COVID-19 guidance reminder

Face coverings – updated guidance

From 2 January the government recommended that face coverings are worn in classrooms. The advice is short term only to support students and teachers on returning to school this term. The advice on face coverings in classrooms is expected to be in place until Wednesday 26 January, when Plan B regulations are currently scheduled to expire, at which point the latest government guidance will be followed as it is reviewed.

Students and staff must also wear a face mask on entering school, when moving around in social areas and on school buses/public transport.

Students are permitted to remove their face mask in the dining room on both sites and areas designated for eating and drinking, when outside the building and when taking part in PE lessons or any other physical activity.

We are aware that some students and staff might not be able to wear a face covering or mask and the reasons may not be visible to others. We must all be respectful of these students and staff. With reference to the Department of Health and Social Care, this includes:

1. Those who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability.

2. Those who would be severely distressed by putting on, wearing or removing a face covering or mask.

3. To avoid harm or injury or the risk of harm or injury, to yourself or others – including if it would negatively impact on your ability to exercise or participate in a strenuous activity

Where students are exempt from wearing a facemask Mrs Leverton should be contacted by parents/carers and we will provide an exemption lanyard if students do not already have one (lleverton@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk).

Safety measures in school

Students on both school sites should follow the one way system strictly, adhering to the directional arrows for guidance.

Students should ensure hands are washed regularly, particularly on entering the building and before/after eating.

It is crucial students protect others in school and families at this time by sticking to identified year zones in social times and cleaning desks at the end of lessons.

COVID-19 symptoms or positive test result

From 11 January anyone who receives a positive lateral flow device (LFD) test result for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate immediately and won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

This is a temporary measure while COVID-19 rates remain high across the UK. Whilst levels of COVID19 are high, the vast majority of people with positive LFD results can be confident that they have COVID-19.

The most important symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of any of the following:  a new continuous cough  a high temperature  a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell

Changes to the self-isolation period for those testing positive for Covid-19

Your isolation period starts immediately from when your symptoms started, or, if you do not have any symptoms, from when your test was taken.

From Monday 17 January, people who are self-isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with a lateral flow device (LFD) test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if they test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to their education setting immediately on day 6.

The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day. All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace.

If the result of either of their tests is positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest.

Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.

Further information on self-isolation for those with COVID-19 is available.