Dear parents and carers,

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Happy New Year and extend my best wishes for 2022.

As with previous communications earlier this academic year, I need to start by updating you on arrangements regarding our management of COVID-19. Together with our partners in the Cabot Learning Federation, we continue to remain in line with guidance issued by our local Directors of Public Health and Government guidelines.

The Covid protocols that have been in place for all Cabot Learning Federation secondary academies since October 2021 will remain in place as we return in January. This means that the following measures remain key features of school life:

What we are doing in our academies

1. All examinations and assessments in January will go ahead as originally planned.
2. In line with the latest Government guidance (2 January 2022), all staff, parents/carers, visitors and pupils should wear a face covering in communal areas and in classrooms.
3. We will be supporting a safe return of all pupils at the start of the new term in line with the latest Government guidance. This will involve Asymptomatic Testing (using lateral flow testing kits) for all pupils on their return, as pupils experienced when they returned to school in September. The Government asked that secondary school students undertake one on-site test on return in January. The purpose of this test is to help boost testing participation and reduce transmission after a period of social mixing during the holidays. Students will then be strongly encouraged to continue testing twice weekly at home and to report all results to NHS Test and Trace and to school.
4. We will not be holding large gatherings in any Cabot Learning Federation academy with mixed age groups. Any plans to hold small gatherings will be checked on a case-by-case basis with Public Health England to ensure our controls are appropriate.
5. We will continue to enhance our cleaning routines.
6. We will keep spaces well ventilated; this may occasionally mean that your child will be invited to wear their coat indoors.
7. There are currently no plans to involve schools in any further roll-out of a vaccination programme for students of secondary school age. However, on 22 December the government accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) In response to the threat from the Omicron variant, the JCVI advised that a Pfizer booster vaccine should be offered to:
   • children aged 12 to 15 years old who are in a clinical risk group or who are a household contact of immunosuppressed individuals, and those who are severely immunosuppressed and have had a third primary dose
   • all young people aged 16 to 17 years old

The NHS will communicate how eligible children can get their boosters shortly.

What we need our families to do

1. Your child should continue to come to school with a face covering, which they should expect to wear throughout the day in communal areas and in classrooms. With the exception of those who are exempt from wearing a face covering for health reasons, students who do not bring a face covering to school will either have the option to purchase one on site, or they will be requested to return home to collect one. It would be sensible to ensure that your child has spares in their coat and blazer pockets and in their bag. If you are unable to access a face covering for your child and are worried about the cost of purchase, please do contact the school directly so that we can support.
   While the wearing of face coverings has become commonplace in society again over recent weeks (e.g. in shops, on public transport, etc.), we are also aware that pupils will not have been wearing face coverings every day at home. While we will be reinforcing this expectation on pupils’ return, please do support us by reiterating with your child(ren) the importance of wearing face-coverings in school.
2. Students should continue to take lateral flow tests at home twice weekly for the coming weeks.
3. Please ensure that your child stays at home if they are unwell with Covid symptoms. They must continue to stay at home until 48 hours after the fever passes. They should do so even if they have tested negative for Covid 19.
4. If someone in your household tests positive (but your child does not have symptoms including a fever), your child may still come to school until their own PCR test result comes through if they take a lateral flow test each day and continue to receive a negative result (and remain symptom free).
5. Since Wednesday 22 December, the 10-day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 has been reduced to 7 days in most circumstances, unless it is not possible to take a test for any reason. Individuals may now take LFD tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to school from day 8. The UK Health Security Agency has published this helpful flow diagram, clarifying this process, which I have included at the end of this letter.

Thank you for your considerable support throughout this period, and for your flexibility in continuing to work with these new, revised arrangements.

Read the latest Government guidance parents and carers in full here

Cabot Learning Federation will continue to keep all of our parents and carers updated with any changes to our Covid controls as we are asked to make them in the interests of public health.

Dear parents and carers,

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Happy New Year and extend my best wishes for 2022.

