Covid-19: two year groups at Bevendean Primary School told to isolate

Bevendean Primary School has written to parents and carers of pupils in Year 3 and Year 4 today as one positive case has been confirmed within the year groups, which are a bubble.

The children must stay at home for ten days and not return to school until next Wednesday, May 26, provided they are well at that time.

Teachers for the two year groups are also self-isolating and remote learning will be implemented.

The letter from Martyn Giddens, headteacher of the school in Heath Hill Avenue, said: "The decision to close a bubble is determined by guidance provided by Public Health England South East.

"The school had a child in the bubble who tested positive for coronavirus within 48 hours of being in school.

Bevendean Primary School

"When dealing with all Covid-19 cases, information on what determines a ‘contact’ is provided by Public Health England.

"A contact is a person who has had close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 during their infectious period (two days before to 10 days after onset of symptoms, or the date of test, if asymptomatic).

"Only people who meet standard contact definitions during this time need to be advised to self isolate – within the school setting, these are determined by ‘bubbles’.

"Each case is always different, but our first priority is always to ensure that the children are safe.

"However, with so much learning already missed over the past 15 months, we also want to ensure bubbles are closed only when they need to be.

"The children in Year 3 and Year 4 will have to isolate for the next ten days. Other members of your household can continue normal activities provided your child does not develop symptoms within the ten day self-isolation period.

"Siblings do not have to self-isolate and can come to school as normal."

The letter adds that if a child does develop symptoms, they must remain at home for ten days from the date symptoms appear, and all other household members must stay at home and not leave the house for ten days.

The most common symptoms of coronavirus are a new, continuous cough, a high temperature, and/or a loss of or change in normal sense of taste or smell.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “We have been made aware that there has been a confirmed positive case of coronavirus (Covid-19) at Bevendean Primary School.

“Parents of pupils at the school have been notified that the Year 3 and 4 bubble must stay at home and self-isolate until Wednesday, May 26.”