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28.8.2020
School, Early Years Facility, and Out of Schools Provision Facilities Action Card for
Local Authority (Positive cases and outbreaks). September Update
Whilst this card is updated on a regular basis, government guidance is constantly updated. Please refer to these key documents for the most up to date guidance relevant to schools, early years settings, and out of school providers: General Documents
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/ General Documents Relevant to Education and Children
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-
care
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/ Schools/nursery quick reference guidance: what to do if a child is displaying symptoms of COVID-19
• Schools: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/916849/Symptomtic_children_action_list_SCHOOLS_FINAL.pdf
• Early years: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/916863/Symptomatic_children_action_list_EARLY_YEARS_FINAL.pdf
School guidance
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools
Nursey guidance
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures
Out of school providers guidance
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak
SEND guidance
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings
Residential Setting
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-isolation-for-residential-educational-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-isolation-for-residential-educational-settings
Other education and childcare guidance that may be relevant can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare
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Actions to take
Symptoms no positive test
1 Actions: -possible case and household (including any siblings in the school who are household contacts) to isolate (in line with government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance) -anyone with symptoms to get a test either online (www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/) or by dialling 119. Also in very limited circumstances (that the schools have had outlined to them by the Department of Education) they could provide one of the testing kits they hold to the parents of a child who became unwell whilst at school. -School staff can also access testing through the government’s essential workers portal and if necessary teachers also have access to local NCL key worker testing scheme. -no need for classroom contacts to isolate -no need for any specific communciations to parents of children in the class/school who do not have symptoms. -advise parents to let the school know the test results -advice parents of the possible case regarding seeking medical help (see section 3 of this card and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/) -Setting to follow flow chart for schools (see appendix 3) and school/nursery guidance on what to do if they have a symptomatic child (see links above) -If it is a residential school, LBB public health to contact LCRC to discuss and follow residential schools guidance www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-isolation-for-residential-educational-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-isolation-for-residential-educational-settings
2 In the unlikely event that a parent/guardian refuses to collect a child with symptoms (and any of their household contacts eg siblings) advise the school to remind them that COVID-19 stay at home guidance specifies that households/support bubbles with anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 must self-isolate in line with the guidance and this is now a legal requirement. Also advise the school to inform the MASH of the situation (020 8359 4066 / [email protected]).
One confirmed case in a setting
3 If you are informed of a positive case in a setting it is important to take key details (see appendix 1 for key details to note). Notification of positive case(s) may happen from the setting, the London Coronavirus Response Cell (LCRC), or the test and trace service.
4 If you are notified of a case/ cases important actions (as applicable / relevant) are: ✓ Ensure they have reported the case to the appropriate helpline:
-single uncomplicated cases in an education or childcare setting to the Department of Education’s helpline (0800 046 8687) ->1 case or other setting to the LCRC (0300 303 0450/ [email protected])
✓ Ensure that cases and their households/support bubble are isolating in accordance with the stay at home guidance
✓ If there is a delay in response from the LCRC/Department of Education, it may be necessary
to advise that, as a precaution, bubbles or close contacts from a setting self-isolate before the LCRC or Department of Education helpline has been able to undertake a full risk assessment, to prevent a delay in the isolation of contact (see appendix 2 for general
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advice on who needs to isolate). However, this will be interim advice that may change once the LCRC/DofE helpline have undertaken their risk assessment and made the final decision. -In most cases a positive case will lead to at least a partial schools closure (ie for younger children the closure of the bubble be that a class or year group, and for older children isolation of close contacts as a minimum). This may not be necessary where the case was not in school for 48 hours prior to developing symptoms, but discuss with the LCRC. See appendix 2 for general advice on who needs to self-isolate.
✓ Ensure they have made the parents aware of the sources of medical help if necessary (111, GP by telephone, NHS online for children aged 5 and over, 999 in an emergency) and advised them to seek medical help if they have concerns.
