for testing can get around all students. We will provide lunches for these days.

Bubble Leads will be in touch next week to discuss this with you and to allay any anxieties you or your child may have. We want to do this face to face in order to help build up confidence in the procedures before home testing is sent out.

We understand it is very new to everyone and want to support our families as much as we can. The tests will also be carried out twice a week by staff too.

Your child will follow their normal Timetable on the days they aren’t being tested.

If your child tests positive then they will be given a PCR test or informed to book a test and asked to self-isolate. Likewise if someone in your child’s Bubble tests positive and has been in close contact with your child, then the whole Bubble will still have to self-isolate.

We will make this new system as supportive and welcoming as we possibly can and please do not be afraid to contact your Bubble Leads to discuss further. Covid-19 is still very real and these new measures have been introduced to get students back to school but continue to keep children, staff and families as safe as possible. We will be continue to operate in Bubbles at school and RHISE and maintain all protective measures as we have done throughout.

The Government has now announced that until Easter it will be a requirement for students to wear face coverings in the classroom along with in corridors and on transport. This has always been well supported in School and RHISE and we will be looking at more disposable face coverings being available and changed throughout the day. We would ask that you encourage your child to follow this procedure.

We know this is a lot to take in and your Bubble Leads will be in touch via home visit or phone call next week. We have enclosed a consent form for you to fill in with regards Lateral Flow Testing and would ask you to complete and return to Mrs Mercer.

Once again, thankyou in anticipation of your continuing support and we look forward to welcoming more of our students from 8^th March. It will be lovely to get more people together again.

Warmest wishes

Miss D

Headteacher

Roselyn House School

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                                        4 January 2021  

I promised last week that I would write to you with regard information on testing in schools.

Today we have received our first batch of Lateral Flow Testing and are in the process of consulting with staff and Parent/Carers in order to move forward in the direction that is right for all of us.

The situation in the country is extremely difficult and transmissions have increased. We have of course, thanks to your support, implemented some changes to TT for this week and are in the process of gathering more information to see what will affect our curriculum moving forwards.

We are constantly working to keep our school/ RHISE service as safe as possible. We have come a long way in this but have had and still have some staff/students poorly.

I have attached information on the Lateral Flow Testing below and in attachments for you to consider carefully.

Please can I ask you to fill in the attached questionnaire and return back to Mrs Smith at school (rachel@roselynhouseschool.co.uk).

These are just questions at the moment and are not consent.

The government states:

‘You may have heard that testing for those without coronavirus symptoms is beginning across the country using new, quicker COVID-19 tests known as ‘lateral flow tests’.

Along with the other protective measures schools are taking, these tests will help staff and students to remain in school/sixth form/ RHISE safely. Up to one third of people who have coronavirus experience no symptoms. By testing we will help to stop the virus spread and help to keep open as safely as possible. The test is voluntary.

Testing will start with staff.

Students taking the test will be supervised by staff. The ‘lateral flow’ tests are quick and easy using a swab of your nose and throat. For under 18s, staff can oversee the swab process.

Results (which take around half an hour from testing) will be shared directly with staff and students participating. Where participants are under 16, parents or legal guardians will also be informed.

We know these tests work - in validation studies conducted by Oxford University and Public Health England, they were shown to be as accurate in identifying a case as a PCR test (99.68% specificity). The tests have lower sensitivity but they are better at picking up cases when a person has higher viral load, hence the need to test frequently.

Testing will be offered free of charge.

What if a student tests positive?

Participating staff and students who test positive will be informed about their results individually. Where participants are under 16, parents or legal guardians will also be notified. Guidance on safe travel and additional precautions will be provided along with test results.

Students will need to take a further ‘PCR test’ (similar to those done in local and regional testing sites) on the same day (or as soon as possible). School will be able to provide these PCR test kits to perform at home or you can go to www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119 to book a follow-up test. If ordering a PCR test yourselves, they should choose to visit a drive-through test site if possible, as it is faster than requesting a home test.

During this time while they wait for the PCR result (via text / email) they will need to self-isolate.

If the PCR test returns a positive result you will have to self-isolate and follow the guidance from NHS Test and Trace. 

What happens if the test is negative?

They will be able to stay in school and resume their activities as normal. A student will only be told if they test positive on a ‘lateral flow’ test, so if you do not hear you can assume it was negative. A small number of students may need to repeat the test if the first test was invalid or void for some reason.

What if a close contact at school/sixth form/RHISE tests positive?

A close contact of someone in school/sixth form/RHISE who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be able to return to school/sixth form/RHISE if they agree to be tested once a day for 7 days and the test is negative. If they do not want to take the test, they will need to self-isolate as per the national guidelines. This does not apply to household members or close contacts outside of school/sixth form/RHISE who will still need to self-isolate. Further details will be provided at the time, but if you would prefer to self-isolate instead of doing daily testing, you can.

What if my child develops symptoms?

This testing programme is for people with no symptoms. If your child develops symptoms at any time (such as a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste) they must immediately self-isolate, and book a test by calling 119 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or 0300 303 2713 (Scotland) or visiting https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

Bubble Leads will be in contact throughout the week and home visits to discuss this and other matters. If you have any queries in this or other matters, do not hesitate to get in contact with Mrs Smith.

Many thanks

Miss D

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            31 December 2020

Dear Parents and Carers

I wanted to write to you ahead of next week as I am sure you will have seen a lot of news

coverage with regards the delayed openings of schools and mass testing.

The Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson announced yesterday:

‘With case rates rising across the country, the government will now begin applying the contingency framework for education and childcare settings and push back the staggered return for secondary schools and colleges by one week.

Secondary schools and colleges will extend the staggered return of their students to give more time for the rollout of testing. This will help find asymptomatic cases and break chains of transmission, making it as safe as possible to return to face-to-face education.’

Lancashire has now become a Tier 4 area.  This means that you cannot leave or be outside of the place you are living unless you have a reasonable excuse, egg for essential shopping, collection of medicines, taking children to school. You cannot meet other people indoors, including over the New Year period, unless you live with them, or they are part of your support bubble. Outdoors, you can only meet one person from another household.

As an independent special school, we have been offered greater flexibility on face-to-face attendance during the first week of term in order to mobilise our mass testing programme.

We have much to consider in these matters and have a fine balance between the education of our students, the mental wellbeing of our students/ families and staff and safety of students and staff in these times of increased transmission.

We want you to be part of the decision making process with regard testing for students as at present it is the expectation from the government that these tests will be organised by school staff, in school, with the student using the test on theirself and then the results processed within 30 minutes.

This opens up a whole array of health and safety procedures to implement, not to mention and hasn’t been considered, the effect on the young people doing these tests and how this may cause increased anxiety.

We also have the issue that now Lancashire has been placed in Tier 4 that many of our outside activities and providers will once again be closed and will not be able to find out exactly which until next week.

It is with all this in mind that we have discussed the best way forward for the school and the needs of students. Next week, students will not have face-to-face contact in school unless they are a child of keyworkers or risk assessed as needing to be in school due to increased vulnerabilities. (Please email school as a matter of urgency if this is the case).

It is our intention that the following will take place, in order to give us chance to assess student’s welfare and consult with parents/ carers on the proposed testing programme.

The Timetable will be as follows:

Monday- INSET – staff will deliver food packs to families with doorstep delivery

Tuesday- remote learning and student welfare meetings

Wednesday- remote learning and student welfare meetings

Thursday- home visits and discussions with Parents/ Carers over proposed testing

Friday- home visits and discussions with Parents/Carers over proposed testing

It is my apologies that this is the case and that you are only finding out a few days before we are due to return but we were only made aware of the situation, yesterday and we are still waiting on specific guidance from The Department for Education.

Your child’s Bubble Lead will be in touch on Monday with further details of timings and we will send further information during the week as we receive it.

In the meantime, thankyou for your continued support and please be assured we have your child’s best interest and needs at heart. We will do everything we can to make this work and work on ways to move forwards, with yourselves in the coming days.

Please have a safe and peaceful New Year and we will be in touch soon.

All the best,

Miss D

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            9 December 2020

Dear Parents and Carers

I would like to begin by thanking you for a very successful term and your continued support at what has been a difficult and unusual time. You have been flexible, understanding and accepting of new procedures in the school/ RHISE Service.

I am sure by now you are aware that the government has suggested schools can swap an INSET day from next year in order to break up a day earlier for Christmas.

Friday 18^th December was a half day for us.

We have decided in the best interests of our students and staff, that we will ask for students to stay at home but instead staff will do a home visit where they will be able to deliver Christmas goodies and see your child. This means that we don’t have to disrupt next year and can follow positive covid test reporting procedures whist still giving the staff a break.

These visits will take place in the morning of 18^th December and will still count towards your child’s attendance.

If your child receives a positive covid test result during the period 19th December through 23rd December please email Mrs Smith immediately:

rachel@roselynhouseschool.co.uk.

Mrs Smith will check emails daily during this period at 3pm and will contact you to establish further details.

If we need to contact you to advise you that your child has been in contact with a student or staff member that has tested positive for covid 19 during this period, Mrs Smith will notify you by email with the details of your self-isolation period.  You will also likely be contacted by Test and Trace, as we will have to notify Public Health England of any outbreak.

If your child tests positive on 24^th December and there- after before returning to school, please notify Mrs Smith however, we as a School will not need to take any action for contact purposes, this will be down to Test and Trace.

Please have a wonderful Christmas, stay safe and remember to follow the rules.

We look forward to seeing you in the New Year on Tuesday 5^th  January 2021.

Warmest wishes

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            5 November 2020

Dear Parents and Carers

Following the Country going into a second lockdown and new guidance being created by the DfE, we are having to make some changes to our Timetable.

New rules mean that many provisions we use for our PE, Therapeutic and Outdoor Curriculum are now closed. In addition to this, we are restricted to the numbers that we can take out and have to minimise the areas and journeys we use.

We have worked hard in order to cause as little disruption as possible to your child and their education because we believe that our outdoor curriculum has minimised the risk of transmissions within school along with classroom Bubbles. Along with the additional benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the learning opportunities the outdoors inspires.

I am sorry that it is short notice, but we only received the guidance yesterday evening and have to make the changes before Monday.

From tomorrow, Friday’s therapeutic activities will run between 9.30am and 1pm for Bubbles 1 and 2. Students will not be in the school building or cross over Bubbles.

Our Outdoor curriculum, AM/PM, 2 days per week will operate with up to three students with staff for our Eco Schools, Literacy Numeracy in the Community, Forest Schools, Life Skills and Science in the Outdoors. Students will no longer be able to do this in class groups.

In school, learning will follow the Timetable as before and one day will be remote learning.

We are still able to have class groups when using our outdoor sporting facilities and most of our Vocational Provision will run as normal. Bubble leads will be in touch if specific vocational timings are different.

In these very difficult times, we will be increasing our therapeutic and counselling work within school to support students to manage their emotions and wellbeing.

We will also be introducing Healthy Eating, where we will be sending students home with ingredients and recipe cards and activities for over the weekend so that we can help students to stay healthy and occupied in these restricted times. Hope you enjoy.

Thankyou once again for your continued support and we will meet these challenges together so that our young people can continue to reach their full potential, stay happy and be safe.

Warmest wishes

Miss D ?

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

22/10/2020

Dear Parent/Carer

I hope you and your families continue to stay safe and well.

On behalf of all the staff at The RHISE Centre, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to you all for your continued help, support and understanding during these difficult times. We could not have asked for a better return back into education this half term. The students have made us so proud of how well they have coped over these strange and uncertain times. They have shown great resilience and courage to overcome their fears and concerns.

It has been a pleasure to welcome the students back, we missed each and every one of them. It is also apparent how much the students have missed us too, which means a lot to us all. Since our return the work that has been produced has been of a high standard and the willingness from individuals to learn is admirable. Students attendance has been amazing and the positive attitude towards learning has shone through. This could not have been achieved without us all working together, may the positive relationships and hard work continue into the future.

