Dear parents/carers

Following the Government announcement about measures being put in place to help prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we have received further advice from the Department of Education about measures to be taken in schools.

Please see below the advice we have been given:

Face coverings

From tomorrow (Monday 29 November), we are strongly advising that face coverings should be worn in communal areas in all settings by staff, visitors and pupils or students in year 7 and above, unless they are exempt.

Pupils or students (in year 7 or above) should continue to wear face coverings on public and dedicated school transport, unless they are exempt.

Please can you encourage your child to bring a face covering into school for use in communal areas.

Testing

All educational and childcare settings should continue to encourage staff and students to twice weekly test using lateral flow device (LFD) tests.

Contact tracing and isolation

The current guidance on contact tracing and isolation remains in place – which means that close contacts should take PCR tests but do not need to isolate unless they are over 18 and unvaccinated. The exception is for close contacts of suspected or confirmed Omicron cases, who will be asked to isolate for 10 days.

Vaccination

All eligible staff and students aged 12 and over are encouraged to take up the offer of the vaccine, including boosters.

Vaccines are our best defence against COVID-19. They help protect young people and adults, and benefit those around them. Vaccination makes people less likely to catch the virus and less likely to pass it on.

To book a vaccine, please visit: Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination – NHS (www.nhs.uk).

Good hygiene

Across all settings, people should continue to follow the basic rules of good hygiene. This will help to protect individuals and others from COVID-19. These are:

  • washing your hands
  • cleaning your surroundings
  • covering your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze.

If you have any questions about these measures, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely

Victoria O’Farrell

Headteacher