Dear Parents and Carers,

Many parents have been asking us to help them to understand what they need to do in the event that they suspect that their child or someone in their family is ill. We are not health professionals and would always advise that you seek medical advice from your GP or using the 111 service or https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/. However, we can share with you the guidance that we have received from the Local Authority.

Additional Guidance on Coronavirus Symptoms in Young Children

The 3 most common symptoms of COVID-19 in the community remain:

• A new continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if the child usually has a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• A high temperature (37.8 degrees and above) – this means feeling hot to touch on chest or back (you do not need to measure the temperature).
• Loss of smell &/or taste – this means that the child cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell different to normal

Most people with COVID-19 have at least one of these symptoms – Public Health England do state there are more symptoms of COVID-19, but the 3 listed are the most common.

If other possible COVID-19 symptoms develop during the 48 hours, you must follow government guidance on self-isolation, medical advice and testing at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

What to do if your child has symptoms

If your child has any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:

• Get a test to check if they have coronavirus as soon as possible.
• Stay at home and do not have visitors until you get the test result – only leave your home to have a test.
• Inform school, via telephone on 01952 387720, that you and your family are being tested.
• Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also stay at home until you get the result. This includes siblings. It is really important that this happens.

Once you receive a negative test result, we can only accept your child/children back into school after we have seen the evidence that this test is negative. This needs to be sent to newdale.primary@taw.org.uk. A member of school staff will then contact you to confirm that your child/children can return to school.

COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection guide is really useful to help – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/906663/20203007_Easy_read_household_isolation_v3.1.pdf

If you’re told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace

Follow the advice given if you’re told by NHS Test and Trace that you’ve been in contact with a person who has coronavirus (COVID-19) and must stay at home (self-isolate). You must inform school if you have been contacted by the Track and Trace service.

Please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/nhs-test-and-trace-if-youve-been-in-contact-with-a-person-who-has-coronavirus/ for more information.

When you should self -isolate

You must self-isolate immediately if:

• you have any symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
• you’ve tested positive for coronavirus – this means you have coronavirus
• you live with someone who has symptoms or tested positive
• someone in your support bubble has symptoms or tested positive
• you’re told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace
• you arrive in the UK from a country with a high coronavirus risk – see GOV.UK: how to self-isolate when you travel to the UK

If you think you’ve been in contact with someone who has coronavirus, but you do not have symptoms and have not been told to self-isolate, continue to follow social distancing advice https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing/what-you-need-to-do/

Please can I remind everyone that on entry to our site we ask you to stay socially distanced as you drop off and collect your children. We understand the ‘one way’ system can take a little longer than usual, but we need to do all we can to ensure safety on our site.

Thank you for your understanding and patience at this time.

Miss Cook

Headteacher