Covid Updates 

All letters / information that is sent out to parents from the school or SECAT can be found by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page. 

Due to the changes to the regulations around Covid and restrictions related to positive cases, please be aware that we will no longer be sending home detailed letters when there is a Covid case in school as, under current guidance, we will not be closing bubbles if there are cases within the school site.  

Please note, we will still make parents / carers aware via the app of any relevant Covid updates#

 

April 2022 - Coronavirus: 

Covid Advice from April 1st: 

• adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature
• children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend
• adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice will be 3 days

The population now has much stronger protection against COVID-19 than at any other point in the pandemic. This means we can begin to manage the virus like other respiratory infections, thanks to the success of the vaccination programme and access to antivirals, alongside natural immunity and increased scientific and public understanding about how to manage risk.

February 2022

New COVID-19 guidance was released by the Government on the morning of the 24^th of February and can be found here:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts

Specific guidance for schools and educational settings can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1056991/220224_Schools_guidance.pdf

There are two key areas of change in guidance that we would want to make you aware of from today.

The government have updated advice on the ‘Testing of close contacts and isolation”

The actions that individuals should take when they have symptoms or a positive test

Tracing of contacts and isolation:

There are no changes in the arrangements in ‘Test and Trace’ for schools and education settings, only for individuals in the community.

“Public health advice for people with COVID-19 and their contacts changed from 24 February. Contacts are no longer required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests, and contact tracing has ended.”

We will therefore continue to have no role in notification of contacts.

Actions individuals should take if they develop Covid-19 symptoms or have a positive test:

Pupils, staff and other adults should follow the government guidance for people with COVID-19. If they develop Covid-19 symptoms or have a positive test for Covid-19, they should be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days and then continue to follow guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days or until the 10^th day.

“The most effective way to avoid passing on COVID-19 infection is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.”

The guidance goes on to say:

“In most cases, parents and carers will agree that a pupil with the 3 key symptoms of COVID-19 should not attend the school, given the potential risk to others. If a parent or carer insists on a pupil attending your school where they have a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, you can take the decision to refuse the pupil if, in your reasonable judgement, it is necessary to protect other pupils and staff from possible infection with COVID-19.”

Therefore, despite it no longer being law that your child isolates following a positive test or showing symptoms, SECAT will be taking the decision that your child needs to remain at home, following both Government and Public Health England guidance.

We want as far as is possible to prevent the further spread of the virus. We also want to prevent any school closure, partial closure, the return to face masks or any other of the possible responses that Public Health England can still instruct schools to follow should an outbreak occur.
We therefore, ask parents and carers to follow the guidance as closely as possible, in the interests of all.

There are currently no other changes to the previously issued government and Public Health England guidance.

 

January 2022

In line with the end of Plan B Guidance this January, there is no longer a need to wear masks in communal areas on the school site. Please note, despite these changes, we recognise that Covid is still prevalent in the community and wider world and will continue to promote hand washing, testing and hygiene measures in line with government advice.

What to do if your child develops symptoms of Covid-19

Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) include a new, continuous cough, or a high temperature, or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia). If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at Main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) . 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.

All parents are advised to continue with the routine twice weekly asymptomatic Lateral Flow Device COVID-19 testing of those aged 5 and above in the household.  

Anyone who receives a positive lateral flow device (LFD) test result should report their result on  Report a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result and must self-isolate immediately but will no longer need to take a follow-up PCR test except where they have symptoms.

After reporting a positive LFD test result, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace so that their contacts can be traced and must continue to self-isolate.

 

Online Safety for Remote Learning: