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Dear Parent/Carer

I write to inform you that one of our Year 10 students has unfortunately tested positive for (COVID-19) today.

We have sought guidance from the Department of Education today. The Year 10 student has mixed within their year group bubble to allow successful completion of their GCSE studies.

The Department of Education have therefore advised me that all Year 10 students at Easthampstead Park Community School must self-isolate at home for 14 days, starting from 16th November when the student was last in school. Your son/daughter must now self-isolate at home up to and including Monday 30th November. They will be able to return to school on Tuesday the 1st of December if they are well.

We have already planned for such an event and our Year 10 students will be able to access our online learning provision from 19th November.  My hope is that we can have this available for our students by lunchtime on 19th November and we will email you to inform you when it goes live. Students will need to access their Google environment as was the case with the first lockdown provision.

We have previously shared details of our remote learning offer and this can be accessed on the school’s website.

The guidance from the DfE on such action and next steps is clarified below:

We are asking you to do this to reduce the further spread of (COVID-19) to others in the community. If your child is well at the end of the 14 days period of self-isolation, then they can return to usual activities.

Other members of your household can continue normal activities provided your child does not develop symptoms within the 14-day self-isolation period.

Please see the link to: Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person.

What to do if your child develops symptoms of (COVID-19).

  • If your child develops symptoms of (COVID-19), they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
  • All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.  Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.

Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

If you are able, you can move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

Please see the link to:

Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection

Symptoms of (COVID-19).

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

  • New continuous cough and/or
  • High temperature and/or
  • A loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111

Check if you or your child has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms by phoning 111.

 How to stop (COVID-19) spreading.

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with (COVID-19).

 Do

  • Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
  • Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • Wash your hands as soon as you get home
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Further information is available at – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

Thank you for bearing with us whilst we endeavour to ensure our provision and support for our young people remains secure. All other year groups are to attend school as normal.

Yours sincerely

 Liz Cook, Headteacher

Covid 19 – Letter to Parents of Year 10 18.11.2020