Updated 24th February 2022

On 21 February the Prime Minister set out the next phase of the Government’s COVID19 response. COVID-19 continues to be a virus that we learn to live with and the imperative to reduce the disruption to children and young people’s education remains. Our priority is to deliver face-to-face, high-quality education to all pupils. The evidence is clear that being out of education causes significant harm to educational attainment, life chances and mental and physical health.

Risk assessments

Schools must comply with health and safety law and put in place proportionate control measures. We regularly review and update our risk assessments – treating them as ‘living documents’- as the circumstances in our school and the public health advice changes. This includes having active arrangements in place to monitor whether the controls are effective and working as planned.

You can read our latest COVID-19 Risk Assessment here

Tracing close contacts and isolation

Public health advice for People with COVID-19 and their contacts changed from 24 February. 

Contacts are no longer required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests, and contact tracing has ended.

Face coverings

Face coverings are no longer advised for pupils, staff and visitors in classrooms or communal areas. Staff and pupils should follow wider advice on face coverings outside of school, including on transport to and from school.

Stepping measures up and down

We have made contingency plans outlining how we would operate if we again need to take extra measures in exceptional circumstances. Given the detrimental impact that restrictions on education can have on children and young people, any measures in schools should only ever be considered as a last resort, kept to the minimum number of schools or groups possible, and for the shortest amount of time possible. 

Control measures that remain in place at Thames 

1. Ensure good hygiene for everyone. 
2. Maintain appropriate cleaning regimes. 
3. Keep occupied spaces well ventilated.
4. Follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19.

What happens when a child tests positive for COVID-19 now?

When an individual develops COVID-19 symptoms or has a positive test Pupils, staff and other adults should follow guidance on ‘People with COVID-19 and their contacts’ if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

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. Many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days. You may choose to take an LFD test from 5 days after your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you did not have symptoms) followed by another LFD test the next day. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, the risk that you are still infectious is much lower and you can safely return to your normal routine.

How to safely return to your normal routine before 10 days

If your day 5 LFD test result is positive, you can continue taking LFD tests until you receive 2 consecutive negative test results.

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 tests results are negative, they should return to their educational setting if they normally attend one, as long as they feel well enough to do so and do not have a temperature. 

Pupils and staff should return to school as soon as they can, in line with guidance for People with COVID-19 and their contacts.

Please contact the school office if you have any questions or queries and we will be very happy to help you.