LA’s key COVID-19 messages for schools 14 April

Updated Covid-19 guidance for schools

• In line with the next steps for living with COVID-19 and the associated guidance for education settings, the local authority have updated their guidance for schools on EGfL:
  • The flowchart for dealing with suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19 has been replaced with scenario documents for both staff and pupils.
  • An infection control management document has been produced detailing how to manage infections in schools and who to escalate outbreaks to.
  • The schools Covid-19 risk assessment and individual staff risk assessment templates have been updated.
  • Revised staffing guidance shall be uploaded onto EGfL shortly after the Easter Break.
• Key government documents include:
  • UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) health protection in education and childcare settings
  • DfE emergency planning and response
  • DfE good estate management for schools
  • guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19, or a positive test result for COVID-19
  • living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19
  • ventilation of indoor spaces to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections
  • COVID-19 guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk
  • Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace

Updated NHS Covid-19 symptoms lists

• A reminder to schools that the NHS COVID-19 symptoms in adults and symptoms in children have been updated.

Guidance on registering for free personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Additional PPE in education and childcare settings will now only be needed when performing aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance has been updated and the list of what is considered an AGP has changed. Settings will only need to access PPE in limited scenarios.
• If individuals in your setting perform AGPs as described in the guidance, and need additional PPE for this, please register on the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) managed PPE portal. Once registered, you will be able to order PPE directly, at no cost to your setting. All SEND and children’s social care settings should already be registered for the portal, so no action is required.
• If you need any help with registration or have any other questions, please contact the DHSC helpline on 0800 876 6802.

An update for schools on the review of the educational settings status form

• At present the DfE will continue to collect on-site pupil attendance and workforce absence data weekly in the summer term.
• The form has been updated to remove questions on pupil absence due to COVID-19, and questions about wraparound childcare.
• Schools no longer need to record pupils who do not attend for reasons related to COVID-19, using Code X. Where a pupil is not attending because they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have had a positive test, schools should record this using Code I (illness) unless another more appropriate absence code applies. Schools can continue to use the sub-code (I02) to record illness due to suspected COVID-19, although they are not required to.

5 to 11 year old vaccinations

• CP House 97-107 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, W5 5TL is currently vaccinating 5-11 year olds. They are open every day 8am to 8pm.

• St Marys Church Acton High Street, Acton, W3 9NW as a pop up site (the Space Bus) is currently vaccinating 5-11 year olds over the following days:
  • Saturday 16 April, 10am to 6pm
  • Monday 18 April, 10am to 6pm
  • Tuesday 19 April, 3pm to 7pm
  • Wednesday 20 April, 3pm-7pm
  • Thursday 21 April, 3pm to 7pm
  • Friday 22 April, 3pm to 7pm
  • Saturday 23 April, 10am to 6pm
  • Sunday 24 April, 10am to 6pm