✓ Ensure they have advised the school community of the symptoms of COVID and how to obtain a COVID test if necessary (via the NHS testing and tracing webpage, or119)
✓ Check that the school/facility have been sent the PHE template letters to circulate to
parents regarding the situation by the LCRC/DofE helpline. If they have not received these letters explain that the LCRC should send them and ask them to contact you if they do not.
✓ Advise most state schools that communication with media should normally go through the
LBB communications team for schools (020 8359 2640) for schools). Academies and organisations with their own comms teams should still liaise with LBB comms.
- Currently the LCRC/DofE should discuss IPC controls and undertake a full risk assessment However, we should raise infection control concerns/actions with the LCRC where necessary (e.g. if you have identified infection control risks the LCRC may not be aware of). You can also send the facility a copy of the LBB Education Secure Risk Assessment for schools (or the example LBB risk assessment templates that have been adapted for nurseries and out of school providers) if they need one (and follow up to ensure that it is completed).
✓ Any need for enhanced cleaning if the case has been in the school/facility within the last 72 hours (see guidance).
✓ Advise settings that they must not share the names of people with COVID unless essential to
protect others (if the LCRC advise that they need the contact details this could be considered necessary).
✓ If there is more than one case in the setting explain that explain that the LCRC may form an Incident Management Team (IMT) or Outbreak Control Team (OCT) and invite a senior member of staff from the school/EY facility to attend this
5 Advise the school that any advice we give about which children and staff need to self-isolate, are only applicable until the LCRC are able to conduct their full risk assessment. LCRC advice supersedes the advice on isolation we have given where they differ.
6 If the LCRC/DofE have not already been notified ask the school/facility to contact them at 0300 303 0450/ [email protected]
7 If you have any specific concerns contact LCRC even if they have already been informed. Examples of concerns:
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- Complicated contact history within the school/ facility (e.g. the confirmed case has had contact with several different bubbles in a school/ facility e.g. via afterschool/ facility clubs or transport)
- Use of school transport by the case. - Potential that the case is linked to other cases. - Particular concerns identified concerning infection control (IC). - If the education facility is a residential facility (see section 5).
8 If it is a residential schools please refer to guidance on isolation for residential educational-settings. However, please contact the LCRC to discuss any positive cases in these settings and how to establish household contacts.
9 Ensure that the relevant Barnet council teams have been informed as soon as possible (normally by email).
✓ Inform the director of public health and all the public health consultants. ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]).
✓ Inform health and safety ([email protected]) ✓ Inform comms David.O'[email protected], [email protected],
[email protected]. ✓ Family services: always inform Chris Munday about all cases associated with a school,
EYs or out of school setting. If it is an early years or primary aged facility inform Debra Davis. Inform Karen Peerson about cases in council run out of school providers (e.g. holiday clubs): [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
✓ Inform Education about all confirmed cases in schools and early years providers ([email protected]. [email protected], [email protected])
✓ John Hooton has asked to be informed about all positive cases in schools (please copy him into the notification that goes to comms, Cambridge Education, and family services ect). [email protected].
✓ Where relevant liaise with education about informing the teaching unions/UNISON (in most cases can wait until partial closure see below)
10 Further actions to take if a bubble/close contacts are sent home: -Ensure the LCRC has sent the correct letters to parents (see action 2). These should be provided by the LCRC. However, if we do end up sending classes home as an interim measure these are available on the LCRC shared point. -Ensure all above contacts aware regarding the closure -Inform the MASH so they can review children’s files as necessary (020 8359 4066 / [email protected]) -Inform relevant council members: (Cllr Stock: [email protected]; Cllr Longstaff [email protected]; the council leader [email protected]; the local member (who can be found at https://www.barnet.gov.uk/your-council/councillors-meetings-and-minutes/find-your-councillors ) - we reviewing if this is necessary for every case. -Inform the unions: Update the table for unions and send directly to Ian Harrison.
11 If schools have concerns about staff levels due to self-isolation, advise them to discuss them with Education. Ensure the school is aware that they need to continue to educate children whilst they self- isolate.
