Covid – 19 Info

 

COVID-19 Update for Spring Term 2022

Will staff and visitors still be wearing face coverings in communal areas in school?

No. Unless we are advised otherwise by the local Public Health team, face coverings will no longer be required in school. Please be mindful, however, of staff and parents and carers within our school community who are clinically extremely vulnerable who may request that you wear a face covering if meeting indoors.

 

What should I do if my child has symptoms of COVID?

If your child has any of the symptoms of COVID (temperature, loss of taste/smell, persistent cough) they should stay at home and take a PCR test. If the result is negative, they can return to school as long as they don’t have a temperature. If the result is positive, the Public Health advice for schools is that the child should stay at home and isolate. This is no longer a legal requirement, but is strongly recommended in order to limit the spread of the virus. Therefore, we expect all children – and staff – who have tested positive to stay at home.

What will happen if my child is displaying symptoms during the school day? If your child is displaying any of the possible symptoms and is unwell, then we will make contact with you and ask you to make arrangements for your child to be collected.

How do I report a positive test to the school?

If you need to report a positive case and your child’s absence from school please contact the school office on 01626 890471.

Following a positive test result, when can my child return to school?

Isolation following a positive test result is for 10 full days. You may choose to use a lateral flow device test on day 5 and day 6. If these are both negative, your child can return to school. Two consecutive negative results 24 hours apart are required before your child can return to school. Should you decide not to LFD test, your child can return to school on day 10 provided they are well enough to do so and no longer have a temperature.

Free LFDs are available from pharmacies or online until 1 April 2022: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

My child has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. Can they come to school? Do they need to undertake daily testing?
As long as your child does not have any symptoms, they should attend school as normal. There is no longer any need for daily testing for people who have been in close contact with a positive case.

 

What measures are in place to continue to limit the spread of the virus?

In school, the following protective measures remain in place:

  • Hand and respiratory hygiene will remain a focus with children being supervised to maintain these high standards;
  • Thorough cleaning regimes remain in place;
  • Good ventilation will be maintained throughout the school;
  • Use of CO2 monitors throughout the school;
  • Monitoring of in-school case numbers;
  • Vigilance for possible symptoms;
  • Ongoing advice from the local Public Health team, Department for Education and the UK Health Security Agency.

 

Following a positive test result, when can my child return to school?

Isolation following a positive test result is for 10 full days. You may choose to use a lateral flow device test on day 5 and day 6. If these are both negative, your child can return to school. Two consecutive negative results 24 hours apart are required before your child can return to school. Should you decide not to LFD test, your child can return to school on day 10 provided they are well enough to do so and no longer have a temperature.

Will parents and carers be informed of COVID cases in school?

Parents and carers will no longer be informed of each case reported in the class, but will be informed if there is an outbreak.

 

Will parents and carers be able to come into school and meet with teachers?

Yes. Face-to-face meetings can recommence, where needed. However, you can still request a phone call or a Google Meet meeting for parents evening if you prefer.