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.