I hope that all our staff, students and families had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

As we prepare to welcome students back for the start of the spring term, we have some important details to share about student illness and when to keep your child at home.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have stated that Flu and coronavirus (COVID-19) are currently circulating at high levels in the UK and are likely to increase over the coming weeks. High numbers of scarlet fever, which is caused by group A streptococcus also continue to be reported. These illnesses spread very quickly through a school, particularly a special school. This can have a significant impact on staffing. This can lead to class closures on occasions when we do not have enough staff to run a class safely. As such, please do not send you child in if they are ill. Keep them at home until they are well enough to return. By doing this, you will help us all keep everyone safe.

 

Professor Susan Hopkins (Chief Medical Officer at the UKHSA) has stated the following:

"It’s important to minimise the spread of infection in schools and other education and childcare settings as much as possible. If your child is unwell and has a fever, they should stay home from school or nursery until they feel better and the fever has resolved."

 

I have outlined some very important information below relating to general illness. It is crucial that we all follow this guidance in order to keep everyone as safe as possible, and in order to keep all classes open and operational.

 

Winter illnesses

At this time of year, we see an increase in other viruses as well as sickness bugs. It is important that we reduce the spread in order to keep vulnerable students protected and staffing levels safe. We do not want to have to close classes, but if staffing levels go below what is safe, due to the spread of viruses and bugs, this may need to happen.

Therefore, to avoid this please follow this advice:

 

• If your child has a temperature, they should stay away from school until the temperature has returned to normal. A high temperature is 38C or above. 

 

• If your child is not well enough to be in school, they should remain at home. This can be difficult for parents, which we fully understand. But the impact of illness spreading through a class can result in that class being closed for longer, which will have a longer impact on everyone.

 

• If your child has been sick or had diarrhoea, they should stay at home for at least 48 hours from when they last had a bout of either sickness or diarrhoea. 

 

By all of us following the above guidance we can help to ensure everyone stays safe and that we can keep all of our classes open.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you in anticipation of your support.

Best wishes,

 

Jon Hewitt

Headteacher

The Castle School