Thank you once again.

Have a fantastic half term and stay safe,

Mrs Higgins

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            22 October 2020

Dear Parents and Carers

As we approach Half -Term, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support.  It has been a challenging start to the new school year with many changes for our students, staff and families but has been met with positivity and has helped with a smoother transition than we could have possibly hoped for.  Everyone should be commended for how they are following the protective measures and continue to do so.

We have had issues with cases of Covid, as have most schools, but it has worked well in that only a part school closure has had to take place and Bubble or individual self isolation has been necessary.  We continue to follow Government guidelines and advice from Public Health England. We constantly review our risk assessment and have an effective Remote Learning Policy in place.

As you know, Lancashire is now in Tier 3, the Very High Covid Alert level and cases of coronavirus in the North West continue to increase; this has created additional anxieties for us all. We are now all under further restrictions which stops us mixing with other households indoors or socially.

It is with this in mind, that I want to inform you of our plan going forward for next Half Term up to Christmas.

We will continue with the system as it is with 4 days in school, either in the building or following our outdoor curriculum.

However, the day your child is not in school, we will be looking at introducing a minimum of an hours remote learning. This will be conducted by Teachers from your child’s Bubble and will follow our Online Safety Policy. Your child’s Bubble Lead will be in contact shortly to explain how this will work. We ask that you support your child in accessing this.

We understand there are certain anxieties about online learning and being involved in two way video interaction, however due to the current situation and the possibility of students having to self isolate, it is important that we make it as natural a part of learning as being in the classroom. It can be fun and is something we are embracing during these times. It allows us to continue to deliver the curriculum with minimal disruption to your child’s education and personal development and wellbeing.

We have successfully used TEAMS Chats in order to bring students and staff from different Bubbles together virtually.

It is our hope in the future that we can extend our remote learning to being able to communicate with other students in the UK and around the World in a safe online forum, which will improve your child’s experience and knowledge of the World in which we live.

We have become members of The BIG Classroom and have continued links with Hope Flowers School in Bethlehem.

Thankyou once again for your continued belief in what we do at Roselyn House School and have a very safe and restful Half Term break.

Warmest Wishes,

Miss D ?     

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            7 October 2020

Good afternoon

I wanted to take the opportunity to remind you of what to do if you or anyone in your household starts to feel ill with any of the symptoms of coronavirus. These are Government Guidelines.

Symptoms

The most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:

• a new continuous cough

• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell

For most people, COVID-19 will be a mild illness.

If anyone in your household has one or more symptoms, you should contact school and everyone in the household (whether they have symptoms or not) should stay home and self-isolate. Do not go out even to buy food or other essentials, and any exercise must be taken within your home. You may need support from others during this time.

The person (s) who is ill, should stay at home for 10 days and book a test as soon as possible. Test and Trace will then contact you by text, phone or email. If they are still ill after 10 days with a temperature, they should continue to self-isolate and seek medical advice.

Everyone else in the household must stay at home and self- isolate for 14 days from the first day the first person in the household became ill, even if they don’t feel ill theirselves. This is because they may have the virus but not be showing symptoms. If they then become ill, they should stay at home for 10 days from the day they start showing symptoms and get a test.

School will provide remote learning and support to our families during this time.

I have attached Stay at Home guidance and full guidance is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

May I take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support during the current times.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Bubble Lead, Miss Holmes / Mr Birkenhead/ Mrs Higgins.

Yours sincerely

Miss Damerall

Headteacher

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            1 October 2020

Dear Parent / Carer

Thank you for your continued support this week.

Next week, we are looking at slightly amending the timetable for your child so that we can continue with their transition into school.

Nurture

Next week they will attend school as follows:-

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

School start time 9.25am and finish 3.25pm

Friday

Start time 10.10am and finish 3.25pm

I wanted to remind you that if your child does have symptoms of covid-19, then they should remain at home and get a test.

If in the unfortunate situation, a student or member of staff in your child’s bubble tests positive, then we will inform Public Health England and they will advise us of Government Procedures, which may mean that the whole bubble has to self-isolate for 14 days. The rest of your household does not have to isolate unless anyone displays symptoms or has a positive test.

We have remote learning ready to go if this were to be the case.

Thankyou once again for your understanding and support.

Have a fantastic weekend and stay safe

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            1 October 2020

Dear Parent / Carer

Thank you for your continued support this week.

Next week, we will continue with 4 days per week attendance for your child so that we can continue with their transition into school.

Bubble 1

Next week they will attend:-

Monday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday

Monday / Wednesday / Thursday

School start time 9.25am and finish time 3.25pm

Friday

School start time 9.25am and finish time 2.30pm

I wanted to remind you that if your child does have symptoms of covid-19, then they should remain at home and get a test.

If in the unfortunate situation, a student or member of staff in your child’s bubble tests positive, then we will inform Public Health England and they will advise us of Government Procedures, which may mean that the whole bubble has to self-isolate for 14 days. The rest of your household does not have to isolate unless anyone displays symptoms or has a positive test.

We have remote learning ready to go if this were to be the case.

Thankyou once again for your understanding and support.

Have a fantastic weekend and stay safe

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            24 September 2020

Dear Parent / Carer

Thank you for your continued support this week.

Next week, we will continue with 4 days per week attendance for your child so that we can continue with their transition into school.

Bubble 1

Next week they will attend:-

Monday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday

Monday / Wednesday / Thursday

School start time 9.25am and finish time 3.25pm

Friday

School start time 9.25am and finish time 2.30pm

I wanted to remind you that if your child does have symptoms of covid-19, then they should remain at home and get a test.

If in the unfortunate situation, a student or member of staff in your child’s bubble tests positive, then we will inform Public Health England and they will advise us of Government Procedures, which may mean that the whole bubble has to self-isolate for 14 days. The rest of your household does not have to isolate unless anyone displays symptoms or has a positive test.

We have remote learning ready to go if this were to be the case.

Thankyou once again for your understanding and support.

Have a fantastic weekend and stay safe

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            24 September 2020

Dear Parent / Carer

Thank you for your continued support this week.

Next week, we are looking at increasing attendance to one further day per week for your child so that we can continue with their transition into school.

Bubble 2

Next week they will attend school as follows:-

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

School start time 9.25am and finish 3.25pm

Friday

Start time 10.10am and finish 3.25pm

I wanted to remind you that if your child does have symptoms of covid-19, then they should remain at home and get a test.

If in the unfortunate situation, a student or member of staff in your child’s bubble tests positive, then we will inform Public Health England and they will advise us of Government Procedures, which may mean that the whole bubble has to self-isolate for 14 days. The rest of your household does not have to isolate unless anyone displays symptoms or has a positive test.

We have remote learning ready to go if this were to be the case.

Thankyou once again for your understanding and support.

Have a fantastic weekend and stay safe

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            17 September 2020

Dear Parent / Carer

Firstly, thank you for your continued support this week.

Next week, we are looking at increasing attendance to one further day per week for your child so that we can continue with their transition into school.

Bubble 1

Next week they will attend:-

Monday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday

Monday / Wednesday / Thursday

School start time 9.25am and finish time 3.25pm

Friday

School start time 9.25am and finish time 2.30pm

I wanted to remind you that if your child does have symptoms of covid-19, then they should remain at home and get a test.

If in the unfortunate situation, a student or member of staff in your child’s bubble tests positive, then we will inform Public Health England and they will advise us of Government Procedures, which may mean that the whole bubble has to self-isolate for 14 days. The rest of your household does not have to isolate unless anyone displays symptoms or has a positive test.

We have remote learning ready to go if this were to be the case.

Thankyou once again for your understanding and support.

Have a fantastic weekend and stay safe

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            10 September 2020

Dear Parent / Carer

First and foremost, thank you for your overwhelming support this week, and how lovely has it been to see your children. We are so delighted to welcome them back and to hear their laughter and cheeky remarks. It is really why we do what we do. Thankyou.

It is obvious from how students have presented, that you have discussed procedures with them and how it is very new being in a bubble group. It is encouraging the amount of students who have accepted using face coverings unless exempt, having temperature tests and washing/ sanitising hands. They are trying hard to maintain social distance too.

It will take time to get used to and our students have, on the whole, been a credit to themselves and the school. They have been extremely supportive to each other and especially new students. Please praise them for this. They have even been happy to see their staff too.

I did mention in my previous letter that it is so important for us to get this right and will take time and patience; particularly being mindful of Mental Health difficulties which are apparent following the lockdown. This gives us chance to help students get used to everything and ease anxieties.

Also, we now have an increase of positive cases of Covid-19 in the country and I am sure you have heard of quite a few schools having to close down bubble groups because a member of staff or student has tested positive for the virus.

It is with all this in mind that we will be extending the transition period into next week also. This is important for the wellbeing of our students and to maintain structure within our school.

This means that your child’s Timetable will be the same as this week.

Bubble 2

This will mean for the first week back they will attend:

Tuesday and Thursday

School start time 9.25am and finish 3.25pm

Friday

Start time 10.10am and finish 3.25pm

I wanted to remind you that if your child does have symptoms of covid-19, then they should remain at home and get a test.

If in the unfortunate situation, a student or member of staff in your child’s bubble tests positive, then we will inform Public Health England and they will advise us of Government Procedures, which may mean that the whole bubble has to self-isolate for 14 days. The rest of your household does not have to isolate unless anyone displays symptoms or has a positive test.

We have remote learning ready to go if this were to be the case.

Thankyou once again for your understanding and support.

Have a fantastic weekend and stay safe

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                            10 September 2020

Dear Parent / Carer

First and foremost, thank you for your overwhelming support this week, and how lovely has it been to see your children. We are so delighted to welcome them back and to hear their laughter and cheeky remarks. It is really why we do what we do. Thankyou.

It is obvious from how students have presented, that you have discussed procedures with them and how it is very new being in a bubble group. It is encouraging the amount of students who have accepted using face coverings unless exempt, having temperature tests and washing/ sanitising hands. They are trying hard to maintain social distance too.

It will take time to get used to and our students have, on the whole, been a credit to themselves and the school. They have been extremely supportive to each other and especially new students. Please praise them for this. They have even been happy to see their staff too.

I did mention in my previous letter that it is so important for us to get this right and will take time and patience; particularly being mindful of Mental Health difficulties which are apparent following the lockdown. This gives us chance to help students get used to everything and ease anxieties.

Also, we now have an increase of positive cases of Covid-19 in the country and I am sure you have heard of quite a few schools having to close down bubble groups because a member of staff or student has tested positive for the virus.

It is with all this in mind that we will be extending the transition period into next week also. This is important for the wellbeing of our students and to maintain structure within our school.

This means that your child’s Timetable will be the same as this week.

Bubble 1

This will mean for the first week back they will attend:

Monday / Wednesday / Friday

Monday and Wednesday

School start time 9.25am and finish time 3.25pm

Friday

School start time 9.25am and finish time 2.30pm

I wanted to remind you that if your child does have symptoms of covid-19, then they should remain at home and get a test.

If in the unfortunate situation, a student or member of staff in your child’s bubble tests positive, then we will inform Public Health England and they will advise us of Government Procedures, which may mean that the whole bubble has to self-isolate for 14 days. The rest of your household does not have to isolate unless anyone displays symptoms or has a positive test.

We have remote learning ready to go if this were to be the case.

Thankyou once again for your understanding and support.

Have a fantastic weekend and stay safe

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                    10 July 2020

I hope you all continue to stay safe and well.

As we draw near to the end of the school year, I want to thank you all for your continued support over what has been a very difficult and trying time. It is not the way we wanted our school year to finish.

In terms of September, I am sure you are aware by now that it is the intention of the Government for all students to be back in school, if it is safe to do so, and have asked schools to put in protective measures, working within bubbles in order to make School as safe as we possibly can for students and staff. This will then mean that if there are local break outs of Coronavirus or within school directly, then specific actions can be taken.

