Management Information Sheet

The guidance in this MI sheet provides current detail regarding the management of COVID-19 in Education on the following topics:

1. Contacting the Norfolk Outbreak Management Centre
2. Confirmatory PCR tests to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow test results
3. Isolation rules for those testing positive
4. Daily testing for close contacts of COVID-19
5. Accessing asymptomatic testing
6. Update to the definition of vulnerable children
7. Provision for Vulnerable Children and Children of Critical Workers
8. Flexible learning approaches
9. Air cleaning units
10. Providing school meals during the coronavirus outbreak
11. Individual Risk Assessment review
12. Updated NCC guidance
13. The vaccination programme for 12 to 15 year olds
14. Face Coverings

1. Contacting the Norfolk Outbreak Management Centre

The Management of Cases guidance contains thresholds to work out if you have an outbreak of significance and when you can notify Norfolk Outbreak Management Centre (NOMC) via the online form if you are concerned and feel you require further support. For settings with Asymptomatic testing Sites (ATS) in place and who are testing students and staff after the summer holidays, these thresholds only apply after the initial return to school test has been completed. Cases identified in the test-on-return period should not trigger extra measures or escalation to the NOMC.

2. Confirmatory PCR tests to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow test results

Lateral Flow Devices (LFD) are routinely used to test asymptomatic people - this is not going to change. The rules on confirmatory PCR tests following a positive LFD test are going to temporarily change.

• Confirmatory PCR tests following a positive lateral flow test result to be temporarily suspended from 11th January
• COVID-19 prevalence is high which means the chances of a false positive from a positive LFD result are very low
• This approach reflects evidence on the very high accuracy of LFD testing
• Under the new guidance anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms should continue to take a PCR test
• As this does not take effect until 11th January, guidance on central government websites may not reflect this change until 11th January.

From 11th January in England, people who receive positive lateral flow results for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate immediately and won't be required to take a confirmatory PCR test. This is a temporary measure while COVID-19 rates remain high across the UK. Whilst levels of COVID-19 are high, the vast majority of people with positive LFD results can be confident that they have COVID-19.

Lateral flow tests are taken by people who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone who develops one of the three main COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home and self-isolate and take a PCR test. They must self-isolate if they get a positive test result, even if they have had a recent negative lateral flow test - these rules have not changed.

Under this new approach, anyone who receives a positive lateral flow device (LFD) test result should report their result on gov.uk and must self-isolate immediately but will not need to take a follow-up PCR test. After reporting a positive LFD test result, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace so that their contacts can be traced and must continue to self-isolate.

There are a few exceptions to this revised approach:

• People who are eligible for the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment (TTSP) will still be asked to take a confirmatory PCR if they receive a positive LFD result, to enable them to access financial support.
• People participating in research or surveillance programmes may still be asked to take a follow-up PCR test, according to the research or surveillance protocol.
• Around one million people in England who are at particular risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 have been identified by the NHS as being potentially eligible for new treatments. They will be receiving a PCR test kit at home by mid-January to use if they develop symptoms or if they get a positive LFD result, as they may be eligible for new treatments if they receive a positive PCR result. This group should use these priority PCR tests when they have symptoms as it will enable prioritised laboratory handling.

In line with the reduced self-isolation approach announced on 22 December, anyone who tests positive will be able to leave self-isolation 7 days after the date of their initial positive test if they receive two negative LFD results, 24 hours apart, on days 6 and 7.

Rapid lateral flow tests are most useful at identifying COVID-19 in people without any symptoms. The tests are over 80% effective at finding people with high viral loads who are most infectious and most likely to transmit the virus to others.

Analysis by NHS Test and Trace shows lateral flow device (LFD) tests to have an estimated specificity of at least 99.97% when used in the community. This means that for every 10,000 lateral flow tests carried out, there are likely to be fewer than 3 false positive results. LFD tests identify the most infectious people. These people tend to spread the virus to many people and so identifying them remains important.

3. Isolation rules for those testing positive

It is now possible for those who have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) to end self-isolation after 7 days, following 2 negative LFD tests taken 24 hours apart. The first LFD test should not be taken before the sixth day. The second LFD test should be taken at least 24 hours later. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result. You should not take an LFD test before the sixth day of your isolation period, and you should only end your self-isolation following 2 consecutive negative LFD tests which should be taken at least 24 hours apart. This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion.

If you take an LFD test from the sixth day of your isolation period, and the test result is positive, wait 24 hours before you take the next test.

These rules are the same irrespective of your vaccination status.

LFD tests are very good at identifying people who have high levels of coronavirus and are most likely to pass on infection to others, even if you do not have symptoms.

If you are able to end isolation early you are advised to modify your activity during the remainder of the 10 days and remain cautious.

If you are isolating because of a positive test result but did not have any symptoms and you then develop COVID-19 symptoms during isolation, the period of isolation resets with day zero being the day your symptoms start. You should obtain a PCR test. You can arrange to have a PCR test by ordering it online or by calling 119.

