Dear parent/carer,

I am writing to update you on work between Public Health and the Education Office to ensure appropriate measures are in place to help mitigate the risk of COVID-19 cases in education settings, and explain how we will manage cases when they do arise in our school.

When a student or member of staff tests positive for COVID-19 having been in school, we will identify those who have come into contact with them during what is a called the ‘period of interest’ for Public Health. In most cases, this will be limited to those who have shared a classroom with the positive case during lessons.

If your child is identified as a contact of a positive case, you will receive a letter from Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink MBE. This letter will be sent to you from the school and it will contain information and guidance on the steps we would ask you to take.

The intention of Public Health is to keep students in school who have been identified as contacts of a positive case, to avoid disruption to their education, as long as they do not have COVID-19 symptoms and carry out lateral flow tests every morning before attending school for a 10-day period.

Your child will also be asked not to attend any in-school or outside school activities/sports/clubs (including those that take place in the evenings or at weekends) during the 10 days in which they are taking daily lateral flow tests. This is extra risk mitigation and is based on the priority being to keep your child in education so their learning is not disrupted. However, this will be reviewed in the first week of October once the impact of the opening of schools has been assessed.

Please note that the advice outlined in this letter is specifically in relation to children being identified as a contact through an education setting. If you or your child is identified as a contact via a social or household setting, you should follow the specific advice that the Public Health contact tracing team will provide based on your individual circumstances.

As you know, our community is working hard to manage COVID-19 and live responsibly with the virus. We have prepared for the likelihood of cases across the islands and in our schools, however we are committed to limiting the impact of the virus on the education of the Bailiwick’s children and young people. 

Thank you for working with us to help to manage COVID-19 in education.  It is very appreciated. Please do not send your child to school if they have any symptoms linked to COVID-19, no matter how mild. With your support we hope to minimise disruption to the education of your child and their peers. 

Yours sincerely

Mrs Robertshaw