Charlton School

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to a new half-term, despite the weather, I hope you managed to get out and do some things you enjoy.

As previously advised, we have a non-uniform day on Friday, celebrating World Book Day.  The cost is £1.  Students do not need to dress as a character and can wear their own clothes, as long as these are appropriate for school.

COVID update

You will be aware that the Government made changes to the legal Covid-19 measures, many of the processes we had in school will remain in place, as the new guidelines are very similar to the previous legal measures.

Testing

• The Government has removed the guidance for staff and students in secondary schools to undertake twice-weekly asymptomatic testing
• Free testing will be available until 1st April 2022 – both LFD and PCR
• We have ordered additional LFDs and will distribute these if we receive the delivery to support ongoing testing, should you wish to do so, or to enable testing to take place after day 5 if a student tests positive

What to do if your child shows symptoms

The main symptoms of COVID-19 are a recent onset of any of the following:

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

If your child has any of these symptoms, you should order a PCR test. Your child is advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people while you are waiting for the test result.   You should follow the guidance “People with COVID-19 and their contacts”. 

This states:

“If you have COVID-19, stay at home and avoid contact with other people”

If you have COVID-19 you can infect other people from 2 days before your symptoms start, and for up to 10 days after. You can pass on the infection to others, even if you have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. If you have COVID-19 you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

Children with COVID-19 should not attend their education setting while they are infectious. They should take an LFD test from 5 days after their symptoms started (or the day their test was taken if they did not have symptoms) followed by another one the next day. If both these test results are negative, they should return to their educational setting, as long as they feel well enough to do so and do not have a temperature.

In most cases, parents and carers will agree that a student with the key symptoms of COVID-19 should not attend the school, given the potential risk to others. If a parent or carer insists on a student attending school where they have a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, schools can take the decision to refuse the student if, in their reasonable judgement, it is necessary to protect other students and staff from possible infection with COVID-19.

There is no requirement for any contact tracing within the school setting; routine contact tracing will also end. Fully vaccinated close contacts and those aged under 18 will no longer be asked to test daily for seven days, and close contacts who are not fully vaccinated will no longer be required to self-isolate.

Vaccinations - Student vaccinations remain very important, and children aged 12-15 should attend a vaccination centre with their parent or carer, who will be asked to give their consent. Children can get a first dose of the vaccine from the day they turn 12, their second dose of the vaccine can be given 12 weeks after the first dose.

In Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin parents of 12 to 15 year olds can either:

• Book an appointment via the National Booking Service: Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Walk-in to a vaccination centre, or pop-up clinics (no appointment required). Dates and times are available here: COVID-19 Vaccination Walk-in and Pop-up Clinics (stwics.org.uk). All sessions are updated regularly so please check for any updates.

Use of face coverings - Although face coverings are no longer advised for students, staff and visitors in classrooms or communal areas, we will continue to support the voluntary use of face coverings by students and staff, should any individual choose to wear one throughout the school day.

Outbreaks - Should higher than previously experienced and/or rapidly increasing number of staff or student absences occur due to COVID-19 infection then the school will seek advice and guidance from Public Health and additional measures may have to be reintroduced.

Thank you for your continued support, I look forward to a return from a holiday where I do not have to write to you with a Covid-19 update!

Yours faithfully,

Mr A McNaughton

Principal