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12 Ensure the LCRC has conducted a risk assessment
13 Follow up any action recommended by LCRC
Additional Actions to consider if there is more than one case linked in place and time An outbreak = 2 or more CONFIRMED cases in the same group or class
A cluster = 2 or more confirmed cases among students or staff in a school/EY facility /college within 14
days
14 Carry out actions 3-13 for this card as relevant.
15 if there is more than one case contact the LCRC to discuss at 0300 303 0450, [email protected], unless they have already discussed/advised the LBB public health, even if the LCRC are already aware.
16 Confirm that the LCRC have reviewed and provided information on: - The management of cases and contacts, - Communication letters for parents - Testing - Infection control
17 Refer to the local outbreak plan where relevant.
18 Discuss with LCRC, and the setting, to establish if there are actions that need to be taken to ensure that the school/ facility is COVID secure.
19 Inform the CGG Contacts to email at the CCG (please include everyone on this list): [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Consider the need to inform local hospitals
20 Further Media and Communication: - Ensure PHE LCRC has sent appropriate letters to parents to inform them of the situation: - Local authority comms to lead should receive regular updates from LCRC/PHE comms about
cases and outbreaks in education settings. - LA comms should always involve school/EY facility staff in signing off any reactive
statements they are working on (or the comms lead if part of an academy) as well as LCRC/PHE comms.
- School/EY facility s do not need to speak to the media, the LA comms team should support with this.
- Public health team and comms to write press releases if appropriate. - Public health to write cllr briefings as required. - If public health or the setting do take a call from a journalist, take their details, discuss with
comms and then respond. You can ask them what information they are after and respond in writing. You don’t have to speak to them there and then. Be careful about details being given and mentioning numbers of staff / pupils affected as this risks disclosing patient-identifiable information if the numbers are less than 5.
- If academies/organisations have their own comms teams, please make sure they link up with the LA and PHE comms team before issuing any statements.
21 Integrate local and national data as required
22 Consider the need to inform any other local school/EY facility s/child care facilities (discuss with LCRC)
23 Review any potentially linked cases reported
24 If formed input into the LCRC Incident Management Team (IMT) or Outbreak Control Team (OCT) as required – PH representation will be requested
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25 Consider the need for a local IMT and as a minimum ensure ongoing communication with the school/EY facility , LCRC/HPT, Barnet coms, Barnet Health and Safely, Cambridge Education, Family services, and the CCG as relevant.
26 Discuss with the LCRC need for mass testing. If necessary options include: - Mobile testing facilities (contact Katie Wood) - NCL testing facilities - Locally held swabs (if and when these are available)
27 Follow up with the school or EY/out of school provision facility about infection control concerns identified in consultation with the LCRC.
28 Generally PHE will liaise with hospitals if children/staff have been admitted, but confirm with PHE if they will be doing this where relevant.
29 Work with school nurses and EHOs where relevant to support schools with IC measures.
30 In exceptional circumstances consider the need for any additional local measures in liaison with the setting and LCRC (eg closing the school or facility more widely)
*Residential schools with positive cases should follow Guidance on isolation for residential educational-
settings. However, please contact the LCRC to discuss any positive cases in these settings and how to
establish household contacts.
Safeguarding Concerns If you have safeguarding concerns about a child please raise them with the school or, if you think it more appropriate to report them directly or seek advice directly: -For urgent advice/reports phone the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 020 8359 4066. The MASH team are available Monday to Thursday 9 am to 5.15 pm and Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Outside of these hours you should report any concerns that need an immediate response to their emergency duty team on 020 8359 2000. -Otherwise you should complete an online form : Safeguarding concern referral External link
See next page for appendices
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Appendix one – details to take from a school with a positive case:
1 Details of the school/ facility -name of the school/facility -age range of children attending -type of the facility including if a nursery, primary school, secondary school, out of school provider, if it is a private facility, if the children attending have any specific needs, if it is residential facility -contact name, telephone and email
If they have spoken to the London Coronavirus Response Cell (LCRC) and if so their LCRC reference (and name of contact person at LCRC if relevant)
The date of symptom onset and/or of positive test.
When they last attended school/ facility
If the case(s) developed symptoms whilst at school/facility
The number of positive case(s) and their age If more than one case if they are household contacts/ bubble contacts/ other known contacts for each other.
If the positive case attends/works in an after-school club, travels on school/ transport, or is involved in other activities that mean that they are more likely to have exposed others in the facility outside of their bubble.
If the case is known to work at/attend another school or facility
If the case has any siblings (or other household contacts) in this school or EY/ out of school provision facility or another school or EY/out of school provision facility (the year group and school/EY facility they are in). This would include if they attend a child minder.
If there are any other positive cases in their setting
If they are aware of any linked positive cases
Where the case(s) lives in the borough/if they are out of borough.
If the case(s) travel(s) to school/EY facility via public transport
If any of the cases have been admitted to hospital
If they know of anyone else with symptoms in the setting (if so confirm that they have accessed testing and self-isolated appropriately).
If there is a concern that anyone who is self-isolating may not be able to access essential items or may be otherwise isolated and in need of support that will not be provided by the community (in which case please advise them to contact the community help hub 0808 281 3210 if they live in borough or to refer to the community support in the borough they are resident in)
If they are concerned that translation facilities may be required by the family.
If they have a COVID-19 risk assessment, if their risk assessment revealed any concerns about infection control and if they have any concerns about infection control.
NB//we do not need to take the names and DOB of the case(s), but if may be helpful to advise that the
LCRC will need these where possible (so the school can have these to hand when they speak with them).
Settings must not share the names of people with COVID unless essential to protect others (if the LCRC advise that they need the contact details this could be considered essential).
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Appendix 2 – Who needs to isolate and when
Prior to a test result
If someone has symptoms and they were in school the period they may have been infectious:
• That person should not attend school for 10 days from symptom onset
• Their household contacts need to stay in for 14 days
• The rest of the class or bubble do not need to isolate (pending test result in case)
People are infectious 2 days before to 10 days after their symptoms started
Post positive test result If someone has symptoms but did not attend school during the days when they were infectious:
• No further action is needed at the school (case and household continue to self isolate at home).
If someone with a positive test attended school whilst infectious, a risk assessment required (LCRC or DofE undertake). The LCRC advise that:
• In younger children there is an emphasis on separating groups/bubbles and for older children an emphasis on social distancing
• Therefore for younger children everyone else in the class or bubble (contacts) should not attend school for 14 days from the ill persons symptom onset
• For older children, only those who are close contacts will be required to self-isolate (the LCRC are to advise on this though*).
• Identified school contacts need to isolate at home, but if school contacts are well, their own household does not need to stay in for 14 days.
• If the school contacts develop symptoms they must test and their household self-isolate. • Contacts need to remain off school for the 14 days even if they are tested and have a negative
test result
*If there is a delay in the LCRC’s risk assessment we may need to make our own risk assessment. For younger children everyone in the class or bubble will normally be considered a contact and asked to self-isolate. For older children, where we are trying to establish close contacts without isolating a whole class, we can ask the school to identify children and staff who have had close contact with the case, this would be: Direct contacts of case – anyone with face to face contact or within 1 meter for 1 minute or more or skin to skin contact Proximity contacts – anyone within 2 meters for 15 minutes Travel in small vehicle – anyone sharing a lift in a “small vehicle”
However please emphasise to the school that the LCRC/DofE will carry out their own risk assessment and any decision they make supersedes any decision or advice we have given, ours is only an interim risk assessment The LCRC provide letters to send to parents regarding a case or outbreak in schools. If we need
to send contact home before a case they are available on the shared point and are also in the
“schools outbreaks planning” file in the PublicHealth inbox.
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Appendix 3: Local advice given to schools.