Looking forward to welcoming everyone back to school tomorrow. A warm welcome to our P1 families and new children joining our school.

See you all tomorrow 🤗

Wishing all our staff, families and wider school community a safe and restful summer holiday. Very best wishes to our lovely P7 children who will be starting high school in August ❤️

Introduction

We understand that you may be wondering how your child’s school will support pupil transition arrangements this year. This short guide provides answers to the most common questions we have been asked. Our guidelines are dynamic and are produced in collaboration with our partners in Health and Scottish Government. Every step is taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and staff in schools, so we continue to take a precautionary approach.

Key Messages

▪ Schools being open full-time is our priority so we will continue to take a precautionary approach

▪ In consultation with Health Protection we have planned for transition to be a virtual experience

▪ Children and young people with additional support for learning needs are being offered an enhanced transition experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will transition look like for my child starting in an Early Years Setting?

▪ Virtual transition plans will continue to be the core means of familiarisation

▪ Any physical visit must take place outdoors with measures in place to reduce risk

▪ Individual settings will communicate directly with parents/carer about start dates and arrangements for settling in

▪ Transition visits cannot take place if a positive case or outbreak is prevalent in the setting.

What support will be offered to my child as they transition to Primary 1?

▪ Virtual transition plans, including a range of activities, will continue as the main means of supporting the move to P1

▪ Schools will communicate directly with parents/carers about arrangements for the first week of school Wednesday 18th August

▪ Teachers will ensure that in August pupils will have a range of opportunities to get to know other pupils in the class, staff and their new surroundings

▪ The school will provide children with exceptional needs the opportunity to visit using an appropriate risk assessment

▪ Parents and carers are not able to attend transition events based in a school unless it is deemed essential to support a child with exceptional needs

▪ Transition visits cannot take place if a positive case or outbreak is prevalent in the setting or school.

My child is moving to another class with new pupils and a new teacher. How can we make sure they feel comfortable with this change?

▪ Meeting of a new teacher and/or pupils can happen outdoors in marked areas that maintain current pupil bubbles

▪ Where a new class is changing (mixing pupils) contact between different bubbles will be minimised (this includes Composite classes) so pupils will:

o meet outdoors

o stay within current bubble in marked area so the new class members can be gathered close by

o engage in virtual activities to build connections

▪ Teachers will ensure that in August pupils will have a range of opportunities to get to know other pupils in the class, staff and the new classroom.

What will transition look like for my child moving from P7 to High School

▪ Virtual transition plans, including a range of activities, will continue as the main means of supporting the move to High School

▪ Schools will communicate directly with parents/carers about arrangements for the first week of school Wednesday 18th August

▪ High Schools will ensure that in August new S1 pupils will have a range of opportunities to get to know other pupils, staff and their new surroundings

▪ Transition visits cannot take place if a positive case or outbreak is prevalent in the cluster

If my child receives an in-person visit as part of the enhanced transition, will it affect the virtual transition offer?

▪ No. The virtual transition activities will be the main delivery model.

We would encourage our Parents and Carers to contact their child’s current school if they are feeling unsure about arrangements for transition.

Dear Tollcross Families,

 

Regular testing for people with no COVID-19 symptoms is one of the ways we can all help keep people safe and stop the spread of COVID-19 in Edinburgh.

 

You can come along to Fountainbridge Library from Monday 31 May to Sunday 6 June. We’re open from 9am to 6pm. Testing is free, fast and safe. There’s no need to book and it will only take around 15 minutes to take the test and 45 minutes for people to be sent their results.

 

If you can’t get to the library, you can order free rapid lateral flow test kits online or by phoning the National Testing Centre on 119. 

 

Almost 1 in 3 people infected with Covid-19 don’t have any of the usual symptoms but are potentially passing on the virus unknowingly to family, friends and others in the community. By getting tested people can find out if they are positive and self-isolate at home to stop spreading the virus to others. People who have been vaccinated are also encouraged to take a test as they may still carry the virus.

 

You can find out more about community testing on our web pages at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/communitytesting

Wishing a very happy and joyful Eid Mubarak 🌙 to all our families and wider community celebrating.

Wishing all of our families a safe and happy Easter holiday. We will welcome everyone back to school on Tuesday 20/04/21.

Looking forward to welcoming everyone back to school tomorrow 😊

Good evening,

Message from Lynn Brand headteacher and NHS Lothian

As you may already know, we are aware of a person in the school who has tested positive for COVID-19. We have been working closely with NHS Lothian Health Protection Team and following all national guidance.

A number of people have now been contacted because they have been in close and sustained contact with the case and the tracking process is now complete.

These contacts will need to self isolate and appropriate guidance and advice has been given.

If you have not been contacted directly to tell you your child is a close contact, then your child should attend school as normal.

Enhanced cleaning and infection control measures are in place in line with national guidance. The school is safe and remains open.

If you have any concerns in the meantime, or if you need to book a COVID-19 test because your child has developed symptoms (high temperature, a new continuous cough and/or a loss or change in sense of smell or taste) please visit the NHS Inform website www.nhsinform.scot  or for non-clinical advice call 0800 028 2816.

Please note that a test should only be booked if you or your child has these specifics symptoms.

Remember to stay at home if anyone in the household has symptoms of COVID-19.

For further information you may find this Frequently Asked Questions document useful :

https://www.nhslothian.scot/Coronavirus/Parents/Schools/Pages/default.aspx

Best wishes,

Lynn Brand