The following guidance has more details and can be shared with parents and carers;

Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The NCC Management of Cases and Testing guidance has been updated to reflect this guidance in relation to working in settings and a new flow chart has been produced to summarise the actions to take for staff. These are available on the Norfolk schools Health, safety & wellbeing website.

4. Daily testing for close contacts of COVID-19

People who are fully vaccinated, or children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months, identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should take an LFD test every day for seven days (or for 10 days if they live in the same household as a positive case from the start of their isolation period) and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time.

Children under 5 are not being advised to take part in daily testing of close contacts. If a child under 5 is a contact of a confirmed case, they are not required to self-isolate and should not start daily testing. If they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 they should limit their contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19, and arrange to take a PCR test as soon as possible. They can continue to attend an education or childcare setting while waiting for the PCR result. If the test is positive, they should follow the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.

The DfE have also produced a 15 minute video on the topic of daily contact testing, this video confirms that those who have previously tested positive in 90 days will still be requested to daily test if identified as a close contact of a positive case by NHS Test & Trace.

Anyone aged over 18 years and 6 months and not fully vaccinated, will not follow the guidance above and are legally required to self-isolate as per government guidance.

5. Accessing asymptomatic testing

Please note the Ordering Coronavirus Test Kits- 'How to' guide explains how to order test kits for your setting using the digital online ordering solution. Using this digital solution, you will be able to regularly order your test kits. This enables you to only order what you need, based on your stock levels to meet the needs of your setting.

The guide confirms the following

• All staff in educational settings should be provided lateral flow tests by their setting in order to test at home twice-weekly or test daily for 7 days if they are identified as a close contact of a positive case by NHS T&T.
• Students attending secondary schools, FE Colleges and ITPs/ACLPs should be provided lateral flow tests by their setting in order to test at home twice-weekly or test daily for 7 days if they are identified as a close contact of a positive case by NHS T&T.
• Primary age pupils who are identified as a close contact of a positive case by NHS T&T should access lateral flow devices to enable them to test daily for 7 days from a community test site or their local pharmacy, or order online.

Those who have previously tested positive in 90 days should still take part in regular twice weekly LFD testing.

It is important that any staff or students who receive a positive LFD result self-isolate as per national guidance and do not attend the educational setting. Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should also isolate and get tested with a PCR test. You can arrange to have a PCR test by ordering it online or by calling 119. If the result is positive, they must continue to isolate as per national guidance.

The following google platforms provide full details on asymptomatic testing in educational settings;

• DfE Secondary Schools & Further Education Google Platform
• DfE Early Years and Primary Schools Google Platform

If you run out of test kits, you can order more through the online ordering platform for education settings. Please call 119 if you require further advice or support.

6. Update to the definition of vulnerable children

Settings may need to change how they are delivering education and childcare for a short period of time in line with the Contingency Framework. In all circumstances, and in all settings, priority should continue to be given to vulnerable children and young people and children of critical workers to attend full time.

The DfE have updated their guidance on children of critical workers and vulnerable children who can access school or education settings to include a broader definition of children classified as vulnerable.

this list now includes;

• children known to children's social care services in the past
• children whose home circumstances might be particularly challenging because of domestic abuse, parental offending, adult mental health issues, and drug and alcohol addiction

In addition to the already published;

• those with a social worker
• those with an Education, Health and Care Plan
• a group of children considered locally, including by settings and local authorities, to be 'otherwise vulnerable'

7. Provision for Vulnerable Children and Children of Critical Workers

You may have to change your provision in line with your Contingency Framework. We need to be aware if you are unable to open partially or fully for children at any time. Please contact your Partnership Adviser if your staffing prevents full opening for all pupils.

• Kings Lynn and West Norfolk and Breckland: Gavin Cowley gavin.cowley@norfolk.gov.uk
• Norwich and Broadland: Sue Dale sue.dale@norfolk.gov.uk
• South Norfolk: Victoria Groom victoria.groom@norfolk.gov.uk
• North and East Norfolk: Karen Hutchison karen.hutchison@norfolk.gov.uk
• Special Schools: Alison Toombs alison.toombs2@norfolk.gov.uk
• Independent Special Schools: Sonia Walker sonia.walker@norfolk.gov.uk
• Early Years: Jo-anne Lamb jo-anne.lamb@norfolk.gov.uk

In these circumstances, priority should continue to be given to vulnerable children and young people and children of critical workers to attend full-time. As you will be aware, the criteria for vulnerable children has been expanded. You may need to update your critical worker list.

Where you are needing to move to remote learning for some cohorts within the schools, on-site provision should be retained for vulnerable children and young people and the children of critical workers. If settings must temporarily stop onsite provision on public health advice, they should discuss alternative arrangements for vulnerable children and young people with the local authority.

