We can’t wait to see children and young people back in schools and early learning establishments, ready for a new year of learning.
However, you will be aware that Covid-19 is still very much with us and we are following government guidance to reduce the risk of transmission in our schools and early learning facilities.
So, there’s a few new guidelines that should be followed, to help keep us all as safe as possible.
Testing
All secondary school pupils and staff at schools and early learning establishments are strongly advised to regularly take lateral flow tests prior to schools returning on Monday.
This will include taking one this week and another on either Sunday evening or first thing on Monday morning and thereafter, twice a week.
Pupils and staff are advised to upload their test results to the online portal, regardless if the result is positive or negative.
Testing regularly helps to reduce the chance of both pupils and staff having to self-isolate and lateral flow device testing kits can be picked up from schools, the asymptomatic testing centre at Airdrie Leisure Centre or from local pharmacies. Please click here to find out where you can pick up lateral flow test kits.
- If a pupil tests positive, they must isolate immediately for 10 days. However, if they have no symptoms of Covid-19, they do not need to get a PCR test – the positive lateral flow test confirms that they are positive.
- From Thursday 6 January , if the pupil who is positive has no fever and records two consecutive negative lateral flow tests, one on day six of isolation and another 24 hours later, then they can exit isolation after seven days.
- If a positive pupil has symptoms (a fever, new continuous cough, or loss of sense of taste or smell), the advice has not changed – isolate for 10 days and book a PCR test. Please inform the school if your child has a positive test for Covid-19.
- If your child is identified as a close contact of a positive case (aged under 18 and 4 months or fully vaccinated including booster), they do not need to isolate as long as they are not showing symptoms (no fever) and return a negative daily lateral flow test result for seven days (only self-isolate if the LFD test returns positive).
Please note the new guidance regarding isolation and testing do not apply retrospectively.
This means that all Covid-19 guidance that was in place prior to Thursday 6 January should still be followed including self-isolating for the full 10 days.
The new guidance is only for anyone testing positive or identified as a close contact FROM Thursday 6 January.
Good Hygiene Practice
Pupils and teachers in secondary schools must continue to wear face coverings (although some are exempt) and practise social distancing in classrooms and in and around buildings.
Everyone is encouraged to continue to use good hand hygiene techniques including regular hand-washing and using sanitiser, particularly when entering/leaving and before/after eating and using the bathroom, avoid touching faces and using a tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing.
Face coverings should be worn by pupils aged 12 or over on school transport.
Bubbles and groupings may be introduced in some schools and early learning establishments where practicable to minimise contact.
All our schools and early learning establishments will continue to implement the recommended health and safety measures with movement around buildings minimised as much as possible with increased natural ventilation in classrooms and buildings.
Enhanced cleaning routines will continue with additional day cleans with a focus on touch points such as handles, light switches etc.
Some schools may incorporate staggered lunch and drop off and pick-up times and your school will be in touch with you directly.
Parents and carers are asked to wear a face covering when dropping off and picking up children and to not gather at the school gates in large numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you were positive, or identified as a close contact and told to isolate under previous guidance, you should continue to follow this advice until the isolation period has come to an end, which means continuing with 10 days of self-isolation. The new guidance came into effect from 6 January 2022 for any new cases and is not retrospective.
Q I have symptoms of Covid-19, do I need to book a PCR test or do an LFD test?
If you have any symptoms – a new continuous cough, high temperature or loss/change of taste/smell – you should book a PCR test as soon as possible and self-isolate.
Q What if I have symptoms; does my household need to isolate whilst I wait my PCR results?
Some of your household may need to isolate. If they are not fully vaccinated, they will need to isolate. If they are a fully vaccinated adult or under 18 years and 4 months, they do not need to isolate as long as they continue to return daily negative LFDs until the test result is received and follow appropriate guidance thereafter.
Q My PCR was positive, what should members of my household do?
- All household members who have symptoms should isolate immediately and book a PCR test.
- Fully vaccinated household members (three doses with a final dose at least 14 days ago) and household members aged under 18 years and 4 months may take 7 daily LFD tests as an alternative to isolation so long as they do not have symptoms and test negative each day;
- Anyone aged over 18 years 4 months who has less than three vaccine doses should book a PCR test and, even if negative, isolate for 10 days.
Q My child is under 5 years old, do they need to do a test if they’re identified as a close contact?
Under 5 year olds are encouraged, but not required to take a test.
Q I have just finished a period of self-isolation as a non-vaccinated close contact – what happens if I’m identified as a close contact again?
You may be asked by Test and Protect to self-isolate and book a test again if you are identified again as a close contact of another person who is a confirmed case. It is possible that people will have to self-isolate more than once – perhaps multiple times – if they are identified as a close contact of separate cases on several different occasions. The best way to reduce the likelihood of being asked to self-isolate is to get your third dose of the vaccine.
Q Previously, I was allowed to return to work as a close contact due to the critical national infrastructure self-isolation exemption – does this still apply?
The CNI exemption scheme has now closed as the wider population changes introduced effectively replicate the exemption enabled by the CNI scheme.
QI need support whilst I’m self-isolating – what is available?
Workers who earn less than the real living wage and have been asked to isolate by Test and Protect may be eligible for the £500 Self-Isolation Support Grant but you will need evidence of a PCR test. Practical support such as food or essential medicine deliveries are available through the local self-isolation assistance service, and the national Coronavirus helpline – available at 0800 111 4000, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm – to ensure people required to self-isolate have the support they need.
