What to do if your child develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) or tests positive for COVID-19?
If your child develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), they should get a PCR test and remain at home at least until the result is known. If negative, the child can end self-isolation; if positive, the child should isolate until at least 10 days after their symptoms appeared. Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a new, continuous cough, or a high temperature, or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia). If the child has a positive test result but does not have symptoms, they should stay at home and self-isolate for 10 days from the date the positive test was taken. This isolation period will be extended if they go on to develop symptoms by counting 10 full days from the day following their symptom onset. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for a PCR test (the normally available test type) and this can be arranged via Get a free PCR test to check if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or by calling 119.
Instructions for people who are identified by Track and Trace as a contact of someone with COVID-19 (tested positive or symptomatic awaiting a test result):
From 14 December, you are not required to self-isolate if you are a contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and any of the following apply:
· you are fully vaccinated
· you are below the age of 18 years 6 months
· you have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
· you are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons.
HOWEVER, anyone over the age of 5 who is identified as a contact of a positive case is strongly advised to take a rapid lateral flow device (LFD) test every day for 7 days or until 10 days since your last contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19 if this is earlier. LFD tests are very good at identifying people who have high levels of coronavirus and are most likely to pass on infection to others, even if they do not have symptoms. If any of these test results are positive, you should self-isolate immediately and order a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
Children and young people aged under 18 years 6 months who usually attend an education or childcare setting and who have been identified as a close contact should continue to attend the setting as normal as long as they remain well.
Fully vaccinated means that you have been vaccinated with an MHRA approved COVID-19 vaccine in the UK, and at least 14 days have passed since you received the recommended doses of that vaccine.
If you believe that you are a contact of someone with COVID-19 but have not yet been notified by NHS Test and Trace, you should carefully follow the guidance on how to stay safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. You can arrange to take LFD tests every day for 7 days or until 10 days since your last contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19 if this is earlier, even if you do not have symptoms. This is because you may be at higher risk of being infected.
Any contact identified by Track and Trace who is aged 18 years and 6 months or over and has only received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine or has not received any dose of the COVID-19 vaccination will still be required to self-isolate as a contact of a someone with COVID-19 symptoms awaiting testing and someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Please read the stay at home guidance which provides information on this. These close contacts should not go to work, school/college/childcare/education setting or public areas, and exercise should be taken within the home.
If you develop symptoms at any time, even if these are mild, self-isolate immediately, arrange to have a COVID-19 PCR test and follow the guidance for people with COVID-19 symptoms.
If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.
Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
If your child tests positive please contact us immediately. If the result is received out of school hours please also contact us immediately using the following link: info@morden.merton.sch.uk
What catch-up funding is for
In June 2020 the government announced £1 billion of funding to support children and young people to catch up on missed learning caused by coronavirus (COVID19). This is especially important for the most vulnerable pupils and pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds who we know have been most affected. At Morden we are accessing both National Tutoring Provision (NTP) and in-school tuition.
Please see our plan below.