Schools/Childcare Asymptomatic Covid-19 Testing Programme Privacy Notice

Information about Schools/Childcare Asymptomatic Covid-19 Testing ProgrammePrivacy Notice can be read below:

https://www.gracemounthighschool.co.uk/resources/School-Documents/Important-Documents/Privacy_Notice_Infographic.pdf

GHS Dance Show 2021

 The GHS Dance Show 2021 can be found by clicking on the link below:

https://sway.office.com/wwLzeNVKV3DsCaYm?loc=swsp 

 *** Passwords have been sent out to Parent/Carers of pupils involved via text. If you have not received a text, please contact the school .***

Thank you for your ongoing support. If you are able to, we would greatly appreciate a donation to our dance academy. This can be done by clicking the link:

https://gofund.me/83aaa5cc

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes!

GHS Dance Academy 2021/22

Letter to parents/carers from R Hunter and Test & Protect re COVID and Lateral Flow Tests (15 Dec 21)

TEST & PROTECT

15 December 2021

COVID-19 asymptomatic testing programme for school staff and pupils

Dear Parent/Guardian,

I am writing to let you know about some updates made to the process for handing out LFD test kits to the children and young people in our secondary school.

Following updated advice from Test and Protect, we are now able to hand out test kits proactively to all staff and pupils, to enable them to test twice-weekly at home and help keep our school/setting safe. There is no longer a requirement for staff and pupils to “opt in” to the programme in order to receive or pick up test kits from school. This will bring the schools programme into line with arrangements in other testing programmes in society.

Testing remains voluntary. No-one is required to receive a pack of test kits if they do not wish to, and no-one is required to take LFD tests as a condition of attending school. However, we are strongly encouraging all of our staff and pupils to do so, and to record results online, in order to identify any infections early on and help prevent our staff and children from missing school during the winter period.

At the point at which staff and pupils are provided with test kits, they will be provided with information on the programme and privacy arrangements, for example through the use of information posters and a privacy notice. By taking a pack of test kits, reading the accompanying instructions, and testing at home, the person participating will be understood to have agreed to taking part in this process.

The school will be running test kit “stalls” on Thursday and Friday so that pupils can collect kits as they leave school at the end of the day.

Please do discuss the contents of this letter with your child[ren], and continue to encourage them to do the following to help keep our school community safe:

Test regularly (twice a week) at home; and

Report all results, whether positive negative or void, at www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19-report-your-test-result or by calling 119.

 

Further information for parents is at: www.parentclub.scot/articles/covid-19-testing-staff-and-pupils, and more general information on LFD testing can be found at www.nhsinform.scot. Frequently Asked Questions for young people, designed in partnership with Young Scot, can be found here: https://young.scot/get-informed/national/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-young-people-at-school.

 

Yours faithfully,

R Hunter

Head Teacher

Letter from Lorna French (Acting Head of Schools) in relation to COVID-19 Guidance (13 Dec 21)

Dear Parents and Carers

COVID-19 Guidance

With one week until schools close for the holidays, we should be winding down, however recent news about the Omicron variant has made it clear that we must be more careful than ever.  Although the Schools Guidance has not yet changed, there have been changes to the national guidance about close contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19.  The list below sets out what you should now know:

Household Close Contacts

Must complete 10-day isolation (this includes under 18s) and is irrespective of vaccination status/negative test

Non-Household Close Contacts who are adults (over 18)

Can end self-isolation if all of the following apply:

• ·         you're fully vaccinated  
• ·         you receive a negative PCR test result
• ·         you do not have, or develop, symptoms

If you’re a close contact (non-household) and you’ve tested positive for coronavirus in the last 90 days, you do not have to self-isolate or book a test if you’re fully vaccinated unless you develop new symptoms.

