Dear Parents,
Following updated national guidance, linked to the latest Omicron variant and wave; Education and Public Health have updated the previous advice related to COVID-19 management for the forthcoming half term. This advice has been considered and our risk assessment will be adjusted accordingly. The Omicron variant is highly transmissible and case numbers are doubling every two days. Although the rate of transmission is having a significant impact on the NHS in terms of admissions, emerging evidence suggests that overall people are experiencing milder illnesses; however, the rate of transmission is still of concern for those that experience more serious complications.
LFT’S: THESE SHOULD BE USED IF AN INDIVIDUAL HAS NO SYMPTOMS OR FOR CHECKING DAILY FOLLOWING A POSITIVE
RESULT. ANYONE WHO TESTS POSITIVE ON AN LFT DOES NOT NOW REQUIRE A PCR TEST TO CONFIRM.
PCR’S: THESE SHOULD ONLY BE BOOKED IF AN INDIVIDUAL HAS SYMPTOMS.
Positive cases (Please notify school ASAP)
• Positive cases should isolate from the day symptoms start or the day of test (if no symptoms) and for the next 5
full days (minimum). The first day of symptoms or a positive test is classed as day ‘0’ with the next day being day 1.
• Positive cases can now stop isolating on day 6 if: they are well and fever free and if on day 5 and day 6 (24 hours apart) a negative result on an LFT is registered on the government website using the QR code on the LFT test.
• School will ask for evidence of the 2 negative results that have been uploaded to the Government website
before your child can return to school.
IF ANY TESTS STILL SHOW POSITIVE YOU MUST CONTINUE YOUR ISOLATION FOR THE FULL 10 DAYS.
Positive case in household
• If a family have a positive case in the household e.g. a parent/brother/sister daily LFT testing is essential for all
contacts who are asymptomatic. We cannot insist on a negative PCR but we know this will identify infection more reliably, so we support families who choose to do this before sending siblings into school.
• More often than not, other members of the household test positive within a few days so we are supporting families who choose to keep siblings at home if a household contact tests positive.
We also understand that getting siblings to school when others are positive in the house is a challenge but we would encourage pupils who
are well enough to learn as much as possible at home, through the use of remote learning.
Yours sincerely
Mrs. R. Allen
Headteacher