Planning for a Pandemic
Information
for staff, parents, students, the Governing Body
1 – National/Regional Response
Advice
and Communications
In the event of a pandemic, the
Government plans to give consistent messages to all services and to the public
about pandemic influenza.
There
are forums (task forces) around the Country that will work to ensure all
relevant organisations are kept informed.
The DCSF will help to pass on
these messages to children’s services providers, the school workforce and other
people working with children and parents.
The DCSF and Local Authority (LA)
will communicate with schools through emails to all maintained-school headteachers.
Routine channels of
communications to providers of children’s services will also be used to
disseminate messages to those sectors. If a message is both urgent and
important, we will consider using other channels in addition, e.g. asking Local
Authorities by email or phone to pass on a message, and/or issuing a statement
to the news media.
Communicating messages about possible closure of schools and childcare
The Government may issue advice that, in order to reduce the spread of infection among children, schools and childcare settings should close when the pandemic reaches the area.
2 – School Response
In the event of a pandemic; the school will follow instructions from DCSF/LA regarding closure and will be prepared for closure in case the pandemic reaches the area.
If we decide to close our school or if there is locally enforced closure of the school:
- Staff, parents, students and the Governing Body will be informed of the closure via the local radio, school website, and the County website. [This system is used for closure due to snow]
- Staff,
parents, students and the Governing Body will be informed of the school’s
reopening via the local radio, school website, and the County website. [Again, this system is used for closure
due to snow]
If there is no enforced closure, or decision to close, but the area is affected by the pandemic:
· The school will remain open as long as sufficient staff are available and we can provide as near to normal classes and curriculum as resources and health and safety protocols permit. Also the school will follow advice intended to minimise the spread of infection – including the promotion of hygiene regimes (“Catch it. Bin it. Kill it”) to staff and students as well as enhanced cleaning routines across the school.
3 – Individual Response
In the event a pandemic reaching this area: staff, parents, students, the Governing Body and transport providers should stay informed by listening to the local radio/news and checking emails from the school, as well as the school/County website, with regard to possible school closure.
In addition staff, parents, students and the Governing Body should remain vigilant and follow the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice with regard to prevention and treatment of pandemic flu and not do anything that might jeopardise the health or safety of others; which would include complete isolation during the infectious period and also the reporting any outbreaks to the Health Authority.
SLT Swine Flu
Action Plan
In the event of a Stage 5 or 6 pandemic, we will:
- Identify a room
that could be used for isolation purposes - should somebody be identified
as unwell whilst at school
Foundation
Room
- Ensure the
school has sufficient stocks of PPE
for medical staff (face masks / gloves)
Elaine Thompson
- Review the cleaning
strategies / timings [the swine flu virus can live on hard surfaces for
2-3 days and soft material for 1-2 days]
Karen Hart
- Brief the students/staff
to use disposable tissues and to wash hands frequently. Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.
1.
BM– Letter to Parents, Carers, Students, Staff and Governors
2.
BM - Staff briefing/e mail
3.
BM Assembly
- Maintain a keen
watch on absenteeism