Revised Covid guidelines
Happy New Year everyone! We hope you have all had a lovely Christmas holiday and enjoyed time with your families.
The Department for Education has issued revised guidance for schools as follows:
Information on the changes to the self-isolation period for individuals who test positive for COVID-19
Since Wednesday 22 December, the 10 day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 has been reduced to 7 days in most circumstances, unless you cannot test for any reason.
Individuals may now take LFD tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to your education setting from day 8.
Daily testing for close contacts of COVID-19
People who are fully vaccinated, or children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months, identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should take an LFD test every day for seven days and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time. (If you are not able to take Lateral Flow tests daily, then we request that close contacts of people with Covid should isolate, due to how easily transmitted the Omicron variant is.)
If possible, as a precaution, please carry out LFTs on your children on the morning of Thursday 6th January, or prior to their return to school. Thank you for your support and co-operation. Let's hope 2022 is a healthier one for us all