COVID Symptoms – When to stay off school
Symptoms/potential cases of COVID-19
Any child or staff member who is feeling unwell MUST NOT come into school.
If your child (or member of the household) displays any of the recognised symptoms of Covid – 19 they should not be sent to school and you should ring to arrange a PCR test as soon as possible.
- New persistent cough
- High temperature
- Loss of taste or smell
If a child exhibits these symptoms in school, they will be immediately isolated, and you will be contacted to come and collect your child. We will expect that a test will be arranged to confirm the symptoms.
If there is a positive case of COVID in your household we politely request you let us know as your child will be a close contact.
The guidance says:
What is meant by a contact
A contact is a person who has been close to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. You can be a contact any time from 2 days before the person who tested positive developed their symptoms (or, if they did not have any symptoms, from 2 days before the date their positive test was taken), and up to 10 days after, as this is when they can pass the infection on to others. A risk assessment may be undertaken to determine this, but a contact can be:
- anyone who lives in the same household as another person who has COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19
- anyone who has had any of the following types of contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19:
- face-to-face contact including being coughed on or having a face-to-face conversation within one metre
- been within one metre for one minute or longer without face-to-face contact
- been within 2 metres of someone for more than 15 minutes (either as a one-off contact, or added up together over one day)
A person may also be a close contact if they have travelled in the same vehicle or plane as a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
If your child is a contact we strongly recommend you take them for a PCR test.
The guidance says:
Individuals are not required to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and any of the following apply:
- they are fully vaccinated
- they are below the age of 18 years and 6 months
- they have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
- they are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
Instead, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test. We would encourage all individuals to take a PCR test if advised to do so.
Staff who do not need to isolate, and children and young people aged under 18 years 6 months who usually attend school, and have been identified as a close contact, should continue to attend school as normal. They do not need to wear a face covering within the school, but it is expected and recommended that these are worn when travelling on public or dedicated transport.
If the PCR is negative they can continue to come to school as stated above, however, we again, strongly recommend that they take Lateral Flow Test each day for the 10 day period after they had contact to rule out if they are asymptomatic (not showing any symptoms).
Contact tracing letter to parents from DFE
Contact Tracing for Step 4 Onwards – Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Tracing for children and young people from 19 July 2021 – PowerPoint
Whinfield Protocol for Possible COVID-19 Symptoms – Parents
Risk Assessments
September 2021 – Whinfield Primary Whole School COVID 19 RA
17th May 2021 Whole School -COVID RA
27th April 2021 Whole School -COVID RA
23rd April 2021 Whole School -COVID RA
April 21 Whole School -COVID RA
March 21 Whole School -COVID RA
WHINFIELD – January 21 Whole School Additional Risk Assessment during Lockdown
Whole School -COVID RA – Updated 21.9.2020
COVID 19 Visitor Risk Assessment – July 2020
Durham Music Service Risk Assessments
Class-WCET-blown 2021-02-22 20_23_26
Class-WCET-Early Years RA 2020-10-16 16_01_35
Class-WCET-non-blown Peripatetic-tuition-all
Whole Class-singing 2021-02-22 20_26_41
Useful Links
- DFE Operational Guidance for Schools.
- DFE Contingency Framework for Schools
- When to
- Stay at Home Guidance
- Contact with a Positive COVID case Guidance
- Guidance for Childcare
- Get a COVID test
- DFE Guidance for Schools from 8th March 2021
- DFE Guidance for Parents and carers
- DFE Guidance for Parents and Carers of children attending our of school settings
Covid Routines
From September 2021 we will operate as year groups. This will mean that children from one year group will be taught together, play together, have lunch together etc. They can also enter and exit the school building together at set times.
Entering and leaving school
It is important that you know the start and end times of the school day.
When bringing your child to school we are continuing to advise:
- Only one adult to accompany children to school
- Adults to observe social distancing of 2m
- Adults to avoid congregating with other adults
- Children to be held by the hand and not allowed to run around the yard – Reception children
- If you need to speak to a member of staff, please telephone to arrange a call back
- If you have to speak to staff at the door or the fence, please ensure you keep the 2m distance
- You must bring your child into school during your allocated time slot
- Please check as some year groups continue to enter and exit through their external classroom doors
Start and end times for each year group are:
| Year Group | Start Time | Lunchtime | Collection Time | Door / Gate to be used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reception | 8.50am | 11.30 - 12.15 | 3.00pm | KS1 Playground & Reception classroom doors. |
| Year 1 | 9.00am | 12.30 - 1.15 | 3.10pm | Classroom doors |
| Year 2 | 8.50am | 12.00 - 12.45 | 3.00pm | Classroom doors |
| Year 3 | 8.55am | 11.50 - 12.35 | 3.05pm | Classroom doors |
| Year 4 | 8.50am | 11.30 - 12.15 | 3.00pm | ASDA gates |
| Year 5 | 9.00am | 12.40 -1.25 | 3.10pm | ASDA gates |
| Year 6 | 8.50am | 12.15 - 1.00 | 3.00pm | Front gates |
Attendance
Attendance at school is statutory so our usual attendance procedures will be applied. Please contact the office on the first day of absence by 9.00a.m. to inform us of the reason for your child’s absence.
PE Lessons
All children need to come to school on their PE day wearing their outdoor PE kit – they will not wear their school uniform that day. Please ensure your child has an outdoor kit: Black jogging bottoms, red PE T-shirt, sweatshirt/hoodie and trainers. PE takes place twice each week.
Home Learning
Should your child be required to self-isolate then Remote learning will be provided. We will not provide this if your child is at home due to illness.
On-line/home learning will not be provided during the school holidays. The year group email addresses will not be monitored over the holidays.
If you have an urgent or safeguarding concern, please contact Mrs Murray on 07469 402630 or the Children’s Services Front door on 01325 406222.
Additional Information
- Signage will continue to be provided around the school
- Visitors from other educational establishments or support services will be allowed in school to carry out their roles
- Please only come to the school office if it is urgent and can’t be dealt with through a telephone call or email
- Only one person in the entrance area at a time
- Parental helpers/volunteers will be reinstated as the year progresses
- Handwashing will remain a priority
- All children will be provided with their own pencil case with their own equipment to use
- As ventilation is extremely important classroom windows and doors will remain open so as the weather cools please send your child with a warm fleece or cardigan
- Outdoor learning will be promoted
- PPE will be worn by staff if administering first aid as they will be in close contact with the child
- The school will be cleaned regularly throughout the day
- Assemblies/parent/carer events will resume as the year progresses
- An act of collective worship will take place each day ie, in person in the hall, on Teams (whole school) or in individual class groups
- Currently children will still be discouraged from bringing bikes and scooters however, once we have rearranged the safe storage of these items we will be able to resume
- Each child can bring a named water bottle and lunchbox if required.
It is vital that all of the changes mentioned above are followed by the whole school community.
Your on-going support is greatly appreciated. Please view the GOV.uk website for further information.
Covid 19 support
- Think U Know – Keeping your child safe online
- The DISP Guide to Gaming Safely
- Support for Families
- Online Safety- Parental Controls
- Free School Meals Form
- Dave the Dog and Coronavirus
- Darlington Mind – Feeling Anxious
- Can we go outside to play Not Today
January 2021 National Lockdown
DFE updates guidance – restricting attendance during the national lockdown- click here
Previous frequently asked questions and answers.
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