COVID 19 - Return to school
Procedures for a suspected case of COVID 19 in our school
If anyone (child or staff) becomes unwell with a new continuous cough, a high temperature, loss of or change in their normal sense of taste or smell, they will be sent home as soon as possible. If a child is awaiting collection they will be moved to a room where they can be safely isolated with a member of staff wearing PPE.
The individual will be asked to isolate for 14 days from becoming ill and advised to get a test, letting school know the results. The government guidance states that at this stage, household members should also isolate but no other members of the class/bubble need to isolate or be sent home.
Until we know the result of the test, there is no need for other children in the bubble to isolate and they can attend school as normal. If the result of the test is positive, we will follow government guidance and close any affected bubbles.
If a test result is negative, the individual can return to school immediately (as long as they have not had a temperature, vomiting or diarrhoea for 48 hours). There will be no further action for close contacts.
If a test result in inconclusive, or a test cannot be carried out, the individual will continue to isolate for the 10 day period (other household members for 14 days). There will be no further action for close contacts.
If the individual who is experiencing symptoms tests positive, families will be informed by email and text. Staff and children within the close contact bubble will need to isolate immediately for 14 days from the date they were last in contact with individual. Other household members will not need to isolate.
We are exercising extreme caution and by ensuring anyone with possible symptoms (and the rest of their household) does not come into school we are helping to reduce the risk of cases in school.
Procedures for a suspected case of COVID 19 at home.
If your child develops any of the symptoms (a temperature of 37.8°C or above, a new persistent cough or loss of, or change to, sense of taste or smell) please inform school and keep your child at home. They should isolate at home for 10 days (and other household members for 14 days).
If your child or a member of your household develops symptoms, please arrange for them to get tested as soon as possible. Tests can be booked on the NHS testing and tracing for coronavirus website using the link here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested
Or a test can be arranged by telephoning 119.
Please contact the school with any test results once you know them in order to agree a provisional date for your child and any siblings to return to school.
If your child develops symptoms, follow the ‘Stay at home guidance’ which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance.
This link also provides information if you have a household where children and grandparents live together. In addition, there is an easy read version of the guidance available via the web link above.
Please be assured that we are following all relevant health and safety guidance to help prevent the spread of the virus.
It is very important that we have your up-to-date contact details to ensure we can keep you informed. You can email any contact updates to manager@holyfamily.cumbria.sch.uk
Frequently asked questions taken from Public Health England document:
If my child has COVID 19 symptoms do the other children in their class/bubble have to isolate at home?
No, classmates and staff can attend school as normal. The child who is ill should stay at home (Stay-at-home-guidance) and be advised to get tested. If the child has any siblings or other household members who attend the school they should also be self-isolating at home for 14 days.
If the child tests positive for COVID-19, that is when we need to ask other children and staff identified as close or direct contacts to isolate at home for 14 days.
If I have a child who has been told to isolate for 14 days because they have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive. Can the siblings of the child still attend school?
Yes, as long as the siblings have not also been identified as a close contact of a positive case, they can attend the setting. It is only identified contacts who need to isolate (not contacts of contacts).
If the child who is isolating because they are a contact goes on to develop symptoms, then the siblings should then isolate.
Frequently Asked Questions from our school community
In order to open our school safely, we are following the latest Government guidance. We will continue to monitor the guidance and update our school community when applicable. After reading the responses to the above forms, I have responded to some of the frequently asked questions on the forms.
Does my child need to wear a face mask?
This is the latest Government guidance regarding use of face masks:
Public Health England does not (based on current evidence) recommend the use of face coverings in schools. This evidence will be kept under review. They are not required in schools as pupils and staff are mixing in consistent groups, and because misuse may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission. There may also be negative effects on communication and thus education. Face coverings are required at all times on public transport (except children under the age of 11), when attending a hospital as a visitor or outpatient, or when in a shop or a supermarket.
What will happen if another child / member of staff within my child's bubble has symptoms / tests positive for COVID-19?
Please click on the following link to access the section taken from the latest Government guidance:
I am unable to drop-off or pick up my child at the new times due to work commitments. What procedures are in place for this?
Unfortunately, the staggered start and finish times are an arrangement which will be in place for the foreseeable future. It is therefore expected that children will be dropped off and picked up at the times stated. Only children with siblings in bubbles with different start/finish times can drop their children off at different times. It will be an expectation that children are picked up at the correct allocated time. We cannot have children waiting in the front entrance or library for a late pick up even if the weather is bad as this increases the chances of bubbles mixing and these areas are also used for staff. We do have a breakfast/after school club which can offer childcare but numbers for this are limited and it needs to be booked in advance.
If your childcare provider is dropping off children who are in different bubbles, then this will be treated in the same way as parents dropping off siblings in more than one bubble. Therefore, these children can be dropped off at 08:55 and picked up at 15:30. However, please email me to inform me of your child's childcare arrangements so that we are aware.
Will school feel completely different from what my child has been used to?
There will be some new changes for your child. However, our aim is to continue to make school feel lovely, safe and fun . We have had lots of work completed in the school so that it looks welcoming and exciting for your child. We will have a chat with the children about the changes and give them the chance to ask any questions they may have. Because the children are split into bubbles, they will feel safe in the areas around school that they will be allowed to access. They will be able to enjoy exciting playtimes with their friends.
I am worried that my child will be behind. Will they catch up?
This is something that all parents will be concerned about. We have plans in place to be able to closely monitor every child's progress. Homework will be set via Tapestry (early years) and Showbie and it would be wonderful if families could continue to support their child's education at home by helping your child to complete homework tasks. In school, our staff are going to work really hard with your children following our exciting curriculum maps which can be found in the curriculum section of this website. We will keep you informed of their progress.
I am worried that my child will catch COVID-19. What measures are in place to help minimise the risk?
As a school, we have worked hard to put measures in place to keep our school community as safe as possible. The following risk assessments have been put in place:
Risk assessment 1 - school operations
Risk assessment 2 - premises management
We will have an enhanced cleaning regime in school. Frequently touched surfaces (eg desks and toilet door handles) will be cleaned more often during the day in the classrooms and in the hall. The times that the desks will be cleaned will be different for different classes as they all have new timetables and it will all depend on the activities being completed. All internal doors (except toilet doors) have been fitted with dorguard. These safely hold the internal doors open so that there is no need to touch the internal door handles and they also comply with our fire risk assessment as when the fire alarm is activated, the doors will automatically close. Tables will be cleaned prior to eating lunch and after lunch. Toilets will also be cleaned during the school day.
We will be following the latest Government guidelines for hand hygiene which is to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. We will remind your children about how to wash their hands correctly. There will also be hand sanitiser stations available in all classrooms and use of these stations will be monitored. The hand sanitiser used meets the following criteria:
- Approved to BS EN 1500 European hand sanitizer standard
- Also tested to BS EN 1276 the European standard for bactericidal activity of disinfectants against controlling harmful micro-organisms
We use a variety of cleaning products in school. All cleaning products used in school meeting the standards required by the government.
Can Nursery children bring in a bag of spare clothes to be kept on their peg?
Yes. We would like to encourage Nursery children to send in a spare change of clothing for their child which can be kept in school. Please can this be sent in a clearly labelled bag.