I wanted to inform you of the procedures we have put in place for Roselyn House School and The RHISE Centre. We have worked very hard on this system, following government guidelines. The way school operates from September will look very different than it has done previously, but we have kept our young people’s needs and safety at the heart of the decisions we have made.

School will operate in AM and PM blocks within Bubble Groups made up of the same postcodes. These groups will then be in Year group or Key stage classes. When one bubble group is in school, the other will be off site. This will be alternated daily Monday- Thursday. On a Friday, one bubble group will start at the usual time and finish earlier. The second bubble group will start later (10.10am) and finish later (3.20pm) This is the same amount of time spent at school and will allow enrichment activities to take place.

The RHISE Centre will hold sessions for RHISE Service individuals and have a Sixth Form Bubble Group.

When students are picked up on transport in a morning, they will be asked to wear a face covering before they enter the vehicle. Likewise, the staff members will also be wearing a face covering. These are available from school. They will have an infra-red temperature test. This means either the driver or passenger assistant will hold up a thermometer to your child’s forehead at arms length. It will then read the temperature and indicate Green, Amber or Red. If your child has a temperature they will be asked to stay at home. They will then be asked to put hand sanitiser on.

If your child is feeling unwell, has a persistent cough, high temperature or lack of taste/smell then they should stay at home and a Covid Test should be done.

On arrival at school, each class group will have their own designated door to enter the building by. They will then go and wash their hands. After doing this, they will go to their specific classroom, remove their face covering and place it in a zip lock bag. Each child has their own desk in the school with their own work box containing the resources they will need for the AM/PM education. Teaching staff will move to the classroom to deliver lessons. We understand that the expectation of our students to stay in the same room for a morning or afternoon is a difficult one, so we will be having staggered break times and ‘get up and move’ time. Students will be encouraged to take ownership of their own learning space and will be allowed to personalise as appropriate.

Class groups will be in Year groups or Key stages and will still have support. There will be a maximum of 5 in the class group. They will have a Support Assistant. The Support Assistants may, on occasions, wear PPE if in close proximity. Lessons will still follow National Curriculum and be broad and balanced. Hot lunches will be provided in the Classroom when on ‘in school’ lessons. We have installed hand sanitiser stations around school in each zone and frequent handwashing will be encouraged. Classroom desks will be wiped down during the day and the whole school cleaned in the evenings. Windows and doors will be left open to increase ventilation and minimise touch points within school.

Your child will be in school 2 mornings per week and 2 afternoons per week.

The other 2 mornings and 2 afternoons will consist of Education off site, in the outdoors or at a Leisure Centre. These will consist of Physical Education, Outdoor Education, Forest Schools, Literacy/Numeracy in the Community, Science in the Outdoors and Arts through Nature and Mentoring sessions.

This is very exciting as it gives us the opportunity to explore some new subjects. We will look at using real life English and Maths in the community, be able to do bigger science experiments/ projects and increase our work with Eco Schools. We will have a greater developed Physical Education Curriculum and be able to offer more outdoor activities like climbing, canoeing, gardening, and animal care.

Students will be transported in a morning to their off-site lessons and provided with a take away lunch.

Students swapping from AM to PM sessions will not cross over. These timings will be staggered.

We will continue to have Vocational Programmes with Alternative Providers.

We will also look at opportunities on a Friday for therapeutic and enrichment activities where students will go out of school in their bubble groups after 2 lessons in school. This is why each group will have different start and finish times.

There will be timetabled TEAM Chat sessions so that students who are out of school can communicate with other students to maintain friendships and whole school cohesion.

All students will be encouraged to use social distancing. Staff will social distance up to 2 metres, however if required to be in closer proximity, they may have to use PPE.

If your child becomes ill at school with suspected Covid symptoms, they will be taken to a designated room and we would ask if you could collect them. If this is not possible and we have to return your child home, the member of staff will be in full PPE. A test will be required. If the test is confirmed positive, students and staff who have been in contact with your child in this incidence will have to self-isolate for 14 days and remote learning will be provided.

I know that is a lot to take in!

Staff will be completing home visits next week in order to explain the new system and expectation for your child.

In addition to this, they will be providing a programme of Literacy and Numeracy ‘catch-up’ work for students to complete in the 6 week holiday. It is important that students do not fall further behind and have compiled this work to meet individual areas of need. Please encourage your child to complete as it will help us to assess in September specific work we need to do.

We will continue to provide Food Vouchers over the Summer, but since we are not part of the government scheme, these will be every two weeks, (£30) rather than a one-off voucher at the start of the holidays.

Staff have agreed to continue to offer support over Summer and will ring twice and do 2 home visits throughout the six weeks. We feel this is important as we understand there will be anxieties around everyone returning to school in September and will give you and your child the opportunity to discuss these.

Examination results will most likely be emailed and certificates posted at a later date.

It remains for me to say that these are testing times and I would personally like to thank you all and all our staff for the efforts that have been pooled together in order to support our students. I appreciate there will be challenging times ahead and we will continue to understand your child’s anxieties around these changes. By working together, we will make it work.

Please support us in discussing the changes with your child, explaining that as part of our Behaviour Policy, the new procedures are there to keep themselves and others safe.

Please explain we are doing everything we can in order for everyone to be back in school, following government guidance and procedures in order to make it as safe as we possibly can.

Have a safe Summer and we will see you all soon.

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                    22 June 2020

Hi all and hope you continue to stay safe and well.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate students who have received Headteacher’s Awards over the past few weeks. These have been given to students for work completed both in school and from home. It is very encouraging to see some of the most fantastic work that has been brought to my attention. It is truly wonderful to see. In addition to this, certificates have been given for positive and supportive attitudes. It is heart -warming to see students supporting other students and thankyou to those Parents and Carers who have sent us some beautiful and uplifting emails.

We wanted to inform you that we have now submitted GCSE and functional skills grades which have been based on continuous assessment and rank order. We are lead to believe that the results will be available in August.

Following LCC’s position on wider openings we have now been able to welcome back more students; in particular those who are attending Alternative Provision. We have increased our home visits and have started to take some students out for walks. We, still have to look at risk assessments and this wider opening is based on that along with staff availability.