As with previous communications earlier this academic year, I need to start by updating you on arrangements regarding our management of COVID-19. Together with our partners in the Cabot Learning Federation, we continue to remain in line with guidance issued by our local Directors of Public Health and Government guidelines.

The Covid protocols that have been in place for all Cabot Learning Federation secondary academies since October 2021 will remain in place as we return in January. This means that the following measures remain key features of school life:

What we are doing in our academies

1. We will not be holding large gatherings in any Cabot Learning Federation academy with mixed age groups. Any plans to hold small gatherings will be checked on a case-by-case basis with Public Health England to ensure our controls are appropriate.
2. We will continue to enhance our cleaning routines.
3. We will keep spaces well ventilated; this may occasionally mean that your child will be invited to wear their coat indoors.
4. There are no plans to involve schools in any roll-out of a vaccination programme for primary age-children. However, for information, on 22 December the government accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that a primary course of vaccination should be offered to children aged 5 to 11 years old who are in a clinical risk group, or who are a household contact of someone (of any age) who is immunosuppressed. The NHS is working through updated guidance and will set out how this is going to be operationalised shortly.

What we need our families to do

1. I would respectfully ask all adults visiting the school to wear a face covering on site. This includes at drop off and pick up times.
2. Please ensure that your child stays at home if they are unwell with Covid symptoms. They must continue to stay at home until 48 hours after the fever passes. They should do so even if they have tested negative for Covid 19.
3. If someone in your household tests positive (but your child does not have symptoms including a fever), your child may still come to school until their own PCR test result comes through if they take a lateral flow test each day and continue to receive a negative result (and remain symptom free).
4. Since Wednesday 22 December, the 10-day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 has been reduced to 7 days in most circumstances, unless it is not possible to take a test for any reason. Individuals may now take LFD tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to school from day 8. The UK Health Security Agency has published this helpful flow diagram, clarifying this process, which I have included at the end of this letter.

Thank you for your considerable support throughout this period, and for your flexibility in continuing to work with these new, revised arrangements.

Read the latest Government guidance parents and carers in full here

Cabot Learning Federation will continue to keep all of our parents and carers updated with any changes to our Covid controls as we are asked to make them in the interests of public health.

Since the start of the pandemic, our Cabot Learning Federation academies have taken steps to minimise the spread of Covid-19, in line with guidance issued by our local Directors of Public Health and in response to Government updates.

The Government has now requested, in light of the recently identified Omicron variant, that all adults in all settings to wear a face covering in communal areas until at least the end of this term.

This means that all staff, parents/carers and visitors to our schools will be asked to wear a face covering in indoor communal areas from Tuesday, November 30, until at least the end of this term. We would also ask parents/carers and visitors to wear a face covering when on the school premises, including at pick up and drop off.

What we are doing in our academies

1. We will not be holding large gatherings indoors in any Cabot Learning Federation academy with mixed age groups until at least the end of term. Any gatherings planned before the end of term in any of our academies have been checked on a case by case basis with Public Health England to ensure our controls are appropriate. Any events currently planned may have to be cancelled if that guidance changes.
2. We will continue to maintain enhanced cleaning routines.
3. We will keep spaces well ventilated; this may occasionally mean that your child will be invited to wear their coat indoors.
4. All staff, parents/carers and visitors should wear a face covering indoors in communal areas. We would also ask parents/carers and visitors to wear a face covering when on the school premises, including at pick up and drop off.

What we need our families to do

1. Please ensure that your child stays at home if they are unwell with Covid symptoms and arrange for them to have a PCR test. If the result is positive, they should isolate for 10 days, in line with national guidance.
2. If your child has COVID symptoms, but the PCR test is negative, they must continue to stay at home until they are well enough to return and until 24 hours after the fever passes. (Your academy will update you further, should more guidance be available on this point).
3. If someone in your household tests positive, your child may still come to school until their own PCR test result comes through if they take a lateral flow test each day and continue to receive a negative result. If you are given different advice by Test and Trace please following their guidance and advise your school.

