Covid-19 Information & Advice
Please see our Home page for latest news published, which includes some of our earlier communications during the Covid-19 pandemic
Remote Learning Policy
We have reviewed our Remote Learning Policy
The Winchcombe School Covid-19 Risk Assessment
Please see our latest Risk Assessment here
Additional Information
The information below has been provided directly to us from www.gov.uk and will include some additional information supplied by us to help you and us.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): What you need to do
For the most up to date advice, see www.gov.uk
We continue to follow the guidance set out by our government. Any additional safety measures put in place will adapt and change following the guidance from the Government, our local authority and Department for Education
Helpline & Hygiene Advice
Department for Education coronavirus helpline
The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Opening hours:
8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday
If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the hotline.
Handwashing advice
It is essential that everyone continues to wash their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.
The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.
Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
Closure of Educational Settings
The guidance can be found here should the school need to close:
Nursery Aged Children (2-4)
Guidance on helping children aged 2 to 4 learn at home can be found here:
Primary School Age Children (4-11)
Guidance on helping primary school aged children learn at home can be found here:
Special Needs Children
Guidance on helping children with special educational needs and disabilities learn at home can be found here:
Can I still contact the school during closures?
Yes, of course. Our mailbox continues to be monitored should you wish to email us:
office@winchcombe.w-berks.sch.uk and your queries can be passed on to the relevant members of staff for a response.
You can also contact us by text or email through the Teachers2Parents facility provided by Eduspot.
Alternatively, you can call us on our main number 01635 232780 to leave a message on our voicemail, but please be aware that the office may not be manned in the usual way.