Key Information for the Christmas Break

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On Tuesday, the Government updated its guidance for schools regarding the end of term and the role of schools in supporting the Covid-19 track and trace process. The guidance states:

We know that school and further education leaders, teachers and staff, as well as nurseries and childminders, have worked tirelessly over the last term. This has included their important role in contact tracing, to help in the national effort to limit the spread of the virus. We are aware that this has led to additional work over weekends and holidays and we are incredibly grateful for this.

Public Health England has agreed a 6 day window after the final day of teaching in which schools and further education providers are asked to remain contactable so they can assist with contact tracing where necessary. This will allow enough time for positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases to be identified and confirmed by a test and for relevant contacts in the education setting to be traced. We are clear that beyond 6 days after the final day of teaching, school and further education staff are not asked to play a role in any contact tracing.

To ensure that staff get the time off they need and deserve, schools may wish to use an INSET day, making Friday 18 December a non-teaching day and using the day for staff training, which could be delivered online. Where term would normally finish in the week commencing 21 December, schools may wish to consider adjusting term dates to make Friday 18 December the last day of term (which could be an INSET day), and bringing forward the start of term in January by the same number of days.

We recognise this communication has arrived with schools late in the term but would ask schools to be as helpful to parents as they can by sharing any changes to end of term arrangements as soon as possible, particularly where schools choose to make Friday 18 December a non-teaching day.

The government has asked that schools ensure staff, parents and carers are aware of the following information and relevant arrangements regarding positive cases in the holidays:

Where a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms more than 48 hours since being in school, the school should not be contacted. Parents and carers should follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace. · For the first 6 days after teaching ends, if a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, the school is asked to assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school. School staff are not asked to remain on-call or conduct any contact tracing more than 6 days after the final day of teaching. Where a schools last teaching day is on Thursday 17 December, there should be no pupil contact tracing asks beyond Wednesday 23 December. During the first 6 days after the end of term, school staff responsible for contact tracing are advised to designate a limited period in the day to receive notification of positive cases and to advise close contacts to self-isolate.

Forest Fields Primary School will finish on Thursday 17th December. Friday 18th December will be an INSET day.

If anyone in your household shows symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, you should get a test and have your child/ren tested too. If your child/ren tests positive, we need to know for track and trace purposes, as we will need to let other families and staff know that they need to self-isolate and for how long.

You can contact us via email on: trackandtrace@forestfields.nottingham.sch.uk

In the email please tell us:

· Your child/ren’s names and classes

· The dates when symptoms started

· The date of the test

· The date your child was last in school

We may need to contact you by phone for further information.

You must inform us if symptoms started within 48 hours of your child/ren last being in school. We will continue to track and trace for 6 days, until the 23rd December.

The emails will be checked daily at 10.30a.m. each day until 23rd December.

If we are contacted by a parent reporting a positive case, we will contact all families affected via a school comms message which will inform you to self-isolate and for how long. This message will come to the phone number you gave us for the first emergency contact number, so please check for messages each day.

If symptoms develop on Monday 21st or after, you do not need to contact school, but follow PHE guidance.

To get a test you can go to the walk-in centre on the Forest Park and Ride or a local drive through. Results come through much quicker (often the next day), than using postal tests.

Hopefully, nobody will contract the virus and we can all have a holiday without having to self-isolate!

Please also use the track and trace email on Sunday 3rd January, to inform us if anyone in your household has tested positive or is showing symptoms.

Do NOT send your child/ren to school on Monday 4th January if anyone in your household is showing symptoms. We need to keep as many classes open as we can, but we need your help by keeping us informed.

Information on what parents and carers should do, and what school will do, if COVID-19 is suspected

Information on COVID-19 symptoms and school procedures

To help protect your children and the wider community, please be as honest as possible with school around symptoms, testing and results. You shouldn’t be embarrassed or concerned about reporting a suspected or confirmed case.

We want to provide as much information as possible on our approach to coronavirus symptoms, testing and isolation periods. Please see the answers to key questions below:

1. What do I do if my child displays symptoms?

• In line with government guidance if your child develops symptoms of coronavirus, they will need to stay at home and self-isolate until they can be tested. If your child develops symptoms in school, you will be contacted immediately to collect them. Please ensure we have up to date contact details and that we can reach you by phone at any time during the school day.
• If your child develops symptoms at home, please keep them at home and call the school to let us know.
• Information will be provided on how your child and household can be tested for coronavirus and we ask that tests be undertaken as soon as possible.
• Remote Learning will be provided for pupils who are well enough to work, and not able to attend school.
   
