Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Letter following positive Omicron

  Mon 13 Dec 2021

  Dear parents/carers,

                                       

   

  We have been in contact with Public Health England today and they have advised us to inform you of the following precautions they would like you to take.

   

  Daily lateral flow testing for everyone in the household for siblings and children who attend the foundation stage before they go out. The lateral flow website is currently down and should be back online about 8pm. Alternatively you can download a code and then collect 2 boxes from the pharmacy or other places, see the link. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptom 

   

  If you have no tests or are not able to test your child, they must self-isolate until Sunday. We will not be accepting any siblings who have not had an LFT (sometimes called a rapid covid test) Miss Law will collect the tests on arrival in the mornings and Mrs Yardley/Mr Trenowden will be accepting the tests of the siblings at the office from Tuesday 14^th December.

   

  They have advised us that ANY child with symptoms get a PCR test and do not return to school until the results are back. They have also advised us that siblings are tested too, as they are a contact of a symptomatic child. Omicron symptoms seem to include a snotty nose in children as well as temperature, sore throat, headache and loss of taste and smell.

   

  If your child was absent last week or did not attend on Thursday and Friday they will also need to LFT as they will start to mix with children from tomorrow.

   

  If your child attends part time the foundation unit remains closed to these children.

  ​​​​​​​

  If you have any other questions or worries, please message us, ring or email us and we will try our very best to help you.

   

  Mrs Yardley

• Key Stage 1 Forest School Letter

  Mon 13 Dec 2021

  We are very excited to be starting weekly 'Forest School' sessions for our Key Stage 1 children next half term. 'Forest School' is a great way to help our children learn practical skills as well as develop confidence, resilience and communication. 

   

  Year 1 children will visit our 'Forest School' area every Tuesday afternoon. Year 2 children will visit every Wednesday afternoon. The first session for Year 1 will be on Tuesday 11th January. The first session for Year 2 will be on Wednesday 5th January.  We go outside for every session unless there are thunderstorms or high winds forecast. 

   

  Children will need ... 

  • A warm, waterproof coat
  • Old trainers/wellies/walking boots
  • A hat and gloves
  • Old, comfy clothing (that you don't mind getting muddy!)

   

  Please come to see us if you have any questions. 

• Letter to Foundation parents 11/12/21

  Sat 11 Dec 2021

  11.12.2021

  Dear parents/carers,

   

                                We have just found out that we have our first case of the Omicron variant of the COVID 19 virus. It is unfortunately in the foundation stage. Because of how the unit operates and that the children and staff all mix we are advising you that your child must self-isolate for 10 days, their last day of isolation is the Sunday 19^{th of} December.

   

  Work will be provided via seesaw and your teacher/TA will be in touch on Monday to make sure you can access the work and that you are all ok.

   

  If you are free school meals, we will be providing vouchers for your child, but they may not arrive until after the holidays, if you would prefer a packed lunch then please let us know and we can arrange it.

   

  If you have siblings in the other parts of school, you may have problems getting them to school if your little one cannot leave. We can authorise this absence this week but due to many different things happening around school this week work for them will probably be a little sparse.

   

  If your child has been absent since Thursday 9^th December, they will not have been in contact and therefore will not need to isolate but the unit will still be closed to them as we have no staff (they are all isolating too).

   

  If the guidance changes during the self-isolation period, as the government has said that it may change to daily testing before Christmas, we will let you know.

   

  Please get in touch if you need anything at all, we are there to support you. Message us via Facebook messenger, email over the weekend or ring us on Monday.

   

  Thank you for your support,

  Mrs Yardley.

• British Fatwa Council Letter Regarding Porcine Element of Nasal Flu Vaccination

  Fri 03 Dec 2021

  Date: 07/09/2021

   

  Fatwa on Flu vaccine containing Porcine gelatine

   

  Question:

  In certain areas of Midlands, we are experiencing issues with Muslim communities refusing to have their children vaccinated with the influenza nasal spray due to it containing porcine as a stabiliser. This vaccine is used for children to protect them and the vulnerable elderly at serious risk of catching flu. It saves lot of pain and sicknesses in the community affecting thousands of people.

   

  The children’s flu vaccination programme is extremely important since it not only protects the child itself but also protects vulnerable family members and the wider community. This then has huge benefits on the local health system, 94% lower flu like illnesses in primary age children and 74% less visits to A &E. So, in the bigger interest of the society's health can this vaccine be given to children? What do the scholars say about the permissibility of in flu vaccine that contains pork gelatine, is this allowed?

   

  From, A concerned Muslim Nurse

   

  Answer: Fatwa on Flu vaccine containing Porcine gelatine

   

  I begin with the name of Allah, the Kind the Caring

   

  The flu vaccine that contains porcine gelatine is a simple nasal spray that is particularly useful and easy to administer to children. This year the flu nasal spray will be offered to all school age children and 2- and 3-year olds. It is also administered to children who are susceptible to flu and have other problems like asthma which is exacerbated by the flu. It has been shown to reduce A &E admissions and other complications considerably. The flu nasal spray is the most effective way of protecting your child from flu but this year the NHS are offering children the non-porcine, injectable vaccination, as an alternative to the nasal spray. It is important that you accept one of the vaccines to protect your child and your family.

   

  Firstly, it’s important to understand the nature of the porcine gelatine. This is a pure product and is exactly same as the cow gelatine, goat or any other animals’ gelatine. It has same protein structure, same properties and same colour, texture and taste. You would not be able to distinguish the porcine gelatine from the others. Considering this fact, it is argued that it doesn’t matter what its origin is. A similar fatwa was issued by Mufti Ali Jumma the Grand Mufti of Egypt about Pig products including insulin.

   

  Secondly, this is for a medical purpose, it’s not consumption or eating. The nasal vaccine is important preventative measure that has been shown empirically to reduce lot of suffering in vulnerable children. This then falls under the well-known category of ‘darurah’ necessity, required and needed. The Quran teaches: “He has made unlawful for you the carcass, the blood, pork and animals over which any name other than Allah’s has been invoked. However, if one is dying of hunger then a small amount can be eaten in order to survive, Allah is Forgiver and Kind.” (Al Baqara:173) From this jurist have reasoned that when something that is forbidden is necessary for survival then it becomes permissible. So, if porcine gelatine was forbidden in this situation, it becomes permissible. The other rule from this is: "What is permissible for a particular need can be used according to the amount required.”

   

  Thirdly, my fatwa is based on this powerful principle Istihala found in books of Fiqh: “Istihala means the change of a substance as a result of its purification and the removal of all the impurities around it. Scholars are agreed that when alcohol changes into vinegar it is considered pure. The majority of Hanafi, Maliki scholars and Imam Ahmed said that istihala renders impure substance pure. As mentioned above, there is no scholarly contention on the purity of an alcohol that has turned into vinegar. Another example the scholars give is the blood of deer, when it is converted into musk it becomes an expensive fragrance. (p1738 Encyclopaedia of Fatwa published by Dar la Ifta Al-Misriyya)

   

  Considering this evidence, we conclude the nasal flu vaccine containing porcine gelatine is permissible for use.

   

  On behalf of the British Fatwa Council

   

  Mufti Dr Hafiz M Munir Al-Azhari

  Mufti Yar Muhammed Khan Qadri

  Dr Musharraf Hussain Al-Azhari