Dear Parents/Carers

Happy New Year.

I hope that you have had the opportunity to spend time with loved ones over this Christmas period.

On Sunday 2 January the government updated its guidance on Covid19 restrictions within schools. I have tried to summarise this update to make it as clear as possible for people to follow, with the intention of keeping each other and our families safe.

Please ensure that you have checked the website for your child’s allocated time for their Lateral Flow Device Test (LFD) to be taken on Tuesday 4 January prior to the full opening of school on Wednesday 5 January. Students will be able to pick up additional packs of tests on the 4 January. https://www.coombedean.co.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/january-return-arrangements

Updated guidance on face coverings for non-exempt students and teachers. 

On Sunday 2 January the government announced that face coverings should be worn in all classrooms. This is in addition to the previous announcement that face coverings should be worn in school corridors and other indoor spaces and areas that students cannot socially distance such as the canteen queue & public transport.

Updated guidance on self-isolation rules

You must not send your child to school if they demonstrate any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive on a LFD test. You must arrange for a PCR test and your child must not return to school unless a negative PCR result is received. New guidance states that the earliest students can return to school is on day 8 of their isolation if they test negative on a LFD test on day 6 and again on day 7 and providing they do not have a high temperature. If your child tests positive on day 6 they should continue daily testing and can return as soon as they have two negative LFD tests taken on

consecutive days. Tests must be taken 24 hours apart. All students can return after 10 days isolation.

If your child is identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 they can still attend school, but they should take an LFD test every day for seven days. If they test positive or develop symptoms they must isolate immediately, and you must arrange for a PCR test.

Updated guidance on Lateral Flow tests

Even if your child has tested positive for Covid-19 on a PCR test within the last 90 days, the government now strongly recommends that they should carry out the regular lateral flow home testing that is recommended for all students as a measure to ensure we can keep our school community safe. This is different to previous guidance.

We are looking forward to welcoming our students back to school for their LFD test on Tuesday and the start of lessons on Wednesday.

Kind regards

Kevin Dyke
Headteacher