It is essential that families know what to do when a pupil or someone in the household displays COVID-19 symptoms. Please read the following information carefully.
1. What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
There are three symptoms in relation to COVID-19 which are:
- A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature but can do so if you have a thermometer).
- A new continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough it may be worse than usual).
- A loss of taste or sense of smell – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything,or things smell or taste different to normal.
Any other symptoms are not relevant. Having a runny nose or sore throat could be an indicator of bugs which you would expect at this time of year and with which children can come in to school if they are well enough.
However, if anyone has one or more of the three COVID-19 symptoms then you must follow the process below.
2. What should I do if my child or someone in the household displays symptoms of COVID-19?
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT ADULTS AND CHILDREN SHOULD ONLY BE TESTED IF THEY HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS.
A date will be agreed with the parent/carer regarding the return date.
Please note that this flowchart was amended on 25/09/2020 regarding clarification of the isolation period for a child after a positive test. This now states that this isolation period begins after first becoming symptomatic rather than the test result.
WHAT TO DO IF A TEST IS NOT TAKEN FOR A CHILD OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBER:
- Anyone with symptoms must stay at home for 10 days after the start of symptoms. Self-isolation can stop once the person feels well after this 10-day period and they no longer have a temperature (e.g. a child would be able to return to school).
- All other household members must continue to self-isolate for 14 days. If they then get symptoms, they must then start the 10-day period described in the first bullet point.
3. How do I book a test?
To book a test, please click on the button here:
You can also call 119 from a telephone if you are unable to use the internet to book a test.
4. What access to Home Learning will my child have if they are self-isolating?
If your child is self -isolating, their teacher will set work which reflects the working being completed in school over that period. This will involve online activities as well as paper-based activity. As we settle in over the first few weeks, this will be simpler to understand as it will be linked to our weekly Home Learning programme which will replace Homework.
Children will only be expected to work if they are well enough to do so. Please inform school this is not the case.
5. How will school respond if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 at Harlow Green?
In the event of a member of staff or pupil testing positive for COVID-19, we will follow the most up-to-date guidance set out by the Department for Education in conjunction with our Local Public Health team.
As we are setup in ‘bubbles’, information will be provided to those within the potentially affected group(s). Those in close contact with an individual who has tested positive may be informed that they have to self-isolate, whilst others will be informed of the situation but that they are able to remain in school.
6. What should I do if we have been contacted by Test and Trace because we have been in contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19?
If Test and Trace have informed you that there has been close contact with a positive case, all members of the household must self-isolate for a period of 14 days from the date on contact. If your child or another member of you household then develops symptoms, please follow guidance in Section 2 above (flowchart).