Isolation advice for under-18s (including under-5s) from Health Protection Scotland

• ·         All those under the age of 18, should isolate in line with the high risk/low risk advice in place before the emergence of omicron.
• ·         High risk contacts (for example, household resident, household non-resident, intimate, intense social care) should isolate for 10 days even if the PCR/LFD test is negative. This also applies to under 5s.
• ·         Low risk contacts (for example, classmates, car shares) will receive a warn and inform letter but will not be required to isolate or do a PCR test

Please find below link to information:

https://publichealthscotland.scot/our-areas-of-work/covid-19/covid-19-health-protection-guidance/latest-updates/

As I mentioned, there is no change to the Schools’ Guidance, though Headteachers may make some small local changes.  All major changes will be communicated to you directly first, should that be necessary

Thank you in advance for all you can do to support us in this final week of term.  By regular testing, being vaccinated and of course following FACTS, we will hopefully do enough to enjoy a healthy, happy Christmas holiday.

Kind regards

 Lorna French 

Acting Head of Schools and Lifelong Learning

 

 

Update Letter from R Hunter regarding the Omicron variant (10 Dec 2021)

 Dear Parent/Carers,

Covid /Omicron Mitigations

As I write you I am aware of the ever-changing landscape because of the emergence of the Omicron variant. Local authority briefings are providing Head Teachers with updated information.

I am meeting with colleagues, representative of our Health and Safety committee, pupil leaders and representatives of the Parent Council on Monday evening at 3.45pm to discuss out next steps and the possible re-introduction of certain mitigations.

The advice for now is to do all we can to ensure we apply the FACTS principles.

Face covering (unless exempt)

Avoid Crowds

Clean Hands (use hand sanitisation stations in school)

Two meters distancing (for adults in school)

Self -Isolate

Please discus the importance of the all the mitigations with your children. If there are any positive cases in your household over the weekend please contact the following email addresses:

Admin@Gracemount.edin.sch.uk

covidcasemanagement@edinburgh.gov.uk

I expect there to be further communications next week in preparation for the new term in January. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss any matter.

Yours faithfully,

Ross Hunter

Head Teacher

COVID-19 Lateral Flow Device Testing for our school (8 Dec 21)

 Dear parent/carer,

 COVID-19 Lateral Flow Device Testing for our school

 Thank you for all you do to help keep our school safe for everyone. A vitally important part of this is regular testing at home using Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests. For that reason, I am asking you to encourage or support your child this winter to:

·         Test regularly (twice a week) at home; and

·         Report all results, whether positive negative or void, at www.covidtest.scot or by calling 119.

Why does testing and reporting results matter?

·         Regular, twice-weekly testing at home can identify people at an early stage who have Covid with no symptoms. By asking them to self-isolate, we can reduce the risk of the virus being passed on and avoid more of our young people and staff missing school over the winter period.

·         Reporting positives means your family will receive the advice and support you need. Reporting negative and void results helps public health experts to understand the full picture of COVID in our area, and to plan to protect communities and keep schools safe and open.

What else do I need to know?

·         The online portal for reporting results has been improved following feedback – you can now register family accounts that save key information for all your family members, so it only takes a few minutes to report results using your phone.

·         We have now ordered new test kits that are “nose-only” – this is to address feedback that some young people found throat swabbing uncomfortable. This link shows how to do the new tests: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk3LLAD7ybk]. All our school pupils can access LFD test kits free of charge from our school.

·         LFD tests are very good at identifying people who don’t have symptoms but who have a “high viral load”. Those are the people who are most infectious and likely to pass the virus onto others. All LFDs supplied by schools have passed rigorous safety tests.

NB: If your child receives a positive result from their LFD at home or has symptoms, they must report any LFD result online (or by calling 119), self-isolate and book a PCR test via NHS Inform at www.nhsinform.scot. Everyone in the household should also self-isolate and follow the advice about next steps on NHS Inform.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for contributing to the shared effort to test, report and keep our school community safe during the winter period.

Further information for parents is at: www.parentclub.scot/articles/covid-19-testing-staff-and-pupils, and more general information on LFD testing can be found at www.nhsinform.scot. Frequently Asked Questions for young people, designed in partnership with Young Scot, can be found here: https://young.scot/get-informed/national/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-young-people-at-school.

Yours sincerely,

Ross Hunter - Head Teacher

Scottish Government Transport survey – free bus travel

Do you have a child aged 5-16, or are you a young person aged 12-21? If so, please complete the short travel survey for a chance to win up to £250 in Love2Shop vouchers.

The Scottish Government will soon be launching the Free Bus Travel Scheme for young people between the ages of 5 and 21. This aims to encourage greener travel patterns, and increase opportunities for young people to engage in employment, education and social activities and not be excluded due to travel costs. Transport Scotland will monitor the scheme as it progresses to check on use and impact. The first step is to try and understand current travel patterns so that any changes after the scheme is introduced can be identified.

 

We would be grateful if parents/carers of younger children (i.e. those aged 5-16), or young people aged 12-21 themselves, could complete this short travel survey. The questionnaire asks about current travel behaviour, and your thoughts about bus travel generally and the free bus travel. This should take no more than 10 minutes to do. 

 

Contact Us: If you have any questions about the work or problems completing the questionnaire, please contact our Project Manager, Elaine Wilson-Smith, at elaine@wellsideresearch.co.uk or on 0131 677 5522.

 

online1.snapsurveys.com/under22travelsurvey 

The closing date for all responses is 24th January 2022.

 

Ross Hunter

Head Teacher

Gracemount High School

 

Warn & Inform Letter to Parents/Carers of all Pupils

 

Lothian NHS Board
Waverley Gate
2-4 Waterloo Place
Edinburgh
EH1 3EG 

www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Ref: Health Protection Team

Dear Parent/Carer

In recent days we have been made aware of member(s) of the Gracemount High School community in various year groups who have tested positive for COVID-19. This letter is to inform you that your child has been identified as having been in ‘low risk’ contact with this person. This means they may have shared a classroom or had some other low risk contact in school.

There is no need for your child to isolate unless contacted separately by Test and Protect and asked to do so. School remains open and your child should continue to attend if they are well.

The public health judgement that these types of contact are low risk is based on a range of factors, including vaccination rates, evidence about transmission from children and young people, and the low risk of direct health harms to children.

If you or your child do develop any symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school – they should have a test as soon as possible, and your whole household should stay at home until the test result comes back. Further information on testing, and the rules around self-isolation, can be found on www.nhsinform.scot or by phoning 119 if you cannot book online.

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of: new continuous cough; high temperature; or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia).

Please be reassured that for most people coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. Children are at particularly low risk of illness from coronavirus infection. For those people who are eligible, vaccination is highly effective at preventing severe disease.

To help reduce the risk to your family and your school community, please also:

·         Ensure your child takes a lateral flow test before returning to school. This can help reduce the likelihood of spread in schools, by catching infections early.

o   If your child is in primary school, you can support them to take a test before returning if you and they wish to do so. This is not required, but can provide you, your child and their school community with reassurance. There is no need for your child to continue to test regularly as part of attending primary school.

o   If your child is in secondary school, they should take a test before returning wherever possible, and continue to test regularly (twice-weekly) thereafter.

o   Free at-home LFD test kits are available for you and your primary-school aged children by collection from COVID test centres or pharmacies, or delivery by ordering online. More information can be found at: www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/no-covid-symptoms.

o   Free test kits are available to all secondary school children from the school. Please contact the school directly if they have any problems accessing tests.

o   Please ensure that all test results, whether positive, negative or void, are recorded on the online portal at: www.covidtest.scot OR by phoning 119.

o   Your child should not take a lateral flow test if they have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 90 days.

Arrange vaccination as soon as possible, if you or anyone eligible in your family have not yet been vaccinated. www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine. Vaccination is our best defence against COVID-19 causing anyone to become seriously unwell.

Wear a face covering in line with guidance, keep your distance, keep rooms ventilated, and wash your hands with soap and water regularly.

You can find more trusted advice on www.nhsinform.scot.

Yours faithfully,
Health Protection Team
NHS Lothian

Formal Assessment (Period 1) Timetable - 22nd November - 14th December

 The Formal Assessment 1 Timetable can be downloaded here.

