COVID-19 UPDATES

Date:  

As students in all year groups return to school full-time, we must ensure that we put in place a range of protective measures to reduce the risk of transmission.  We will also be engaging fully with the NHS Test & Trace process and will work closely with the local Health Protection Team of Public Health England and the local authority, to ensure that any confirmed cases are reported without delay.

Where there is a possible case of COVID-19 in College
If a student or member of staff develops symptoms of coronavirus, the individual concerned will be sent home and asked to self-isolate for 10 days.  They will be asked to arrange a test at the earliest convenience (either by visiting a test centre, or by requesting a home test kit) and to share the results with the school.

Our college website will be updated on a Monday and a Thursday, as a minimum, with the number of known students with symptoms of COVID-19 (a high temperature, new and persistent cough or a loss of, or change in normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)).  No individuals will be named and personally identifiable information will not be included.  All other students within the ‘bubble’ will be able to continue to attend school as normal.

Where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in College
If a student or member of staff tests positive for covid-19, the individual concerned will be asked to self-isolate for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared.

If they have tested positive whilst not experiencing symptoms, but develop symptoms during the isolation period, they should restart the 10 day isolation period from the day they develop symptoms.

Other members of their household or support bubble should self-isolate for 10 days from when the symptomatic person first had symptoms and should continue this period of isolation, even if they too have been tested and have received a negative test result.

The college will work with the Health Protection Team of Public Health England to carry out a risk assessment to determine who else, if anyone, also needs to isolate.

The parents/carers of other students within the bubble will be sent a letter to notify them of this situation and will be advised of any additional measures which are required.  Again, the individual will not be named and personally identifiable information will not be included.

What you can do
If your son/daughter, a household member or a member of your support bubble develops any of the following symptoms, we would ask that you notify the college immediately and arrange a test by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by phoning 119:

• a high temperature
• a new and persistent cough
• a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

If they receive a negative test result, they should not return to college until they have been asymptomatic for 48 hours.

Covid-19 – A Quick Guide for Parents/Carers

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support. If you have any concerns or questions about the Test and Trace process, please contact me and I will be happy to discuss further.

Karim Marsaoui
Head of The Oakes College at Netherhall

Email:  kmarsaoui@netherhallschool.org