We are writing to update you on the schools position in relation to COVID-19 protocols within school moving forward. As you may be aware from 1st April the government have made a number of changes in their ‘ living with COVID-19’ guidance. These include the removal of free LFD testing and access to PCR testing centres, which follows on from the removal of the legal requirement to isolate announced earlier this year.
As a school, we continue to see rising numbers of COVID-19 cases within the community and this is similar in other schools in the area. To continue to try and protect our community and enable students to receive their education, we have updated our COVID-19 protocols.
From today (Monday 4 April), the following procedures will be in place within school, in line with the updated government and NHS symptoms, students, staff, parents/carers and visitors are advised to look out for the following symptoms:
- a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- an aching body
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick or being sick
If exhibited by a student it is advised that the student remains off school for 3 days from the start of symptoms, or until they begin to feel better at which point they can return to school. If a student is exhibiting the above symptoms and parents/carers still have access to LFD tests, a test should be completed. If a student is sent to school exhibiting the above symptoms and appears unwell, the school may refuse to admit the student or send the student home. Where the parents/carers are insisting their child attends / remains in school, if in reasonable judgement the student poses a risk of infection to other members of the school community the student will be sent home.
If a student is off school for any reason e.g. COVID-19, unwell etc, then the school must be made aware of the absence on the day of illness by calling 01299 403277 (selecting option 1), emailing absence@bewdley.worcs.sch.uk, using MyEd or texting 07422 128124
As a school we continue to put measures in place to prevent the spread of infection e.g. providing hand sanitiser within classrooms, desks / equipment wiped down between lessons and support students who wish to continue to wear a face covering while within school. We encourage students to continue to support good hygiene measures e.g. regular hand washing and adopting the catch it, bin it, kill it process.
More information can be found on our website – COVID-19 – The Bewdley School
We will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as necessary and we thank parents/carers for their continued support in keeping our community safe.