Dear Parents and Carers,

I wanted to let you know about the new changes in managing Covid in schools moving forward. These new guidelines come into force as of today (Friday 1st April).

Updated guidance will advise (from DfE):

 Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature

  • Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend
  • Adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice will be 3 days.

 The population now has much stronger protection against COVID-19 than at any other point in the pandemic. This means we can begin to manage the virus like other respiratory infections, thanks to the success of the vaccination programme and access to antivirals, alongside natural immunity and increased scientific and public understanding about how to manage risk.

I will be advising our staff to get tests if they think they have Covid and we will still be routine testing whilst stocks last. I will ask them to remain at home whilst they are poorly and to return to work on the 6th day after the symptoms began.

For children, the expectation is really clear; if they are unwell, they should not come into school, especially if they have a temperature. They should not return to school unless they are well.

In order to support our school community and keep rates down, I would ask parents to ensure that you do not send your child to school if they are unwell as we have been doing. Our cases this half term are very low in comparison with other local schools, and we wish to continue to keep our community safe.

Kind regards,

 

Annabelle Thomas

Headteacher