Management Information Sheet

Overview

On 19 July the country is expected to move on to Step 4 of the Government’s roadmap and further restrictions will be lifted. Full guidance on what this means for schools can be found in the document Schools COVID-19 operational guidance (applies from Step 4) and there is a useful DfE blog available too. Similar guidance documents are also available for special schools, early years providers and further education.

We will highlight some of the key changes for you here, however we would also like to take this opportunity to make the following recommendation;

Recommendation until the end of the Summer Term

We recommend that you continue to apply the current systems of controls and management of cases guidance until the start of the summer holiday period. Meaning your existing bubbles, and social distancing measures should where possible remain in place for the last days of this term, and face coverings will still be encouraged on dedicated school transport. Cases of COVID-19 are rising nationally, and the requirement for self-isolation of positive cases and close contacts remains. Maintaining the current measures for the last few days of term will help in reducing disruption to students, staff, and the wider community. This will also allow for Norfolk County Council guidance to be updated to help support you to adhere correctly to the new guidelines.

Please note it remains important that all positive COVID-19 cases in settings should continue to be reported to the Outbreak Management Centre via email at Phnorfolkomc@norfolk.gov.uk, you can also ask for advice on how to manage positive cases in your setting. If you have an urgent enquiry and need to speak to the Outbreak Management Team you can contact by telephone on 01603 223219

Over the summer holiday period those continuing to attend settings that remain open, are advised to revert to the new Step 4 published guidance.

Key Changes

A decision on Step 4 will be confirmed on 12 July 2021, following a review of the latest data. Some information on what changes Step 4 will bring has however already been outlined, and all relevant government guidance is being updated to reflect this. A useful DfE blog has also been published.

Here are some key changes;

Now

• Please continue as you are and consider our recommendation above for the short period from 19th July until the start of summer holidays.

• If relevant for your setting, please start planning for the use of your Asymptomatic Test Site to facilitate two tests for students upon starting the new academic year (more detail can be found in our School Alert 30th June and later in this document).

From 19th July

At Step 4 it is no longer recommended necessary to undertake the following;

• No in class teaching restrictions

• No bubbles – Assemblies can resume, and you no longer need to make alternative arrangements to avoid mixing at lunch.

• No social distancing – Students will be able to mix freely, no staggered start and finish times

• No face coverings – These will no longer be recommended in any setting

• No contact tracing - NHS Test and Trace will work with the positive case to identify close contacts

However, as outlined above we recommend you continue with your existing measures until the end of the summer term.

Guidance on the following will remain the same and is still recommended at this stage and into the new autumn term;

• Continue hygiene measures

• Continue cleaning

• Continue to keep rooms and spaces well ventilated

• Continue to ensure your Contingency Plans (also referred to as Outbreak Management Plans in new guidance) are up to date. We referred to these previously in MI Sheet 115/21 and School Alert 30th June. We are designing a Contingency Plan support document that will be available soon to further help you with this. If there is an outbreak in your setting public health may discuss with you implementing some of these contingencies.

• Continue to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19

• Continue to self-isolate if you are a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19

• Continue to test twice weekly - it remains essential that secondary pupils, teachers, and staff continue to test themselves for the virus and isolate if positive or if they have been in close contact with a positive case.

• Continue to let the Outbreak Management Team know of positive cases in your setting by email via Phnorfolkomc@norfolk.gov.uk.

• Continue to maintain a small Asymptomatic Test Sites until further notice (if relevant for your setting)

• Continue to maintain your remote learning. Those isolating and those returning from abroad Continue to need access your remote learning offer. This will continue to be needed as part of your contingency planning.

From 16th August onwards

• Children and Adults should continue to self-isolate if they test positive for COVID-19, irrespective of their vaccination status.

• From 16 August 2021, children under the age of 18 years old will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.

• From 16 August 2021, adults who are fully vaccinated will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.

• 18-year-olds will be treated in the same way as children until 4 months after their 18th birthday, to allow them the opportunity to get fully vaccinated

• Young people and fully vaccinated individuals identified as close contacts will continue to be advised to take a PCR test, to detect the virus and variants of concern. Anyone who tests positive following the PCR test will still be legally required to self-isolate, irrespective of their vaccination status. If you are a close contact in this category, there is no requirement to isolate while awaiting the results of your PCR test.

From the start of the new Academic Year

• All secondary school pupils should receive 2 on-site lateral flow device tests, 3 to 5 days apart, on their return in the autumn term. These will be conducted using your existing Asymptomatic Test Site (ATS). Settings may commence testing from 3 working days before the start of term and can stagger return of pupils across the first week to manage this. Please see our previous School Alert 30th June for links to training that may be needed.

• Secondary school pupils should then continue to test twice weekly at home until the end of September, when this will be reviewed.

• Staff in all settings should undertake twice weekly home tests until the end of September, when this will also be reviewed.

• There is no need for primary age pupils (those in year 6 and below) to test over the summer period. They will be offered the 2 tests at an ATS at the beginning of the autumn term when they start at their secondary school as a new year 7.

We are currently updating our guidance and risk assessment template encompassing all of these changes. This will be available to schools before the end of the summer term.