Happy New year,Covid update.

Dear parents/carers,

We look forward to welcoming our children back to the nursery on Thursday 6th January.

We hope everyone had a peaceful and restful break and would like to wish you all a Happy New Year.

Unfortunately, once again this term we must face further challenges as we navigate a safe journey through the pandemic for our Good Shepherd Community. We continue to depend on our partnership with our parents to ensure the implementation of COVID regulations and procedures ensuring our nursery is a safe space for our children, staff and parents. The Board of Governors of Good Shepherd Nursery School have a duty of care to support and guide the Principal and staff in maintaining effective standards of Covid safety. We have used all the guidance available to us to develop our risk assessments and protocols unique to our own setting.

We are mindful of the high transmission rates of the new COVID variant and will continue to maintain these high standards of Covid safety. In doing so we would remind you at this time of the high importance of:

• Wearing a mask

• Regular hand washing and use of hand sanitising gels

• Safe distancing

In addition to this we must ask our parents to take into consideration the implications of new PHA guidance.

There are many illnesses making children unwell at this time of year and therefore based on the guidance, we are asking parents to help prevent the spread of Covid within our nursery setting.

PLEASE:

• Contact your child’s GP IMMEDIATELY if they become unwell, in order to seek advice and what action to take.

AND

• If your child develops Covid symptoms, they must NOT attend the nursery school, parents will be requested to collect their child immediately if they are unwell. Please carry out a lateral flow test and notify the nursery of the result. If this is positive, please follow rules for self-isolating and should it be required book a PCR test .Below is current guidance on self isolation.

https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/changes-self-isolation-covid-19-cases

We must continue to protect all children and families within our setting but also remember our staff members who we rely upon to provide a nurturing nursery education for our children. Reduced staffing levels could have many implications potentially leading to the reintroduction of remote learning.

Please private message your child’s teacher if you need to share any information in relation to Covid positive cases during the Christmas holidays.

We appreciate that this is a most unusual and difficult time for everyone and wish to thank you for your ongoing support.

Mrs Le Mahieu