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Earlham Primary School

 

Covid 19 information

The past few months have been challenging, and we want to thank you for your continuing efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. It is vital that we do everything we can to protect ourselves and our community from infection.

 

If your child has:

A high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste this could be a sign of coronavirus, please book a test.

 

If your child has:

A runny nose, is sneezing or feeling unwell but they don’t have:

A high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste these are not normally symptoms of coronavirus. Seek advice from a pharmacy, dial 111 or see your GP. 

 Guidance

 

 

When should I use a PCR test?

PCR tests are very sensitive. Individuals should only have a PCR test if they:

 − are symptomatic of COVID-19;

 − are identified as a close contact of a confirmed case.

 

Given the significant increase in cases over the last few weeks, it is important that parents/carers follow the most recent Government guidance:

 

If your child receives a positive test

The isolation period, when testing positive for Covid-19, has changed from a 10 day period to a 7 day isolation period (7 days after symptoms or a positive LFT/PCR).

A lateral flow test must be taken on the 6th and 7th day of the isolation period. Both of these tests need to be negative before a child may return to school.

If the lateral test is positive on the 6th or on the 7th day, your child must continue to isolate until they receive two negative results, 24hrs apart.

If you are unable to access LFT’s, you must complete a 10 day isolation period. Please continue to follow the usual practices in the event of a positive case involving your child or from a close contact or family member.

The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart; this also applies to children under 5. Anyone who is unable to take lateral flow tests will need to complete the full 10 day period of self isolation. Further information is available in the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.

 

Reporting positive or suspected cases

Parents will need to call the school and speak to a member of staff if your child is unable to take a lateral flow test.

Please continue to email the school at admin@earlham.haringey.sch.uk to inform us of any positive test results or call our school office on 0208 888 2780 for further advice.

 

Close Contacts

 

Daily testing for close contacts of COVID-19 People who are fully vaccinated, or children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months, identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should take an LFD test every day for seven days and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time.

Children under 5 are not being advised to take part in daily testing of close contacts. If a child under 5 is a contact of a confirmed case, they are not required to self-isolate and should not start daily testing.

If they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 they should take a PCR test as soon as possible and limit their contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness. They can continue to attend an education or childcare setting while waiting for the PCR result.

 

Unvaccinated individuals must self-isolate for 10 full days and cannot be released early with lateral flow tests

 

No 90-day testing exemption

Even if someone has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, they are strongly encouraged to take part in LFD testing on-site or at home once they have completed their isolation period for their prior infection.

 

Testing for classes with cases

Primary:  2 or more cases: whole class lateral flow test on days 1 and 4 -

Early Years: Children aged under 5 who live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 should take a PCR test as soon as possible and limit their contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness. They can continue to attend an education or childcare setting while waiting for the PCR result.

 

Lateral flow testing from 11 January 2022

From 11 January in England, people who receive positive lateral flow device (LFD) test results for coronavirus (COVID-19) will be required to self-isolate immediately and won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

This is a temporary measure while COVID-19 rates remain high across the UK. Whilst levels of COVID-19 are high, the vast majority of people with positive LFD results can be confident that they have COVID-19.

Lateral flow tests are taken by people who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone who develops 1 of the 3 main COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home and self-isolate and take a PCR test. They must self-isolate if they get a positive test result, even if they have had a recent negative lateral flow test – these rules have not changed.

 

Communication

Please contact the school if your family has been affected by any significant events or illness so that we may offer support. Our office team will be happy to put you in touch with the relevant member of staff.

In order to reduce the risk of the virus being transmitted in our school, the majority of communication with our staff will continue to take place via email and telephone this month. This will help to ensure that we can all enjoy a smooth, safe and successful start to the new term.

If you need to speak with your child’s Class Teacher or another member of the team, please contact the school office to make an appointment. Please also remember to wear a face covering if you have a face to face meeting and in particular, if you enter the school building.

 

Where can I get tests/get tested?

You can arrange a free PCR test for your child here: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. Lateral flow tests can be obtained via your child’s school or at any local pharmacy. A full list of where to collect testing kits is available here: https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/.

 

Letters

 

    Academic Year 2021/2022