Covid advice

Please read the guidance notes at this link if you think your child has Coronavirus symptoms – please do not send your child to school

Autumn Term – 2022

Guidance on students who are unwell with COVID

At the end of last term new guidance was issued to the country on living with COVID. This means some changes for how we manage this in schools now.

If a child has a positive COVID-19 test result they should stay at home and avoid contact with others for 3 days after they took the COVID test. If they still feel unwell or have a high temperature after 3 days they should remain at home.

If after the 3 days the child feels well and does not have a high temperature then they are considered much less likely to be infectious and can return to school.

Free testing is no longer available, and there will come a point where if you no longer have test kits available at home you will need to make decisions as to what action to take, based on symptoms alone.

Symptoms of COVID-19, flu and common respiratory infections include:

·         continuous cough

·         high temperature, fever or chills

·         loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell

·         shortness of breath

·         unexplained tiredness, lack of energy

·         muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise

·         not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry

·         headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual

·         sore throat, stuffy or runny nose

·         diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick

If a child feels unwell with a combination of these symptoms, and a high temperature, then they should not come to school until they feel better.

Children with mild symptoms of a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough can continue to attend their education setting.

Covid remains present in wider society and while infection numbers are once again reducing it has the potential to disrupt important things such as GCSE exams, so please do act with caution if you think your child maybe unwell and infectious. We will write specifically with guidance about the exams nearer the time.

Phil Reeves

 

Vaccination of students

You should contact the NHS to arrange these if your daughter or son is eligible and would like to benefit from vaccination.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/?utm_source=6%20January%202022%20C19&utm_medium=Daily%20Email%20C19&utm_campaign=DfE%20C19

Some Covid reminders….

Face coverings, when worn, should:

  • Cover your nose and mouth while allowing you to breathe comfortably
  • Fit comfortably but securely against the side of the face
  • Be secured to the head with ties or ear loops
  • Be made of a material that you find to be comfortable and breathable, such as cotton
  • Ideally include at least two layers of fabric (the World Health Organisation recommends three depending on the fabric used)
  • Reusable face coverings should be able to be washed with other items of laundry according to fabric washing instructions and dried without causing the face covering to be damaged.

 

How to stop coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread

  • get vaccinated – everyone aged 18 and over can book COVID-19 vaccination appointments now. Those aged 16 and 17 will be invited to book an appointment: Who can get the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk).  Those who are aged 12-15 who are themselves clinically extremely vulnerable or live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable or meet JCVI recommendations (JCVI statement)  are also eligible.
  • wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
  • meet people outside and avoid crowded areas
  • open doors and windows to let in fresh air if meeting people inside
  • wear a face covering when it’s hard to stay away from other people – particularly indoors or in crowded places

 

NHS Advice on symptoms and testing can be found here

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Gov.uk guidance on testing, symptoms and self-isolation can be found here

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection