Swine Flu Virus - Updated Information

We know that schools have been receiving advice directly on flu and the circumstances where localised closures of schools or early years and group child care settings may be necessary to contain the spread of infection. The guidance is that decisions in these cases will be taken locally on the basis of advice from local health protection teams.

At this time schools should be operating normally. If a pupil is suspected of having a virus that might be swine flu - even if the child is currently out of school - you should take advice from your local public health advisers. Unless they advise you to close as a precautionary measure, we would not expect you to do so.

We have confirmed that if a pupil is suspected of having a virus that might be swine flu, the Health Protection Agency will assist with a risk assessment and advise whether this indicates that the school should close. The local Health Protection Agency contact number is 01842 767757. Out of hours this is forwarded to Medicom who will contact the HPA.

It is too early to judge whether swine flu will be severe enough in the UK to lead to a Government decision to advise that all schools and settings in an area should close. Any decision to advise all schools and settings to close would be taken by the Government and communicated to schools through regional Government Offices who would inform Local Authority Chief Executives and Directors of Children's Services.

More information about how decisions about closing schools should be taken is set out in the Q & A brief at www.teachernet.gov.uk and updates are posted regularly at www.teachernet.gov.uk/humanflupandemic.