Parents/carers will need to be ready and willing to book a test if they are displaying symptoms. Pupils must not come into the school if they have symptoms, and must stay at home to self-isolate if they develop them in school. All children can be tested, including children under 5, but children aged 11 and under will need to be helped by their parents/carers if using a home testing kit

Parents/carers will need to be ready and willing to provide details of anyone they have been in close contact with if they were to test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or if asked by NHS Test & Trace

Parents/carers will need to be ready and willing to self-isolate if they have been in close contact with someone who develops coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or someone who tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19)

Parents/carers are asked to inform the school immediately of the results of a test

If someone tests negative, if they feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus (COVID-19), they can stop self-isolating. They could still have another virus, such as a cold or flu – in which case it is still best to avoid contact with other people until they are better. Other members of their household can stop self-isolating

If someone tests positive, they should follow the ‘stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection’ and must continue to self-isolate for at least 7 days from the onset of their symptoms and then return to school only if they do not have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell/taste. This is because a cough or anosmia can last for several weeks once the infection has gone. The 7-day period starts from the day when they first became ill. If they still have a high temperature, they should keep self-isolating until their temperature returns to normal. Other members of their household should continue self-isolating for the full 14 days.

Public health advice regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19):

All schools are receiving daily updates from the Department for Education. Parents/carers, please familiarise yourself with the latest advice on what to do if you or your child(ren) become unwell. Click here for more Coronavirus advice from the NHS and Government.

The importance of hygiene: Protect yourself and others 

• Personal hygiene is the most important way we can tackle COVID-19, especially washing hands more; and the catch it, bin it, kill it strategy for those with coughs and sneezes.  
• Wash your hands more often for 20 seconds with soap and hot water. 
• In addition to hand-washing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, both children and staff should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport. 

Teach young children how to wash their hands with the NHS handwashing song:

Links to support pupils and staff with anxieties

Anna Freud: Self-Care and Coping Strategies
https://www.annafreud.org/selfcare/

BBC: How to protect your mental health
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51873799    
 
CBBC: Video and Questions
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51861089 
 
ChildMind: Talking to Children
https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/

Children’s Mental Health-NHS

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/childrens-mental-health/

COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing