DfE Announcements timeline

21 February 2022

Letter from Mrs Walmsley

Dear Parents and Carers,

You will be aware that the government has announced its ‘Living with COVID’ plan for the next stage of dealing with the virus. The key points from the document are:

– From 24 February, the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test is removed. Adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. After 5 days, they may choose to take a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) followed by another the next day – if both are negative, and they do not have a temperature, they can safely return to their normal routine. Those who test positive should avoid contact with anyone in an at-risk group.

– From 21 February, the Government has removed the guidance for staff and students in most education and childcare settings to undertake twice weekly asymptomatic testing.

– From 1 April, the Government will no longer provide free universal symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public in England.

The full document can be found below:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-living-with-covid-19

I will update you if we receive further school-specific guidance, however in the meantime we ask that you continue to follow the guidance and to keep your child off school for at least 5 days if they test positive. They can then return to school once they have had two negative tests.

Please continue to report a positive test result by emailing : positivetest@ripley.lancs.sch.uk

Yours sincerely,

Mrs C Walmsley, Principal

20 January 2022

An update for all education and childcare settings following the Prime Minister’s announcement of the end of Plan B

Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that all Plan B measures will be removed in England, with a full return to Plan A by Thursday 27 January.

In education and childcare settings, this means:

From today, Thursday 20 January, face coverings are no longer recommended in classrooms and teaching spaces for staff, and pupils and students in year 7 and above. They were introduced in classrooms at the start of the spring term as a temporary measure.

From Thursday 27 January, face coverings are no longer recommended in communal areas for staff, and pupils and students in year 7 and above.

This decision comes in response to national infection data showing the prevalence of COVID-19 to be on a downward trajectory. Whilst there are some groups where cases are likely to continue rising, it is likely that the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally. There remains significant pressure on the NHS but hospital admissions have stabilised, and the number of patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) remain low and are falling.

This means it is right we remove the most stringent restrictions around wearing face coverings from education, but the virus is still with us, and continuing with proportionate protective measures remains vital to protect education.

17 January 2022

Changes to the self-isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19 in effect in England on Monday 17 January and applies to all positive cases, regardless of vaccination status.

People who are self-isolating with COVID-19 have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with an LFD test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if they test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to their education or childcare setting immediately on day 6. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day. All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace.

If the result of either test is positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest.

The new rules also apply to people who are already isolating – so if someone was already isolating before Monday 17 January, they can take LFD tests on day 5 and 6 and if they are both negative and they have no temperature they can end their isolation.

Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10-day period of self-isolation.

11 January 2022

New guidance has come in regarding lateral flow tests and confirmatory PCR tests.

From today, students and staff who have tested positive via LFD (lateral flow device) test will no longer need to get a confirmatory PCR test. This change is informed by Public Health advice. If you receive a positive LFD test, you should begin your isolation period immediately and also report the LFD result via the NHS website.

If you have any of the main COVID symptoms but have had a negative LFD test, you should still self-isolate and book a PCR test.

22 Dec 2021

Clarification on the changes to the self-isolation period for individuals who test positive for COVID-19

Since Wednesday 22 December, the 10 day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 has been reduced to 7 days in most circumstances, unless you cannot test for any reason.

Individuals may now take LFD tests on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result and return to your education or childcare setting from day 7.

Health and social care workers, including those working in education settings, should continue to follow guidance for their sector on taking LFD tests on day 8, 9 and 10. For more information, visit COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients or residents in health and social care settings.

Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.

Further information, including examples of when to end self-isolation if you have had COVID-19 symptoms, is available in the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.

Arrangements for Asymptomatic testing in January 2022

Please follow the link below to a letter from Mr Gomersall, Director of Operations, that contains information regarding:-

– the Asymptomatic Testing Programme to be implemented on our return to school in January 2022

– Pupils phased return to school

– the dates on which year groups are being tested in school

– the dates on which year groups return to school

– how to book your child’s (ren’s) appointment slot

Asymptomatic testing January 2022

12-15 Covid Vaccination Programme

Please read the  invitation letter and 3 important documents below relating to the newly implemented 12-15 Covid Vaccination Programme.

COVID-19_vaccination_invitation_letter 

PHE_COVID-19_guide_for_all

PHE_COVID-19_parents_leaflet

MBCCG PHE_COVID-19_consent_form

Friday 24 September

The DfE has asked schools to publish and bring to your attention the information below.

Lateral Flow Tests