22nd March 2024

Weekly Letter 22.03.24

This Week at NUSA

So we have one last week before our Easter break, finishing next Thursday at the usual time.  Thank you for your support of the school over my first term here; it is massively appreciated!

We’re continuing to work with students around our new expectations, and have had a focus on toilets this week, which will continue.  Our next focus is on uniform – from after Easter we will be expecting all students to be in full, correct uniform, but we will do it in a phased manner such that we can support students and yourselves where you need it to enable us all to collectively get it right.  More details on this will follow in the coming weeks.

For Year 11 there are a number of interventions taking place over the Easter period; details of which will follow for relevant students.

Free School Meals Holiday Vouchers

The Local Authority has confirmed that children in Nottingham Schools in receipt of free school meals will be offered support through vouchers for the Easter Holiday through the Household Support Fund.  Vouchers will be distributed in advance of the Easter Holiday for the value of £30.00.

SEND Drop ins 

We offer a number of ‘SEND drop ins’ throughout the year for parents/cares. These are open to any parent/carer who may want to discuss their child’s SEND needs further or parents/carer’s who have concerns that their children may have SEND needs that are yet to be diagnosed. If you wish to book an appointment in one of the slots below, please contact reception.  

Wednesday SEND Drop in dates: 

01/05/2024 

22/05/2024 

Coming up at NUSA 

  

Date 

Event  

Monday 25th March

Year 8 - swap shop

Tuesday 26th March

Year 10 - swap shop

Tuesday 26th March

Wembley Trip for invite only students

Tuesday 26th March

Year 11- swap shop

Wednesday 27th March

Year 9 – swap shop

Thursday 28th March

Year 7 – swap shop

Thursday 28th March

Easter rewards – Period 6

Friday 27th March – Friday 12th April

School closure for Easter Half-Term (return back at 8:40am on Monday 15th April

Vaccinations:

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is due to take place at NUSA on 3rd May 2024 for pupils in Year 8.  If your child is in this year group, please see the below from the Nursing Team; please note that we as a school do not manage the vaccinations directly, and questions should be sent to the Nursing Team on on 0333 358 3397, option 4.

Dear Parents/ Carers,

Please complete the e consent link below for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunisations. Immunisations will take place at your child’s school on 3rd May 2024 and the link will close on 26th April 2024.

 https://nhsImms.azurewebsites.net/session/9e93fccd

 

Information regarding these vaccines is available on the website below:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

You can also talk to your GP, Practice Nurse or contact us.

If you do not wish for your child to have the immunisations, please complete a No consent form.

Please be aware that if we do not receive completed consent forms, each young person will be assessed on an individual basis by a healthcare professional to self-consent and if deemed Gillick competent offered the vaccinations on the day.

Safeguarding Update:

A reminder that there is a safeguarding team drop in session for any parent/carer that would like to access support, or access questions – please contact RSipson@nusa.org.uk to book in.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr. Turton

 

East Midlands Health Protection Team 

Seaton House 

London Road 

Nottingham NG2 4LA 

 

T  +44 344 2254524 

www.gov.uk/ukhsa 

 

 

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Dear Headteacher, parents or guardians, 

 

This letter contains important health information 

 

I am writing to inform you that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA East Midlands Health Protection team) has identified an increase in confirmed or suspected cases of whooping cough (pertussis) in school age children in the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire areas. 

Individual cases have been provided with advice, but we would like to take this opportunity to raise awareness regarding vaccination and symptoms of whooping cough to be aware of.  

 

Symptoms  

Whooping cough is caused by infection with pertussis bacteria. For most school-age patients, symptoms will resolve over a number of weeks, while for some, coughing can persist for a few months.  

 

The symptoms of pertussis include: 

 

a cough lasting several weeks following initial cold-like symptoms 

prolonged bouts of coughing (‘paroxysms’) 

post-coughing retching or vomiting 

a ‘whoop’ sound on breathing in  

rib pain 

 

Find more information about pertussis on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/whooping-cough/ 

 

Untreated pertussis is no longer infectious after 21 days but with appropriate antibiotic treatment this reduces to 48 hours.  

 

Advice for parents or guardians 

If your child has any of the symptoms described above, we advise you seek medical advice from a GP and take along this letter. 

 

Your GP may then arrange testing for whooping cough. 

 

Your GP can also prescribe antibiotics without waiting for test results. Antibiotics are not required if there has been more than 21 days of coughing. Whooping cough is no longer infectious from 48 hours of starting appropriate antibiotics, but your child should stay isolated at home until they have had 48 hours of antibiotic treatment. 

 

Whooping cough is spread through respiratory droplets: coughing into tissues and washing hands with soap and water can reduce spread. 

 

If your child missed any of their infant or pre-school vaccines, we recommend that you arrange catch-up vaccination through your GP practice as soon as possible. If your child is up to date with their pertussis vaccination, we do not advise any further boosters. 

 

It is still possible for fully vaccinated children to develop whooping cough (although the illness is generally milder) so if your child develops symptoms they should be taken to the GP for advice. 

 

At-risk groups 

Whooping cough is of most concern in unimmunised infants when it can be life threatening. Vaccinations to prevent whooping cough are routinely given to infants, pre-school children, and pregnant women. 

 

We recommend all pregnant women get their routine vaccination against pertussis ideally between weeks 20 and 32 of pregnancy (but can be given from 16 weeks and up until labour if needed) in order to protect their baby. 

 

Those in risk groups or with regular contact with persons in a risk group should consider avoiding events where they may come into contact with those unwell with pertussis. 

 

 

Yours sincerely 

 

 

Dr Vanessa MacGregor 

Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC) 

UKHSA East Midlands Health Protection team