If your child or a member of their household has symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19), they MUST stay home and self-isolate and you MUST inform the school immediately.

What happens if a child or staff member shows symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19)?  (see symptoms below)

When a child or staff member develops symptoms compatible with coronavirus (Covid-19), they will be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 7 days. Their fellow household members should self-isolate for 14 days from when the first person in their home started having symptoms.

Where the child or staff member shows symptoms, the rest of their group/bubble within the school will be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days. The other household members of that wider group/bubble do not need to self-isolate unless the child, young person or staff member they live with in that group subsequently develops symptoms.

Can children be tested for the virus?

All staff and children will have access to a test if they display symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19).  Members of their household are also eligible.  If the child or staff member showing the symptoms are tested and this comes back negative the group / bubble can return to school.  We will encourage testing so the group / bubble have the information they need swiftly.

As part of the national test and trace programme, if other cases are detected within the child’s cohort or in the wider education setting, Public Health England’s local Health Protection Teams will conduct a rapid investigation and will advise our school on the most appropriate action to take. In some cases, a larger number of other children and young people may be asked to self-isolate at home as a precautionary measure - perhaps the whole class, site or year group.

Accurate contact numbers and parents must be available

We must be able to contact parents swiftly during this time.  Please ensure you have your mobile with you and turned on whilst your child is at school and that we have the most current contact numbers.

What are the main symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19)?

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a 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)
• a 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

Thank you again for all your support at this time.  Take care and stay safe. 

Anna Cvijetic (Headteacher) and Governors of Berkeley Primary School