Two year groups and teacher at Tipton school self-isolating after positive Covid test
Two year groups and a teacher at a Tipton school will have to self-isolate for 14 days after a pupil tested positive for coronavirus.
Foxyards Primary School sent a letter to parents on Thursday saying a child in the Year 3 and 4 bubble has tested positive for Covid-19.
In the letter headteacher Zoey Lowe says: "I am writing to inform you that parents of a child in the Iks2 bubble (Year 3 and 4) has notified us this morning that their child has tested positive for Covid-19.
Around 20 schools in the Black Country have been affected by coronavirus cases since they reopened fully last week for the first time since March.
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"This means we have to act quickly and carefully to ensure that those who have been within the provision can be safe at this time.
"We are currently awaiting further guidance from Public Health England (PHE).
"We initially have been given the following advice: as a precaution all children in the Year 3/4 bubble are to self-isolate for 14 days - guidance on this can be found on the Gov.uk website.
"The class teacher with the confirmed case is to self-isolate for 14 days. No other year groups are affected.
"As a result, children in Year 3 and 4 should remain at home from September 10 until we reopen the phase on September 21. This is 14 days since the symptomatic child was in school.
"Advice from Public health England is that siblings at the school are still able to attend as usual and other family members, living in the household, are not affected by the requirement to self-isolate (unless that child then develops symptoms). It is only the children in Year 3 and 4 who need to isolate for this time."
Councillor Ruth Buttery, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Dudley Council is working closely with all education providers in the borough to keep people safe during the pandemic.
“Due to patient confidentiality, we cannot comment on individual cases but parents and carers can be assured their childcare provider, school, or college will contact them should they need to take any action.
“When a case is confirmed that relates to an education setting they are reported to Public Health England, which works with the setting to ensure appropriate and proportionate measures are taken.
“We are continuing to do all we can to keep children and young people safely back in education where they belong and a part of this work is also ensuring children do not unnecessarily miss important time at childcare, school or college.
“People can continue to help reduce the risk of transmission of the virus by following government guidance, including social distancing and practising good hand hygiene. It is vital that anyone who is symptomatic self-isolates and seeks a test.”
