Warn & Inform letter from NHS Health Protection Team (Lothian) to Parents & Carers of all pupils

Lothian NHS Board

Health Protection Team

Waverley Gate

2-4 Waterloo Place

Edinburgh

EH1 3EG

www.nhslothian.scot

Advice to Parents/Carers

Dear Parent/Carer

In recent days we have been made aware that members of the Gracemount High School community in various year groups 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 or take daily LFD tests at present 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 your child or anyone in your household develops any symptoms of COVID-19, the symptomatic person must not come to school, they must self-isolate and should have a PCR test as soon as possible. The rest of the household are not required to self-isolate whilst the test result is awaited, but they are advised to do daily LFD tests and monitor closely for any symptoms developing. Further information and guidance can be found in NHS Inform. Further information on testing can also 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 and, although our understanding of the Omicron variant is evolving, there is no evidence of a higher risk at present. 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 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.

Please also note the following: 

o   If your child is in primary school, you can support them to take a test before returning if you and they are comfortable in doing so. 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.

In addition please:

·        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.

·        Adopt additional caution if meeting with friends or family who you know to be at higher levels of risk.

·        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 from NHS Health Protection Team (Lothian) to Parents & Carers of S1 pupils

Lothian NHS Board

Health Protection Team

Waverley Gate

2-4 Waterloo Place

Edinburgh

EH1 3EG

www.nhslothian.scot

Advice to Parents/Carers

Dear Parent/Carer

In recent days we have been made aware of members 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 or take daily LFD tests at present 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 your child or anyone in your household develops any symptoms of COVID-19, the symptomatic person must not come to school, they must self-isolate and should have a PCR test as soon as possible. The rest of the household are not required to self-isolate whilst the test result is awaited, but they are advised to do daily LFD tests and monitor closely for any symptoms developing. Further information and guidance can be found in NHS Inform. Further information on testing can also 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 and, although our understanding of the Omicron variant is evolving, there is no evidence of a higher risk at present. 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, then continue to test regularly (twice-weekly) thereafter

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.

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.

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.

You can also:

• 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.
• Adopt additional caution if meeting with friends or family who you know to be at higher levels of risk.
• 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

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