Coronavirus guidance

from Highfields School Newsletter Issue 22

Highfields School term dates

Covid-19 lateral flow testing consent on return to school

To enable school to remain as safe as possible and detect any cases for those without coronavirus symptoms, students are asked to take Covid-19 lateral flow tests as they return. After an initial programme of three tests in school, students will be provided with two rapid tests to use each week at home.

We have emailed families with a link to the Covid consent form to obtain permission for students to take the lateral flow tests – if you have not yet given consent, please do so via the emailed link issued, or contact info@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk if you require a hard copy form.

Along with the other protective measures we are taking, these tests will help students and staff to remain in school safely. Up to one third of people who have coronavirus experience no symptoms. By testing we will help to stop the virus spread and help to keep our school open as safely as possible. Testing is voluntary, however, we would encourage everyone to participate in the testing programme to help break transmission links by identifying those who may be carrying the virus unknowingly. Students and staff will still be allowed in school if consent is not given for testing. However, if a positive case is detected and a child/member of staff has been identified as being in close contact with the person testing positive, they will need to self-isolate at home for 10 days.

If a student or member of staff receives a positive lateral flow test result they will need to self-isolate immediately in accordance with government guidelines. They are no longer required to seek a subsequent PCR test to confirm the initial lateral flow test result. If a student or member of staff has previously had a positive Covid-19 test they are not required to have any further lateral flow tests for a period of up to 90 days after their original positive results, as they can remain positive for this period.

Advice if students (and staff) display symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19)

If your child develops symptoms of Covid-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 10 days (this replaces the previous 14 day period as announced on 14.12.20). This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.

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

The 10-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home.

If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.

Household members staying at home for 10 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19) are recent onset of:  a new continuous cough(this is defined as coughing a lot for more than an hour, or have three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours),  a high temperature (above 37.8C),  a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (Covid-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.

How to stop Covid-19 spreading

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with Covid-19 – Do:  wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds  use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available  wash your hands as soon as you get home

 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.

Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Public Health advice:

Students may feel unwell for example with a sore throat, aches and pains, a stomach upset, a runny nose, tiredness or a headache. If students have these symptoms (without the temperature, continuous cough or loss of smell symptom), then they don’t need to have a test.

The decision as to whether or not they come to school or stay at home should be taken as you would do in normal times (they are not required to stay off school).

Where a child has a sickness bug, as always, they must be kept off school for 48 hours.

School response to notification of positive Covid-19 cases

We required the following key information from parents/carers when notifying school of a positive Covid-19 test:  the date symptoms started  the date the test was taken  the date the result was received  the names of ‘close contacts’ of the student during social times at school and any students they have spent time with as close contacts after school  the number of the bus if the student caught a bus to/from school.

A close contact is:  a person who has had face to face contact within one metre of the individual testing

positive

 contact within one metre for one minute or longer without face to face contact  someone who has been within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes  a person who has travelled in a small vehicle with the individual testing positive, or near them on a large vehicle or plane.

School then checks lesson seating plans to work out how many close contacts there are from lessons, identifying any students who have sat within 2m of the individual testing positive in any lessons during their contagious time prior to developing symptoms. Individual classrooms are then checked manually to see where the desks are and how much room there is.

Once this information is obtained school contacts Public Health England schools helpline who take the details. If there is only one case in a year group and if school are confident we have identified all close contacts we only need to ask those students to stay off school and to self-isolate for 14 days.

School informs the Local Education Authority and the school nursing team.

If there is more than one case in a year group, or there is uncertainty around close contacts, then school receives a call back from East Midlands Public Health. They go through all of the information, contact parents/carers where there are positive cases and review the school’s risk assessment. East Midlands Public Health then give school advice on what steps to take next. Important points:

 It is really important that parents/carers keep children in their home if they test positive or are asked to self-isolate.

 It is key that parents/carers know where their children are and who they are with so close contacts can easily be traced.  Unless there is a really urgent situation (such as urgent first aid) staff need to keep 2m away from students and other staff so they are not classed as close contacts.  It is key to understand that if you are a close contact and take a test, even if the result is negative, you have to self-isolate for the full 10 days.

Public Health provide school with a template latter to send home to all parents/carers and a different letter for parents/carers of close contacts. We take on board all advice that Public Health give us.

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents/carers and young people can contact this helpline by calling 0800 046 8687. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

e are following the latest guidance and advice and aiming to test all staff and students who want to participate when they return to school – please ensure you have read the documentation and completed the electronic testing consent form (issued via email). If you require a paper copy of the form, please email info@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk.