Parkside Primary News: Extra Update Thursday 7th April

HAPPY EASTER

Before our last day of term tomorrow, we are sending you an extra newsletter as we have a few updates to give you, starting with the Covid update below. We hope you all enjoy the holidays and we look forward to seeing everyone back on Monday 25th April.

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LEARNING TO LIVE WITH COVID-19: UPDATE

In response to the changes in national guidance on April 1st, we have received the following guidance from the Local Authority to share with you.

Most people can no longer access free testing for COVID-19. The symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections are very similar. It is not possible to tell if you have COVID-19, flu or another respiratory infection based on symptoms alone.

Symptoms of COVID-19, flu and common respiratory infections include:

• continuous cough
• high temperature, fever or chills
• loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
• shortness of breath
• unexplained tiredness, lack of energy
• muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise
• not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry
• headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual
• sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
• diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick

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When children, young people and staff with symptoms should stay at home and when they can return to education

• When individuals with mild symptoms (such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough) are otherwise well, they can continue to attend their education setting.
• Individuals who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can return to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities 24 hours after they no longer have a high temperature and are well enough to attend.
• All individuals with respiratory symptoms should be encouraged to cover their mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when coughing and/or sneezing and to wash their hands after using or disposing of tissues.

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What to do if you have a positive COVID-19 test result

Pupils aged 18 years and under - It is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.

• If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result or displays symptoms including high temperature, fever or chills, they should stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test.
• At the end of this period, if the individual has a high temperature or feels unwell, they should continue to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until 24 hours after they no longer have a high temperature and they feel well enough to resume normal activities.
• After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.

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Contacts of those with a positive test result

• Contacts are at lower risk of becoming infected and do not need to stay away from school or college.
• Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal.

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Summary

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Avoiding transmission in school

In school we will be continuing with enhanced cleaning, ventilation of classrooms and encouraging good hygiene. We will also continue to have contingency plans in place that can be put into action if necessary. We expect new guidance from the Local Authority for the beginning of the summer term and we will update you if we need to make any changes.

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SAFER INTERNET POSTER COMPETITION

We would like to share with you some of the fantastic posters the children created earlier this term for Safer Internet Day about staying safe online. The children looked at healthy and unhealthy online behaviours. There were many fantastic entries for the competition we ran in school, but in the end the winners were as follows:

• Year 1 Winner EB (1W), Runner Up LB (1W).
• Year 2 Winner NB (2P), Runner Up HL (2AW)
• Year 3 Winner KT (3O), Runner Up RD (3B)
• Year 4 Winner TK (4BT), Runner Up DR (4M)
• Year 5 Winner SB-P (5H), Runner Up AF (5C)
• Year 6 Winner EH (6A), Runner Up L-RE (6A).

Have a look at the brilliant posters below.