Covid 19 Pupil Absence Guide
Covid 19 related pupil absence
A quick reference guide for parents and staff (September 2020)
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:
|
- 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 |