Young people aged 11 & over are required by law to wear face coverings on school transport from tomorrow 2 Dec 2020. This does not apply to those who are exempt. Thank you to those following the guidelines to help keep others safe.
Staying safe in schools, colleges and early years
COVID-19 symptoms in children
If your child has any of the following symptoms, you will need to book a test online or call 119 and keep them off school to self-isolate for 10 days.
- A high temperature
- A new, continuous cough
- A loss of, or change to their sense of smell or taste
It is important that you only book a test if your child has one or more of the symptoms listed above.
If your child has had a test your household must isolate until you receive the test result. Your household can only stop isolating if the test is negative.
Face coverings on school transport
Children and young people aged 11 and over must wear a face covering on public transport. From 2 December children and young people aged 11 and over must wear a face covering for the whole of their journey to and from secondary school or college when travelling on dedicated school transport. This does not apply to those children and young people who are exempt from wearing a face covering on public transport. We will be working jointly with schools, colleges and transport operators to monitor compliance.
More information on exemptions
More information on school transport and COVID-19
Face Coverings in school
In schools where pupils in year 7 and above are educated, face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils when moving around the premises, outside of classrooms, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained.
Some individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings and we expect adults and pupils to be sensitive to those needs. There is more information on the new restrictions and education on the .gov.uk website
Kooth
Kooth is a safe and anonymous online community for 11 – 18 year olds who are struggling with their mental wellbeing. Kooth’s free support includes online counselling and advice, self-help tools, and the opportunity for young people to chat with others who are feeling the same.
Common winter bugs
Some bugs are more common in the winter and your children may have symptoms such as sickness and diarrhoea. If your children has been vomiting or has an upset stomach, they should not go back into school until they have been ‘symptom free’ for 48 hours. Keeping your child off school will reduce the chance of the bugs being spread to other pupils or school staff and their families.
Stay apart so your children can stay together
When dropping off or collecting your child from school, please remember to socially distance. You should try to stay 2m away from people who are not from your own household and move away from the school gates as soon as possible. If you are unable to do this then please consider wearing a face covering and try to limit the time you are in close contact with other people. By staying apart and following the advice of your child’s school you can help your children stay together.
Ventilation in schools
There is strong evidence that getting, as much fresh air as possible into buildings, including your own home, will significantly reduce the spread of infections, including coronavirus. Many schools will be opening their windows during the winter months to allow for the flow of fresh air. This may mean that the temperature in your child’s classroom will be a little bit chillier than normal, so where possible we recommend that you provide your child with an extra layer of clothing to wear under their normal uniform.
For local advice about coronavirus visit: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/coronavirus
For the latest government coronavirus guidance visit: www.gov.uk/coronavirus
