Coronavirus: Cheddar area schools cancel assemblies and Easter church services as a precaution

The Wessex Learning Trust, which runs nine schools in the Cheddar area, has taken precautions to prevent any potential spread of coronavirus, including cancelling assemblies and Easter church services.

In a statement, chief executive of the trust Gavin Ball explained that the trust was doing everything it could to keep core education going for as long as they could without interruption.

The schools in the trust are Kings Academy in Cheddar, Hugh Sexey in Blackford, Axbridge School, Mark First School, Weare Academy, Wedmore First School, East Brent Academy, Lympsham Academy, Brent Knoll Priamry School.

The trust has taken the following steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus:

Postponed or cancelled all overseas school trips

Postponed or cancelled trips in the UK or risked assessed them before allowing them to proceed

Postponed or cancelled large gatherings in school such as assemblies, etc

Postponed or cancelled attendance at external meetings where appropriate

Postponed or cancelled swimming lessons

Postponed or cancelled sport fixtures

Reduced the use of the school building for external lettings

Postponed or cancelled any employer visits

Postponed or cancelled visiting speakers

Postponed or cancelled any learner work experience

Postponed or cancelled parental events, music concerts, church services and the like

Postponed or cancelled Easter church services

Have a designated Isolation Room in each school in case there is a case of a learner coming down with the symptoms or a learner who has entered the school after being in a contaminated region, with a clear, staged protocol to follow.

For the latest advice for Cheddar area residents on coronavirus, click here.

Mr Ball said: "At present the risk to individuals still remains low.

"However, in line with the new advice, we have now begun to step up precautions and contingency planning so we are prepared to meet any escalation.

"This action is designed to contain the spread of the virus by risk assessing our activity and keep core education going for as long as we can without interruption.

"Non-essential exposure to those outside of the school community for staff and learners is our key aim.

"Across our schools, site teams have now stepped up cleaning procedures to make sure shared surfaces such as door handles and desks are kept clean.

"At this time, we are not closing schools as we have not yet been advised by the government to do so.

"However, as a trust we have formed contingency plans if the advice or situation changes. The decision to close schools will only be made in response to government advice or exceptional circumstances and as a result we still expect staff and learners to continue to attend school unless there is concern that an individual may be infected."