Warn & Inform Letter to Parents/Carers of S1 Pupils

 

Lothian NHS Board
Waverley Gate
2-4 Waterloo Place
Edinburgh
EH1 3EG 

www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Ref: Health Protection Team

Dear Parent/Carer

In recent days we have been made aware of member(s) of the Gracemount High School community in S1 who have tested positive for COVID-19. This letter is to inform you that your child has been identified as having been in ‘low risk’ contact with this person. This means they may have shared a classroom or had some other low risk contact in school.

There is no need for your child to isolate unless contacted separately by Test and Protect and asked to do so. School remains open and your child should continue to attend if they are well.

The public health judgement that these types of contact are low risk is based on a range of factors, including vaccination rates, evidence about transmission from children and young people, and the low risk of direct health harms to children.

If you or your child do develop any symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school – they should have a test as soon as possible, and your whole household should stay at home until the test result comes back. Further information on testing, and the rules around self-isolation, can be found on www.nhsinform.scot or by phoning 119 if you cannot book online.

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of: new continuous cough; high temperature; or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia).

Please be reassured that for most people coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. Children are at particularly low risk of illness from coronavirus infection. For those people who are eligible, vaccination is highly effective at preventing severe disease.

To help reduce the risk to your family and your school community, please also:

·         Ensure your child takes a lateral flow test before returning to school. This can help reduce the likelihood of spread in schools, by catching infections early.

o   If your child is in primary school, you can support them to take a test before returning if you and they wish to do so. This is not required, but can provide you, your child and their school community with reassurance. There is no need for your child to continue to test regularly as part of attending primary school.

o   If your child is in secondary school, they should take a test before returning wherever possible, and continue to test regularly (twice-weekly) thereafter.

o   Free at-home LFD test kits are available for you and your primary-school aged children by collection from COVID test centres or pharmacies, or delivery by ordering online. More information can be found at: www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/no-covid-symptoms.

o   Free test kits are available to all secondary school children from the school. Please contact the school directly if they have any problems accessing tests.

o   Please ensure that all test results, whether positive, negative or void, are recorded on the online portal at: www.covidtest.scot OR by phoning 119.

o   Your child should not take a lateral flow test if they have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 90 days.

Arrange vaccination as soon as possible, if you or anyone eligible in your family have not yet been vaccinated. www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine. Vaccination is our best defence against COVID-19 causing anyone to become seriously unwell.

Wear a face covering in line with guidance, keep your distance, keep rooms ventilated, and wash your hands with soap and water regularly.

You can find more trusted advice on www.nhsinform.scot.

Yours faithfully,
Health Protection Team
NHS Lothian

Career Ready

Are you in S5? 

You can apply for Career Ready 

What is Career Ready? 

A 2 year programme which gives you an insight into the world of work. 

What is involved? 

Career Ready will provide you with: 

✓ Your own mentor 

✓ A 4-week paid internship 

✓ Masterclasses to help you prepare for the world of work 

✓ Events 

What will I gain? 

✓ Advice on choosing and building a career 

✓ Experience of the workplace 

✓ Opportunities to boost your skills and confidence 

How do I take part? 

You must be in S5 to take part in Career Ready. Speak to Mr Kilday in the Music Department or apply by clicking on the application link below. 

Deadline for applications: Friday 1st October 2021 

 Career Ready application 

Warn & Inform Letter to Parents/Carers of Pupils in S4-6

 

Lothian NHS Board
Waverley Gate
2-4 Waterloo Place
Edinburgh
EH1 3EG 

www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Ref: Health Protection Team

Dear Parent/Carer

In recent days we have been made aware of member(s) of the Gracemount High School community in S4-6 who have tested positive for COVID-19. This letter is to inform you that your child has been identified as having been in ‘low risk’ contact with this person. This means they may have shared a classroom or had some other low risk contact in school.

There is no need for your child to isolate unless contacted separately by Test and Protect and asked to do so. School remains open and your child should continue to attend if they are well.

The public health judgement that these types of contact are low risk is based on a range of factors, including vaccination rates, evidence about transmission from children and young people, and the low risk of direct health harms to children.

