Covid 19 Pupil Absence Guide

What to do if…

Action Needed

Return to school when…

…my child has Covid-19 symptoms, the most common of which are any one or more of the following:

• High temperature
• Persistent cough (coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours)
• A loss or change in sense of taste or smell

- Do not come to school

- Contact school to inform us

- Self-isolate the whole household, including adults and all siblings

 - Get a test

 - Inform the school immediately about the test result

…the test comes back negative or a period of 10 days has passed since the symptoms started, and the child feels well.

For siblings and the rest of the family, self-isolation must continue until a negative test result or until 14 days have passed, unless they have also become unwell over this time, as it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear.

…my child tests positive for Covid-19

- Do not come to school

- Contact school to inform us

- Agree an earliest date for possible return (minimum of 10 days)

- Self-isolate the whole household,  including all  siblings

…10 days have passed since symptoms began, and the child feels well, even if they still have a cough or loss of taste/smell. (These symptoms can last for several weeks)

…my child tests negative

- Contact school to inform us

- Discuss when your child can come back (same day/next day)

…the test comes back negative  AND the child feels well

…my child is ill with symptoms not linked to Covid-19

- Do not come to school

- Contact school to inform us

- Ring on each day of illness

…when the child feels well, or for stomach upsets, after 48 hours following the last bout of sickness and/or diarrhoea (as per our usual  policy)

… I am unable to get a test for someone in the household who has symptoms

If you are not able to get a test in the first 5 days of having symptoms, your child and anyone they live with must stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days. Anyone in your support bubble must also stay at home

…the child has completed 14 days of isolation and has remained well over that time.

…someone in my household has Covid-19 symptoms

- Do not come to school

- Contact school to inform us

- Self-isolate the whole household including all siblings

 - Household member to get a test

 - Inform school immediately about test result

…the test comes back negative and the child feels well.

…someone in my household tests positive for Covid-19

- Do not come to school

- Contact school to inform us

- Agree an earliest date for possible return (minimum of 14 days)

- Self-isolate the whole household including all siblings

…the child has completed 14 days of isolation and remained well over that time.

…NHS test and trace has identified my child as a close contact of somebody with symptoms or confirmed Covid-19

- Do not come to school

- Contact school to inform us

- Agree an earliest date for possible return (minimum of 14 days)

…the child has completed 14 days of isolation and has remained well over that time

…NHS test and trace has identified a household member (other than my child) as a close contact of somebody with symptoms or confirmed Covid-19

- The household member must self-isolate for 14 days

- Child can continue to attend school

- If the person contacted through NHS test and trace does not have symptoms of COVID 19, other people in the household do not need to self-isolate at home with them

…child can continue to attend school

… a sibling attending another school has been sent home to self-isolate due to there being a positive case in their bubble/school.

- Sibling from other school must self-isolate for 14 days

- The Meads Primary School child(ren) can continue to attend

…child can continue to attend school

…my child’s bubble is closed due to a Covid-19 outbreak in school

- Child must not come to school

- Support your child at home with remote education provided by your school

- Your child will need to self-isolate for 14 days

- Other siblings may continue to attend school

…school inform you that the bubble will be reopened

… my child has travelled back from a country or territory that is NOT on the exempt list of countries

If returning from a destination where quarantine is needed*:

-  minimum of 14 days self-isolation for all those who travelled

- contact school to inform us you are back in the country and we will agree an earliest date for possible return to school

 - Self-isolate the whole household

*Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) – for up to date travel information

…the quarantine period of 14 days has been completed.

… my child has travelled abroad from a country or territory that IS on the exempt list of countries

If returning from a destination where quarantine is NOT needed:

- Check the current Exempt countries and territories list to confirm the country you have travelled from or through is on the exempt list

- Ring school to inform us you have returned to the UK and agree a return date to school

… you have informed the office of your return to the UK (the office may ask you a few questions about your travel)

…I have travelled from a country that requires us to quarantine (but my child didn’t travel)

- As long as you do not have / have not had symptoms in the last 14 days, your child can continue to attend school

- The person who has travelled MUST NOT leave the house, including to do pick-ups and drop offs (please contact school if you need support getting your child to school)

…child can continue to attend school