Dear Parent/Carer,
As we are now settling back into the new term, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the updated guidance we are working with in school with relation to Covid-19. I have attached the NHS Return To School Guidance previously issued and FAQ for Parents/Carers but would like to draw your attention to some frequently queried areas.
Covid Symptoms
Please be vigilant for symptoms. If your child develops any symptoms of COVID-19, they should self-isolate and book a PCR test. They should not come into school.
The main symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- new cough;
- high temperature (37.8 or above); and/or
- loss of taste and smell.
- There may be other milder, hay-fever like symptoms which can include sore throat, runny nose, headaches, vomiting and diarrhoea.
If parents/carers decide not to have their child tested, then the child must still complete the full self-isolation period as before.
PCR
PCR test results should be shared with the school. If a PCR test is negative, we ask a screenshot of the confirmatory email/text is sent to our school mailbox eaDunlop.Primary@eastayrshire.org.uk prior to the pupil returning to school provided they do not have any symptoms.
All positive cases must self-isolate for 10 days as before with no exemptions.
Close Contacts
Children and young people under the age of 18 will no longer routinely be identified as close contacts through normal school/ECC activities; they are no longer considered to be contacts of one another sitting beside or interacting with one another in the classroom. Close contact is now defined as:
- household contacts
- Overnight stay
- Intimate contacts
Test and Protect will contact you if your child is considered to be a close contact of a confirmed Covid-19 case.
We will issue ‘warn and inform’ letters to relevant classes where a positive case has been identified.
Self-Isolation
If you are a close contact aged between 5 years to 18 years and 4 months, who lives in the household of the positive case, OR who has been identified by Test and Protect as needing to take action, then:
o You should self-isolate and book a PCR test.
- If the PCR test is negative and you remain without symptoms, you can end self-isolation and go about your daily life, including returning to work, school or childcare
- If the PCR test is positive, you should continue to self-isolate in line with NHS guidance
- If you subsequently become symptomatic you should self-isolate and book a PCR test
If a close contact is aged under 5 years, then they will not need to self-isolate if they remain without symptoms. This reflects the lower risk of transmission from very young children, as well as the challenges in tolerating testing that some very young children may experience. Although a PCR test is not required for this age group before returning to usual activities (including early learning and childcare), it is encouraged. It is recognised that this will not always be possible, and parents/carers are the best judges of this.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for working closely with ourselves and the guidance we have been issued to continue to protect our community and reduce the spread of Covid 19.
Kind regards,
Laura Kelly
Head Teacher
Dunlop Primary School & ECC