The advice and support for any attendance related issues or support regarding inclusion remains unchanged. Please continue to contact your Attendance Link Officer or the Inclusion Helpline for these matters.

8. Flexible learning approaches

The DfE have set up a new Remote Education folder on the DfE Secondary Schools & Further Education Google Platform. Here they will publish case studies on developing and adopting flexible learning approaches, to assist settings who are experiencing difficulties with staff availability so that they can keep open and continue to deliver face-to-face education wherever possible.

9. Air cleaning units

In MI Sheet 221/21 we detailed useful ventilation guidance and signposted eligible SEND and Alternative Provision settings to apply for a DfE-funded air cleaning unit from 23 November. Applications closed on 7 December.

The DfE will make up to a further 7,000 air cleaning units available for poorly ventilated teaching spaces in state funded schools (primary and secondary), FE colleges and early years settings where quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible. The second round of applications will open from 4 January. Applications will close on 17 January at 9am. Further details, including the eligibility criteria, can be found in the 'How to' Apply for a DfE funded air cleaning unit on the DfE Ventilation Google Platform.

If your setting is not eligible for a funded unit, an online air cleaning unit marketplace is now available, enabling you to purchase units at a suitable specification and competitive price. The marketplace contains information about each air cleaning unit, including price, size and the technical specification. The page also includes links for you to purchase a unit direct from the supplier.

The DfE Ventilation Google Platform also has a new guide 'How to' Use Air Cleaning Units In Education And Childcare Settings which will help you to assess if an air cleaning unit would be suitable for your setting.

Air cleaning units, when used properly, can help reduce airborne contaminants in a poorly ventilated space, including viruses like COVID-19. However, it should be noted that they are not a substitute for ventilation and should never be used as a reason to reduce ventilation. They should only be used as a temporary measure prior to undertaking remedial works to improve ventilation on a more permanent basis.

10. Providing school meals during the coronavirus outbreak

There has not been any change to the guidance in relation to pupils that are eligible to means-tested Free School Meals (FSM). The full guidance may be read here: Providing school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In summary:

Any pupils that are eligible to means-tested FSM and are required to remain at home due to positive Covid tests or whilst waiting for the results of a PCR test should have a meal provided by their school.

It is not necessary for schools to make provision for any other absence other than Covid-related.

The meals may be in the form of:

• Daily lunches provided by the school's caterers
• Weekly food boxes provided by the school's caterers
• Weekly food boxes from another source e.g. a supermarket
• Food vouchers e.g. from the NCC Edenred portal or another source of the school's choosing.

Schools / Trusts are welcome to use the NCC EdenRed portal to order food vouchers for isolating pupils.

Any orders placed should please be annotated with "Covid self-isolation" so that they are correctly recorded.

The FSM Finance team will send statements to schools for checking every half term, then invoice academies and journal recharge LA maintained schools to recover the cost.

The vouchers should be issued at the rate of £3 per day, but as EdenRed only accept orders to the nearest £5, we recommend ordering weekly (i.e. £15 per eligible child). However, if a pupil only has to self-isolate for a part week the voucher should be for the nearest whole £5 e.g. 3 days = £10.

Any queries should be directed to fsmf@norfolk.gov.uk

11. Individual Risk Assessment review

As a result of rising COVID-19 cases, the viral prevalence banding has increased. Individual risk assessments will need to be re-evaluated using the risk scoring table and control measures that are detailed in COVID-19 Your Health and Your Safety when working in Educational Settings, further control measures may be required for some staff members. Use the Individual risk assessment template to record your findings.

12. Updated NCC guidance

Please note the following guidance has been updated on the Norfolk schools Health, safety & wellbeing website;

• Your health and your safety when working in educational settings
• Compliance code for all educational settings
• Management of cases guidance
• Guidance for education staff who carry out essential home visits
• Home visits risk assessment

Please also note two new resources that you may find useful

• Close contacts for staff flow chart
• Isolation requirements flow chart

13. The vaccination programme for 12 to 15 year olds

Young people aged 12 to 15 in England are now being offered a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a minimum of 12 weeks from the first dose.

There are 2 routes on offer for 12-15 year olds to get the vaccine:

1. Through schools OR
2. Through the community at a local vaccination site

The DfE have produced a helpful guide called Vaccinations in Schools - Good Practice 'How to Guide', which is located on the DfE Secondary Schools & Further Education Google Platform. This contains useful resources for settings, parents, carers, and young people.

14.Face Coverings

From January 4th, the DfE recommend that in those schools where pupils in year 7 and above are educated, face coverings should be worn in classrooms. This also includes after school activities/wraparound care. This does not apply in situations where wearing a face covering would impact on the ability to take part in exercise or strenuous activity, for example in PE lessons. This will also be a temporary measure until Wednesday 26 January, when Plan B regulations are currently scheduled to expire, at which point it will be reviewed.

More information on this can be found in the face coverings section of the Schools COVID-19 operational guidance.