The government has set out its plans for the next phase of the pandemic, called 'Living with Covid-19', which has taken effect from Thursday 24 February 2022.
The main implications for schools and families are as follows:
- The guidance for students and staff in most education and childcare settings to undertake twice-weekly asymptomatic testing has been removed. However, this does not replace current guidance for those with symptoms. Anyone with symptoms should book a free NHS test and follow the current guidance. Students and staff are also able to access test kits from their local pharmacy or online.
- There is no longer a legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. However, adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days, and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days.
- The government no longer asks fully vaccinated close contacts or those aged under 18 to test daily for 7 days, and has removed the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate. The government has also ended routine contact-tracing.
We will continue to monitor the number of students absent due to Covid-19 and may need to request or undertake additional testing, if asked to do so by the local health protection team in the event of an outbreak.
We will continue to support the personal choice of students and staff in wearing a face covering. We will also continue to ensure good levels of hygiene and ventilation for everyone here at school, and will maintain appropriate cleaning regimes.
Please do help us minimise the risk of infection in school by ensuring that, if your child is unwell or displaying possible Covid-19 symptoms, they stay at home and you inform the school of their absence via the absence form on our website.
If you have questions regarding these government changes please contact 119 for advice or use the NHS website.