Government guidelines for Special School wider openings states:

‘For all children and young people with an EHC plan in special education settings, such as special schools, special post-16 institutions and hospital schools, settings should encourage attendance based on the child’s risk assessment, which should be kept up to date, and on the ability of the setting to provide for their needs. Decisions should not be made using the child’s year group as a primary deciding factor. In these settings, year groups may not be as indicative of key transition points or moments that are particularly important for life chances.

Our aim is for specialist provision to support increasing numbers of children and young people to access on-site education, whilst prioritising the safety of children, young people and staff. If it is not possible to bring back all children and young people for whom a return would be appropriate straight away, for example, due to staff absences, settings may want to prioritise attendance for:

• children and young people approaching key transition points, for example, transition to another educational setting or from education to adult life, particularly where multi-agency work to secure that progression is needed

• children and young people who most need on-site provision to support their life chances and development, for example to reinstate routines and engagement with learning’

We continue to have increased protective measures in school with regard to hygiene, hand washing/ sanitiser, social distancing and encourage the use of face coverings on school transport. Our aim is to make the school environment as safe as we can for students and staff and fully support individual families’ decisions on whether their child should come to school or not. If your child is displaying any of the symptoms of Covid-19 and are due to attend school, Alternative Provision or have a home visit, then they should not come in and school should be notified. This is vital to keep everyone safe. If a young person or a member of staff tests positive for Coronavirus, then all students and staff who have been in contact will have to self-isolate for 14 days.

We continue to make our welfare calls to yourselves and have supportive calls for Teaching and Learning. We have increased our online resources and continue to provide work packs, home learning advice, Skype lessons and TEAM Chats.

We are looking at providing some face to face contact before the end of term to those students who will be leaving us this year as we feel this is vital for their transition. We will also be offering some increased outdoor learning opportunities and will be in touch regarding these in due course.

We continue to provide weekly FSM Vouchers and this will continue during the Summer break.

We are currently undertaking an assessment of need for Literacy and Numeracy intervention and will look at suitable ‘catch-up’ in the next few weeks.

I have attached the updated Government guidance below for Parents/Carers and hope that it is helpful:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

Please be assured we continue to work hard, in difficult circumstances in order to meet the needs of all our students in the best way that we can and will endeavour to keep you updated as we progress.

Again, thankyou for your patience, support and kindness during these times,

Miss D ?

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                          9 June 2020

Dear Parents and Carers

Following the latest Government Guidelines in respect of wearing face coverings whilst using public transport, in an attempt to further safeguard staff and students, we are going to implement that all staff and students need to wear a face covering whilst in vehicles travelling to and from School and Alternative Provision.

Please try to reassure your child that this is nothing to worry about and is simply a protective measure that we are putting in place to minimise the risks to all.

We have purchased some face coverings that are due to arrive in school very shortly.  As soon as these have arrived, it will be an expectation that all staff and students need to wear them.  If they refuse to wear them, we will not be able to transport them into school.

When staff and students are travelling in vehicles, they are sat in close proximity and therefore, by introducing this, we hope it will help relieve some of the concerns surrounding transport.

Staff and students do not have to wear the coverings provided by school if they do not wish, you can provide your own.   They will however have to follow Government Guidance:-

A cloth face covering should cover your mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably. It can be as simple as a scarf or bandana that ties behind the head.

Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser before putting it on and after taking it off. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth at all times and store used face coverings in a plastic bag until you have an opportunity to wash them.

Do not touch the front of the face covering, or the part of the face covering that has been in contact with your mouth and nose. Once removed, make sure you clean any surfaces the face covering has touched.

You should wash a face covering regularly. It can go in with other laundry, using your normal detergent.

When wearing a face covering, take care to tuck away any loose ends.

There is also information on making your own face covering and this can be found here:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

Rachel Smith

School Business Manager

Roselyn House School

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                    21 May 2020

Hello to you all again and I hope you all continue to stay safe and well.

Next week is half-term but we will be continuing as we are; providing 3 days opening at school for those students who have been offered ‘high risk’ placements and continuing with home visits and welfare calls. We will continue to provide FSM vouchers also. A deep clean is taking place over the 2 days school is closed.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and your children for some of the beautiful Thank A Teacher Day pictures and posters we received. They are truly heart-warming and mean so much. We have been busy producing some more online videos and these can be found on Roselyn House School You Tube channel, Roselyn Community Facebook and Roselyn School Twitter Page.

May I just remind you, that the government’s advice on the wider opening of schools from 1^st of June 2020 is dependent on if it is safe to do so at this time, and because we are a Special School we will offer our placements based on risk assessment of need, not necessarily within the year groups the Government have suggested for mainstream schools.

We are continuously developing our risk reduction procedures and have some additional protective measures in the school with regard social distancing, hygiene, ventilation and sharing of items. We continue to encourage hand washing and have also implemented sanitiser stations. School is cleaned every day with deep cleans taking place during school holiday times.

The Government today has published specific guidance for parents in educating their children at home, which states the following:

‘While staying at home due to coronavirus, parents and carers may be concerned about their children’s education and the effect of missing school. Parents of year 11 students may also be worried about GCSEs and their child moving on to the next stage in life.

Schools are working quickly to adapt to the current situation, producing new materials and ways of teaching. If you have any concerns about your child’s education or how work is being set for them, do not hesitate to speak to the school and let them know.

This is a difficult time, and parents and carers should just do their best to support children in doing the work school sets for them.

Alongside any work your child receives from school, you can also use online educational resources from BBC Bitesize.

You can also call Starline on 0330 313 9162. This free helpline is providing support and advice to parents on home learning during the coronavirus outbreak.

• Help your child organise their time

• Do not worry about trying to maintain the full routine your child had at school. Their school will be planning an achievable amount of work for them to do at home. This may include:

• work to be handed in by a set time, like homework
• some online teaching sessions

• Schools may give you advice on how to structure the day and your child may need some support to organise their time.

