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Dear all
Below is a letter issued from Dr Robyn Dewis Director of Public Health Derby City Council.
It is in response to Derby families not following Covid 19 guidance by sending their children to school against isolation guidance. Please read it carefully.
Dear Parents,
This is a very difficult time for us all as we enter our second national lockdown. If we follow the rules over the next few weeks, we can really reduce the spread of coronavirus in our City and help to protect our family and friends.
We are particularly grateful to our Schools, to our fantastic teaching staff who continue to work so hard to keep our children learning. This is so important for their mental and physical health as well as their learning and has been an enormous task. We are also grateful to all of you, who have shared the challenges of home schooling and cared for children being asked to self-isolate with the impact this has had on all our lives.
It is incredibly important that we continue to support our schools in the challenging months ahead. Importantly we must ensure that we follow the national guidelines on self-isolation as this is key to reducing the spread of the virus.
• If your child has coronavirus symptoms they must stay at home and get a test. The whole household must also stay at home until the test result is known. This means you should not leave the house for any reason.
If the test is positive the child and the household must continue to stay at home.
If a parent has symptoms their child should not come to school until the parent has been tested and the result is known. If the test is positive the whole household needs to continue to stay at home
There has been confusion about these rules over recent weeks. We have seen children being sent to school with symptoms, whilst waiting test results and after they or family members have received a positive test. This has led to many teachers and children being sent home from schools to self-isolate and risked spreading the virus. We have attached our quick guide to ensure that you have all the information you need. If you are unsure, please speak to your school to ask advice. If you are struggling to self-isolate there is support available from the Derby COVID Community Response Hub, please call 01332 640000.
I must also remind you that anyone with a positive test, or a household contact of those who have a positive test, is required by law to self-isolate. It is an offence not to follow these rules and anyone who chooses not to do this may face a fine.
The rules we will have to live by in December depend on how well we manage to reduce the spread of the virus during the next few weeks. Please continue to work with us and do the right thing for Derby.
Dr Robyn Dewis Director of Public Health Derby City Council
School Isolations and Frequently Asked Questions
I am acutely aware that the Covid guidance issued by the government is not always straight forward and may be argued/perceived as contradictory in places. For this reason, I am sharing below a basic guide for parents and some frequently asked questions (FAQ).
Context
There are growing numbers of Covid 19 cases nationally and locally, and as a result there is a likelihood that schools will be required to further isolate pupil bubbles/individuals or classes in the future. This will not necessarily be a reflection on those schools, but the national and local number of cases. The cases are nationally rising by around 20,000 per day and positive test outcomes in the Derby and Burton area are escalating.
FAQ
Why are isolation notices issued to children who are well, and how is isolation decided?
If there is a case of Covid 19 in the school community (pupil, staff, visitor, agency worker) the school is notified of this. If it is a positive case within a pupil’s household, we rely on parents making us aware of this. There is then a consultation with the Department for Education who are guided by Public Health England. In short, the long process boils down to whether it is possible to identify anyone who may have been in ‘close proximity’ to the person during the 48 hours before symptoms were observed, or up to 10 days after.
Close proximity is broadly defined as:
Anyone falling into this category is required to isolate for 14 days from the last known point of contact with the person testing positive, even if they are themselves well.
As you can imagine, in a primary school setting, this can impact on a large group of individuals. Public Health England and the Department for Education recognise and accept this. Managing and running a school is not the same as managing and running say a café or supermarket. The nature of schools relies on varying levels of close proximity to meet needs, especially for younger children. We do all we can to keep close proximity limited, hence ‘bubbles’ and one in one out systems in sterile zones such as the school reception.
How can it be that some people are in isolation (staff or pupils) but my child can come to school – they are in the same class and it just doesn’t add up?
This is a common question and one where an understanding of the system is beneficial.
Where this is the case it means one of the following:
If we can confidently identify a small group of children to isolate we will do so; however, the reality is that in most cases a class or bubble will be considered to have been at risk of close proximity if someone in that class tests positive.
Why do I not know who has tested positive?
Simply, this is private and confidential matter, and it is not relevant to how cases are managed. Any person who is impacted as a result of a positive test gets notified regardless of who the person testing positive is. It is understandable that some wish to know or attempt to speculate, but it is irrelevant – the process manages the isolations, and the process is clear and rigorous.
It is important to remember that staff too can be directed to isolate if they themselves become a close proximity contact outside of school. They are not immune to the system – they may be asked to isolate without contracting Covid 19 or having symptoms. Again, this is a private matter for them and managed operationally by the school following rigid guidance. We do not share this with the school community as again, it is private and confidential and does not impact on how cases are managed.
If I am told my child has to isolate, does this mean all the household need to isolate?
No, although we do understand that this in itself has complications for those who work or need to get children to other settings. Only if the child or any other member of the household later develops symptoms or receives a positive test should all the household isolate. Siblings should still attend school if you can get them in. You may need support in doing so.
