Dear Parents and Carers,

I am writing to advise you of the changes to COVID-19 guidance which came into effect on Thursday 24th February 2022. Whilst we are now “learning to live with COVID-19”, it is important to remember that the global pandemic is not yet over. However, the Government have stated that vaccines have enabled the gradual and safe removal of restrictions on everyday life over the past year, and will remain at the heart of their approach to living with the virus in the future.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the changes to COVID rules were part of moving from “Government restrictions” to “personal responsibility”.

Guidance published by the DfE on Friday 25th February stated: “If you insist on your child attending nursery, school or college when they have symptoms, they can take the decision to refuse your child if, in their reasonable judgement, it is necessary to protect other pupils and staff from possible infection with COVID-19.”

On Monday 21st February 2022, the Prime Minister announced the following:

Testing
Regular asymptomatic testing has helped to reduce transmission in education settings and maintain face-to-face education and care. However, it has also placed a burden on individuals throughout the pandemic. The Government has therefore announced that it is in a position to lift this guidance for staff and students. From Monday 21st February staff and children are no longer required to undertake twice weekly asymptomatic testing.

The Legal Duty to Self-Isolate
As of Thursday 24th February 2022, the Government removed the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. Adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least five full days, and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received two negative test results on consecutive days or until the tenth day.

Fully vaccinated close contacts and those aged under 18 will no longer be required to test daily for seven days, and the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate has been removed. Routine contact tracing has ended – contacts will no longer be required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests.
Free testing will end from the 1st April 2022 for the general public, including those with symptoms. However, the Government will continue to provide free tests for symptomatic people, within certain age groups, and those who are most vulnerable.

I would like to remind you that school attendance is mandatory for all pupils of compulsory school age, and it is a priority to ensure that as many children as possible regularly attend school. Therefore, your child should be attending school unless they are not well enough to attend or they test positive for COVID-19. Please see the guidance table below.

At Elvington, we ask that everyone in our community follows the expectations listed in this chat.

Thank you once again for the support that you continue to provide in facilitating your child’s education; this remains paramount.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Andrew Buttery