COVID-19 Help
COVID-19 Help
As a school, we want to help all our families through this tricky time. If you can’t find the information or link that you are looking for on here, please call the school office for further help.
HOW TO GET A TEST
https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
What test to use when
Below is a reminder of which tests staff and pupils should be using when:
- Individual has one of the three COVID-19 symptoms – a high temperature, or a new and continuous cough, or a loss or change in sense of taste and/or smell
Book a PCR test via the national booking portal https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or calling 119 and selecting that you have COVID-19 symptoms when prompted.
- Individual has shortness of breath, muscle or body aches, fatigue, sore throat, headache, nasal congestion or runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting
Book a PCR test via the national booking portal https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119 and selecting you do not have symptoms and then selecting the option ‘my local council or health protection team has asked me to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms’ when prompted.
- Individual is well and has not experienced any of the symptoms listed above in the past 10 days
Undertake an LFD test twice weekly – these tests should not be used if an individual is experiencing any symptoms and is suspicious they are being caused by COVID-19 due to the accuracy of the tests
Link to guidance for parents and carers https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-in-the-autumn-term
Use of face coverings in education guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-in-education/face-coverings-in-education
E-Bug advice for parents and carers https://e-bug.eu/eng_home.aspx?cc=eng&ss=1&t=Information%20about%20the%20Coronavirus
Headteacher update 8th September 2020 CLICK HERE
School Risk Assessment – Updated 21st January 2021 HERE
Guidance poster CLICK HERE
Department for education information leaflet CLICK HERE
Letter from Director of Public Health 24th August 2020 CLICK HERE
New Helpline Goes Live To Support People’s Mental Health
Local NHS Trust, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP), has launched a new mental health helpline for residents of Cheshire West, Cheshire East and Wirral.
Open 24 hours a day, seven-days a week, it is open to people of all ages including children and young people who need urgent mental health support. The helpline – 0300 303 3972 – is part of the NHS Long Term Plan to improve access to mental health support.
Originally due to go live next year, it has been fast-tracked to be available to support local people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
What to do if you need urgent mental health help:
- Please call 0300 303 3972 and our dedicated local NHS staff will support you to access the help you need
- The helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is open to people of all ages – including children and young people
- The helpline is now the first port of call for mental health help – it is operated by people in your local area who will know how best to support you. If you call NHS111 you may have to wait longer for help and will be re-directed to this local service – so call 0300 303 3972
- Please note, A&E and 999 are not the best places to get help for the majority of mental health problems – call 0300 303 3972 to be directed to the best local service to support you
- You should still call 999 or go to A&E if you have an immediate, life-threatening emergency requiring mental or physical health assistance
- For non-urgent help and general wellbeing advice, the CWP website contains information and links to resources to support people with anxiety, low mood, and worries relating to the current Covid-19 pandemic www.cwp.nhs.uk
- For children and young people there is also a dedicated website MyMind.org.uk
For further help, support and guidance please look at our Helpline and support brochure
Further support for families
Other help available for families
All the help available for families can be found on the ‘Useful resources and information for the school holidays’ webpage on the Council website:
Some of the help available includes:
The Welcome Network
The Welcome Network are commissioned by the Council to join up local community food offers. They have produced an interactive map showing where and how local food can be obtained in each area. For full details:
The Council Tax Reduction Scheme
The Council Tax Reduction Scheme provides financial support for people who are on a low income and need help to pay their council tax. There is a discretionary fund alongside the main scheme.
- Visit: Council Tax Reduction
The Discretionary Housing Payment scheme
The Discretionary Housing Payment scheme is available to help people who receive Universal Credit or Housing Benefit where the amount awarded in benefits does not pay their full rent. This scheme can help with the shortfall in some circumstances or can help people on benefits with rent in advance to secure a property.
- Visit: DHP
Homeless2Housed
Homeless2Housed is a short-term project in 2020/21 to provide support for people who are at risk of losing their home or to secure a property. They can sometimes help with rent arrears and rent in advance.
- Contact them initially by email on H2H@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Test and Trace
Test and trace payments of £500 can be made when somebody who is working loses pay because they are told to isolate when they have Covid symptoms or they have been in contact with somebody with symptoms and are told to isolate by test and trace. From 8/3/21 parents who are unable to work from home can also apply if their child is required to isolate and they have caring responsibilities.
- Visit: Test and Trace