FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE PERSON WITH PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

The last few months have often been challenging, particularly for parents and carers. Now that pupils have returned to school, I am writing to provide some advice if your child presents with symptoms of the common cold or similar bugs at this time.

Following the return of schools after a prolonged break, it is common for colds and similar viral infections to circulate. In many cases, children will be well enough to attend school and continue their learning with little or no interruption to their education.

In order to ensure your children do not miss out on their education, it is important to be clear about how COVID-19 symptoms differ from those of other infections that we normally see circulating at this time of year.

COVID-19 symptoms

It is important that all of us – including those who make up the community around a school - are vigilant for the symptoms of COVID-19 and understand what actions we should take if someone develops them, either at school or at home. The main symptoms to be aware of are:

• new continuous cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• fever/high temperature - this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste - this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

If a young person or a child in your care develops any of the above symptoms, they should self-isolate and you should book them a test as soon as possible at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/ or call 119.

While waiting for test results, your child and the rest of your household must remain in isolation. Please see additional Coronavirus attendance guidance for families and students.

Cold-like symptoms

If, however, your child does not have symptoms of COVID-19 but has other cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, they do not need to be tested and they and you do not need to self-isolate. Your child can go to school if fit to do so.

Where possible, please make decisions around your child’s health at home and do not leave it up to the school to determine whether your child has COVID-19 symptoms.

As we adjust to new rules and guidelines it must be said that our pupils have responded brilliantly and seem happy and glad to be back at school with their friends and teachers. The way they are conducting themselves around school is great and they should be commended for their behaviour and attitude.

Yours sincerely

Mr S Compton

Headteacher