We are asking parents/carers and our students to still "err on the side of caution" if feeling unwell.  We appreciate that local levels of infection are currently low but do not wish to drop our guard in school and allow a potential Covid-19 outbreak to occur. Students have access to LFD Home Testing kits which can be used for some reassurance, but these are mainly for identifying asymptomatic but potentially infected individuals.  Even if an LFD test is negative, we encourage symptomatic students to get a confirmatory PCR test before returning to school.  See below.    We fully understand that children can succumb to a range of cold and flu symptoms, including high temperatures and coughs that are not Covid-19 related.  However, to reduce the risk of having to send whole year group bubbles into self-isolation, we ask that you err on the side of caution and keep your poorly child at home and particularly if you have any concerns that your child may be developing any one of the three Covid-19 symptoms: a high temperature a new, continuous (persistent) cough a loss or change to the sense of smell or taste If your child develops any of the three Covid-19 symptoms do not send them into school your symptomatic child will need to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of the onset of their symptoms.  the remaining members of your household, including student siblings attending school, should self-isolate for 10 days from the date of the onset of symptoms. self-isolation means not going out of the home. You should book a PCR test for your symptomatic child as soon as possible: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/ A positive test If the test result comes back positive, please can you contact Jo Stitch, Headteacher’s PA, at jstitch@educ.somerset.gov.uk immediately to let us know. This is so that the school can quickly assess possible contacts in school and follow the advice of Somerset PHE on the prompt action that will need to be taken. A negative test If the test result comes back negative, your symptomatic child and household can end their self-isolation period.   In this circumstance, your symptomatic child and any siblings who attend The Blue can return to school when they feel well enough to do so.  But again, please inform the school before your child returns by using the same email address: Jo Stitch, Headteacher’s PA, at jstitch@educ.somerset.gov.uk. During the self-isolation period, learning will continue via Google Classroom. All medical information will be treated in confidence. Please do not send your child or their siblings into school until the self-isolation period has been completed or you have received a negative test result.   If your child or children arrive back at school when they should be in a period of self-isolation, with no test undertaken or negative result known, we will contact you to take your children home.   If your children are well enough at the end of their respective self-isolation period, they can return to school. We appreciate the help and support of parents and carers during this difficult time.   The Blue School Covid-19 Parent/Carer Update Should I send my child into school? Updated 20th April 2021