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Covid-19

Following the lifting of all Covid-19 restrictions, the Government has issued guidance on living safely with respiratory infections:

Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Key messages remain that there are simple things you can do in your daily life that will help reduce the spread of Covid-19 and other respiratory infections and protect those at highest risk. Things government state you can choose to do are: 

  • Get vaccinated.
  • Let fresh air in if meeting others indoors. 
  • Practise good hygiene: wash your hands, cover your coughs and sneezes, clean your surroundings frequently.
  • Wear a face covering or a face mask. 

Key messages for schools:

Face Coverings 

Can help reduce the chance of you spreading infection to others, especially in crowded and enclosed spaces, and may protect you from becoming infected by some respiratory viruses. Those attending education or childcare settings will not normally be expected to wear a face covering.

Children who are symptomatic

  • Children (aged 18 years and under) with mild symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, slight cough) who are otherwise well, can attend school.
  • Children who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough to attend. 
  • All children and young people with respiratory symptoms should be encouraged to cover their mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when coughing and/or sneezing and to wash their hands after using or disposing of tissues. 

Testing

  • It is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
  • If they do and are positive children and young people should stay at home for 3 days. They can then resume normal activities if they feel well and do not have a temperature.
  • Testing kits are no longer free, other than for specific groups including eligible patients. Schools can no longer order or supply test kits.

Close Contacts

If you are a household or overnight contact of someone who has had a positive Covid -19 test result it can take up to 10 days for your infection to develop. It is possible to pass on Covid-19 to others, even if you have no symptoms. You can reduce the risk to other people by taking the following steps: 

  • Avoid contact with anyone you know who is at higher risk , especially those with reduced immune systems 
  • Limit close contact with people especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
  • Wear a face mask if you do need to have close contact with other people, or you are in a crowded place.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitiser.

Remote Education

  • It is no longer a legal duty to provide remote education. The guidance suggests schools maintain capabilities to deliver high quality education in some circumstances “as a short term measure and as a last resort.
  • TSAT will provide remote education for students off with Covid-19 for up to 5 days (a limited duration) from day 3 onwards of an absence. This is where the child is absent but is well enough to be educated (i.e infectious but well). We will not provide remote education for the first 2 days of absence.

What you can do to help us

  • Support us in promoting good hygiene in our schools. Ensure that your child continues to regularly wash their hands and follows the Catch It, Bin It, Kill It principles.
  • Continue to follow the latest guidance. Please use the government and NHS websites.

The government continue to encourage all eligible staff and students aged 12 and over to take up the offer of the vaccine, including boosters.To book a vaccination, please visit: Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination – NHS (www.nhs.uk).