Dear Parent/Carer,

Headteacher’s Letter - Week 21

Welcome back! I hope many of you saw our students on Wednesday evening on Channel 4 News talking so eloquently about the need and benefits of a diverse curriculum. They really did us proud. A big thank you to Mr Harvey in the History Department for developing the fantastic resources. You can find the clip here.

Updated Covid-19 Protocols

Further to the Government’s announcement on Monday evening and the decrease in cases within the School, we have revised our risk assessment such that face masks are no longer required in the school building. For the short term, face masks are still required during assemblies due to the number of people in one indoor venue and the lack of social distancing.

Schools have been advised to follow updated guidance from 24 February; a summarised update is available via this link.

Asymptomatic testing

From today, Monday 21 February, the Government has removed the guidance for staff and students in most education and childcare settings to undertake twice-weekly asymptomatic testing. However, staff and students of secondary age and above in SEND settings, alternative provision settings, and SEND units within mainstream settings or equivalent in further education colleges are advised to continue twice-weekly testing.

The education testing delivery channels will remain open so that staff and students of secondary age and above can access tests if needed to respond to local public health advice, in particular in relation to outbreaks. Staff and students are also able to access test kits from their local pharmacy or online.

Given the significant number of students we have in our context with special educational needs, at SNS we will continue to test twice weekly until the end of this term.

The requirement for close contacts of a positive case to take daily lateral flow tests will cease from 24 February.

Symptoms

As before, if you are experiencing symptoms of Covid, you should book a PCR test (details here).

Isolation

From Thursday 24 February, the Government will remove the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. Adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days, and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days. In addition, the Government will:

  • No longer ask fully vaccinated close contacts and those aged under 18 to test daily for 7 days, and remove the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate.
  • End self-isolation support payments, national funding for practical support and the medicine delivery service will no longer be available.
  • End routine contact tracing. Contacts will no longer be required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests. Staff, children and young people should attend their education settings as usual. This includes staff who have been in close contact within their household, unless they are able to work from home.
  • End the legal obligation for individuals to tell their employers when they are required to self-isolate

Safer Behaviours

We continue to adhere to public health advice to reduce the risk of catching and passing on Covid:

a. Getting vaccinated;

b. Letting fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meeting outside;

c. Wearing a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, especially where you come into contact with people you do not usually meet, when rates of transmission are high;

d. Trying to stay at home if you are unwell;

e. Taking a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms, and staying at home and avoiding contact with other people if you test positive; and

f. Washing your hands and following advice to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’

After the challenges of the past two years, these are positive steps towards more certain times, and we all welcome the much needed stability. Thank you to everyone for playing your part in ensuring our community worked collectively to keeping each other safe and together we now move to more hopeful times.

Year 10 Work Experience – Change of Dates – Monday 4th July – Friday 15th July 2022

A decision has been made to move the Year 10 Work Experience to the later date of Monday 4th July – Friday 15th July 2022. For further information, please contact Ms Juliet Alexander, Careers Lead, on jul.ale@sns.hackney.sch.uk

Language of the Month

As we come to the end of Finnish Month, we would like to give huge thanked to Dayabir Year 12 for her fantastic contribution to introducing Kalevala myths which have been played to Year 7 and 8 students in Library sessions and Annika Year 7 for creating a superb display about Ystävänpäivä meaning 'Friend's Day' that is celebrated in Finland on Valentines Day. Students in Art club have designed a beautiful Merimekko designs originated from Finland that decorated a display in the foyer, and further outstanding pieces of art have been produced in Drawing Club.

The language of March is Swahili! 7W, Mr Tang's tutor group who selected Swahili is already working on posters and designs of display board in foyer. Furthermore, all suggestions to promote the language are most welcome. Please email us on community.languages@sns.hackney.sch.uk. Please encourage your children to send us posters and power points related to Swahili (via email or tutors).

ESOL English Classes for Parent/Carers - Suitable at beginners level

There are still spaces available to sign up for one of the assessment days Wednesday 9th and Wednesday 23rd March for ESOL, taster programme for parent/carers of our school. English course for beginners will start after Easter break on 20th April and will run for 6 weeks.

Click on the link below to sign up for the suitable session.

ESOL Assessments - Sign up form SNS (9th Mar).docx

ESOLAssessments - Sign up form SNS (23rd Mar).docx

If you have any questions regarding ESOL course you can email directly to Jo Thorp, Curriculum Manager for ESOL and Family Learning jo.thorp@hackney.gov.uk or you can email the Community Languages Team: community.languages@sns.hackney.sch.uk

SafaPlace – Parent/Carer Survey

Safaplace is a young charity working towards an environment where all the community can feel safe; mentally, emotionally, and physically. Its fundraising, campaigns, and work programme are about advancing positive mental health and wellbeing for children and young people in Hackney. Building on the success of our three annual conferences and other events we are collaborating with agencies across Hackney to strengthen the network of support and information available for young people.

SafaPlace want to set up a hub and support service that parents and carers confronted by their children’s mental health and well-being challenges can turn to for understanding, knowledge, and support. To help design this service, they would like to know more about the experiences of parents and carers in Hackney who have sought help, support, and understanding relevant to their child’s mental health and emotional well-being. Any personal information you provide will be treated in complete confidence and will not be passed to anyone else and data you provide will build an overall picture of people’s experiences and needs. Please complete the questionnaire even if your children are now over 18 if you sought help in the last five years via this link.

Year 9 – DTP/Men ACWY 3 in 1 Booster Vaccination – Tuesday 15th March 2022

Please note the Year 9 3 in 1 booster vaccination has been rescheduled from Friday 25th February to Tuesday 15th March 2022. For further information, please contact our School Nurse, Ms Osman, on hun.osm@sns.hackney.sch.uk

Jubilee Bank Holiday – School Closure– Friday 29th April 2022

In light of the Queen’s Jubilee Bank holiday taking place within the half-term break, we will be closed on Friday 29 April 2022 as a day in lieu of the bank holiday.

Parent/Carer Forums

Forum

Time and Date

Joining Link to Meeting

Year 7 Parent/Carers

Thursday 10 March 5.30pm – 6pm

Click here to join

Year 8 Parent/Carers

Wednesday 16 March 5.30pm – 6pm

Click here to join

Year 9 Parent/Carers

Tuesday 22 March 5pm – 5.30pm

Click here to join

Year 12 Parent/Carers

Thursday 24 March 6.00pm – 7pm

Click here to join

Year 13 Parent/Carers

Thursday 17 March 6pm – 7pm

Click here to join

SEND Parent/Carers

Monday 28 March 6pm – 7pm

Click here to join

I wish you all a lovely weekend when we get there.

With best wishes,

Zehra Jaffer