• You know them best – it may suit them to split work up into shorter tasks or vary the different types of activity. Encourage them to take breaks and make time to be active – see physical activity resources for secondary school children to do at home.

Try different ways of working, not just using digital devices, for example:

• use books, textbooks and other printed materials that their school has provided or that you already have at home

• complete some work by hand – write a diary, a summary of things they have learned each day, or ‘to do’ lists

• It may be difficult to keep your child motivated or for them to complete all the work school sets them. Do your best to support them and if they’re having problems completing their work, contact the school to discuss it with them.

Using digital devices for schoolwork

Set age-appropriate parental controls on any devices your child uses and try to monitor the websites and apps they’re using. See advice on keeping them safe online and talk to your child about online safety.

Screen time

More screen time is expected while children are continuing their education and socialising from home. Help your child to spend time away from screens by suggesting breaks or other activities, such as phone calls, reading books, or doing exercise, while following the rules on social distancing.

If you can, get them to stop using digital devices at least an hour before bed.

Socialising while social distancing

Children may be missing socialising with others at school. Let your child speak to their friends and family members through phone or video calls.

Many children will be socialising online too. See advice on keeping them safe online and advice from the NSPCC about gaming if they’re socialising through online games. Set age-appropriate parental controls on any devices they use and ask them to tell you if they see anything worrying online.

Schools may also be looking into ways they can help children socialise and discuss things as they would at school.

Mental health and wellbeing

Staying at home and the change of routine may make this a difficult time for some children. They might show feelings of worry or frustration. It’s understandable and many families will be experiencing this

.

Try to limit the time they spend watching the news if it upsets them. Take time to reassure them and be open to talking about their feelings.

This may be a particularly difficult time for year 11 children who have worked hard towards exams that will not now take place and are missing end of school celebrations. Make time to talk to them about it if they need to and acknowledge that they’ll probably have a range of feelings about it.

YoungMinds provide help and advice on mental health for both children and their parents.

You can also read our advice on how to support your child’s wellbeing, which includes places to find information and help.

Guidance is also available to help you look after your own mental health.

Talking to your child about coronavirus

Coronavirus can be a difficult thing to talk to children about and you may be worried about upsetting them. However, ignoring the subject could upset them more. Be open to talking to them about it.

You know your child best and conversations will be different depending on their age.

Try to reassure them that:

• you’re doing your best to keep them safe and well

• they’re unlikely to become seriously ill and that you’ll care for them if they do

• if you or other family members are ill they’ll be cared for too

• this situation is only temporary

• Let them know it’s OK to be worried – do not dismiss their concerns or tell them how to feel about it. Answer the questions they asked, or if you do not know the answer tell them that you do not.

• Be truthful and get your information from reliable sources such as GOV.UK or the NHS.

• Talking about their feelings is a healthy thing to do and will help your child’s mental health and wellbeing.

What schools are doing

One of the responsibilities of schools is to provide pastoral care – the support they give children to help them to develop socially, academically, and personally. Schools are considering how to provide this in the current situation and many are checking in on children’s wellbeing and safety.

They’ll be contacting some children more, such as those who are vulnerable or those who are not completing work or replying to emails from teachers.

Schools are also considering how to provide extra support to children who will find it harder to learn at home or are making the least progress. This could include children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), children who receive free school meals, and children who have a social worker.

If you feel that you need some more support, contact your child’s school.’

Contained within the guidance are specific strategies for particular age groups.

Secondary age groups:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-secondary-school-children-continue-their-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Primary age groups:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-primary-school-children-continue-their-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

I hope this is helpful. Continue to be kind to each other, stay safe and thankyou once again for your support. We will get through this together!

Miss D ?

Headteacher

Roselyn House School

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                    4 May 2020

Dear Parents / Carers

Please find attached updated guidance for Parents and Carers as published 1^st May with regard schools from the Department for Education.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

The guidance has been updated with additional information on the Friday, 8th May Bank Holiday and updates relating to the support and educational resources available to parents to help them educate their children at home.

School will be open on the Bank Holiday for our most high-risk students and some home visits will take place.

Some of you have been asking about free laptops and use of 4G. The situation is currently:

There are 2 groups of children and young people eligible for a laptop or tablet who currently lack access. The first is care leavers and children who receive support from a social worker (including families with pre-school children with a social worker, as well as older children), who need to keep in touch with social care services. The second group are disadvantaged students who would not otherwise have access to online learning and are preparing for exams (in Year 10).

We have been informed that this will be decided by the placing authority and it will be their responsibility to distribute them to schools. This is anticipated to be no sooner than June for those who are eligible.

Thankyou, for your kind support in this and all matters

Yours sincerely

Miss S Damerall     

Headteacher                                         

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                                        8 April 2020

Dear Parents / Carers

We would like to wish you all a Happy Easter and hope you continue to be safe and well and are following the Government guidelines to stay at home, stay safe and follow social distancing when you have to go out. We wish all our students and families/ carers well.

I have attached the current government information for parents and carers as released today.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

We are currently visiting our more high-risk students over the Easter period and have been delivering much needed food and support. The voucher system has been set to continue over Easter for all our students, so please check your e-mails or post. We really appreciate your positive feedback about this.

Our dedicated email address for students is still in operation and if our young people have any concerns, they can contact us here: student@roselynhouseschool.co.uk.

Our Community Facebook Page is now up and running - found on Facebook as : Roselyn Community and has useful advice and challenges set by our Teachers. They give you a laugh if nothing else. Please feel free to have a look and use the facility to stay in touch.

It is important to look after everyone at this time as I know for many this is very difficult. Please see some of the tips included in the government guidance for mental health and wellbeing.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing

Parents/ Carers can continue to contact us on: office@roselynhouseschool.co.uk

If you have a change of contact details, please let us know as we continue to do our daily, twice weekly or weekly phone calls. Our Safeguarding procedures are still as robust as ever and any concerns can be reported as we continue to attend all relevant meetings, via Skype and work with Social Workers.

Please don’t feel that you are on your own, we are here to help.

