Covid restrictions for school return

If you have children returning to school or nursery for the new term, a number of Covid-19 safety protocols will remain in place as a precautionary measure.

The safety and wellbeing of children and staff is paramount as schools and nurseries aim to continue to provide a safe learning environment for all.

The following information has been prepared to answer questions for parents and carers that they may have about Covid-19 and the return of children to school or nursery.

What will happen if there is a case of Covid-19 in school/nursery?

Due to recent changes announced by the Scottish Government, blanket self-isolation of whole groups of children following a positive Covid-19 test will no longer be routine.

• Whole classes will no longer be asked to self-isolate if someone in the class tests positive for Covid-19.
• Your child would only be identified as a contact if they have had prolonged close contact with the case (someone who tests positive for Covid-19) – eg same household, overnight stays.
• There will be no requirement for you or your child to self-isolate unless you are contacted by Test and Protect – the contact tracing service.
• All close contacts of the case who need to take specific actions will be identified, contacted and advised by the Test and Protect service to follow the latest guidance on self-isolation and testing.

The guidance was updated on 9 August 2021 and usually the following will not need to isolate:

• Adults who are double vaccinated (for more than two weeks), who do not have symptoms, and do not develop symptoms, who have a negative PCR test.
• Children and young people aged under 18 who do not have symptoms, and do not develop symptoms, and who have a negative PCR test.

Adults who have not been vaccinated or has only had a single dose should self-isolate for 10 days from symptom onset in the symptomatic person and book a PCR test. If the test is positive, they should continue to isolate in line with guidance from Test and Protect. If the test is negative, they should still isolate. This is because a test cannot indicate whether someone is incubating the disease and therefore may go on to develop Covid after a test is taken.

If anyone (adult or child) has had a positive PCR test in the last 90 days then they do not need to seek a further PCR test (unless symptomatic) and do not need to isolate.

Further information on the latest self-isolation requirements can be found on the NHS Inform website at: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection | NHS inform

Accessible, easy read formats and information in other languages can be accessed at: Translations (nhsinform.scot).

Regular testing

• Regular testing, even when you don’t have symptoms, can help keep you and your school community safe.
• If your child is at secondary school, they can access free LFD (lateral flow device) tests from the school, to allow them to test twice-weekly at home as long as they have no symptoms. Please contact the school directly to ask about this if your child is having problems accessing tests.
• Please encourage your child to test twice-weekly, and to record all positive, negative or void results on the online reporting portal at: nhsinform.scot/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19-report-your-test-result.
• In addition, you and the rest of your family, including primary school-aged children, can access free test kits through the universally accessible testing programme, which is available to everyone in Scotland. Free at-home LFD test kits are available for collection from Covid test centres or pharmacies, or delivery by ordering online – gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/no-covidsymptoms.

Book a test if you or your child develop symptoms

• Please be vigilant for symptoms of Covid-19. If your child develops any symptoms of Covid-19 they must not attend school or nursery. They should stay at home, self-isolate and get tested for Covid-19. Find out more on NHS Inform.
• All other household members of your child (including yourself) must also stay at home and follow the latest guidance, which can be found on NHS Inform. In the event of a positive result, the Test and Protect service will contact you to provide tailored advice on what to do.
• Book a test at NHS Inform for your nearest Covid-19 test site. There are drive-through, walk-through, and mobile testing units across Scotland which are open from 8am until 8pm, seven days a week. A full list of sites can be found at Scot. Or you can order a home PCR test kit online, or by calling 119. A test will then be delivered to your home. To return, you can either drop the test at your nearest priority post box or, if you are unable to go out, you can also call 119 to book a courier collection from your home.

How to stop Covid-19 spreading

There are things you can do to reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with Covid-19.

DO:

• Get vaccinated if you haven’t already done so. Vaccination is our best defence against Covid-19. If anyone who is eligible in your family or home have not yet been vaccinated, then they should arrange vaccination as soon as possible. This could also help you avoid having to self-isolate in the future. Information on how to arrange a vaccination can be found on NHS inform.
• Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze and put used tissues straight in the bin and wash your hands.
• Open windows/doors regularly to ventilate your home.
• Be vigilant for Covid symptoms and self-isolate when you have Covid symptoms or have been advised to by Test and Protect.

Vaccinations

We are now seeing the vaccine offered to everyone aged 16 and over and, in line with JCVI guidance, it has also been offered to some young people from key groups who are aged between 12 to 15 years.

All 16-17 year-olds can now get their Covid-19 vaccine appointment by text or email by registering here – https://www.nhsinform.scot/vaccineregistration.

Further information

For general Coronavirus frequently asked questions and information:  Coronavirus | Parent Club

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection | NHS  inform

For local information and details of the services available in Lanarkshire: https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/novel-corona-virus-covid-19/

If you have any questions about coronavirus please visit www.nhsinform.scot in the first instance or call the helpline on 0800 028 2816.

Scottish Government guidance on reducing risks in schools can be found here.