October 2021 updates from the Department for Education

Re: Contact tracing and self-isolation in education and childcare settings 

As you may already know, education and childcare settings are no longer expected to conduct routine contact tracing. As with positive cases in any other setting, NHS Test and Trace will work with either the positive case – or in the case of children – the parents, carers or guardian of the positive case to identify close contacts.  

NHS Test and Trace already manages the contact tracing process for the rest of society – including children who have recorded a positive PCR test – and has expertise in supporting people to identify close contacts.  

This letter sets out in more detail below how that process will work and what you need to do if your child tests positive for COVID-19. 

Self-isolating and taking a test 

1.    If your child has COVID-19 symptoms, they should self-isolate, and you should immediately order a PCR test for them. If the PCR result is negative, they can stop self-isolating (unless instructed to self-isolate for other reasons). If the PCR result is positive, they must self-isolate until 10 days after the onset of symptoms. You should inform the education or childcare setting that your child has had a positive PCR test result.  

2.    If your child has a positive result from a lateral flow device (LFD) test, they should self-isolate – and you should inform their education or childcare setting. You should immediately order a confirmatory PCR test. If the confirmatory test is taken within two days and the result is negative, they can stop self-isolating (unless instructed to self-isolate for other reasons). If the confirmatory PCR test is positive (or is taken more than two days after the LFD), they must self-isolate until 10 days after the LFD test. 
 

1. PCR tests can be booked online through the NHS Test & Trace website or by calling 119.  
2. PCR test results will be recorded with NHS Test and Trace automatically, but you should also communicate the result to the education or childcare setting. 
    

Contact tracing 

1. If your child gets a positive PCR test result, NHS Test and Trace will contact you, using the details you registered when ordering the PCR test. You and/or your child will be asked a series of specific questions designed to identify who your child has been in close contact with. Being in an education or childcare setting with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will not necessarily mean a person is identified as a close contact.  

2. You will be asked to provide the contact details, if you know them, of any of the individuals – or their parents or guardians – who have been identified as close contacts. NHS Test and Trace will then get in touch with these close contacts and provide appropriate instructions or advice (see below). 

Self-isolation and/or testing of close contacts 

Individuals are not required to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and any of the following apply:    

• they are fully vaccinated  
• they are below the age of 18 years 6 months  
• they have taken part in, or are currently part of, an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial  
• they are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons  

Close contacts are strongly advised to take a PCR test. There is no requirement to self-isolate whilst awaiting that PCR test result and so individuals can continue to attend their education or childcare setting. If an individual is symptomatic, they should stay at home.  

Children who are aged under 5 years old and identified as close contacts are advised to take a PCR test only if the positive case is within their own household. 

If you are identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 but you are not required to self-isolate, you can help protect others by following the guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread. Additionally, Public Health England (PHE) Stay at home guidance details some further actions that close contacts may wish to take in addition to getting a PCR test. 

You may be eligible for a Test and Trace support payment provided you meet the relevant criteria. Further information can be found at GOV.UK//test-and-trace-support-payment. 

We recognise how difficult the past 18 months have been and the sacrifices that all families, education, and childcare settings have had to make. This has been an enormously challenging time for everyone, and we would like to take the opportunity to thank you for everything you have done. 

How we will reopen our school safely

Dear Parents and children,

As you know, we are constantly reviewing our situation, with safety being the priority. This page on our website is designed to let you know how we will be organising our school, so that we can welcome you back safely. We are really looking forward to seeing you all again and want you to know how we will be caring for you when you are with us.

We recognise that for some children, going back to school is a welcome return. However, for many children this will be a time of anxiety. We know it is vitally important to remember that each child will have had their own experience. We will provide an environment where children feel safe, welcome, all together and nurtured, which is underpinned with approaches that promote your children's readiness to learn.

To assist children with this step, we are sharing a short book online written and illustrated by Kezia Matthews from Shere Infant School and Nursery. We are asking parents/carers to read the book with their child before they come back to school. 

We hope you find the information in this page useful, and if you have any other questions please do not hesitate to give us a call (01325 300236).