COVID-19 Guidance Update for Special Schools and other specialist settings

On 1 April 2022, the government changed its policy on COVID-19 testing in England. Most people can no longer access free testing for COVID-19.

There is no requirement for staff, students or pupils to carry out twice weekly testing in SEND settings. All the previous guidance for special schools and other specialist settings has been withdrawn and replaced with the following guidance.

Emergency planning and response for education, childcare, and children’s social care settings – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Guidance for those at higher risk

There is further guidance for people aged 12 and over, whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness if they become infected with coronavirus (COVID-19), that may be relevant to pupils in your settings.

Please note, in this guidance, advice remains that children and young people can continue to attend education settings unless their clinician has advised otherwise.

Pupils in this group may be eligible for COVID-19 treatments. They will be sent one pack of lateral flow tests to keep at home supplied by the government. These should not be used for regular testing and are advised to be kept so the person can get tested quickly if they get symptoms of COVID-19.

If your child has received specific written guidance from the NHS which identifies that they are considered at higher risk, please email your class teacher and we will follow this up after the Easter holidays to ensure the appropriate risk assessments are in place.

For further information please visit this link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk.

Although Covid guidance has changed in the wider community we have not yet received the official guidance for schools.  Please be assured that once we have this we will share it with you, in the meantime we have received the following statement from the Government:

Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend.

We thank you for your continued cooperation.

We are experiencing a large increase in the number of Covid cases in school this week.  Could we please remind all parents of children who are able to do so, to ensure your child is continuing to take LFD’s twice weekly.  We will continue to facilitate testing in school for those who have requested it.

If your child has any of the classic symptoms of high temperature, cough or loss of taste and smell please ensure your child does not come into school and attends for a PCR.  Over recent weeks we are aware that symptoms are differing from the ‘typical’ and pupils and staff are also reporting headache, sore throat and cold like symptoms.  Again, we would ask that if your child suffers from any of these that you seek a PCR and they isolate until the result is known.  LFD tests are to pick up asymptomatic cases of covid and should not be relied upon for anyone experiencing symptoms.

Thank you for your support.

As you are aware, Covid is having a significant impact on staffing and our priority is always to ensure the safety of our pupils. Hydrotherapy is one of those activities that requires significantly more staffing than a class based session. With that said, at present, there may be times where we are unfortunately unable to safely run a hydrotherapy session. Our therapy and class teams will do everything in their power to enable hydrotherapy to continue, however please understand that there may be times when we are unable to proceed. This is a decision that will be made on the day of your child’s hydrotherapy session and we apologise in advance for any cancellation at short notice. We are aware that some pupils have hydrotherapy in their EHCP, however the children’s safety is our priority. Please be reassured, that if your child does not access their usual session, an alternative physiotherapy session will be provided where they will engage in movement and relaxation based programmes.

Our nursing team is also currently working at a reduced capacity and their main priority is to ensure the children are receiving their medications across the whole school day, this unfortunately means they are not as assessable as they would usually be and there may be occasions where you are asked to seek external medical opinion when they are not available.

Further to John’s update earlier today, please find a form to complete to advise us of your intention relating to LFD testing on our return to school, along with data collection for any positive cases over the Christmas holidays.

It would be appreciated if parents & guardians could please complete this form at your earliest convenience:

https://forms.gle/Uzksz1BTRiLezSPf6

Many thanks

School Senior Leadership Team

Thank you for your continued support with the Covid 19 vaccine roll out for our 12-15 year old pupils. 

The Immunisation Team have sent us some links that will be useful regarding the vaccine:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1017171/PHE_12073_COVID-19_guide_for_all_CYP.pdf   

There is also the following link regarding post vaccine:  

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1008090/PHE_12073_COVID-19_What_to_expect_CYP_leaflet.pdf   

The Immunisation team are working on frequently asked question information, once we have have this from them we will share it with you.

Many thanks,

School Nursing Team

Further to our update dated 16th September 2021, where we indicated:

“In line with guidance those who are identified as close contacts and are exempt from isolation, will remain in school while awaiting a PCR test / results of a PCR test.  We will notify parents/carers of any pupils who are working in a group with staff or other pupils who are close contacts via a letter at the end of the school day.”

We have now been advised by our local Public Health team that this step does not need to happen and as such will only advise parents if their child is considered a close contact where you will be notified via a telephone and follow up letter.

This is due to evidence that the risk to/from children is low which is why under 18s no longer need to self-isolate as close contacts.