The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has issued safety advice today to ensure everyone is aware of the dangers around frozen water and what to do in an emergency.  

RLSS UK offer safety advice for winter water safety, with simple steps to keep safe during the winter: 

1. Never go onto the ice to play, to retrieve an object, or a pet
2. Never enter the ice to rescue somebody, call 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service

What to do if you fall through the ice: 

• Keep calm and shout for ‘help’
• Spread your arms across the surface of the ice in front of you
• If the ice is strong enough, kick your legs to slide onto the ice
• Lie flat and pull yourself towards the bank
• If the ice breaks, work your way to the bank-breaking the ice in front of you anyway
• If you cannot climb out, wait for help and keep as still as possible. Press your arms by your side and keep your legs together. Keep your head clear of the water
• Once you are safe, go to hospital immediately for a check-up

What to do if you see someone fall through the ice:

• Shout for assistance and phone the emergency services – call 999 or 112
• Do not walk or climb onto the ice to attempt a rescue
• Shout to the casualty to ‘keep still’ and offer reassurance to keep them calm
• Try and reach them from the bank using a rope, pole, tree branch, clothing tied together or anything else which can extend your reach
• When reaching from the bank, lie down to avoid being pulled onto the ice
• If you cannot reach them, slide something which floats, such as a plastic bottle or football, across the ice for them to hold onto to stay afloat whilst help is on the way
• If the casualty is too far away, do not attempt to rescue them. Wait for the emergency services while calming and reassuring the casualty

Our Turkey/Receptionist Mrs Hawgood welcomed students and staff into school this morning in this amazing outfit and brought a smile to everyone's face.

Such a lovely festive atmosphere in school today fundraising for Save the Children.

How amazing do our wonderful staff look in their Christmas Jumpers?!

Mrs Hawgood has been handing out some sweet treats to all those who have got involved in Christmas Jumper Day today. So wonderful to see our School community come together for fundraising events. Thank you to Mrs Hawgood for organising this event and for always creating so much joy and fun in our School. 

Kooth is an anonymous site which helps children and young people to feel safe and confident in exploring their concerns and seeking professional support. 

Over the Christmas period our team are still here to support your young people. The website is open 24/7 so young people are still able to read the magazine, complete the activities, and talk to their peers and take part in our live forums. Everything stays the same other than our chat times. 

Dear parents/carers,

Group A strep cases – advice for parents

You may be aware from the media that the UK is seeing a high number of Group A strep cases this year. The bacteria usually cause a mild infection which can lead to sore (strep) throats, impetigo or scarlet fever, that can be easily treated with antibiotics.

Scarlet fever is usually a mild illness, but it is very infectious. Symptoms to look out for include a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel. On darker skin, the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel.

Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you suspect your child has scarlet fever, because early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications. If your child has scarlet fever, keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.

In very rare circumstances, these bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause serious illness – called invasive Group A strep (iGAS). This is still uncommon.

As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact NHS 111 or your GP if:

• your child is getting worse
• your child is feeding or eating much less than normal
• your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration
• your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher
• your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty
• your child is very tired or irritable

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

• your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
• there are pauses when your child breathes
• your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
• your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake

Good hand and respiratory hygiene are important for stopping the spread of many bugs. By teaching your child how to wash their hands properly with soap for 20 seconds, using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, and keeping away from others when feeling unwell, they will be able to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading infections.

• UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive Group A strep https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-update-on-scarlet-fever-and-invasive-group-a-strep
• 5 ways to protect your under 5s this winter https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022/10/25/5-ways-to-protect-your-under-5s-this-winter/

Guidance for professionals

• Group A streptococcal infections: guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/group-a-streptococcal-infections-guidance-and-data 
• Health protection in children and young people settings, including educationhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities

Regards,

Mr T Lawrence

Head of School