Dear parent or carer,
Thank you for your ongoing support to keep our school community safe. As you are aware, the government have made a recent announcement regarding the changes to the self-isolation guidelines and the removal of restrictions. It is very positive that after two years, we are now moving towards life without Covid restrictions.
We have all worked hard throughout the pandemic to mitigate the risks within our school and will continue to do so as we now move into the next phase of “Living with Covid”
The virus continues to circulate in the community and although we have made progress through vaccinations and isolation there is still uncertainty about the path that the pandemic will now take in the UK.
Therefore, school will endeavour to:
1. Ensure good hygiene for everyone.
2. Maintain appropriate cleaning regimes.
3. Keep occupied spaces well ventilated.
4. Follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The current guidance is stated below
On Thursday 24 February, the Government removed the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. Adults and children who test positive are still advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days, and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days. In addition, the Government will:
No longer ask fully vaccinated close contacts and those aged under 18 to test daily for 7 days, and remove the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate.
Staff, children and young people should attend their education settings as usual. This includes staff who have been in close contact within their household, unless they are able to work from home.
Although no longer a legal requirement, to minimise risk of further transmission public health advice is for people who have Covid or Covid symptoms to remain at home for at least 5 full days and then follow the guidance until they have received two negative lateral flows.
Although these are now guidelines rather than legal requirements, we hope that parents will choose to adhere to these guidelines. This will help to ensure that our staff and children remain covid-free and we are therefore able to continue providing high quality education to your children and reduce spread within the children and their families. Your support will help us to minimise any disruption to teaching moving forward.
Please be vigilant if your child is displaying new Covid symptoms, even if they have previously tested positive. We are now in a situation within the UK where individuals are being re-infected with the virus for the second or third occasion.
Much of this progress has been made due to the high number of individuals who have chosen to be vaccinated against the virus. Vaccination provides protection against serious illness through developing immunity against Covid-19 and reducing transmission between individuals.
Vaccinations will soon be available to all individuals aged 5-11 in addition to those age 12 plus. The Government encourages you to consider vaccinating your child and further information will be provided once it is available.
Many thanks for your continued support.
Yours Sincerely, Mrs Ham
