COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Updates; Important Information for pupils and staff returning to school.

Guidance was issued for reopening in September, please click here or check ParentMail.

The latest Risk Assessment documentation is currently being updated and will be released shortly. A separate document has been issued for the mock exam period, this can be viewed here. In addition, various addendums to policies have been put in place during the COVID period - these can be viewed here.

Reference Appendices may be requested from the school, please email us at heathcote.school@heathcote.waltham.sch.uk for further information.

Waltham Forest have also released a guidance pamphlet regarding children returning to school - please click here to download.

We recommend all parents, pupils and staff read the information within the Risk Assessment carefully. If you have any queries, please contact the School Office on 020 8498 5110. The UK Government guidelines can be viewed here.

Absence Guides

If you are unsure of what to do if you believe you or your child may have been exposed to Covid-19, please see the following Absence Guides for further advice.

Coronavirus Related Absence Guide for Pupils

Coronavirus Related Absence Guide for Staff

Health and Safety (including face coverings)

We have created some Health and Safety videos about returning to school in the current situation, and we would strongly recommend all pupils watch them before doing so;

Health and Safety Video - Returning to School

Health and Safety Video - Travelling to School

As of January 2021 it is compulsory for all staff and pupils to wear face masks or face coverings whilst on school premises. This video offers guidance in order to provide yourself - and others - with the best protection.

Guidance on wearing face coverings in school

Support with accessing food over holiday periods

For more information regarding this, please see the Free School Meals section. Please contact us if you have any queries.

School Arrival Times

The school will operate a system of staggered entry through the 3 main entrance points:
1. Main school entrance
2. Whitehall Road
3. Sixth Form entrance

Pupils must make every effort to arrive at school at their specified time in order to start lessons promptly. Late arrival may mean your child has to wait and this may affect their learning time. Pupils should not arrive too early as this will mean pupils waiting at the school gate. Staff will be on duty at all entrances. We will provide further details for pupils who travel to school on SEND transport as soon as we can and they will continue to use the front entrance to enter.

In these challenging times, help is available for any pupils who need it. Public Health have highlighted the following:

“How can I look after my mental health and wellbeing?"

You may experience anxiety about coronavirus or low mood, especially if you are required to self-isolate for long periods of time. There are many things you can do to look after you mental wellbeing including keeping physically active, or connecting with friends and family via phone or online.

There are also numerous mental health support offers available including online. Support and information can be accessed at https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/ You can receive a personalised plan to help you feel more in control and to deal with stress and anxiety.

Further information and advice can be accessed at https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak “

Family Handbook and Early Help Support For Dealing With Covid-19 (click to download)

Covid-19 Financial Hardship Information and Support (click to download)

NSPCC Guidance for Online Safety (please click here)

MindShift - A free app designed to help teens and young adults cope with anxiety (please click here)

Parent/Guardian Online Radicalisation and Support (please click here)

Digital Resilience Guidance for Parents (please click here)

Sexual Health Services Response to COVID-19 (please click here)

ThinkNinja App from the NHS - supporting young people with anxiety (please click here)

WellMind - Mental Health and Wellbeing App (please click here)

Six Fun Online Activities To Boost Your Child's Digital Resilience (please click here)

Questions Parents & Carers Should Be Asking About Screen Time (please click here)

Free School Meals Information Sheet (Summer 2020) (please click here)

Help Your Mate Campaign - promoting substance misuse harm reduction (please click here)

SafeSpot - An app which promotes positive mental wellbeing in children and young adults (please click here)

Smiling Mind - Meditation made easy. A simple tool that helps put a smile on your mind anytime, anywhere and every day. Has different applications for differ age groups (Please Click Here)

Pacifica - An app that can help with anxiety, stress and depression which includes mindfulness and aspects of CBT (please click here)

Resources for Pupil Well-being

Home Activity Packs from ThinkUKnow (CEOP)

Home activity packs provided by the National Crime Agency's CEOP Command, covering ages from 4-5 through to age 14+. A new pack will be released every fortnight!

(Click to visit and download)

Top tips for dealing with anxiety (click to download)

Top tips for positive well-being (click to download)

Well-being at home ideas (click to download)

Creative calm throughout coronavirus (click to download)

Ms Gasper's Guide to Dealing With Anxiety (click to download)

Kooth

Kooth is a web based confidential support service available to young people. Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and wellbeing support designed specifically for young people.  

Kooth offers young people the opportunity to have a text-based conversation with a qualified counsellor. Counsellors are available from 12noon to 10pm on weekdays and 6pm to 10 pm at weekends, every day of the year on a drop-in basis. Young people can access regular booked online counselling sessions as needed. Outside counselling hours’ young people can message our team and get support by the next day.

When students register with Kooth they will have support available to them now and in the future. Support can be gained not only through counselling but articles, forums and discussion boards.  All content is age appropriate, clinically approved and fully moderated. 

To find out more visit www.Kooth.com  where young people can register and others can find out more about the service. Alternatively, you can download a leaflet about Kooth here.

You can also view a short video about the service at: https://vimeo.com/318731977/a9f32c87de.

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For a more exhaustive list of support available, please click here. If you are immediately concerned about your child's mental health/safety while they are at home with you please contact the following numbers:

CAMHS - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

0300 555 147

If your child has had a referral to this service they may be able to offer support.

Mental Health Crisis Line

0300 555 1000

If you are worried about your own, or your child's mental health, this is a number you can call and they will signpost you to the best place to go.

NHS 111

To get information about symptoms, a nurse will contact you if needed.

Waltham Forest Access and Assessment Team

0300 300 1570 (Option 4)

This access and assessment service is for adults aged 18 and over needing community mental health services in the London borough of Waltham Forest. They provide an initial mental health assessment.

Social Services

020 8496 2310

If you feel that you need help caring for your child, or if you are concerned about the welfare or safety of a child you will need to contact Children's Social Care Services. The way that you do this is the same for disabled and non-disabled children.

You may also contact your GP if you are worried about your, or your child's, physical or mental health.

* Our thanks to Megan Frogley of Frederick Bremer for some of the content.