Dear Parents and Carers,
I would like to wish you a warm welcome back to Beaufort School after the summer break.
As you will be aware, there have been changes to the guidance on how schools operate and manage COVID-19 from the Department of Education and Public Health England.
At Beaufort School, we have conducted our own risk assessments and the following covid guidance needs to be followed, some of which goes
further than the national guidance to protect our pupils, families,
and staff. We hope to avoid any outbreaks and ask families to support us in the approaches.
Our latest COVID-19 Risk Assessment and Outbreak Management Plan will be posted onto the school website as soon as possible for your information.
I would also like the opportunity to answer some questions that you may have as your child comes back into school. We have added our own control measures which may be considered above and beyond the recommendations from the DFE and Public Health England. This is due to the complex needs of many of our pupils. Often these are medical needs. COVID-19 may pose additional risks to those pupils and we have a duty to add extra measures where appropriate.
Please read the below information to reassure yourselves that the school is continuing to take the threat of COVID-19 seriously
Yours Sincerely,
M.Wright
If my child has symptoms, can they come to school?
No. They should remain at home. The child with symptoms should get
a PCR test. If positive, they will need to self-isolate for a full 10 days. If
negative and they are well, they can then return to school.
If someone else in the household has symptoms, can my child come to school?
Yes, the child can continue to attend school if they have no symptoms.
The person with symptoms should get a test and should self-isolate while they wait for the result.
If someone in the household tests positive, can my child come to school?
No – not straight away. At Beaufort, we are adding the following enhanced measure:
Children should stay off school and get a PCR test. If the test is negative, they can return to school if they have no symptoms. Please note: This is an enhanced measure based on the school risk assessment to protect pupils and staff.
If my child is identified as a close contact from the community, can they come to school?
Yes, if they do not have symptoms. The child should get a PCR test straight away. Although they can continue coming to school, parents may prefer to keep the child off until the PCR result comes back.
If someone in the class has symptoms, what happens?
The child will be sent home and must get a PCR test and self-isolate while waiting for the results. The other children in the class will continue to attend school.
If someone in the class tests positive, what happens?
That child will self-isolate for 10 days and the family should receive a
call from NHS test and trace.
At Beaufort, we are adding the following enhanced measure: Staff will identify ‘high risk contacts’; these are children who have had very close or prolonged close contact with the child who has tested positive. This is likely to be children who the positive case sits next to on a regular basis. We will ask these parents to take their children for a PCR test and these children should remain off school while waiting for the result. All other children in the class can continue to attend school, unless they are clinically extremely vulnerable, or their individual risk assessment informs us that they should remain at home. Parents will be informed that there is a positive case in the class and should remain vigilant to any developing symptoms for their child.
Does my child need to take regular lateral flow tests?
No, this is not a requirement for Primary schools, however, if your
families would like to do this then that is fine. We would encourage all
adults to take regular (twice a week) lateral flow device tests to help
identify early onset of covid.
What happens if lots of children at school tests positive?
If this happens, we will involve our local health protection team and
they will advise us if any additional action is required, such as
implementing elements of our outbreak management plan. This may
include wider testing or targeted closures of certain groups or classes.
What happens if the staff member tests positive?
The staff member will self-isolate for 10 days. They children will either
be taught by a cover member of staff or supply teacher, If the teacher is well enough, they may be able to teacher remotely into the classroom. If the teacher is unwell, they will not be teaching remotely and will be resting and recovering.
If my child is self-isolating, will they get work?
Yes. We will implement our remote education plan for any child self-isolating at home and if they are well enough, we will expect them to
complete all work set and submit this via Class Dojo. Staff will liaise
with parents as appropriate.
Will children be in bubbles?
Although no longer a requirement, we have arranged for classes to be included in a ‘Team’ of two classes. This should allow the school to effectively cope with staff and/or pupils having to isolate. Transport for those pupils who are entitled to school transport, will resume in September, but they will not be grouped in ‘bubbles’ This may change if the school outbreak management plan is initiated.
Will school let us know if there is a positive case?
We will aim to keep parents informed and contact those directly
affected by a positive case.
If a parent has been a close contact and is not required to self-isolate (double vaccinated) can they still bring children to school?
Yes, but be we would ask that you take some additional precautions.
As well as getting a PCR test, we ask that you:
- Wear a mask on the school site
- Keep physical distance from other families and staff
- NHS suggest limiting close contact with other people outside your household, especially in enclosed spaces
- wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and where you are
- unable to maintain social distancing
- limiting contact with anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable
- taking part in twice weekly LFD testing
- This advice applies while the person who tested positive with COVID-19 is self-isolating.
Will school be inviting parents and/or visitors on to the school site?
We will be keeping site visits to a minimum. Many meetings that used to be on-site can now be done effectively through digital technology. This will continue where possible. If visitors do have to come into the building, we will be asking them to provide us with proof of a negative Lateral Flow Test.
In all circumstances – please keep school updated about any symptoms, close contacts, or positive cases.
If you have any other questions, please get in touch.