Thank you to all of those making every effort to reduce transmission of Covid 19 in and around the school community.  Derby City continues to have a high ratio of cases and therefore we must remain vigilant and ensure that we do all we can to reduce contamination.

As a school we have been only lightly affected overall by the new variant compared to other settings, however, in the last week we have seen a gradual rise in Lateral Flow Device (rapid tests) cases identified in the school. 

This will be partly due to the increased levels of Lateral Flow Testing of those without symptoms who would in the past not have been identified and would have previously remained unidentified.  However, it is clear that the virus still does, and could further, have an impact on school life.

For this reason I remind all parents:

• wash hands with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
• clean objects and surfaces you touch often (such as door handles, kettles and phones) using your regular cleaning products
• consider wearing a face covering when in shared spaces
• keep windows open in the room you're staying in and shared spaces as much as possible

Financial Support

A reminder that if you are required to isolate, Gov UK do provide a system for financial support.  The details of this support can be found below.

If you are the parent or guardian of a child or young person who has been told to self-isolate.   (It is therefore important that you follow the guidance given in the test kits to register any positive test outcome or the reference number if contacted directly)

A parent or guardian may be eligible for support via the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme if they live in England and meet the following criteria (even if they are exempt from self-isolation):

• they are the parent or guardian of a young person in the same household who is self-isolating and need to take time off work to care for them
• they are unable to work from home and will lose income
• the young person is:
  • aged 15 or under and has been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace because they have tested positive for COVID-19; or
  • aged 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan and been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace because they have tested positive for COVID-19; or
  • aged 25 and under, has an EHC Plan, and has been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace (or advised to do so by the NHS COVID-19 app) because they are the close contact of someone with COVID-19 and they are not exempt from self-isolation
• the parent or guardian meets all the other criteria for a Test and Trace Support Payment or a discretionary payment
•  

Close contacts of someone suspected or confirmed to have the Omicron variant of COVID-19 were required to self-isolate – regardless of exemptions from self-isolation – between 30 November 2021 and 13 December 2021. The parent or guardian of these contacts may therefore be eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme, provided they meet the rest of the eligibility criteria.

If you are eligible for either the Test and Trace Support Payment or a discretionary payment, you’ll receive the £500 payment in addition to any benefits and Statutory Sick Pay that you receive currently.

How to apply

In England, the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme is run by local councils.

If you think you meet the eligibility criteria for either the Test and Trace Support Payment or a discretionary payment, you can apply through your local council.

(Contact Derby City Council Phone: 01332 640000)

You can claim up to 42 days after the first day of your self-isolation period.

For the application, you will need to provide:

• an NHS Test and Trace Account ID, sometimes referred to as a CTAS number
• a bank statement
• proof of employment or, if you’re self-employed, evidence of self-assessment returns, trading income and proof that your business delivers services that cannot be undertaken without social contact

If you’re applying as a parent or guardian, you will need to provide your child’s NHS Test and Trace Account ID.

If the NHS COVID-19 app has told you to self-isolate because you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you will need to follow some additional steps to request your NHS Test and Trace Account ID.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme-claiming-financial-support/claiming-financial-support-under-the-test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme