Covid-19

Covid -19

You may still be requested to complete a lateral flow test (if available) on your child/children if they are displaying Covid-19 symptoms. 

If your child tests positive for Covid-19 you must inform the school using our covid 19 email address covid19@graftonprimary.co.uk 


· Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature and are well enough to attend.

· Adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice will be 3 days. The day your child/children test positive is Day 0. They will need to isolate for the next 3 days following on from this.

-Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with

someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal.

· Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.

Respiratory infections, including the common cold and COVID-19, are common in children and young people, particularly during the winter months. For most children and young people, these illnesses will not be serious, and they will soon recover following rest and plenty of fluids.  



Routine testing for Covid-19 ended in April 2022 and UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance says that it is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.  

But as the winter months kick in, your child may be showing symptoms that leave you wondering whether they can go to school.   

Attending school and college is hugely important for children and young people’s health, wellbeing and their future. Here’s what you need to know.  


Can my child go to school if they have Covid-19 symptoms?   


As COVID-19 presents a low risk to children and young people, combined with high vaccination rates in the population, there are no longer specific rules relating to it in schools, colleges, childcare and other education settings.  

Children and young people with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to go to school, college or childcare.  

However, those who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend.  

All children and young people with respiratory symptoms should be encouraged to cover their mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when coughing and/or sneezing and to wash their hands after using or disposing of tissues.  

It can be difficult to know when to seek help if your child is unwell. If you are worried about your child, especially if they are aged under 2 years old, then you should seek medical help.  



Updated -Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms in children


Symptoms of COVID-19 can include:

  • a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature 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
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
  • shortness of breath
  • feeling tired or exhausted
  • an aching body
  • a headache
  • a sore throat
  • a blocked or runny nose
  • loss of appetite
  • diarrhoea
  • feeling sick or being sick

The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu. Further information can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-resources-for-schools


If you need any further advice please email covid19@graftonprimary.co.uk  or telephone the school on 020 3727 5171 between the hours of 7.30 am and 4.30 pm.


Attendance

We would like to remind you that attendance at school is mandatory.  This means that the usual rules on school attendance apply, including:
  • parents’ duty to secure that their child attends regularly at school, where the child is a registered pupil at school and they are of compulsory school age;
  • schools’ responsibilities to record attendance and follow up absence
  • the availability to issue sanctions, including fixed penalty notices in line with local authorities’ codes of conduct
Punctuality
It is extremely important that children are brought to school on time. When pupils arrive late for school, they can miss out on learning time. They also feel unsettled and, most importantly, their lateness disturbs the rest of the class.
 Registers close 10 minutes after your child’s start time and if your child arrives after this time then they will be marked in as ‘Late’ in the register. Late marks are closely monitored by the attendance team.
Attendance and Covid-19
In order to keep our community safe and our school fully open, we would appreciate all parents/carers to remain cautious with regards to Covid-19 and keep us informed if a member of your household tests positive. 
The following reason is the only occasion when a child’s absence will be authorised in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic:
  • If a pupil is self-isolating because they have had symptoms of Covid-19  and have already received a positive test result themselves.
Please note that if your child is experiencing symptoms of Covid-19,  you may be required to take a lateral flow test before they return to school using the email address covid19@graftonprimary.co.uk 
Guidance around self-isolation has changed and children under the age of 18 no longer need to self-isolate if they have been in close contact with a positive case unless they have been specifically requested to by NHS Track and Trace. However, if a member of your household tests positive, we would appreciate it if you could inform the school.
We would like to remind you that if your child is required to self-isolate, then they must stay at home at all times. They must not be brought to the school to collect siblings and must not be allowed out to play with friends.
We completely understand that some parents will still have concerns regarding their child’s return to school, and so we would ask you to please contact a member of our Attendance team if you would like any further reassurance or if you have any questions.



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