Following the further changes to national restrictions and updated legal advice, as of today, 27/01/2022, we will be moving from the need for 10 days self-isolation to 5 days in line with the national guidance. This also applies to pupils who are currently in self-isolation.

From today, Thursday 27th January, people who are self-isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with a lateral flow device (LFD) test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if they test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to their education or childcare setting immediately on day 6.

The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day. All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace. You will receive a confirmation message once you have submitted a test.

Confirmation messages for the two negative test results submitted to NHS Test and Trace must be sent to the school's attendance officer prior to a student returning from isolation earlier than the full 10 day isolation period.

If the result of either of their tests is positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest.

Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.

10-day self-isolation will remain or be re-introduced on Public Health England's advice, where local infection rates are particularly high.

Reporting positive tests to the school

The preferred method of reporting positive cases to the school is to email attendance@wellingschool-tkat.org.

Please include your child’s details and the following information:

• Type of test taken (lateral flow or PCR)
• Date of positive test result
• Confirmation of positive test (PCR)

Yours faithfully,

Mr T Loizou

ASSISTANT HEADTEACHER