Yours sincerely

Miss S Damerall        

Headteacher                                         

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                                        8 April 2020

Dear Parents / Carers

We would like to wish you all a Happy Easter and hope you continue to be safe and well and are following the Government guidelines to stay at home, stay safe and follow social distancing when you have to go out. We wish all our students and families/ carers well.

I have attached the current government information for parents and carers as released today.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

We are currently visiting our more high-risk students over the Easter period and have been delivering much needed food and support. The voucher system has been set to continue over Easter for all our students, so please check your e-mails or post. We really appreciate your positive feedback about this.

Our dedicated email address for students is still in operation and if our young people have any concerns, they can contact us here: student@roselynhouseschool.co.uk.

Our Community Facebook Page is now up and running - found on Facebook as : Roselyn Community and has useful advice and challenges set by our Teachers. They give you a laugh if nothing else. Please feel free to have a look and use the facility to stay in touch.

It is important to look after everyone at this time as I know for many this is very difficult. Please see some of the tips included in the government guidance for mental health and wellbeing.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing

Parents/ Carers can continue to contact us on: office@roselynhouseschool.co.uk

If you have a change of contact details, please let us know as we continue to do our daily, twice weekly or weekly phone calls. Our Safeguarding procedures are still as robust as ever and any concerns can be reported as we continue to attend all relevant meetings, via Skype and work with Social Workers.

Please don’t feel that you are on your own, we are here to help.

Yours sincerely

Miss S Damerall        

Headteacher                                         

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                                                                   17 April 2020

Dear Parent/Carer

We hope that you have made the most of your Easter and enjoyed your time at home.

We have had some very positive feedback over Easter from many of our families and Carers with regard to the support we are offering, food vouchers and home visits. Thankyou, for your support in this, it is very much appreciated. We hope you continue to be safe and well and are following the Government guidelines to stay at home, stay safe and follow social distancing when you have to go out.

Unfortunately, a few of our students are not adhering to these rules and I wanted to assure you all that as a result of this, these students will not be allowed to attend school as it increases the risk for all concerned. We understand that some of these students do fall into our higher risk categories of need and are working with agencies in order to safeguard them and provide them support off site.

I have attached the current government information for parents and carers,

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

Our dedicated email address for students is still in operation and if our young people have any concerns, they can contact us here: student@roselynhouseschool.co.uk

Our Community Facebook Page is now up and running-found on Facebook as: Roselyn Community and has useful advice and challenges set by our Teachers.

Parents/ Carers can continue to contact us on: office@roselynhouseschool.co.uk

If you have a change of contact details, please let us know as we continue to do our daily, twice weekly or weekly phone calls.

There will be additional work/ activities sent to our students and Skype lessons available to help keep our students occupied who are at home. Places within school will continue to be determined weekly and assessed on a daily basis.

We would like to say a big well done and how proud we are to some of our Year 10 and Year 11 students who took Functional Skills English and Maths exams in February and have just received their pass grades. This is great for the future.

We will continue to work together and keep you updated.

Warmest regards

Yours sincerely

Sharon Damerall

Headteacher

Roselyn House School

Moving forwards together to a positive future.

DfE number: 888/6095

                                                                                                    1 April 2020

Dear Parent/ Carers,

You have been extremely supportive and it is heart- warming to hear how you are doing when we make our regular welfare calls. We cannot thank you enough for your kind words. It means a lot.

In light of the continuing situation with Coronavirus and the Government’s position,

school remains open only to meet the care needs of our young people who’s needs cannot be met at home. Currently, this looks likely to the be the position for after Easter too.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

• School will be offering activities and wellbeing and counselling sessions. We will be providing care, not education as usual.

• There will be no activities off site.

• Where students are not attending school due to anxieties and parent/ carer concerns, work packs are being sent home, Skype lessons available and online support.

• Welfare calls are being made on a daily, twice weekly and weekly basis.

• The School Day has been moved from 10am, pick up on transport. We cannot be exact with this.

• Transport will continue with reduced service due to less staff numbers. This may mean students cannot access school everyday.

• Hot food will currently be served to our students at school, however we continue to experience some issues with suppliers.

• Food vouchers are sent home weekly to parents/ carers of students who are not in school to assist with Free School Meal arrangements. This may be an e- voucher or sent by Post. After Easter it is anticipated that we will have access to the government scheme for this.

• The RHISE Service will take place via Skype and work packs. The RHISE Centre and all vocational centres are temporarily closed. Some RHISE Sessions may take place at School.

Due to the uncertainty of this situation and being unable to predict numbers of illness in staff we can only work a day at a time. We may have to cancel activities and transport at short notice.

Any student with a cough or temperature will be sent home and asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

I would ask that you keep your children in apart from when coming to school. This applies during the Easter break. This minimises the risk of infection and follows government guidelines.

We understand people’s concerns and anxieties over this and in particular many of our students are fearful. We have been doing everything we can to make them feel safe.

We are offering counselling in school and have set up a specific email address for students: student@roselynhouseschool.co.uk  where if they are not in school, they can contact us and a member of staff can get back to them. We will have a dedicated Community Facebook Page coming soon with separate details to be sent from Miss Holmes.

There is some advice on Mental Health and wellbeing which may be of some help and attached is some information on looking after your feelings and body during this time.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing

The School building will not be open over Easter; where a deep clean will take place, however we have procedures in place where staff will continue to make welfare calls, provide mindfulness and wellbeing activities, advice on Mental Health and specific visits/ contact to those young people who are high risk of harm.

The student@roselynhouseschool.co.uk  will continue to be accessible along with the Community Facebook page for students and the usual school office email office@roselynhouseschool.co.uk will still be available for Parents.

Please keep checking your emails or post and please update us if this changes.

As you will know, Yr 11, Yr 12 and Yr 13 examinations have been cancelled.

Ofqual and the government are currently working on a system that students will receive the grades they deserve. It is likely the grade will be worked out on assessment. There will be a moderating system and an appeals system will be set up for this procedure.

We are here to support you all. Together, we continue to make this work. Please stay in and stay safe.

Yours sincerely

Miss S Damerall           

Headteacher