Education Service 4th Floor, Kilncraigs, Alloa, FK10 1EB Telephone: 01259 450000
Direct contact: Telephone:
Lorraine Sanda
Email:
education@clacks.gov.uk
Our ref:
LS/JM
Date:
2 December, 2020
01259 450000
Dear Parent / Carer I am writing to give you an overview of the steps we are taking in our schools and Early Learning and childcare establishments in Clackmannanshire to ensure that your child or young person is learning in as safe an environment as possible. We are following all advice and guidance to reduce risks and keep our education establishments open, and only close in exceptional circumstances. To enable this, we have been working in close partnership with the NHS Forth Valley Public Health Team. While I understand that you may have concerns if you have received a letter informing you that Test & Protect contact tracing is taking place in your child’s school or have read about this happening at other schools in the area, I would like to reassure you that number of children and young people who have tested positive for the virus is low. As of this week, the Scottish Government data shows that only 0.5 % of pupils (33 cases) in Clackmannanshire and approximately 1 % of staff (11 cases) have tested positive since the outbreak began. We are all focussed on keeping those numbers low and preventing transmission. You may during this time receive one of three letter from Public Health. These letters will come via the nursery or school. 1. A General Letter telling you that the Test and Protect Team are carrying out contact tracing at your child’s school please be assured that your child or young person can continue to attend school as normal as this initial letter is for information only. 2.
A Close Contact Letter asking your child to self isolate for 14 days and stay off school if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. This advice is precautionary but as a parent or carer, you have a vital role in supporting your children or young people to follow the school rules to minimise transmission. It is important that if your child or household is asked to self-isolate by Test and Protect that you follow that advice and stay at home.
3. School, Class or Year Group Closure. In some occasions we have, in consultation with Public Health, asked schools, classes or year groups to move to virtual learning. This is to ensure that we minimise the transmission and avoid any additional Covid cases. If you receive this letter, your child(ren) will learn from home but will not require to self isolate. In the event of your child or young person being asked to self isolate, their school will continue to support their learning virtually using google classrooms and Flip Clacks.
15/12/2020
Please be aware that for confidentiality reasons, we do not give out information relating to the number of pupils or staff who have tested positive at our schools or Early Learning and childcare establishments. If you have any questions about the health of your child or someone at home, please contact your health practitioner for advice. You can also email education@clacks.gov.uk and more information is available on the Clackmannanshire website https://www.clacks.gov.uk/. I appreciate how difficult the last few weeks and months have been and I would like to thank you for the support you have given to your children and your schools. I would also like to thank all our staff who have been working tirelessly in really challenging circumstances. Please be assured we are doing everything we can to keep our schools open and keep everyone safe. Best Wishes
Strategic Director of People / Chief Education Officer
15/12/2020