Friday 14th January 2022

Changes to the self-isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19

From Monday 17 January, people who are self-isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with a lateral flow device (LFD) test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if they test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to their education or childcare setting immediately on day 6.

The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day. All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace.

If the result of either of their tests is positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest.

Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.

Further information on self-isolation for those with COVID-19 is available.

Tuesday 11th January 2022

Temporary suspension of confirmatory PCR tests in education and childcare settings

Confirmatory PCR testing following a positive result on a lateral flow device (LFD) will be temporarily suspended from today, Tuesday 11 January. This means that for all education and childcare settings, staff and students who have tested (either at home or through ATS) and reported a positive LFD result will no longer be advised to get a confirmatory PCR test.

This change is informed by public health advice. With high COVID-19 rates, the risk of a positive LFD result being false is very small. We therefore don’t need to ask people to do a confirmatory PCR unless they:

Education and childcare settings are not expected to trace contacts of a positive case as this will remain the responsibility of NHS Test and Trace. From today, Tuesday 11 January, contact tracing is triggered once a positive LFD test is reported.

Students (secondary) should be strongly encouraged to test twice weekly at home and to report all results to NHS Test and Trace and to their setting. Anyone with a positive LFD test result should self-isolate and follow self-isolation guidance.

Information on the new arrangements can be found in the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.

Wednesday 5th January 2022

Dear Parents, Carers and Families,

We are excited to be starting the new term today and welcoming the children back into school.

As I’m sure you are aware, currently there are a significant number of cases of COVID nationally and the new variant spreads very easily.

Our priority is to keep the school open. The biggest difficulty we may face is staff absence but we will do our best to keep classes and school open. To support us, it is vital that we all play our part.

If children have symptoms, if they have a new continuous cough, loss of taste and smell, or a temperature, they will be expected to get a PCR test. If this is negative then they may return to school.

The new Omicron variant reportedly presents a different set of symptoms- these include fatigue, headaches, and a sore throat. These, however, are not officially confirmed. If your child shows

those symptoms then you may consider doing a lateral flow test (LFT).

If someone in your household tests positive or if children are confirmed as a contact, they are still allowed to come to school but they are requested to carry out an LFT test every day for 7 days.

If the test is negative, then they can come to school.

If your child receives a positive PCR test, they must isolate for at least 7 days. On days 6 and 7, they can do an LFT and if both are negative and they no longer have symptoms, they will be free to return on day 8.

I know you will support us to keep families and our community safe. If you do have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best Wishes,

Mrs M Coles

COVID-19 Update: December 2021

I’d like to update parents on the current COVID-19 measures in place in school. We are still encouraging good handwashing, twice weekly LFD tests for staff, staying at home if unwell or tested positive and practising good hygiene such as sneezing or coughing into elbows or using and disposing of tissues properly. We are also still having touch point cleaners throughout the day at both sites.

Schools are no longer required to identify close contacts of COVID cases in their setting. If we have more than 3 confirmed cases in one class we will send a “warn and inform” letter to let parents know about it.

When there is a positive Covid test result in a family, close contacts who are children or are fully vaccinated, are now required to take a daily LFD test for seven days. They can continue to go about their normal day to day lives during this period, unless they develop symptoms themselves or return a positive test result. When this occurs, close contacts should then self-isolate and arrange a PCR test. Unvaccinated adults identified as close contacts by test and trace, should self isolate for a period of ten days. 

If the school has a large outbreak, the public health advice will be based on a risk assessment and may include some or all of the following measures:

• Reducing mixing between year groups or classes
• Cancelling large school gatherings such as assemblies, open evenings, scheduled sports events, residential school trips and school staff meetings
• Moving to online learning.

These measures will be discussed and jointly agreed with the school, UKHSA, Department for Education, the Council’s Education and Skills and Public Health teams using the Department for education’s contingency framework.

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