If you or your child do develop any symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school – they should have a test as soon as possible, and your whole household should stay at home until the test result comes back. Further information on testing, and the rules around self-isolation, can be found on www.nhsinform.scot or by phoning 119 if you cannot book online.

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of: new continuous cough; high temperature; or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia).

Please be reassured that for most people coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. Children are at particularly low risk of illness from coronavirus infection. For those people who are eligible, vaccination is highly effective at preventing severe disease.

To help reduce the risk to your family and your school community, please also:

·         Ensure your child takes a lateral flow test before returning to school. This can help reduce the likelihood of spread in schools, by catching infections early.

o   If your child is in primary school, you can support them to take a test before returning if you and they wish to do so. This is not required, but can provide you, your child and their school community with reassurance. There is no need for your child to continue to test regularly as part of attending primary school.

o   If your child is in secondary school, they should take a test before returning wherever possible, and continue to test regularly (twice-weekly) thereafter.

o   Free at-home LFD test kits are available for you and your primary-school aged children by collection from COVID test centres or pharmacies, or delivery by ordering online. More information can be found at: www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/no-covid-symptoms.

o   Free test kits are available to all secondary school children from the school. Please contact the school directly if they have any problems accessing tests.

o   Please ensure that all test results, whether positive, negative or void, are recorded on the online portal at: www.covidtest.scot OR by phoning 119.

o   Your child should not take a lateral flow test if they have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 90 days.

Arrange vaccination as soon as possible, if you or anyone eligible in your family have not yet been vaccinated. www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine. Vaccination is our best defence against COVID-19 causing anyone to become seriously unwell.

Wear a face covering in line with guidance, keep your distance, keep rooms ventilated, and wash your hands with soap and water regularly.

You can find more trusted advice on www.nhsinform.scot.

Yours faithfully,
Health Protection Team
NHS Lothian

Warn & Inform Letter to Parents/Carers of S2 Pupils

Lothian NHS Board
Waverley Gate
2-4 Waterloo Place
Edinburgh
EH1 3EG 

www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Ref: Health Protection Team

Dear Parent/Carer

In recent days we have been made aware of member(s) of the Gracemount High School community in S2 who have tested positive for COVID-19. This letter is to inform you that your child has been identified as having been in ‘low risk’ contact with this person. This means they may have shared a classroom or had some other low risk contact in school.

There is no need for your child to isolate unless contacted separately by Test and Protect and asked to do so. School remains open and your child should continue to attend if they are well.

The public health judgement that these types of contact are low risk is based on a range of factors, including vaccination rates, evidence about transmission from children and young people, and the low risk of direct health harms to children.

If you or your child do develop any symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school – they should have a test as soon as possible, and your whole household should stay at home until the test result comes back. Further information on testing, and the rules around self-isolation, can be found on www.nhsinform.scot or by phoning 119 if you cannot book online.

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of: new continuous cough; high temperature; or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia).

Please be reassured that for most people coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. Children are at particularly low risk of illness from coronavirus infection. For those people who are eligible, vaccination is highly effective at preventing severe disease.

To help reduce the risk to your family and your school community, please also:

·         Ensure your child takes a lateral flow test before returning to school. This can help reduce the likelihood of spread in schools, by catching infections early.

o   If your child is in primary school, you can support them to take a test before returning if you and they wish to do so. This is not required, but can provide you, your child and their school community with reassurance. There is no need for your child to continue to test regularly as part of attending primary school.

o   If your child is in secondary school, they should take a test before returning wherever possible, and continue to test regularly (twice-weekly) thereafter.

o   Free at-home LFD test kits are available for you and your primary-school aged children by collection from COVID test centres or pharmacies, or delivery by ordering online. More information can be found at: www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/no-covid-symptoms.

o   Free test kits are available to all secondary school children from the school. Please contact the school directly if they have any problems accessing tests.

o   Please ensure that all test results, whether positive, negative or void, are recorded on the online portal at: www.covidtest.scot OR by phoning 119.

o   Your child should not take a lateral flow test if they have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 90 days.

