Information for parents and/or guardians
We know how disruptive the last year has been for everyone. We want to keep your child in school as much as possible, but we also want to keep our schools and communities safe from the effects of COVID-19. Everyone has a role to play to if we are to achieve this and we kindly ask for your support.
As we continue to manage Covid-19 within our educational settings, we would like to remind you of some key information:
The three key symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- a high temperature: this means that they feel hot to touch on their chest or back
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 their sense of smell or taste: this means they’ve noticed they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
If your child is over the age of 5 years old and has any of these three key symptoms, or any other member of the household is showing these symptoms:
1. Do not send your child to school;
2. Arrange a PCR test for your child immediately. You can book a PCR test online through the NHS website at gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. Anyone else in your household should also isolate and take a PCR test.
3. Inform the school as soon as reasonably possible of the reason for your child’s absence (including any siblings).
If your child receives a positive result, please keep your child at home to isolate for 10 days and inform the school as soon as is reasonably possible as you would with any other absence.
Follow the rules set out at gov.wales/self-isolation. They must not return to school until their isolation period is over and they are 48hrs from fever. If the test is negative, your child can return to school as soon as they are 48hr free of acute symptoms.
If your child is under the age of 5 years old they should remain off school whilst they have symptoms. They must not return to school until recovered from acute symptoms and are well enough to do so. They should not take COVID-19 tests unless directed to do so by a doctor or if you believe a test is absolutely necessary and in the best interests of your child.
As the parent/guardian you will be contacted by Test Trace Protect either by SMS to complete an electronic tracing form online or by phone. Please ensure that you provide the details of the school attended, those who live in your household and those people who have had close contact with your child so that they can be advised appropriately (this will help us to prevent the virus from spreading). Please note that TTP no longer routinely notify schools of positive cases in order to obtain class contact lists.