Keeping your child and your family safe

Dear Parents/Carers

This week we have welcomed back your children and what a joy they have been. On time, in uniform, fully equipped, masked up and ready to learn! They have adapted to learning within their zones, having breaks and lunches in their specified areas amazingly well and I am very proud of them. Despite their masks, I could see that their eyes were smiling and it warmed my heart.

Keeping your child and your family safe:

You will know that the symptoms of the virus we look out for are:

• > a high temperature
• > a continuous cough
• > a change in taste or smell

This week, a report was published which identified that gastric issues such as tummy cramps, vomiting or diarrhea may be symptoms of the virus, particularly in children. This HAS NOT been added to the official list of symptoms in the UK but I wanted to bring your attention to the report which you can read about in this newspaper article here. However, as this is not an official symptom in the UK, you will not be able to access a test for your child if they only have this symptom.

As a school we must be very vigilant that poorly children are looked after well and swiftly. 

• > If your child is poorly, please keep them at home. If they have symptoms of the virus, please arrange for a test as soon as you can. In this area, testing appointments are readily available and results are returned  very quickly  which will put your mind at ease within 48 hours at most.
• > If your child becomes unwell at school, we will contact you immediately and ask that you collect your child as quickly as possible. They will be under supervised isolation until they are collected. Please ensure that your child is tested if they are displaying covid symptoms and keep them at home whilst you await the result.
• > If your child’s test is negative and shows that they do not have coronavirus, they can return to school when they are well enough to do so.
• > If your child’s test is positive and shows that they do have coronavirus, you must inform school immediately. You should follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and your child must continue to self-isolate for at least 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and then return to school only if they do not have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell/taste. This is because a cough or anosmia can last for several weeks once the infection has gone. The 10-day period starts from the day when they first became ill. If they still have a high temperature, they should keep self-isolating until their temperature returns to normal. Other members of their household should continue self-isolating for the full 14 days.

You know that I operate on a policy of full transparency and total honesty. This week, we have asked parents to collect 3 pupils from school as they were unwell. Each had tummy aches which, in many ways, is to be expected when returning to school after such a long absence. The children did not have other symptoms which would indicate they had the virus and they are reported to be otherwise well.

Please rest assured that we are doing all we can to keep your child/ren safe and well in school. As always, I am available on [email protected] should you have any questions or concerns.

Take care and stay safe!

Nic