If my child is told to isolate, should I book them a test?
No, you only need to do so if they develop symptoms. Many parents are doing so and it is not necessary according to guidance. When booking a test you will be asked if your child has symptoms, if the answer is no, you will be directed not to test. The reason for this lies in the fact that they are already isolated and booking a test when there are no symptoms reduces the efficiency of the system, without changing the need to isolate.
I am awaiting a test outcome as someone in the household has symptoms, can I bring my child to school?
No. This has been known to happen and I will not hide my frustration regarding this. As soon as anyone in a household shows symptoms all are isolated until the test result is known. This is arguably the greatest risk to schools and parents must follow this guidance.
If my child is in isolation, will it impact on their school attendance figures?
No. Covid 19 isolation / absence does not impact on any figures, unless parents are opting to remove their child without formal direction to do so. Where this is the case, absence is unauthorised.
The Remote Learning is available for children in isolation
The school is committed to supporting children who are in isolation with regular work and interaction with teachers. The method for this has been shared with parents and all have received a booklet with a username and password to allow access. In addition, staff have provided a task to allow parents to access the system, check contact has been made and to allow parents to test the system.
This guidance has already been uploaded onto the school website under Key Information > Covid 19. Note: in the event of a child, group or bubble going into isolation, it will take time for staff to upload the current work. This should be available in most cases the day following the isolation notice.
Your initial username and password was on the guidance booklet already sent home. Note: if you have not already done so, you will be required to reset your password when you first login.
Please note: if you click a ‘forgot password’ reset, this can take up to 48 hours to complete.
Other resources: If it is the case that you cannot access the Remote Learning platform for any reason, teachers have uploaded historic work onto the class pages. As pupils have moved on to new year groups, the work offered should not be a repeat of what was completed in the initial lockdown.
Single Covid Case notification
Advice to All Parents - Single case
Dear Parents,
We have been made aware of a member of our school community who have tested positive for COVID 19.
We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
The small number of children who have been in close contact with the individual who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) have received a letter (text message if at the weekend) informing them that their child must stay at home for 14 days since the last known contact with the individual testing positive.
The school remains open and your child should continue to attend as normal if they remain well and you have not been contacted directly.
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.
Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home.
If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.
Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community
If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
a new continuous cough
a high temperature
a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.
How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19
Do
wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
wash your hands as soon as you get home
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
Further Information
Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Yours sincerely
Headteacher
Isolation of school community members – if there is ever a need to act, we will do so - and you will know about it.
This is a notice of reassurance to all.
Nationally there is an increase in members of the public who are subject to isolation as a result of ‘close proximity’ contact and are told they need to isolate for 14 days. This is often a result of the track and trace system notification, instructing them to do so even if they have no symptoms and are perfectly well. Public Health England give such notifications to thousands of people daily in an attempt to reduce the commonly assessed ‘R number’.
Schools are no different to the remainder of the UK and there will be occasions when individuals are told to isolate without symptoms or without a positive test outcome, simply because they have received notice to do so. This is the nature of the system and as frustrating as it may seem for those impacted, it makes sense to be safe than sorry.
I mention this as school communities, as with the rest of the population, are increasingly likely to be advised to isolate individuals as a result of track and trace / household isolations over the coming months. We are no different to the general population.
This does not mean that people told to isolate have tested positive for Covid 19, are showing symptoms or have been a risk to others; it certainly does not mean that there is an increased risk in school or their place of work. It is a precautionary action of which individuals have no control over.
IMPORTANT: If there is a case for isolation or a positive tests for Covid 19 in the school community, there are strict and clear protocols for schools to follow as to how to manage this.
If there was a reason to isolate children / bubbles as a result of a positive test outcome, parents would be informed as soon as this became apparent. There would have been consultation with Public Health England, the Department for Education and Derby City Council. We will not take risks with children’s health or that of the community, as we have already demonstrated and parents should be assured by this.
Whilst I appreciate that there is a temptation to speculate as to what is happening in schools as testing increases and more people are advised to isolate, it is at best unhelpful for people to do so.
Parents are reminded that if a child or adult does not attend school for any duration it does not mean that they have tested for Covid 19 or have symptoms, nor does it mean that others are at unnecessary increased risk. If there is a need to inform you of any isolation requirements we will do so promptly, in consultation with medical and government advice.
I wanted to say well done to all the children and families who joined Ms Vobes and Mrs Winfield's online session today. It was great to see the interaction between home and school whilst the children were in isolation.
Many thanks to the parents who took the time to follow the guidance and login and a special well done to Ms Vobes and Mrs Winfield for facilitation our first online learning session.
If your child did not join in or you have not yet logged into the system, please follow the directions in the guidance booklet provided earlier in the term. Invites for learning are forwarded to all the children using the log in provided.