Covid-19 related pupil absence

A quick reference guide for parents and staff (September 2020)

What to do if…

Action Needed

Return to school when…

…my child has Covid-19

symptoms.

• Do not come to school
• Contact school to inform us
• Self-isolate the whole household 
• Get a test 
• Inform the school immediately about the test result

…the test comes back negative or a period of 10 days has passed since the symptoms started, and the child feels well.

…my child tests positive for Covid-19.

• Do not come to school.
• Contact school to inform us.
• Agree an earliest date for possible return (minimum of 10 days).
• Self-isolate the whole household.

…10 days have passed since symptoms began, even if they still have a cough or loss of taste/smell. (These symptoms can last for several weeks.) 

AND the child feels well.  

…my child tests negative.

• Contact school to inform us.
• Discuss when your child can come back (same day/next day).

…the test comes back negative.

…my child is ill with symptoms not linked to Covid-19.

• Use usual parental discretion in deciding if your child is well enough to come to school.
• Contact school to inform us.
• Ring on each day of illness.

…after 48 hours following the last bout of sickness or diarrhoea (as per attendance policy)

…someone in my household has Covid-19 symptoms.

• Do not come to school.
• Contact school to inform us.
• Self-isolate the whole household. 
• Household member to get a test. 
• Inform school immediately about test result.

…the test comes back negative.

…someone in my household tests positive for Covid-19.

•    Do not come to school.
•    Contact school to inform us.
•    Agree an earliest date for possible return (minimum of 14 days).
•    Self-isolate the whole household.

…the child has completed 14 days of isolation.

…NHS test and trace has

identified my child as a close contact of somebody with symptoms or confirmed

Covid-19.

• Do not come to school.
• Contact school to inform us.
• Agree an earliest date for possible return (minimum of 14 days).

…the child has completed 14 days of isolation.

…NHS test and trace has

identified a household

member (other than my child) as a close contact of somebody with symptoms or confirmed Covid-19.

• The household member must self-isolate for 14 days.
• Child can continue to attend school.

…child can continue to attend school.

… a sibling attending another school has been sent home to self-isolate due to their being

a positive case in their school.

• Sibling must self-isolate for 14 days.

…child can continue to attend school.

… my child has travelled

abroad from a country or

territory that is NOT on the exempt list of countries.

• If returning from a destination where quarantine is needed*:
• minimum of 14 days’ self-isolation for all those who travelled.
• contact school to inform us you are back in the country and we will agree an earliest date for possible return to school. 
• Self-isolate the whole household. 

*Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for up to date travel information

…the quarantine period of 14 days has been completed.

… my child has travelled abroad from a country or territory that IS on the exempt list of countries.

• If returning from a destination where quarantine is NOT needed:
• Check the current Exempt countries and territories list to confirm the country you have travelled from or through is on the exempt list.
• Ring school to inform us you have returned to the UK and agree a return date to school.

… you have informed the office of your return to the UK (the office will ask you a few questions about your travel).

…I have travelled from a

country that requires us to quarantine (but my child didn’t travel).

• As long as you do not have/have not had symptoms in the last 14 days, your child can continue to attend school.
• The person who has travelled MUST NOT leave the house, including to do pick-ups and drop offs (please contact school if you need support getting your child to school).

…child can continue to attend school.

…we have received medical advice that my child must resume shielding.

• Do not come to school.
• Contact school to inform us.
• Shield until you are informed that restrictions are lifted and shielding is paused again.

…school inform you that restrictions have been lifted and your child can return to school again.

…you receive medical advice that your child may return to school.

…my child’s bubble is closed due to a Covid-19 outbreak in school.

• Child must not come to school.
• Support your child at home with remote education provided by school.
• Your child will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
• Other siblings may continue to attend school.

…school inform you that the bubble will be reopened.

… I am unable to get a test for

someone in the household

who has symptoms

If you are not able to get a test in the first 5 days of having symptoms, your child and anyone they live with must stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days. Anyone in your support bubble must also stay at home.

…the child has completed 14 days of isolation.