Arrange vaccination as soon as possible, if you or anyone eligible in your family have not yet been vaccinated. www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine. Vaccination is our best defence against COVID-19 causing anyone to become seriously unwell.

Wear a face covering in line with guidance, keep your distance, keep rooms ventilated, and wash your hands with soap and water regularly.

You can find more trusted advice on www.nhsinform.scot.

Yours faithfully,
Health Protection Team
NHS Lothian

Letter to parents/carers of school children in NHS Lothian Area from Lothian NHS Board

Lothian NHS Board

FAO parents/carers of school children in NHS Lothian Area

 

Enquiries to Lorna Douglas – 0131 465 5560. 

Lorna.Douglas@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

10 September 2021.

 

Dear Parents/Carers,

We appreciate there have been a number of changes in how cases of COVID-19 in schools are being managed since the start of term and that this has caused some confusion and anxiety. We hope this letter helps explain these changes.

Rationale behind the changes

Children and young people have a very low risk of health harm from COVID-19, and children and young people with asymptomatic infection (that is without symptoms) are at a relatively low risk of transmitting COVID-19 to adults. Vaccine uptake is very high, particularly among individuals who are at greater risk of harm from COVID-19, and the vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe disease. This has led to the recent changes in policy for self-isolation and contact tracing for close contacts aged under 18and means that the blanket isolation of whole school classes will no longer be routine. Far fewer children and young people are likely to be asked to self-isolate, and when they do it will be for a shorter period of time while they await their PCR result.

Cases of COVID-19

The advice for people with symptoms of Covid is unchanged.  If your child has symptoms of COVID-19ortests positive, they must self-isolate in line with advice given on NHS Inform.

Contacts under 18 years

For young people aged under 18years, the focus of contact tracing now is to identify those who are at the highest risk of being exposed to infection. The Test and Protect process will identify those have had close or prolonged contact with the person who is positive such as living in the same household, sleepover or physical relationship type contact with the case. These high risk close contacts will be asked to isolate and take a PCR test. If the PCR result is negative and they remain without symptoms, then they can end self-isolation. If the PCR test is positive, they must self-isolate as a case as above. If a high risk contact is aged under 5 years, then they will not need to self-isolate so long as they have no symptoms -PCR testing is not required, but still encouraged.

Other children and young people who meet the definition of a contact are considered low risk - e.g. those who had contact in classrooms, dining rooms, common entry and exit points, general playground contacts, friendship groups and sharing transport to school. These contacts will not be directly contact traced by Test and Protect. When cases arise, parents and carers will be alerted via the 'warn and inform' letter so that they can be vigilant and look out for symptoms and signs of COVID-19in their children.

Test and Protect processes

Much of the Test and Protect process is now automated. Parents should not always expect to receive a phone call from Test and Protect staff, because much of the contact tracing is carried out electronically. It is therefore important to follow instructions on electronic communications (text and email) carefully and complete all contact information as requested by Test and Protect to help with that process. More information on Test and Protect can be found here, including how to tell that a communication you receive is genuinely from Test and Protect and not a scam.

NHS Lothian continues to work closely with Education colleagues to monitor cases of COVID-19and support public health measures to reduce the spread of infection in schools. It is important that parents and pupils continue to practice good hand hygiene, comply with mask wearing and other COVID-19policies. It is also important for secondary pupils to take part in regular LFT testing and to take up the offer of COVID-19 vaccination if they are eligible.

I hope that this provides some background and clarification for the recent changes in approach to COVID-19 contact tracing in young people. If you would like any further information,  please see Scottish Government information sheet for more detail.

