Whitehill Primary School & Nursery
Developing confidence, ambition and independence through the highest aspirations for all

Covid 19

As you may be aware, Plan B measures remain in place until they are reviewed at the end of this month. The Department for Education (DfE) have updated the Covid-19 guidance for schools for the start of this term.

Covid Testing

Primary school children are not required to test regularly, however if your child displays any symptoms of Covid-19 they will need to be tested in line with wider government guidance. Staff will continue to test twice a week. We ask that any visitors needing to enter the school building take a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test prior to attendance and ensure that it is negative.

Face-to-face learning

Keeping schools open for face-to -face learning is a priority and we will be doing everything we can to keep classes in school and to maintain the quality of education that we can offer. With higher staff absences predicted, this may not always be possible, however we will be following advice and guidance from DfE and Public Health England. We will always act in the best interests of children at the school with the resources at our disposal.

Covid mitigation measures

We continue to encourage good hand hygiene, ventilation in classrooms and offices, halls and corridors. All staff will continue to wear masks in communal spaces. Primary school children are not required to wear face coverings in school.

Work for children needing to isolate will be signposted at the time.

Isolation following a positive test

Isolation periods for those who have tested positive for Covid-19 have been reduced from 10 days to 7 days if 2 negative lateral flow tests are undertaken on day 6 and 7. The diagram overleaf helps explain how the isolation periods now operate. Children who would rather not (or are unable to)test on days 6 and 7 need to remain in isolation for the full 10 day period. If your child is returning to school after day 7 please confirm the negative LFD tests with the main school office.

Children (and vaccinated adults) who have been in close contact with someone who has a positive test are expected to take LFD tests for the first 7 days after contact, but can attend school if these tests are negative.

Please follow the advice of the NHS test and trace service if you are contacted.

Please continue to follow the one way system at the end of the school day, socially distance yourself from other parents and wear a face covering if you are able to.

Our aim is to keep both children and staff safe and the school functioning as normally as possible. Thank you for doing your bit in helping meet this aim and for your support over the coming term.