Thank you to parents and carers for following the coronavirus guidelines that are in place to keep you, your child, your family and your school community safe. Here is an important reminder of the rules.
Do not send children to school if they have symptoms of coronavirus
You must not send your child to school if they have the following coronavirus symptoms:
• high temperature
• continuous cough
• loss or change in sense of taste
• loss or change in sense of smell
You can find more information from the NHS about coronavirus symptoms and there is guidance from Public Health Dorset about what you need to do if your child has symptoms of coronavirus and there is also advice about what to do if your child is unwell with symptoms not related to coronavirus.
Waiting for a test? You must self-isolate
If you or your child have symptoms of coronavirus, your whole household must self-isolate immediately and book a COVID-19 test. Your whole household must isolate until you get your test result back. If the test comes back negative then you can carry on your normal activities.
Self-isolation means that you must not leave your house. You may need family and friends to help you get essentials such as food or medication during the time you are isolating.
What you must do if you or your child are ‘close contacts’
If your child has been classed as a close contact of a positive coronavirus case, then they will be asked to complete 10 days of self-isolation from last contact with the confirmed case. This means they cannot leave home.
If you have other children at school then the child self-isolating cannot come with you on school runs either in the car or walking.
While your child is self-isolating you may need to ask family or friends to pick up your other children. If you are currently self-isolating as a close contact then you must arrange for friends or family to do the school run. You must not come to school or leave your home.
If you or your child develop coronavirus symptoms then you must self-isolate immediately and book a test.
