Letter for Parents and Carers - Outbreak Non-Contact Letter

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09/11/2021

Dear Parent/Carer,

New measures in response to an outbreak of Covid-19

There is currently an outbreak of Covid-19 in Halesbury School. As communicated with you previously, when necessary, local authorities can introduce local measures to reduce transmission in settings and help keep students and staff safe.

Therefore, in response to the outbreak in our setting, Dudley Public Health advise that the following measures are now introduced:

1. Facemasks are worn in communal areas where social distancing cannot be maintained (this applies to staff and visitors in primary schools and staff, students and visitors in secondary schools)

1. Any child identified as a close contact of a positive case within the school, by NHS Test & Trace or the school in conjunction with Dudley Public Health must undertake a PCR test* and should not attend the setting until the result is known. If the result is positive, they should isolate for 10 full days, in line with the guidance. If the result is negative, they can return to school and are encouraged to undertake daily Lateral Flow Tests* for 7 days after the date of the PCR test. For information on how to access lateral flow test kits visit www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

1. Any child that has a positive case in their household (e.g. sibling or parent), must undertake a PCR test and should not attend the setting until the result is known. If the result is positive, they should isolate for 10 full days, in line with the guidance. If the result is negative, they can return to school and are encouraged to undertake daily Lateral Flow Tests* for 7 days after the date of the PCR test. For information on how to access lateral flow test kits visit www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

*only applicable to those 5 years of age and over

Please note if your child has tested positive within the last 90 days they are exempt from testing unless they have new symptoms. They can continue to attend school as normal, however there maybe situations where this is not possible due to staff capacity. You will be kept informed if this arises.

You will need to inform us of your child’s result(s) by emailing covidtestresults@halesbury.dudley.sch.uk, or contacting the school office. If you do not undertake a PCR test for your child when requested, we can take the decision to refuse your child’s attendance on the grounds that they could be positive. It is reasonable to refuse attendance without the PCR test result, as it is necessary to protect other pupils and staff from possible infection. Therefore, your child would be required to isolate from school for 10 days, without a negative PCR result.

We hope that you support this guidance and work with us to help avoid further spread within our community.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Kulyk

Head Teacher