CORONAVIRUS  UPDATE - TERM 2 2021

LATEST DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ADVICE

VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL

Schools have been advised to limit non-essential visitors to school premises. Visitors to school grounds must comply with physical distancing and face mask requirements set, and practise good hand hygiene. 

To support contact tracing, schools must keep a record of all staff, students and visitors who attend on-site. Schools must record the full name, contact details, date, and time of attendance at school, as well as the areas of the school that the person attended. Electronic record keeping is strongly recommended and we have a QR code available for families to use to sign in.

STAY HOME WHEN UNWELL

The most important action school communities can take to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, is to ensure that any unwell staff and students remain at home and get tested, even with the mildest of symptoms. 

Students and staff with underlying conditions (such as hay fever or asthma)

If a student or staff member has persistent symptoms due to an underlying condition such as hay fever or asthma, the student should still be tested for COVID-19 if they develop symptoms that are different to or worse than their usual symptoms. 

Parents/carers and staff should also consider getting a medical certificate from their treating GP to confirm that it is safe for them to attend school with persistent symptoms that may overlap with some of the symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough or runny nose.

Any worsening of symptoms will require review and repeat COVID-19 testing, if considered appropriate by the doctor.

Students with a negative COVID-19 test whose symptoms have completely resolved do not need a medical certificate to return to the school.

PRACTISE GOOD HYGIENE

All staff, students and visitors to schools should undertake regular hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet. Staff should direct or supervise young students where required.  Sharing of food is not permitted.  Use non-contact greetings (not shaking hands, hugging or kissing).

FACEMASKS

If you come on-site please be sure to:

• Maintain social distancing on the pathways outside the school. Try not to congregate in groups at the entrances when picking up or dropping off children.
• A mask is only required where social distancing is not practical (inside or outside).

ASSEMBLIES

Assemblies, award ceremonies and other large gatherings.

If an event is held with external guests (parents/carers/visitors) then the overall attendee limit (inclusive of guests) must be based on available floor space of the venue; with the density limit of one person per two square metres applied.