CV&CC Update 15th September 2020

CoronaVirus & College Coping Update

Tuesday, 15^th September

Test and Trace

• National and local news headlines are full of stories about problems booking, the distance people are travelling to test centres, and delays in receiving results. So far, we have not been badly affected by this. Since the start of term, the child of one colleague has been tested and found negative, and there are a very small number of students awaiting a test. The advice remains the same; this version is from Devon County Council.

 The below are the steps, in order, that should be followed to secure a test:

• Individuals should only get tested if they have symptoms of coronavirus:
• a high temperature (feeling hot to touch on your chest or back) OR
• a new, continuous cough (coughing a lot, for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24h, or if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual) OR
• a loss of, or change to, their sense of smell or taste (noticing you cannot smell or taste anything or things smell or taste different to normal)

• Parents or carers of children attending school or school staff with symptoms of coronavirus should book a test as normal via the government website or by calling 119.
• If they are unable to book a local testing slot then:
  1. Individuals should complete the appropriate forms by following the links below: 
     • Children under the age of 5: Urgent Referral Form – Under 5’s
     • School aged Children (5-18): School Aged Children
     • NHS/Health/Care workers: NHS/Health/Care Professionals
     • All other individuals: Urgent Referral Form – Adults
  2. Schools can provide one of their 10 home testing kits to the parent or carer of the child.  

Confirmation of a test booking should include a QR code so please do not visit a test centre unless you have been sent a QR code as you may be refused entry. 

As children need their parents to conduct the test for them (or help them) it is important that when attending a test centre use the self test lane, or the test may not be available. 

Should My Child Attend School ?

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions which may be helpful

What are the three coronavirus symptoms.  What should I do?
If a person has any one or more of the symptoms below, they should self-isolate:

• New persistent, dry cough
• Fever (above 37.5 degrees Celsius)
• Anosmia (loss or change in taste and/or smell)

My child has coronavirus symptoms.  What should I do?
You child should self-isolate for 10 days and get a test.  Everyone else in your household should self-isolate for 14 days.  Do not send your child to school.

Someone in our household has symptoms.  What should I do?
The person with symptoms should self-isolate for 10 days and get a test.  Everyone else in your household should self-isolate for 14 days.  Do not send your child to school.

My child has a sore throat.  Can they attend school?
Yes.  They should attend school as long as they have no coronavirus symptoms.

My child has a cold.  Can they attend school?
Yes.  They should attend school as long as they have no coronavirus symptoms.

Should my child have a test?
If your child has any coronavirus symptoms, they need to get a test done as soon as possible.  They need to get the test done in the first 5 days of having symptoms.  If they are unable to be tested within the first 5 days of having symptoms, they must self-isolate for 10 days.

You can book a visit to a test site to have the test done on the same day.  You can order a home test kit if you cannot get to a test site.

My child is waiting for a test.  Can I send them to school?
No.  They should self isolate for 10 days or until they have a negative test result.

What if I cannot get a test?
We know that there are some delays in testing.  Please keep trying.  On days 1 to 4 (after the symptoms started), your child can be tested at a site or at home, booking a test online or by phone.  If you wish to order a home text kit, please order it before day 4 at 3 pm.  On day 5, your child will need to go to a test site as it is too late to take a home test.  Your child must self-isolate if they cannot get a test because it’s more than 5 days since your synptoms started.

How long should my child and/or our household self-isolate?
If you have symptoms or have tested positive for coronavirus, you’ll usually need to self-isolate for at least 10 days or until you receive a negative test result.

You’ll usually need to self-isolate for 14 days if:

• Someone you live with has symptoms or has tested positive;
• Someone in your support bubble has symptoms or tested positive; and/or
• You’ve been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.

Please refer to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-long-to-self-isolate/ for details about how long to self-isolate.

Face Coverings

Students must wear masks/coverings on Stagecoach buses. Students should wear masks/coverings on school transport (CV) buses.

Sending Students Home

School staff are not medically trained, and cannot diagnose symptoms. We do not want to send children home without need, and we are aware of the disruption this would cause. On the other hand, we have responsibility for over a thousand people on site, so if we have any doubt about whether a child has covid symptoms, we will (and must) be cautious. Parents know their children better than we do, so we will always try to make contact.

Parents’ Evenings

We await further guidance from the Department for Education on whether the “Rule of Six” applies to parents’ evenings or meetings. For the time being, we are assuming that it will, and while the dates remain in the calendar they are provisionally cancelled.

Open Evening

In the absence of guidance, we have reluctantly cancelled next week’s Open Evening and will offer a virtual alternative. We simply cannot safely manage hundreds of adults and children from many different communities and so many households.

Ball Games

A further reminder that ball games at lunchtime on the field must be “passing only”. There should be no competitive games, tackling, physical contact. Hands and whichever shaped ball is used must be sanitised afterwards.

“Rough Play” and Physicality

It always happens in September, and we don’t like it in a normal year, but physical play must stop to reduce the amount of contact even within the same year group bubble. This means hugs, arms round the shoulder, tie-snatching, and other physical play. Supervising staff will intervene, but students also must learn to self-regulate.

School Photos, Friday 18^th September

In an effort to keep things as normal as possible, we are holding school photos on Friday (with year groups separated, social distancing and hand sanitisation). However, to make sure students are in College uniform, there will be no PE Lessons and students should not wear PE kit on Friday. Photos will be taken during PE lessons where possible, and PE lessons will either be classroom-based or very gentle activity.

KB

15.09.20