Health Centre - What will returning to school look like?
Providing a Safe Learning and Working Environment at Brighton Primary School
Brighton Primary School is committed to providing a safe learning and working environment for our students and staff.
As we return to school we ask for the whole school community to be mindful and follow these new procedures to enable us to provide the safest possible environment. We all have a role to play in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Victoria and ensuring our school is a safe for everyone.
IMPORTANT: Staff/ Children/ Parents who are feeling unwell for any reason must not attend school
Welcome to the first in a series of articles to help support you, the parents and carers of our students, during the return to school phases due to COVID-19.
While the Chief Health Officer has advised that students will not be required to maintain physical distancing at school, there will be a number of important changes to our school operations, consistent with health advice. This will apply until further notice. We would like to reassure you that Brighton Primary School (BPS) is working hard to ensure that we adhere to all Department of Education and Training (DET) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) practices and guidelines recommended to keep our students, families and staff safe during the transition back to school.
As our school adopts these new guidelines it is important to remember that as with any new practice there will be updates and changes along the way ensuring that BPS is inline with the most current health advice requirements. Updates to guidelines and procedures will be communicated to families via Compass Newsfeeds. We ask that you keep abreast of these important communications as you receive them. It is reassuring to note that our government is contributing a large investment into our schools to ensure they are routinely cleaned throughout the school day and in areas additional to the standard school cleaning practices.
An overview of the ‘BPS Return to School Guidelines’ to be implemented are listed below:
Temperature Taking:
- Any person or child who feels or looks unwell, should report to the school nurse and have their temperature taken before moving into other areas of the school. Parents will be notified immediately if this occurs.
Social Distancing Measures:
- All staff and parents must adhere to the recommended 1.5 metre social distancing guideline. Signage will be installed in areas around the school to remind and enforce rules of social distancing for adults. Students are not required to strictly adhere to this rule, however they should exercise common sense when interacting with other students during play times as well as in the classroom
- Teachers will use their desk as their 1.5m distance where possible and will ensure they reduce close contact as much as possible
- The BPS staff room will adhere to social distancing guidelines at all times
- School Gates - Entry/Exit gates will be open before and after school to allow for drop offs and pickups. Further information relating to this procedure will be communicated in the Return to School Guidelines document.
- Further information regarding social distancing practices in schools can be found here School social distancing
Hand Hygiene :
- Hand Hygiene will be reinforced throughout the day. We will be ensuring that students and staff follow hand hygiene procedures as part of their daily routine. Where possible staff and students will wash their hands for 20 seconds. When this is not possible, hand sanitiser will be provided.
- Classroom Hand Sanitiser - Hand sanitiser will be available in each classroom and each high contact area of the school.
- Personal Hand Sanitiser - If you would like to supply a bottle of hand sanitiser for your child’s personal use at school, please ensure that it is >60% alcohol to ensure it is effective against COVID-19. Your child’s own labeled bottle can be stored on their desk or in their bag for when they need to access it.
Respiratory Hygiene:
- Coughs and Sneezes - Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow, or use a tissue.
- Dispose of tissue immediately into a bin. Bins will be emptied daily.
- Wash hands if soap is available or use hand sanitiser.
- Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes to help protect yourself from viruses
- Signs of Illness - If a child displays symptoms of cough, cold, runny nose, or signs of cold or flu the following protocol will take place:
- A staff member will send the child to the Health Centre
- Parents will be contacted
- Parents will need to make immediate arrangements to collect their child from the school.
- If the child is unwell and/or has a temperature, a mask will be applied to the child, and they will be cared for in an isolated area until collected by their parent or guardian.
General Hygiene on School Grounds:
- Drink fountains will not be in use at school. Children must bring their own water bottle.
- Objects which are used frequently will be routinely cleaned during the day, especially high touch surfaces, this includes play equipment.
- Areas in the school which allows open windows to improve air flow will utilise this option
- DET states that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is not recommended to be worn by staff while during regular care of children. Standard universal precautions including PPE will be used when attending to the care of children involving bodily fluids. Hand hygiene practices to be followed after removal of gloves/PPE.
- If you have been given advice by your medical doctor that extra precautions are required for your child or yourself, please speak with the school nurse.
Further information on DET guidelines due to corona virus can be found here:
DET Coronavirus advice for schools
Attached below is a helpful student Going-Back-To-School Checklist and Hand Hygiene Poster.
Thank You
Nurse Cecile