Yours faithfully, Dona Milne

Director of Public Health and Health Policy

Drop-in arrangements for Covid vaccination clinics for all aged 16+

 

Drop-in arrangements for Covid vaccination clinics for all aged 16 or over can be found at:

https://www.nhslothian.scot/Coronavirus/Vaccine/Pages/Drop-in-Clinics.aspx

COVID-19: Warn & Inform Letter to all Parents/Carers

Lothian NHS Board

Waverley Gate

2-4 Waterloo Place

Edinburgh

EH1 3EG

www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Advice to parents/carers

 Our Ref        Health Protection Team

 Enquiries to School

 

Dear Parent/Carer

COVID-19 information letter to parents and carers

This is to inform you that cases of confirmed COVID-19 (Coronavirus) have been reported in a people with links to Gracemount High School.

All close contacts of the cases who need to take specific actions have been identified, contacted and advised to follow the latest guidance on self-isolation and testing.

From August 9^th 2021, these procedures have been updated for:

- adults who are fully vaccinated, who do not have symptoms and who have not tested positive; and

- children and young people aged under 18 who do not have symptoms and who have not tested positive.

Further information on the latest self-isolation requirements can be found on the NHS Inform website at: www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19 or Translations (nhsinform.scot) for accessible, easy read formats or other languages.

What you need to do

There is no requirement for you or your child to self-isolate unless you are contacted by Test and Protect. This could happen if the contacts your child has had in the school environment or other settings – most likely social or overnight settings – are assessed as requiring targeted action.

The school has multiple control measures in place against COVID-19, supported with regular testing of staff, to limit the risk of onwards transmission within the school environment.

If there are any further cases of COVID-19 in the school, Test and Protect and the local NHS Health Protection Team will work to ensure these individuals, and any of their relevant close contacts, are advised to self-isolate and follow the latest guidance.

The school remains open in line with current Scottish Government guidelines and if there are any further updates we will communicate this to the school community. If your child has not been advised that they are a relevant close contact and remains well, they can continue to attend school as per your school’s current arrangements. Anyone with COVID symptoms of a new and persistent cough, fever, altered or absent sense of taste or smell should stay at home and get a PCR test.

If you have been advised by Test and Protect that your child has been identified as a relevant close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please follow the guidance they have provided. The information below is general information for parents/carers whose children have not been identified as a close contact where targeted action is required.

Keep testing regularly, even without symptoms

 

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 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: www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19-report-your-test-result. Reporting results helps public health experts understand what is happening with COVID-19 in your area, so they can take early action to address any problems.

 

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. More information can be found at: www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/no-covid-symptoms.

 

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID-19

Please be particularly vigilant for symptoms of COVID-19 in the coming weeks. If your child develops any symptoms of COVID-19 they must not come to school. They should stay at home from when their symptoms started, self-isolate, and get tested for COVID-19. Find out more on NHS Inform. The symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:

·         a new continuous cough and/or

·         a high temperature and/or

·         a loss of, or change in, taste or smell (anosmia).

 

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, Test and Protect will contact you to provide tailored advice on what to do.

 

Booking a test

To get a test for you or your child if they or you develop symptoms, you can:

·         Book a test at NHS Inform for your nearest COVID-19 test site, or by calling 119. There are drive-through, walk-through, mobile testing units across Scotland which are open from 8-am until 8pm, 7 days a week. A full list of sites can be found at Gov.Scot.

 

·         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.

 

It is important that anyone with one or more of the COVID-19 symptoms gets tested, so that anyone who tests positive knows to continue to stay at home and self-isolate. This will help stop the spread of coronavirus.

 

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child develops symptoms you can seek advice from NHS Inform.

 

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 and are eligible. Vaccination is our best defence against COVID-19 causing anyone to become seriously unwell. 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

·         wash your hands as soon as you get home

·         cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze

·         put used tissues straight in the bin and wash your hands.

·         open windows/doors regularly to ventilate your home

·         be vigilant for COVID symptoms

·         self-isolate when you have COVID symptoms or have been advised to by Test and Protect.

 

Further Information

For general Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions and information: https://www.parentclub.scot/topics/coronavirus/coronavirus-faq?age=0

and

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19

If you would like to speak to someone or if you have any questions, please contact the school office.

I look forward to seeing your child return to school in line with the guidance in this letter.  

Yours sincerely

Health Protection Team

NHS Lothian

 

R Hunter

Headteacher, Gracemount High School