No decision has been made to close schools in the UK.

We are still open as normal. We are, however, putting a contingency plan in place JUST IN CASE we are told to close. We will share the plan with parents and carers once it has been finalised.

We do understand parental concern. We understand that parents may want to keep their children off school. Unless this is due to genuine illness and/or a confirmed case of Covoid-19 it will be classed as an Unauthorised Absence, in line with the school attendance policy. If children are showing symptoms, we would expect parents/ carers to follow the advice below and self isolate. This would be authorised.

In the interim, until we receive official guidance, we would ask all parents/ carers to follow the Government advice below:

Everyone can help support the UK’s response by:

• following public health authorities’ advice, for example on hand washing
• reducing the impact and spread of misinformation by relying on information from trusted sources, such as that on www.nhs.uk, www.nhsinform.scot, www.publichealth.hscni.net, https://gov.wales/coronavirus-covid-19 and www.gov.uk
• checking and following the latest FCO travel advice when travelling and planning to travel
• ensuring you and your family’s vaccinations are up to date as this will help reduce the pressure on the NHS/HSCNI through reducing vaccine-preventable diseases
• checking on elderly or vulnerable family, friends and neighbours
• using NHS 111 (or NHS 24 in Scotland or NHS Direct Wales) (including online, where possible), pharmacies and GPs responsibly, and go to the hospital only when you really need to. This is further explained on the NHS website: When to go to A&E and Choose Well Wales
• being understanding of the pressures the health and social care systems may be under, and receptive to changes that may be needed to the provision of care to you and your family.
• accepting that the advice for managing COVID-19 for most people will be self-isolation at home and simple over-the-counter medicines
• checking for new advice as the situation changes