Noticeboard
Actions being taken in school to manage Covid-19 with effect from 1st April 2022
Key Points in 1st April 2022 government guidance regarding when not to be in school
- Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend.
- Please continue to use CovidStudents@wilmslowhigh.com to inform us of these absences.
- Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.
FAQs prepared by Cheshire East Council in response to the 1st April government guidance
- Should adults and children with symptoms get a test?
Access to free testing has now ended. Anyone showing symptoms may take a test if they can, either from kits they have at home or by buying them but it is not mandatory and schools should not ask for evidence of a positive test. Schools will not be provided with routine test kits as these will only be provided for staff who work very closely with clinically vulnerable individuals who are at risk of serious illness
- How long should someone stay away from school who has symptoms but does not have a positive test?
Staff and children should not attend if they have a high temperature and/or feel too unwell to carry out their normal activities. They should return when their temperature is normal and they are well enough to carry out their normal activities.
- Can children attend school/setting if they have symptoms but no temperature?
Children with slight cough, sore throat or runny nose can attend as long as they are well enough to carry out normal activities and do not have a raised temperature.
In such cases, they should be supported to follow the advice re. respiratory hygiene such as coughing/sneezing into tissues and regular handwashing.
- How is the stay at home period counted for those who have a positive test?
For a person with a positive test, the stay at home period is 3 full days from the first symptom or positive test which is counted as day 0. For example, if a child has no symptoms but has a positive test on Monday then Tuesday is day 1, Weds day 2, Thurs day 3 and they can return on Friday if they are still well and their temperature is normal. For an adult with no symptoms the guidance period is 5 days, so in this example the period of isolation would end on the Sunday.
- Is a negative LFT needed before an individual can return to school/setting?
No – an individual can return after the advised number of days as long as they are well.
- Can a pupil or staff attend if they feel well and/or have no symptoms but have a positive test?
No, the guidance is clear that they should stay away for a set number of days, even if they are well and symptom free. They may be infectious during this time so coming into school/setting poses a high risk of passing the infection on to others.
- Will there be further access to test kits?
If there are high levels of absence which may be COVID related or if there are vulnerable individuals involved then further test kits may be issued after discussion with the COVID/Public Health teams.
- What advice can be given to staff and parents/carers on what to do if they have a respiratory infection, (including COVID-19)
Guidance for people with symptoms of respiratory infections, including COVID-19
Can you wear face coverings in school?
- Yes. We continue to permit students and staff to wear face coverings anywhere in school if they wish.
What other measures will we be using in school to reduce the spread of Covid-19?
We will continue with the following measures:
- promote good hand hygiene through use of the handwash stations and hand sanitiser dispensers around school
- keep indoor spaces well ventilated by opening windows and doors to enable the flow of fresh air
- encourage good corridor movement by maintaining the one-way system that we have developed
- keep year group social and food areas separate
- maintain the higher staffing levels within the Medical Needs and cleaning teams