COVID - Information for families*
Q What is the school policy on wearing masks?
A Masks are not required in school from April 19th 2022, although students, staff or visitors are able to wear them if they wish.
Q Do 12 - 15 year olds at Graveney have to be part of the vaccination programme?
A No. It is entirely up to you/your child whether you consent or not to participation in the programme. The NHS are managing the entire process and have been clear that no student without consent will be vaccinated. If you do not consent, the NHS may contact you directly to discuss this with you and your child.
Q If my child is unwell and I think they might have COVID what should I do?
A If your child is unwell, whatever their symptoms, they should remain at home until they are well enough to attend school. If your child has COVID symptoms (i.e. their symptoms include a high temperature), they should remain at home but should also avoid contact with other people (i.e remain within the home) until their temperature has returned to normal. As soon as they are well enough to return to school, provided they have not had a positive COVID test, they may return to school.
Testing for COVID is no longer required. However, if your child has had a COVID test which has produced a positive result, they should stay at home and avoid contact with other people for three days. They can return to school on the fourth day providing they are well enough to do so.
Q Should we be continuing to test twice weekly at home with a Lateral Flow Device?
A The recommendation to test twice weekly at home has been lifted by the government.
Anyone wishing to continue to test at home can order lateral flow test kits online:
https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
Students with symptoms of COVID are advised to take a PCR test. PCR tests can also be ordered online: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
Self Isolating guidance
Q What are the the rules about self isolating?
A While you’re no longer required by law to self-isolate if you have COVID-19, you should still stay at home and avoid contact with other people. This helps reduce the chance of passing COVID-19 on to others.
When to self-isolate and what to do: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/
Q How long do I need to self-isolate if I've tested positive for COVID?
A There is no mandatory self-isolation period any longer. Please see above for guidance on staying at home if unwell, and you can also refer to the gov.uk website for the latest COVID information for families.
How to avoid passing COVID on to others
Do
- stay at home if you can – this helps reduce the number of people you have contact with
- ask friends, family, neighbours or volunteers to get food and other essentials for you
- follow advice on how to avoid spreading COVID-19 to people you live with
- cancel any routine medical or dental appointments – if you’re worried about your health or asked to attend in person, let your medical contact (such as your GP or dentist) know about your symptoms or test result
Don’t
- do not go to work, school or public places – if you’re unable to work from home, ask your employer about options available to you