  2. Will the school tell me if another child in the class is displaying symptoms?
   

• No - The symptoms of coronavirus are like many other common conditions. To avoid unnecessary concern, we will only let parents know if there is a confirmed case within the school. Any child showing symptoms will be sent home immediately and cannot return to school until they have had a test, or they have self-isolated in line with current government guidance. 
   
  3. How many children have to be off school with unconfirmed symptoms before you notify parents?
   

• The Senior Leadership Team and Governors will be carefully monitoring the situation. With advice from the Local Authority (and Public Health England if necessary) we will inform parents if we think it is appropriate to do so.
   
  4. Does my child need to take a test in order to come back to school?
   

• Any child displaying symptoms should be tested for the virus. Detail of how to obtain a test can be found here.
• If it is not possible to get a test, pupils need to remain off school, self-isolating, for the time required in the latest government guidance.  
• Mr Charly or the school Office Manager can provide support and information on this.
   
  5. What do I do if my child tests positive?
   

• Please call to let us know as soon as possible. The sooner you call, the quicker the school can make the necessary arrangements for the specific class, bubble, group or individual that may have had close contact with your child. You, your child and your wider household will then need to self-isolate for the time required in the latest government guidance.
• Your child will not be able to return to school until their symptoms have gone and you will need to contact the office to discuss this, before they can return.
• Remote Learning will be provided for pupils who are well enough to work, and not able to attend school.
   
  6. What do I do if my child tests negative?
   

• Please contact the school office as soon as the results are received. Your child should be able to return to school the next day.
   
  7. Will the school tell me if another child in the class tests positive?
   

• Yes - if a case is confirmed in your child’s class, we will write to let you know. All children and staff in that class will be required to stay at home for the time required in the latest government guidance. If they don’t develop any symptoms during that time, they can then return to school. During that period the classroom and immediate surrounding area will be deep cleaned ready for the children to return.
• Remote Learning will be provided for pupils who are well enough to work, and not able to attend school. If the whole class are off, and we have staff at home who are well enough to work, the remote learning will consist of a mixture of teacher-led and independent activities.  
   
  8. Will the school tell me if another child in the school tests positive?
   

• Yes – we will inform parents of all children attending school if there is a positive case. There will be no need for anyone outside of the affected class to stay at home unless we have identified a specific ‘close contact’ outside of the class group.
   
  9. What if someone in my household or support bubble is isolating because they have tested positive with the virus?  Is my child expected to stay at home too?
   

• Yes – in line with the Public Health England advice, your child will need to stay at home if a member of your household develops symptoms.
• Mr Charly or the school Office Manager can discuss this with you, and the remote learning that your child can access.
• The latest Government Guidance on self-isolation, is here.
   
  10. What if someone in my household or support bubble is isolating because they are aware they may have been exposed to the virus?  Is my child expected to stay at home too?
   

• No – in line with the Public Health England advice, your child will only need to stay at home if a member of your household develops symptoms.
• The latest Government Guidance on self-isolation, is here.
   
  11. What should I do if my child has had contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus?
   

• NHS Track and Trace should have contacted you if they feel that you or your family should self-isolate.
• If you have any questions please contact school to discuss your circumstances.  
   
• We will need you to tell us: 
  • When the person's symptoms started.
  • Whether your child had 'close contact' with the affected person and when that was.
  • Whether your household and the affected person are in the same support bubble.
      
• Examples of ‘close contact’ include:
  • close face to face contact (under 1 metre) for any length of time – including talking to them or coughing on them
  • being within 1 to 2 metres of each other for more than 15 minutes – including travelling in a small vehicle
  • spending lots of time in your home, such as cleaning it.
• A support bubble is where someone who lives alone (or just with their children) can meet people from 1 other household.
   
  12. What will happen if my child's teacher or TA is off sick?
   

• If we are unable to provide cover with school staff we will seek to arrange a temporary supply teacher.
• We will not split a class up and mix them with other classes.
   
  This information is based on Government Guidance at the time of issue and is subject to regular review as is our school specific Risk Assessment.
  If you have any questions relating to any of the above, please contact Mr Charly via the school office.