Thank you for your considerable support throughout this period, and for your flexibility in continuing to work with these new, revised arrangements.

Read the latest guidance in full from the Government issued on Saturday, November 27

Your academy will continue to keep you updated with any changes to our Covid controls as we are asked to make them in the interests of public health.

21.11.29 Primary parent COVID update

Since the start of the pandemic, our Cabot Learning Federation academies have taken steps to minimise the spread of Covid-19, in line with guidance issued by our local Directors of Public Health and in response to Government updates. You will be aware that additional Covid protocols have been in place across the South West region since half term and that these were recently extended to the end of November. This includes all Cabot Learning Federation Secondary Academies and CLF P16. We are writing to you now to confirm that due to the recently identified Omicron variant, these additional measures will continue until at least the end of this term.

What we are doing in our academies

1. We will not be holding large gatherings indoors in any Cabot Learning Federation academy with mixed age groups until at least the end of term. Any gatherings planned before the end of term in any of our academies have been checked on a case by case basis with Public Health England to ensure our controls are appropriate. Any events currently planned may have to be cancelled if that guidance changes.
2. We will continue to maintain our enhanced cleaning routines.
3. We will keep spaces well ventilated; this may occasionally mean that your child will be invited to wear their coat indoors.
4. We will continue to support the wider vaccination programme and share any information that is passed to us about how those who are not yet vaccinated may access this service.
5. All staff, parents/carers, visitors and pupils should wear a face covering whilst indoors in communal areas. We would also ask parents/carers and visitors to wear a face covering when on the school premises, including at pick up and drop off.

What we need our families to do

1. Your child should continue to come to school with a face covering until at least the end of this term. They should expect to wear this throughout the day in communal areas. With the exception of those who are exempt from wearing a face covering for health reasons, students who do not bring a face covering to school will either have the option to purchase one on site, or they will be requested to return home to collect one. It would be sensible to ensure that your child has spares in their coat and blazer pockets and in their bag.
2. Students should continue to take lateral flow tests at home twice weekly for the coming weeks.
3. Please ensure that your child stays at home if they are unwell with Covid symptoms and arrange for them to have a PCR test. If the result is positive, they should isolate for 10 days, in line with national guidance.
4. If your child has COVID symptoms, but the PCR test is negative, they must continue to stay at home until they are well enough to return and until 24 hours after the fever passes. (Your academy will update you further, should more guidance be available on this point).
5. If someone in your household tests positive, your child may still come to school until their own PCR test result comes through, if they take a lateral flow test each day and continue to receive a negative result. If you are given different advice by Test and Trace please following their guidance and advise your school.

Thank you for your considerable support throughout this period, and for your flexibility in continuing to work with these new, revised arrangements.

Read the latest guidance in full from the Government issued on Saturday, November 27

Your school will continue to keep all of our parents and carers updated with any changes to our Covid controls as we are asked to make them in the interests of public health.

21.11.29 Secondary parent COVID update

Uphill Village Academy, formerly Uphill Primary School, joined the CLF in October 2020. Principal Sam Hodder said:

“We decided to join a Multi Academy Trust because we wanted to continue our journey from securely good to excellent and we needed a partner who would support and challenge us to do that. Local authority resources were stretched and it was clear we wanted more than they could offer us. We researched and met with a number of local Multi Academy Trusts to see what each had to offer.

“As one of the most established trusts offering continuous education from 3-19 years, CLF were used to embracing individual and like-minded schools, such as ours. It was

clear from the outset that they not only aligned to our values but were educationally at the forefront of current research and practice.  We particularly liked the way their academies were central in the curation of the curriculum; creating documents that would be shared and used by all while still encouraging each academy to pursue and retain its own individual identity. Autonomy was very important to us and something that was evidenced when we visited many of the academies across the trust.

“One year on and I can honestly say it has been the best move we could have made. Best for our children and families, our staff and our local community. The central services team provide expert and timely support meaning that as a Principal I have more time to concentrate and focus on what really matters; delivering a first-class education and building a cohesive school community.

“Looking to the future, we are jointly planning the path ahead and it is evident after just a year, that the support and collaboration remains strong and we are on our way to achieving excellence.”

Broadoak Academy in Weston super Mare joined our Trust in 2019. Principal Kathleen McGillycuddy said:

“Broadoak was a Single Academy Trust that was actively seeking to join a Multi Academy Trust in order to supercharge our school improvement journey and the Cabot Learning Federation chimed completely with our values and our vision for the education of the children of this community, now and into the future.

“A key part of our journey from a SAT to a MAT was the deep and deliberate commitment to ensuring all our stakeholders were invested in our direction of travel, from our Trustees to our governors, our senior team and the wider school team. We undertook extensive research prior to reaching out, had panel presentations to our working group from a broad range of MATs and then interviews with a shortlisted few. These interviews were robust, with a touch of awkwardness thrown in, so that we could ensure we would be entering a true partnership with very few unknowns. This took time, energy and commitment – and was worth every moment.

“Once our partnership with the Cabot Learning Federation began, well before any formal announcements, our school benefited hugely from immediate input for me as a Headteacher, as I joined the Federation’s Leadership Forum network of Principals and senior leaders, and had a dedicated member of the Executive Team to offer support and challenge. My colleagues joined different communities of practice and our young people got the immediate benefit of this investment in school improvement.

“Having now been in the Trust for a number of years, the benefits of centrally provided expertise in finance, safeguarding, Health & Safety, HR and IT has meant we are able to ensure good practice in all these areas in our academy, thereby providing good value for public money as well as release the educationalists on our senior team back into education and school improvement. The support provided during the pandemic has been peerless and the whole Trust has operated in concord to help each other. This has been at all levels and in all roles and has been a real testament to how MATs can operate.

“All colleagues have benefited from being connected to wider networks of professional development, which has supported them in their areas of expertise – this has applied to all roles and areas of the academy and has been on a scale and to a depth that a MAT is able to bring. Colleagues have also been contributors to the evolution of strategic work across the MAT that has resulted in more young people and families benefiting.  Our young people have also connected to something beyond their own academy walls, from careers conventions, Eco groups, student parliaments, sports events and cookery competitions to celebrations of the Arts that see them take their place alongside other young people in the region – it has helped them make connections, be inspired and understand they are part of a bigger community.

“My advice to anyone considering the Cabot Learning Federation is to get in touch, visit and ask all and every question you have. It is a significant decision to join a MAT and a decision that is deserving of time and attention.”

Heron’s Moor Academy in Weston super Mare joined our Trust in 2019. Julie Fox, Principal, said:

“We were part of a Multi Academy Trust that had made the decision to wind up.  A working party consisting of staff and Governors from HMA was set up to investigate our options and a criteria was drawn up, stating what we were looking for in a different MAT.

“We met with six local MATs and our priority was to find a MAT where our values fitted.  We also wanted to be part of a MAT that recognised schools are all different and respected those differences.  Cabot Learning Federation was the right fit for us – the DFE and CLF also agreed!

“As soon as we were committed to joining the CLF, we were made very welcome and felt part of the family of Cabot academies.  For example, I started to attend the Federation’s Leadership Forum meetings immediately.

“We had incredible support from the CLF central team through the transfer process, which enabled it to go though as stress free and as smoothly as possible.

“A key benefit we have experiences since joining the CLF has been being part of a collegiate team – the Academy is the MAT and the MAT is the Academy.  We all have a responsibility for all of the children and young people in the Federation.  Even though we are part of the CLF team, we have been able to maintain and develop what is unique to HMA.

“There are very efficient back-office services (especially the Health and Safety team during the pandemic), enabling our CLF and academy SLTs to focus on what is crucial: curriculum development, teaching and learning.

“The 3-to-19 joy-filled curriculum has been a stand-out benefit for HMA since joining the CLF and it has been a pleasure to adopt it at HMA and seeing many of our staff have the opportunity to be curriculum curators.”