In addition to these measures, we have been asked to follow new guidance which comes into effect today:

From Tuesday 14 December, a new national approach to daily testing for contacts of COVID-19 is being introduced (including until the end of this term). All adults who are fully vaccinated and children aged 5 to 18 years and 6 months, identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 – whether Omicron or not – should take a lateral flow device (LFD) test every day for 7 days instead of self-isolating. Daily testing by close contacts will help to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Daily testing for contacts of COVID-19 will help protect education settings by reducing transmission and will also help keep pupils in face-to-face education.

Once notified as a close contact, all eligible staff, pupils and students should take an LFD each day for 7 days. If they test negative, they can continue to attend their education setting.

If they test positive, they should self-isolate and order a PCR test to confirm the result. If the PCR is positive, they must self-isolate for 10 days. If the PCR test is negative, they no longer need to self-isolate but should continue to carry out the remainder of the daily tests, and only need to isolate if it is positive.

Children under five years old do not need to take part in daily testing for contacts of COVID-19 and do not need to isolate.

All children and members of staff have now been officially identified as close contacts and so we are asking that all staff and children over the age of five be tested every day as in the guidance above.

School will remain open until the end of the week. However, I shall continue to authorise absence for any families who prefer to keep their children at home until next term.

Many thanks for your support in doing all that we can to protect the school community at this time.