COVID update 21.03.2022

Our current numbers of Covid positive are:

Thank you

Mr Dawson - Headteacher.

Covid 19 - communications to parents about current Covid numbers 

Friday 10th December 2021 - letter sent to parents 

Dear Parents,

Thank you to everyone who has come into school to get their children tested over the last few days. The last of the tests were completed at 4.30pm yesterday and the large majority of parents have let us know the outcomes of these tests. If you have not yet done so we would be grateful if you could complete the FORMS document so we have a better picture of positive cases from those who have completed a PCR test.

The testing process in school has allowed Test and Trace to identify 4 new cases in school. These cases might not have been identified without the in-school testing process being completed with children often being asymptomatic when infected with Covid.

Children who have been identified as positive for Covid through the on-site testing process will be contacted by Test and Trace directly to discuss what actions are needed on an individual basis. The testing process that was completed in school allowed Test and Trace to identify whether the positive cases were Omicron or Delta forms of the virus and parents of positive cases will be informed on an individual basis if their child had the new variant. As a school we are not told which variant individual children have been diagnosed with.

We have also been informed that the process of tracking any new or current cases will continue to be completed by Test and Trace and the school will no longer be involved.

In order to be as transparent as possible with parents we will be returning to publishing our confirmed numbers of positive cases in school each week. These will appear on the school website and will be updated at the start of each week.

The current numbers of children who are isolating at home as a result of a positive Covid test within the last 10 days are as follows;

Please be aware that this is less than 5% of the children on the school roll.  

Following a conversation with UKHSA this morning we have been told that anyone in year four who has not tested positive for Covid can return to school on Monday (as outlined in the original letter to all of year 4) unless they have tested positive or if they have been contacted directly by Test and Trace. All other year groups are expected to come into school as normal.

Following our meeting with UKHSA representatives we have decided to maintain our current class bubbles through until the end of next week. This is in an attempt to minimise any future spread in the run up to Christmas. Our priority at the current time is to reduce the risk of positive cases adversely affecting families over the Christmas period.

Your child will be bringing home a box of lateral flow tests either today or Monday which have been given to us by staff working with the mass testing units. These tests can be used over the Christmas period to reassure family members that individuals remain negative throughout the next few days. Should you choose to do so, these tests can be used by any member of the family. Any unwanted tests can be returned to your child’s class teacher. Additional test are commonly available via pharmacies or via the government website.

Having been through this process we are really keen to make the last week in school as positive an experience for the children as possible. We will write to parents again about plans for the final week next Monday.

Thank you again for your support over this last week.

Yours sincerely,

Ed Dawson and Emma Cady