Covid-19 FAQs
Please note that all information and guidance below is subject to change as and when government guidance is updated.
What do I do if my child exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 at home?
If your child displays one or more coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, they must immediately cease to attend school, self-isolate and book a test. Details of how to book a test are available here.
Other members of their household (including siblings, someone in their support bubble or childcare bubble if they have one) should also self-isolate.
Please report suspected cases or test results to the school office by calling 0117 3772610 (during office hours 8.00-4.30pm) or by using our Covid-19 reporting form, available here after 4.30pm and at weekends.
Your child must not return to school until:
- They receive a negative test result, which you have reported to school using the above methods
- Or for at least 10 days from the day after the start of their symptoms
If another member of the household starts to display symptoms while self-isolating, that person will need to book a test and restart the 10-day isolation period.
Government guidance regrading self-isolating is available here.
What do I do if a member of my child’s household exhibits symptoms of COVID-19?
If a member of your child’s household (including siblings, someone in their support bubble or childcare bubble if they have one) displays one or more coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, your child must immediately cease to attend school and self-isolate.
Please report suspected cases or test results to the school office by calling 0117 3772610 (during office hours, 8.00-4.30pm) or by using our Covid-19 reporting form, available here after 4.30pm and at weekends.
Your child must not return to school until:
- The person with symptoms receives a negative test result, which you have reported to school using the above methods
- Or for at least 10 days from the day after the start of their symptoms
If another member of the household starts to display symptoms while self-isolating, that person will need to book a test and restart the 10-day isolation period.
Government guidance regrading self-isolating is available here.
What do I do if my child tests POSITIVE for COVID-19?
If your child tests positive for COVID-19, they must immediately cease to attend school and not attend for at least 10 days from the day after:
- The start of their symptoms
- The test date if they did not have any symptoms but have had a positive test (whether this was a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test)
You must also immediately inform the school of the positive test by calling 0117 3772610 during office hours (8.00-4.30pm) or if after 4.30pm and at weekends, by using our dedicated email address: covidtestresults@cothamgardens.co.uk or COVID-19 reporting form.
What do I do if a member of my household (including siblings, someone in their support bubble or childcare bubble if they have one) tests POSITIVE for COVID-19?
If you or any member of your household (including siblings, someone in their support bubble or childcare bubble if they have one) tests positive for COVID-19, your child must immediately cease to attend school and must not attend for at least 10 days from the day after:
- The start of the household member’s symptoms
- The test date if they did not have any symptoms but have had a positive test (whether this was a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test)
Please report the positive case to the school office by calling 0117 3772610 (during office hours, 8.00-4.30pm) or by using our Covid-19 reporting form, available here after 4.30pm and at weekends.
When else might my child need to self-isolate and stay away from school?
When an individual, including pupils, staff and other adults, meets any of the other following criteria, they must not come into the school and must self-isolate:
- They are required to quarantine having recently visited countries outside the Common Travel Area
- They have been told to isolate by NHS Test and Trace or by their public health protection team. Anyone told to isolate by NHS Test and Trace or by their public health protection team has a legal obligation to self-isolate, but you may leave home to avoid injury or illness or to escape risk of harm. More information can be found on NHS Test and Trace: how it works.
- They have been advised to isolate by the school due to a close contact with a confirmed case at school, and your child’s bubble is therefore closed. In these instances, your child must isolate for the period advised by the school even if they receive a negative test. Other members of the household do not need to self-isolate and can carry on as normal, unless their child or another member of the household start to develop symptoms.
What happens if anyone in the bubble exhibits symptoms whilst at school?
That person will be isolated, sent home and then asked to arrange a test to see if they have Covid-19.
Other members of their household (including any siblings and members of their support or childcare bubble if they have one) should self-isolate. Their isolation period includes the day symptoms started for the first person in their household, or the day their test was taken if they did not have symptoms, whether this was a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test), and the next 10 full days. If a member of the household starts to display symptoms while self-isolating, they will need to restart the 10-day isolation period and book a test.
Will home learning continue to?be provided???
No?- all children are expected to attend school. However, ?if?we?re-enter lockdown OR a class bubble?is?sent home due to a positive Covid-19 test result?OR children are required to isolate, then learning will be provided.?If home learning restarts, all children will need a device to access daily lessons?and work on and their completion of work?will be monitored.?The school will endeavour to support?children entitled to pupil premium access appropriate technology as far as it is able to.?
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Does my child have to attend? ??
Yes. The government have said that all children must attend school if they are of school age (5 years old?+). They have also?reinstated the fining?system for non-attendance.??
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Can my child go to Zebras?and Shine? ??
Yes – book with Zebras?and Shine?in the usual way.??
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Will children stay in their class bubble at Zebras and Shine? ?
No. Government guidance states that we should continue to offer wraparound care and a full curriculum even if bubbles can’t be maintained.?Operating bubbles most of the time will minimise transmission even if children mix out of school.? We will however minimise cross bubble movement in wraparound care, for example through consistent groups where this is possible.?
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Will my child be able to play with their friend/sibling at break time? ??
Individual year groups will play together in the?same zone. For example, all of Year 2 will play together, but not mix with any other year group.??
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Can I bring my other child/ren?with me at drop off/pick-up times? ??
We want to encourage as few people as possible, but if you have no other option then this is fine. Please ensure that only one adult drops off and picks up at the entrance/exit point. (It is ok for this adult to be a different person day to day).
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Can my child have a school dinner? ??
Yes – we are offering a full meal service. Please pre-book in advance using your child’s ParentPay account. Further information regarding lunches and how to book can be found here.
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Medication and first aid??
Staff will deal with these issues in the normal way, wearing PPE where necessary.?
Will face coverings be necessary?
Staff at school will wear face coverings in all communal areas and at drop off/pick up times. Some staff may wear face coverings in the classroom if they choose to. At the moment, the government is advising that children at primary schools do not wear face coverings.
My child has SEND needs, will their needs be catered for? ??
Yes, by the adults in their year group.?Where children need supporting by additional adults this will be done with social?distancing?in place where possible.???
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Can my child bring a bike or scooter to school? ??
No. Children should bring the bare minimum to school.??The only exception to this will be if a child could not otherwise get to school and must be agreed in advance with a member of the school’s management team.
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What should my child bring to school? ?
Only their lunch, water bottle, hat, coat and book bag with reading book. They may carry their belongings in a backpack. All other learning resources will be?provided.?Most children?at Cotham Grove?will need to bring a healthy playtime snack (fruit or veg only) which they can have at morning break or during afternoon break if they have an early lunch slot. Children with a later lunch sitting are encouraged to bring a more substantial snack.