Procedures for managing suspected coronavirus cases
We are entering into a tricky period where many people traditionally develop cold and flu symptoms, some of which are very similar to the three coronavirus symptoms:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
Having one or more of these three symptoms requires that person and everyone in their household to ‘stay at home’ at least until the individual has received the results of a coronavirus test. From the 28th September, the Government is making it law that individuals should stay at home when required to do so. Those ramifications mean that the decision regarding whether an individual is symptomatic is a very important one. It is imperative that students and their parents are the decision-makers in this process; school staff cannot be the adjudicators of whether an individual is symptomatic. We may, however, on some occasions, feed in information about your child’s symptoms that we have witnessed in school.
The following advice and guidance intends to help parents to make informed decisions regarding coronavirus symptoms.
Step 1
Parents keep an open dialogue with their children about how they are feeling, checking with them whether they are at all unwell prior to attending school. Students can attend school with colds, as per usual, but it is helpful if the parent has a good understanding of their child’s symptoms prior to attending school. If the parent thinks that their child has any of the three coronavirus symptoms then:
- The child and everyone in their household must stay at home
- The parent should contact 119 or the NHS website to arrange a test
- Nobody should leave the house until they have the results from the test. If the test is negative, providing the individual doesn’t any longer have a high temperature, they can return to school and their household can also return to their normal routines. If the test is positive, they should then follow the instructions of NHS Test and Trace and must stay at home.
Step 2
Whilst we do not normally advocate students calling their parents during the school day, in the current climate, it might be sensible to ask your child to call you during their break or lunchtime if they are feeling unwell and you want an update on their symptoms. Please note, students cannot make or receive calls on their mobile phones during lesson time. This call would help you to determine whether you think your child is developing coronavirus symptoms. If the outcome of the conversation is that you wish for your child to go home, please ensure that your child alerts a teacher to ensure that the proper process is followed.
Step 3
If your child informs an adult that they think they have one or more coronavirus symptom, we will bring them to a holding area at the front of the canteen, as per the school’s risk assessment. Then, we will contact you to facilitate a conversation between you and your child so that you can discuss their symptoms with them. We are able to take the student’s temperature using an infrared thermometer to help inform your decision.
If you agree with your child that they do not have one or more coronavirus symptoms they will be returned to their lessons. Currently, under the restrictions we face, we do not have an area in school for unwell students without coronavirus symptoms to sit for long periods of time. If they are unwell, they will need to be taken home.
If you agree with your child that they do have one or more coronavirus symptoms, you would then need to collect your child from school. As a precaution against the spread of coronavirus, you will also need to also collect any siblings that are in school. When at home, you would then have the opportunity to monitor them closely and, if necessary, seek medical advice (for example by using 111) in order to make an informed decision regarding their symptoms. Please note, only the person with symptoms is required to take a coronavirus test, but everyone in the household must stay at home.
Step 4
Once you have made the decision in Step 3, please notify the school whether your child is going to:
- Self-isolate (along with any siblings) and take a coronavirus test
- Return to school the following day
- Stay at home because they are unwell but not, at this stage, going to take a coronavirus test (as you do not think they have one or more of the three coronavirus symptoms)
Guidance for the work students should complete when they are absent from school due to coronavirus, but well enough to complete school work, will be emailed as soon as any child is absent from school. Please contact Victoria Ashby, our Attendance Manager, for this work (victoria.ashby@icknield.oxon.sch.uk).
Step 5
If your child, or any member of their household, is tested for coronavirus then they will need to stay at home pending the results. Please inform the school of the result when you receive it so that we can update our records. Should another member of the household develop one or more of the three symptoms whilst you await the results, they too must then arrange a test and the period of self-isolation for the household must begin again.
In the scenario that we have a positive test within our school community, the school will work with Public Health England to manage the situation. We will communicate with parents that there is a positive case in school although we would not share the identity of the individual(s). Using the criteria dictated by Public Health England, we may be required to send students home to self-isolate for up to 14 days if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (their families would not, however, need to self-isolate with them).
We are aware that the guidance and rules surrounding coronavirus are becoming increasingly complex. Should you have any questions over a health situation related to coronavirus attendance, please do contact Gill Ward, the Headteacher’s PA by phone (ext 255) or email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and she will ensure that someone will get back to you as soon as it is convenient.
