COVID-19

Evidence suggests that the risk to children themselves of becoming severely ill from coronavirus (COVID-19) is very low but that there are negative health impacts of being out of school.

The main symptoms are:

• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

You can seek advice by calling NHS 111 or visiting https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/

PLEASE NOTE: If your child is displaying any of the above symptoms of Coronavirus, please do not send them to school and arrange to get a test immediately.

No. The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar in children and adults. COVID-19 can look different in different people. For many people, being sick with COVID-19 would be a little bit like having the flu. People can get a fever, cough, or have a hard time taking deep breaths. Most people who have gotten COVID-19 have not gotten very sick. Only a small group of people who get it have had more serious problems.

Any child showing Coronavirus symptoms MUST stay at home.  Please be aware that if any child starts showing symptoms during the day they will be isolated and parents will be phoned to come and collect them.  They will then need to get a test for the virus and we will advise you how to do this.  In the event of someone in the school testing positive for the virus we will be advised by Public Health England about the measures we need to take.  This may involve some children being asked to stay at home and self-isolate.  

If you are at all unsure about whether to send your child in please contact Ms Castle-Mason our Welfare Officer, or Ms Darby our Attendance Officer before sending your child in.

If your child is self isolating the school will provide a pack of work which will enable them to keep up with their classmates.  Your child's class teacher will contact you by telephone at least twice during the self isolation period.

We will be following Government guidance if this happens. The child will be sent home and asked to self-isolate. Children who have been in close contact with them do not need to go home to self-isolate unless the child tests positive, your child develops symptoms themselves or you have been requested to do so by NHS Test & Trace. Your child will be asked to wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and running water or use hand sanitiser and the area around the person with symptoms will be cleaned with normal household disinfectant after they have left to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.

• If your child is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, they will be isolated from the rest of the school as a precautionary measure
• A member of staff will stay with them - the member of staff will wear PPE
• The school will use a touch-free thermometer to measure your child’s body temperature
• You will be called and instructed to collect your child immediately
• All areas used by your child will be thoroughly cleaned
• You will be instructed to follow the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

At this time of year, there are many common childhood illnesses circulating including:

• Diarrhoea and vomiting
• Sore throat
• Runny nose or other symptoms similar to a cold or flu

Any of these symptoms do not necessarily mean your child has Covid-19. A sore throat and runny nose are typically the first signs of a cold and, if they do not have a temperature and are well enough, can still come to school. If, however, you are in any doubt keep them at home and monitor for 48 hours. If their condition worsens or you are still concerned, do seek medical advice as detailed above and keep school informed.

You can find more information here: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Current protective measures in place for the prevention of the spread of the virus and our response to any infection will continue to be deployed with some modifications in light of the increased number of children attending school.

• Children will be placed into year group ‘bubbles’.
• Staff will socially distance from other adults and from children where possible.
• Visitors will not be allowed on site without an appointment.
• A frequent cleaning schedule will be in place (frequently touched surfaces).
• Staff will clean their hands frequently, on arrival to school and before working with a new group of children/a new child.
• Children will be taught ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ and will clean their hands:

1. On arrival to school
2. After using the toilet
3. Before eating
4. After returning from outside/other areas of the building
5. At least 2 additional times during the day

• One-way systems will continue to be in operation as per the current arrangements.
• Year groups will have designated toilets for use during the day which will be cleaned regularly. Pupils will be expected to clean their hands thoroughly after using toilets.
• PPE will be provided for personal care and in the event of a child displaying COVID symptoms. Emergency packs will be located in each classroom.
• Cleaning products will be available for each class.
• We support the wearing of reusable face coverings for staff in communal areas such as the staff room and during larger staff meetings where appropriate (staff own personal choice).
• We also support the wearing of visors for classroom staff whilst teaching if they choose to do so.
• In line with government guidance, we do not currently recommend the wearing of face coverings for children at any time during the school day, however this will be kept under review.

Click on the link below to see The Health and Safety Risk Assessment which explains the robust measures we have put in place to help keep children, staff and parents as safe as possible.

Some parents may want their child to wear a face covering.  This is a question of personal choice.  Government do not advise that children under the age of 11 need to wear one and the World Health Organisation does not currently recommend face coverings for children aged 5 or younger.  Face coverings used incorrectly can accelerate transmission risks.  You may decide that it is better that your child does not wear a face covering at this time but, if you do, please be aware that as a parent it is important that you are confident that your child understands how to wear, put on and remove a face covering safely.  The school cannot monitor this during the day.