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• Information for Parents regarding COVID19 Contact Tracing over the Christmas Holiday perio

  Tue 15 Dec 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  I am writing to clarify the expectations around reporting cases of COVID19 and undertaking contact tracing over the Christmas holiday period.

   

  As you know schools have played a vital role in reducing the spread of COVID19 over the last 9 months. One way in which they have done this is by undertaking contact tracing on behalf of the Essex Contact Tracing team. They identify any individuals who have been in close contact at school with someone who has tested positive for COVID19, during the time that is considered the contagious period. This is from 2 days before the person’s symptoms are displayed. Those individuals are then required to self-isolate for 10 days because they are at risk of having contracted COVID19 and being contagious themselves.

   

  This contact tracing will not be taking place in the usual way during the Christmas break when schools are closed and there is less chance of school-based contacts existing.

  Please follow the guidance below if your child begins to show symptoms of COVID19 during the Christmas break.

  If your child develops symptoms of COVID19 within 48 hours of being in school

  You must seek a test for your child and the household must isolate at home until the test result is returned. You should let the school know that this has occurred.

  The quickest way to obtain a test is to book a test at your local testing centre via https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. Please do not use postal tests unless absolutely necessary as these take longer.

  If the test result is positive for COVID19, you must inform the school, who will identify if there are any other individuals within the school community who are impacted by this.

  If the test result is negative, you should inform the school and you do not need to take any further action.

   

  *Please note new email address.

  You should contact the school on covidinfo@milwards.essex.sch.uk 

   

  Emails will be checked between the hours of 10-11am and 3.30-4.30pm

  You must provide the following:

  • Name
  • date of symptoms starting
  • date test result received
  • Please provide evidence of this result.

   

  If your child develops symptoms of COVID19 more than 48 hours after their last day in school

  You must seek a test for your child and the household must isolate at home until the test result is returned.

   

  If the test result is positive for COVID-19, having developed symptoms more than 48 hours since being in school, (Monday 21^st December onwards) you must contact NHS Test and Trace and follow the advice given by them:

  www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/

   

  You should contact the school if your child will be absent, in time for the first day of the new term.

   

  If your child has no symptoms of COVID19 but tests positive within 48 hours of being in school

  It is important to follow the guidance around accessing a test only when the individual is showing signs of COVID19. However, if your child is asymptomatic and returns a positive test result within 48 hours of last being in school, please let the school know straight away.

  *Please note new email address

  You should contact the school on covidinfo@milwards.essex.sch.uk 

   

  Emails will be checked between the hours of 10:00 -11:00am and 3:30 - 4:30pm

  You must provide the following:

  • Name
  • date of symptoms starting
  • date test result received
  • Please provide evidence of this result.

  If you are contacted by the school because your child is identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID19, they must self-isolate for 10 days.

  I would encourage you to adhere to social distancing and all COVID19 social mixing guidance for the remainder of term to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus as the last thing we want is anyone being unwell or required to self-isolate over the holiday period.

   

  Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing support.

   

  Yours sincerely

  Linda Chesworth

  Head Teacher

• Parent letter

  Tue 15 Dec 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  New Term  - Change of Start Date Arrangements

   

  Monday 4^th January 2021 - A Remote Learning Day at Home

   

  I am writing to advise you that on Monday 4^th January the children should remain at home for a

  remote learning day. Teachers will provide work for the children to do at home on this day.

   

  Children will return to school as normal on Tuesday 5^th January 2021.

  The reason for this is to give the senior leadership team in the school the chance to review the COVID situation in terms of staffing and pupils at the beginning of term and to make plans for the school. The remote learning day is suggested by the Local Authority and supported by the Governing Body.

   

  COVID 19 Contact Tracing During the Christmas Holiday Period and

  New School COVID Email Address

   

  The DfE has asked schools to continue their role in COVID 19 Contact

  Tracing during the holiday up to 24^th December.

   

  Please see the attached letter with details. This is based on a model letter from the Local Authority.

  We have set up a new email address purely for COVID notifications.

   

  With immediate effect, please notify the school about all things COVID-symptoms/test results/isolations via this new email address below. Do not use the admin or welfare email addresses.

  Thank you.

   

  covidinfo@milwards.essex.sch.uk

   

   

  With best wishes,

   

  Linda Chesworth

  Head Teacher