1 Feb 2022

Covid-19 Infection Control Measures – February 2022

by | posted in: COVID-19 News & Information |

Testing, Isolation and Managing Confirmed Cases of Covid-19

Children and Adults with Symptoms of Covid-19

  • Children and adults must not come to school if they have any symptoms of Covid-19
  • Children and adults will be sent home if they develop symptoms of Covid-19
  • Children and adults with symptoms of Covid-19 must undertake a PCR test
  • Children and adults must not return to school until they have a negative PCR test result or their self-isolation period has expired ( see NHS guidance When to self-isolate and what to do )

Children developing Covid-19 symptoms at School

  • Children developing symptoms of Covid-19 will be moved to the school library to isolate
  • School office will call parents of children with Covid-19 symptoms to advise that they must be collected from school
  • Parents must be contactable so that they can collect children from school if required
  • Parents must collect children from school as soon as possible if required

PCR Tests

  • Children or staff with symptoms of Covid-19 must stay at home and take a PCR test
  • PCR tests can be booked via the NHS testing website
  • Staff must advise school of any positive test results as soon as possible
  • Parents must advise school of any positive test results as soon as possible
  • School Office to contact parents regarding test results within 24 hours of a child going home with symptoms
  • NHS Test and Trace will contact individuals if they have been in close contact with a positive case and advise them to take a PCR test
  • In the event of a positive test result, school will inform the Local Authority and send a ‘Warn and Inform’ letter to parents
  • As part of the NHS Test and Trace programme, if multiple cases are detected within a cohort or in the wider setting, Public Health England’s local health protection teams will conduct a rapid investigation and advise school on the most appropriate action to take
  • School will put in place a Contingency Plan to ensure education continues with minimal disruption.

Isolation

  • Children and adults are required to self-isolate if:
    • they have any symptoms of Covid-19, even if they are mild:
      • a high temperature
      • a new, continuous cough
      • a loss or change to sense of smell or taste
    • they have tested positive for Covid-19
    • someone they live with has symptoms or tested positive (unless they are not required to self-isolate – see: When to self-isolate and what to do
    • they have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace following contact with someone who tested positive
  • For further details see: When to self-isolate and what to do

Asymptomatic Testing

  • Staff are strongly encouraged to take LFTs twice a week (Weds and Sun)
  • Anyone testing positive on a LFT must self-isolate for 10 full days. However they can leave self-isolation after 5 full days if certain conditions are met. See When to self-isolate and what to do for more detail
  • Parents and volunteers visiting school are requested to take a LFT before entering the building
  • Children and staff who are identified as ‘close contacts’ of a positive case of Covid-19 are requested to take LFTs for 7 days from contact
  • Staff should inform Phil AND Tina if they are identified as a close contact

 

Ventilation, Cleaning and Hygiene

Ventilation

  • Classroom doors and windows to be open whenever possible to provide ventilation
  • Doors and windows to be opened in offices and shared areas wherever possible to provide ventilation
  • CO2 monitors to be checked regularly through the day to assess ventilation
  • Outdoor learning to take place where possible

Hygiene

  • Adults to use hand sanitiser when entering building
  • Adults to wash hands for 20 seconds frequently
  • Parents to provide children with clean, filled water bottles daily
  • Parents to teach and remind children about hand washing
  • Teachers to teach and remind children about hand washing
  • Teachers to schedule supervised hand washing/sanitisation on arrival, after play, before lunch and after lunch, using shared equipment
  • Teachers to ensure children are bringing fresh water bottle daily
  • Children to have their own frequently used equipment (e.g. pens, pencils, rulers and rubbers)
  • Years 2-6 children to use “toilet stick” system

Cleaning

  • Staff to ensure regular supply of soap and paper towels for all classrooms and toilets
  • School cleaner to clean shared high contact areas and toilet sticks daily 11:30-13:30
  • School cleaner to check and replenish soap, sanitiser and paper towels daily 11:30-13:30
  • Classrooms to be kept clear of clutter to enable cleaning
  • KS2 classroom staff to clean tables before lunch

Social Distancing

Parents in School

  • Parents must make an appointment before entering school buildings but should maintain social distance
  • Parents who need to come to School Reception can enter through the front door but should maintain social distance

Drop-off

  • School gates to open from 08.40, children to arrive by 08.55
  • Parents to drop Reception and Year 1 children at external classroom doors and observe one-way system
  • If possible, parents to drop Years 3-6 children at school gate. If necessary parents may accompany children to their external classroom door and observe the one-way system (e.g. at the start of term, if the child is anxious or the parent needs to speak to the teacher)
  • Parents of Years 2-6 children should and observe one-way system and leave school via the pedestrian exit through the car park
  • Children to enter classrooms through external doors

Pick-up

  • School finishes at 15.00 daily
  • Parents can collect children from outside of their classrooms and observe one-way system
  • School gates will open at 14.55
  • Parents are advised not to congregate in large groups outside of classrooms
  • Children should be ready to leave school, with their coats and bags, at the end of the day
  • Years 2-6 children and parents to leave school though the pedestrian exit through the car park
  • Parents are requested to leave school as soon as they have collected their children

School Day

  • Staff should continue to observe social distancing with each other
  • Children will broadly remain in their year groups throughout the school day.
  • At break, children will be allowed to visit friends or siblings in other year group provided they tell an adult
  • Children should normally enter and exit their classrooms through the external doors
  • Some small assemblies will resume in the Hall but others will continue on Zoom
  • Staff should avoid creating crowded spaces, e.g. the staffroom
  • Staff should wear face coverings in face to face meetings if they are unable to observe social distancing

Lunch Time

  • Reception and Year 1 Children will eat their lunch in the School Hall
  • Years 2-6 children will collect their lunch from the Hall and eat in their classrooms