Pandemic Plan

MANUREWA CENTRAL SCHOOL’S PANDEMIC PROCEDURE

Ø Will ensure that as a school we have a pandemic plan in place as a component of our emergency planning.

Ø Will ensure that we maintain as full a service as possible for as long as possible during a pandemic emergency.

Ø Will ensure that we are part of New Zealand’s National Health Emergency Plan to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

N.B. Closures do not mean that facilities would be closed for quarantine. Staff may still go to work, work remotely, or carry out additional or alternative duties for their employer or another agency. Education facilities may be used for alternative purposes such as Community Based Assessment Centres.

Background information

Ø State sector employees will be paid their normal salary during a pandemic, provided, with their employer’s pre-approval, they come to work in their usual workplace (with rigorous personal hygiene, social distancing and cleaning regimes in place)

Ø In the event of a pandemic or the possibility of a pandemic the principal supported by the senior staff will manage the pandemic or likelihood of a pandemic. The Pandemic Management Team (PMT) will:

Ø Establish a system to monitor staff who are ill or suspected of being ill, including contacting staff who are unexpectedly absent from work.

Ø Ensure that the school has adequate supplies of tissues, medical and hygiene products, cleaning supplies and masks.

Ø In the event of a pandemic or probability of a pandemic the school will liaise closely with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.

Communication with the school community

We will . . .

Ø communicate early the possibility of a pandemic and our preparedness to manage it - to the board, staff, students and parents.

Ø discuss with staff possible health and safety issues.

Ø have a comprehensive plan in place (this will be developed by the PMT in response to the most current advice from the Ministry of Education/Ministry of Health) which is clearly communicated to the board, staff, students and parents.

Ø ensure use of a variety of media to communicate our plan to the community

Ø in activating the plan, we will provide clear, timely and pro-active communications to our board, staff, students and parents explaining how the school is handling the situation.