St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

Children cannot be in school if they have any of these specific symptoms, until they have had a negative test. Their siblings should also NOT be in school until the results of the test are known.

The NHS currently advises that these are the most common symptoms of Covid19:

• high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature but this would be considered 37.8 °C or higher) 
  new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more
  coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

NOTE: You or your child may have other symptoms similar to the above, but at the moment, only these specific symptoms are clear indicators of Covid and would require a test to be arranged.

So, you must:

• Let school know if your child or anyone in your family bubble has symptoms - that person must stay at home
• Book a test
• Inform school of the result of the test
• If your child tests POSITIVE then you must keep them at home (your family bubble needs to isolate for 14 days) their school bubble will close for 14 days
• If the test is negative you must let school know and email a screenshot of the test result for our records which we will keep in our secure files until the pandemic is over
• If NEGATIVE then your child can return to school the next school day 

If your child begins to display symptoms in school, then staff will:

• Take their temperature so we can give you that information
• Isolate them and support them so they do not feel worried
• Contact you and ask you to collect them immediately
• Ask you to book a test and inform us of the results
• If your child tests POSITIVE then you must keep your child at home (your family bubble needs to isolate for 14 days) and their school bubble will close for 14 days
• If the test is negative you must let school know and email a screenshot of the test result for our records which we will keep in our secure files until the pandemic is over
• If NEGATIVE then your child can return to school the next school day

Given the serious nature of the virus and the need to keep school open, we need you to commit to come and collect your child immediately should we report that they are displaying symptoms.

Testing

We have been made aware that children with COVID-19 symptoms are being turned away from local test sites as they struggle to cope with demand.  Please keep trying to book a test for you or your child, as more tests do become available through the day. 

• Essential workers www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-essential-workers 
• Members of the public, including children: www.nhs.uk/coronavirus                      or call 119 if you have no internet access

If despite trying, you are unable to get a test please contact school.

Please note that unless advised otherwise, only people who present with any of the three main symptoms of COVID-19 should be tested. 

Testing must be conducted within the first 5 days of the onset of symptoms. 

If needed you can access

•   NHS Online symptom checker: 111.nhs.uk/covid-19/
• If a child is unwell, it is essential that they access appropriate healthcare and clinical assessment, through 111, the local GP or hospital if required.
• NHS services are open and ready to care for patients

Hygiene

• Wash hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds, using soap and water
• For coughs and sneezes: catch it, bin it, kill it
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces more often than usual using standard cleaning products

Social distancing

• Limit contact with other people
• Stay 2 metres apart from people where possible
• Wash your hands regularly
• Self-isolate if you or anyone in your household has symptoms

Travel

• Avoid using public transport
• Travel on foot or by bicycle if possible

Face coverings

• Should be worn by most people when in enclosed spaces, such as on public transport, in taxis, when visiting a hospital, in shops and supermarkets and whenever we are indoors with people who are not part of our household or bubble including when speaking to a member of school staff in school
• Should not be worn by children under the age of 3 and are not required for children under the age of 11
• Are not required where there is a legitimate reason for someone not to wear one, such as a physical or mental impairment or disability

Runny noses and sore throats

As children return to settings after the prolonged break, colds and similar viral infections are likely to circulate.  Children with simple cold symptoms such as runny noses or sore throats without fever who would normally have attended school or childcare in other times should not be tested for COVID-19, and can attend the setting if they feel well enough to do so.