Hodge Hill College

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Announcements

Updated on 13 January 2022 10:55am

Section(s) Updated: When to Self-isolate and What To Do

Free School Meals

Vouchers

If you're eligible for Free School Meals, a link to your voucher to cover the Christmas Holidays was sent on 15 December 2021 directly to the email address you have provided. 

Please remember to check your spam/junk folder, in case the email containing the voucher link has been stored there.

 For any enquiries, please send an email to fsm@hodgehill.bham.sch.uk.

How to use your voucher link & e-vouchersFree School Meals voucher & e-voucher FAQs 

Apply

We encourage you to apply for Free School Meals through the online service found on our website: https://www.hodgehill.bham.sch.uk/Parents/FSM/. You can also telephone or come into school and complete a Free School Meals application online with a member of staff if you prefer. Please make sure you have the National Insurance Number with you for the named person who receives either working tax credit/child tax credit and we will be happy to help.

  

Face Coverings

On Saturday 27 November, the Prime Minister announced new temporary measures following the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the UK.  The new measures will be introduced as a precaution to slow down the spread of the variant until we have more information.

From Monday 29 November 2021, all staff and students will be required to wear a face covering in communal areas of the school.  This includes when entering and leaving school, moving between classrooms and in dining areas (except when eating and drinking).

Students do not need to wear face coverings when they are outside at break and lunchtimes. We will also maintain our hand washing and ventilation measures and we do not require students to wear a mask in classrooms.

Students who are exempt from wearing a face covering will not be required to do so in school.

 

Twice-weekly COVID-19 Testing at Home for Students

Following the success of the asymptomatic testing programme, it is vital for pupils to keep testing at home, twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays every week (3-4 days apart).

If you would like a testing kit for your child, please send us a text message via our MyEd app or contact the School Office on 0121 783 7807.

 

Privacy Notice

Frequently Asked Questions

Self-Test Guide - Nose OnlySelf-Test Guide - Nose and ThroatVideo: How to do a COVID-19 Self-test (Rapid Antigen Test)

Reporting results

Each test result must be reported online to NHS Test & Trace and school straight away, whether it's positive, negative or void. This information is critical in helping the government to understand the prevalence of the virus across the country. It’s easy to do at:

Results can also be reported to NHS Test & Trace via telephone by calling 119 (free from mobiles and landlines). Lines are open every day, 7am to 11pm.

If the result of the test is void, pupils will need to do another test. 

If this result is positive, you/your child should:

Continue to self-isolate until you get the result of the PCR test. Follow the advice you're given when you get the result.

Test & Trace may contact you if you are a confirmed close contact of the Omicron variant

The current guidance on contact tracing and isolation remains in place.

In addition to these, any suspected or confirmed close contacts of the Omicron variant will be asked to isolate for 10 days regardless of vaccination status or age. You will be contacted directly and told to isolate.

We know none of this will be welcome news, but appreciate your support as we follow these new government guidelines to slow the spread of this variant. 

 

When to Self-isolate and What To Do

 What is self-isolation?

Self-isolation is when you do not leave your home because you have or might have coronavirus (COVID-19). This helps stop the virus from spreading to other people. It's a legal requirement to self-isolate if you are told to by NHS Test and Trace. You could be fined if you do not self-isolate.

 

When to self-isolate

Self-isolate straight away and get a PCR test (a test that is sent to the lab) on GOV.UK as soon as possible if you have any of these 3 symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild:

  •  A high temperature
  • A new, continuous cough
  • A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

 You should also self-isolate straight away if:

You may need to quarantine when you arrive in England from abroad. Check the quarantine rules when entering England on GOV.UK.

 

When you do not need to self-isolate

If you live with or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, you will not need to self-isolate if any of the following apply: 

  • You're fully vaccinated – this means 14 days have passed since your final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine
  • You're under 18 years old
  • You're taking part or have taken part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial
  • You're not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

 Even if you do not have symptoms, you're strongly advised to: 

Tell people you've been in close contact with that you have symptoms

Tell people you've been in close contact with in the past 48 hours that you might have COVID-19. You should tell them to follow advice on how to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19. They do not need to self-isolate unless they're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service. If they get any symptoms of COVID-19, they should self-isolate and get a test as soon as possible.

 

 How to self-isolate

 You must not leave your home if you're self-isolating:

 DON'T 

  • Do not go to work, school or public places
  • Do not go on public transport or use taxis
  • Do not go out to get food and medicine – order it online or by phone, or ask someone to bring it to your home
  • Do not have visitors in your home, including friends and family – except for people providing essential care
  • Do not go out to exercise – exercise at home or in your garden, if you have one

 DO 

  • Work from home if you can and are well enough – this helps reduce the number of people you have contact with

 

 How long to self-isolate

If you test positive, your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day you had the test, if you did not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days.

If you get symptoms while you're self-isolating, the 10 days restarts from the day after your symptoms started.

 

When to stop self-isolating

You can stop self-isolating after 7 days if you do a rapid lateral flow test on days 6 and 7 of your self-isolation period and: 

  • Both tests are negative
  • You did both tests at least 24 hours apart
  • You do not have a high temperature

If you do a rapid lateral flow test on day 6 and test positive, wait 24 hours before you do the next test.

If you stop self-isolating on or after day 7, it's important that you take steps to reduce the chance of passing COVID-19 to others. This means you should: 

 You can stop self-isolating after the 10 days if either:

  •  You do not have any symptoms
  • You just have a cough or changes to your sense of smell or taste – these can last for weeks after the infection has gone

 

 When to keep self-isolating after 10 days

 If you have a high temperature after the 10 days, or are feeling unwell, keep self-isolating and seek medical advice.

 

 Help and support while you're staying at home 

While you're self-isolating: 

  • You can get help with everyday tasks, like collecting shopping or medicines, from an NHS volunteer
  • You might be able to get sick pay or other types of financial support if you're not able to work

 Find out about help and financial support while you're self-isolating


Uniform

Pupils are expected to attend school in full uniform, including Hodge Hill College tie, blazer and black shoes.

A polite reminder to parents/carers of our expectations of PE kit, no hoodies are allowed to be worn in school and jogging bottoms should be plain navy. We have introduced an additional item for next year, an optional branded sweatshirt or fleece; full details of the school PE kit can be found on our website: https://www.hodgehill.bham.sch.uk/Parents/Uniform/.


Remote Learning

We are providing remote learning for pupils who are self-isolating. All lessons and learning take place on Class Charts and pupils should follow their normal school timetable. Resources include recorded video lessons and you will be contacted regularly about your child’s engagement and progress. We are providing weekly assemblies, form time activities and enrichment through the platform. For more information:

Remote Learning

Our Remote Learning Plan FAQsClassCharts ‘How to...’ GuideContact DetailsUseful WebsitesDaily Sessions

 

COVID-19 Catch Up Funding Strategy

The Government COVID-19 catch-up premium has been created to soften the effects of the unique disruption caused by Coronavirus. The grant will only be available for the 2020-2021 academic year. Schools should use this funding for specific activities to support pupils to catch up for lost teaching time over the previous months.  Below is a summary of the focus areas for Hodge Hill College: 

COVID-19 Catch Up Funding Strategy