COVID cases update

Dear parents and carers
I am writing to keep you updated with our recent situation with Covid. Our numbers of positive cases in both staff and students are starting to rise again.

As a school, since the national reduction of restrictions during February, we have continued to be vigilant and maintain group distancing, hand washing / hand gel procedures. In order to try to keep the rising number of cases to a minimum, we ask you to please keep your child at home and get PCR tested if they display any of the key Covid symptoms. If your child is unwell, in any way, we also recommend they remain at home until they feel better.

We will be sending home today with KS3, 4 and 5 students a 7 test box of lateral flow tests for you to continue to test your young person at home twice a week.

We will keep you informed, should we see any significant rise in cases throughout the school.

Kind regards
Tracy Felstead

COVID disruption to classes

Dear parents and carers

I am writing to inform you that we have a significant amount of covid positive cases across all areas of the school.

We are trying to minimise the impact on the students’ learning, however, there is likely to be some disruption to class groups; either moving to home learning (where we have teaching staff) or asking you to keep your child at home. We will give you as much notice as possible of any class closures.

Please remember, if your child shows any of the covid symptoms (headache, sore throat, runny nose, cough and high temperature), keep them at home and arrange a PCR test.

Thank you for your understanding during this demanding time.

Regards

Tracy Felstead

COVID-19 advice for parents/carers of Hedgehog, 4D and route 224

Dear parent or carer,

We have been made aware of confirmed positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) at school. We have followed the national guidance and, following a risk assessment with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advisers, have been informed that this may indicate an outbreak. This means that we are required to take additional actions to prevent further spread of infection.

Due to the number of cases in your child’s class/travel route we are advising they undertake daily rapid lateral flow device (LFD) testing each morning before they attend school until 24^th January 2022.

Whilst daily LFD testing is not mandated, it has been advised by the public health professionals as an additional supportive measure during this outbreak. We appreciate you supporting our joint effort of minimising the disruption to your child’s education and reducing the spread of COVID-19 in your community. LFD tests are available via community testing sites, local pharmacies or you can order online for home delivery.

LFD tests should only be used by people without symptoms of COVID-19. If your child’s LFD test is negative, and they remain without symptoms, they should attend school as usual. If the test is positive please inform us immediately by telephone, isolate at home and report online or by calling 119.

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive for COVID-19

Symptoms of COVID-19 are:

• a new, continuous cough, or
• a high temperature, or
• a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia).

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should get a PCR test (https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119 and remain at home at least until the result is known. This is the case even if they have previously tested negative on an LFD or PCR test.

• If negative, the child can end self-isolation and return to school once well (including at least 24 hours fever free without medication);
• If positive, the child should isolate as a positive case (see below)

People who test positive for COVID-19 should self-isolate at home until they are well (48 hours fever free) and either:

1. 10 full days have passed, or
2. They have produced two negative LFD tests at least 24 hours apart, with the first taken no earlier than day 6.

Note: Lingering coughs and changes to smell/taste are not a sign of ongoing infectiousness, so children can return to school if they have ended their self-isolation period (see above).

You can seek advice about COVID-19 symptoms from the nhs.uk website. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.

If the child has a positive test result but do not have symptoms, they should stay at home and self-isolate for 10 days from the date the positive test was taken. This isolation period will be extended if they go on to develop symptoms by counting 10 full days from the day following their symptom onset.

Instructions for people who live in the same household as someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is symptomatic awaiting a test result

NHS Test and Trace will contact you to check whether you are legally required to self-isolate. If you are not legally required to self-isolate, you will be provided with advice on testing, advised to take extra caution, and given guidance on preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable should be supported to minimise their contact with other people in the household during this period, regardless of whether others have symptoms or not.

You are not required to self-isolate if any of the following apply:

• You are fully vaccinated
• You are below the age of 18 years 6 months
• You have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
• You are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

Fully vaccinated means that you have been vaccinated with an MHRA approved COVID-19 vaccine in the UK, and at least 14 days have passed since you received the recommended doses of that vaccine (note this is currently under review and may be updated to include a booster dose in due course).

In line with national guidance for households with Covid-19 infection, household and other close contacts of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should undertake daily LFD testing for a period of 7 days or for 10 days from their last contact with the positive case (whichever is first). This is recommended for all close contacts aged 5 and over who are not required to isolate.

Children aged under 5 who are close contacts are not required to isolate and do not need to take part in daily testing of close contacts. If a child under the age of 5 lives with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 they will be advised to avoid contact with those at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19 and to take a one-off PCR test as soon as possible.

You are required to self-isolate if you are aged over 18 years and 6 months and if any of the following apply:

• You have received only one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
• You have not received any dose of the COVID-19 vaccination
• You are not otherwise exempt

Household members who need to self-isolate as close contacts should not go to work, school or public areas, and exercise should be taken within the home. You should ask friends or family if you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online. Please read the stay at home guidance which provides information on this.

Household members staying at home for 10 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

You could be fined if you do not self-isolate following a notification by NHS Test and Trace. You may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 through the NHS Test and Trace Support Payment scheme if you are required to stay at home and self-isolate, or you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate.

How to reduce spread of COVID-19 as a household contact who is not required to self-isolate

Even if you are vaccinated, you can still be infected with COVID-19 and pass it on to others. If you are identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 but you are not required to self-isolate, you can help protect others by following the guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections.

To reduce the spread of COVID-19 in your community:

• Test daily using LFDs for 7 days
• Limit close contact with other people outside your household, especially in enclosed spaces (when not in school)
• Wear a face covering for those aged 11 and over in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilates spaces and when you are in close contact with other people
• Limit contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with Covid-19
• Follow the guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You should follow this advice while the person in your household with COVID-19 is self-isolating.

If you are a health or social care worker or student undertaking a work placement who has been identified as a household contact and are exempt from self-isolation, there is additional guidance available that you should follow to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 in these settings.

If you develop symptoms at any time, even if these are mild, self-isolate immediately, arrange to have a COVID-19 PCR test and follow the guidance for people with COVID-19 symptoms.

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

How to stop coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading

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

• Get vaccinated – everyone aged 12 and over can book COVID-19 vaccination appointments now
• Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day
• 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
• Meet people outside and avoid crowded areas
• Open doors and windows to let in fresh air if meeting people inside
• Wear a face covering if aged 11 and over when it is hard to stay away from other people – particularly indoors or in crowded places
• Participate in twice weekly LFD testing following national guidelines (recommended for 11 years and over). We encourage you to log your results here: https://www.gov.uk/log-test-site-covid19-results

Further Information

Further information is available at

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Yours sincerely

Tracy Felstead

Headteacher

Positive COVID-19 cases within the school setting

Dear parents and carers

We have been advised by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) that there has been confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the school setting. We appreciate that you may find this concerning, so we are continuing to monitor the situation. We are working closely with UKHSA to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and minimise disruption to our students.

This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

What are we already doing?

Students and staff who have tested positive are isolating. The children/staff who are identified as contacts of the confirmed cases will have guidance from NHS Test and Trace.

Those aged five and above will be advised to take daily LFD tests before attending school for a period of 7 days. Outbreak control measures are also in place within the setting and being kept under review.

If your child is well

The school remains open. If your child remains well, they can continue to attend school as normal. We will keep this under review.

In addition to daily LFD testing for close contacts, we encourage household members aged 11 and over to continue with twice weekly LFD testing to help identify cases promptly.

If you think your child is a close contact but has not been contacted directly by NHS Test and Trace, then we would advise they undertake daily LFD tests for a period of 7 days. This advice applies to children aged 5 and over. Whilst daily testing for 7 days is your choice, it is strongly encouraged as it helps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in your community. (LFD tests are available via community testing sites, local pharmacies or you can order online for home delivery).

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive for COVID-19

If your child develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), they should get a PCR test (https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119) and remain at home at least until the result is known and they are fever free (without medication) for at least 24 hours.

• If negative, the child can end self-isolation and return to school once well;
• If positive, the child should isolate as a positive case (see below)

People who test positive for COVID-19 should self-isolate at home until they are well (48 hours fever free) and either:

1. 10 full days have passed, or
2. They have produced two negative LFD tests at least 24 hours apart, with the first taken no earlier than day 6.

Note: Lingering coughs and changes to smell/taste are not a sign of ongoing infectiousness, so children can return to school if they have ended their self-isolation period (see above).

If your child does not have symptoms, count the day they took the test as day 0. If they subsequently develop symptoms, they will need to restart their isolation period using the day symptoms developed as day 0.

You can seek advice on COVID-19 symptoms from the nhs.uk website. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.

Instructions for people who live in the same household as someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is symptomatic and awaiting a test result

NHS Test and Trace will contact you to check whether you are legally required to self-isolate. If you are not legally required to self-isolate, you will be provided with advice on testing, advised to take extra caution, and given guidance on preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable should be supported to minimise their contact with other people in the household during this period, regardless of whether others have symptoms or not.

You are not required to self-isolate if any of the following apply:

• You are fully vaccinated
• You are below the age of 18 years 6 months
• You have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
• You are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

Fully vaccinated means that you have been vaccinated with an MHRA approved COVID-19 vaccine in the UK, and at least 14 days have passed since you received the recommended doses of that vaccine (note this is currently under review and may be updated to include a booster dose in due course).

In line with national guidance for households with Covid-19 infection, household and other close contacts of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should undertake daily LFD testing for a period of 7 days or for 10 days from their last contact with the positive case (whichever is first). This is recommended for all close contacts aged 5 and over who are not required to isolate. (LFT tests are available via community testing sites, local pharmacies or you can order online for home delivery).

Children aged under 5 who are close contacts are not required to isolate and do not need to take part in daily testing of close contacts. If a child under the age of 5 lives with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 they will be advised to avoid contact with those at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19 and to take a one-off PCR test as soon as possible.

You are required to self-isolate if you’re aged over 18 years and 6 months and if any of the following apply:

• You have received only one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
• You have not received any dose of the COVID-19 vaccination
• You are not otherwise exempt

Household members who need to self-isolate as close contacts should not go to work, school or public areas, and exercise should be taken within the home. You should ask friends or family if you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online. Please read the stay at home guidance which provides information on this.

Household members staying at home for 10 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

You could be fined if you do not self-isolate following a notification by NHS Test and Trace. You may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 through the NHS Test and Trace Support Payment scheme if you are required to stay at home and self-isolate, or you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate. To access the payment, eligible people will still be asked to take a confirmatory PCR if they receive a positive LFD result.

How to reduce spread of COVID-19 as a household contact who is not required to self-isolate

Even if you are vaccinated, you can still be infected with COVID-19 and pass it on to others. If you are identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 but you are not required to self-isolate, you can help protect others by following the guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread.

To reduce the spread of COVID-19 in your community:

• Test daily using LFDs
• Limit close contact with other people outside your household, especially in enclosed spaces (when not in school)
• Wear a face covering for those aged 11 and over in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilates spaces and when you are in close contact with other people
• Limit contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with Covid-19
• Follow the guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You should follow this advice for at least 10 days.

If you are a health or social care worker or student undertaking a work placement who has been identified as a household contact and are exempt from self-isolation, there is additional guidance available that you should follow to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 in these settings.

If you develop symptoms at any time, even if these are mild, self-isolate immediately, arrange to have a COVID-19 PCR test and follow the guidance for people with COVID-19 symptoms.

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

How to stop coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading

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

• Get vaccinated – everyone aged 12 and over can book COVID-19 vaccination appointments now
• Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day
• 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
• Meet people outside and avoid crowded areas
• Open doors and windows to let in fresh air if meeting people inside
• Wear a face covering if aged 11 and over when it's hard to stay away from other people – particularly indoors or in crowded places
• Participate in twice weekly LFD testing following national guidelines (recommended for 11 years and over). We encourage you to log your results here: https://www.gov.uk/log-test-site-covid19-results

Further Information

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

Yours sincerely

Tracy Felstead

Headteacher

Coronavirus Update - 7 January 2022

Dear parents and carers,

Thank you for completing the questionnaire before the young people returned to school earlier this week.

There has been a number of changes nationally in the response to COVID 19 that I want to inform you of.

The government have announced a change to guidance this week. From Monday 10th January, people who receive positive lateral flow results for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate immediately and will not be required to take a PCR test as well. Instead, you must register the lateral flow test result on GOV.UK. When you register this you will receive an automated response; screenshots of this response must be emailed to the school at SCH.617@educ.somerset.gov.uk.

People who have tested positive for COVID 19 are now able to leave isolation on day 7 if they have had two negative lateral flow tests, one on day 6 and one on day 7. These tests must be taken at least 24 hours apart and registered on GOV.UK. When you register each result you will receive an automated response screenshots of both responses must be emailed to the school at SCH.617@educ.somerset.gov.uk before your young person may return to school. They should only return if they feel well enough to. If your young person has a temperature they must not return to school. This is a whole school approach.

The NHS have made us aware that young people aged 12 to 15 in England are now being offered a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a minimum of 12 weeks from the first dose, following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Parents can book vaccinations for their child, if aged 12 or over, through the NHS booking system.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact the school.

Many thanks, as ever, for your support in keeping the school community safe.

Mrs Felstead

Headteacher

Coronavirus Update January 2022

Dear parents and carers

Firstly I would like to wish you a Happy New Year and we are looking forward to welcoming all the young people back to school tomorrow.

As you are aware rates of coronavirus in the community are high and following additional precautionary guidance from the government I need to advise you of the following:

1. We will continue to lateral flow test (LFT) secondary and KS5 students twice a week in school – this includes students who have been covid-19 positive within the last three months.  If your young person tests positive on a LFT or has coronavirus symptoms (runny nose, cough, sore throat, high temperature, headache etc) you must make arrangements to be able to collect your child from the school within one hour from the school notifying you by phone.  Whilst waiting to be collected, your young person will be supported by a member of staff, in a well ventilated area.

1. Where possible, we are requesting parents/carers of Reception to Year 6 students to lateral flow test them before they return to school tomorrow. You may wish to continue to test your child in which case please follow the government guidance on testing.

1. Following government guidance we are requesting that, where possible, all secondary and KS5 students wear face coverings on school transport and inside school buildings.(including during lessons)  We appreciate that this may be difficult for some young people, however, we want to minimise the risk of transmission within the school. 

Staff at Fairmead have worked incredibly hard over the autumn term to keep the school safe and they will continue to do so throughout the rest of the pandemic. However, if rates of transmission within the staff team increase we will need to take measures to ensure that the young people get face to face education; this means we may have to revert to virtual learning for one or more groups as a last resort.  To help us prevent this, I am requesting that if your child is poorly please keep them at home until they are better (48hrs at home following sickness and/or diarrhoea) or if they display any coronavirus symptoms (runny nose, cough, sore throat, high temperature, headache etc) please get them PCR tested and not rely on a lateral flow test result.

I thank you for your continued support during this difficult time and if you are in any doubt about the above please contact the school for advice.

Take care and stay safe

Tracy Felstead

Headteacher

COVID update

Dear parents and carers

Due to the increase in numbers of Covid cases locally, and following advice from SCC Public Health, Somerset schools have been advised to once again action additional covid response measures as necessary. This is constantly being reviewed and we will inform you of any changes.

We will continue to ensure the school environment is well ventilated, enhanced cleaning is in place and regular handwashing and hand sanitizing is maintained. We have re-introduced the wearing of face masks for our staff and young people in Years 7 and above whilst moving around the school and at the school gates (and have advised that parents do the same at the gates). Where it is possible, we are keeping the young people in their key stage bubbles and have reduced mixing between pupils as much as we can.

We kindly ask that if your child is displaying any symptoms at all or seems unwell they receive a PCR test as soon as possible - results of this test must be forwarded to the school before your child can return. A Lateral Flow test result is not sufficient where any symptoms are showing. We absolutely appreciate that this can be unsettling for young people and an inconvenience at times, however, it will help to reduce the spread of covid and keep our young people safe and in school. It is better to err on the side of caution and be truly confident that your child is negative.

In line with Public Health guidance, we also ask that any close contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19 should book a PCR test.

Many thanks for your continued support with the Covid response – we are disappointed that we are having to revert to previous systems but Covid has not gone away and keeping our children, families and staff safe and healthy are of paramount importance.

Best wishes,
Tracy Felstead