Help & Support
Last update: 2022-03-14
Should any families be impacted by Covid over this term or experience other similar problems please email:
There is no longer a requirement to test twice a week and report results to school. Pupils should test if they develop symptoms. Tests for pupils are still available from school.
Pupils should ask their form tutors if they need LFTs.
Covid Guidance (21st February 2022)
On Monday 21 February, the government confirmed that all remaining domestic COVID-19 restrictions will be removed as part of its plan for living with COVID-19.
The legal requirement for people to isolate following a positive test has been removed. Contact tracing has ended and close contacts, regardless of vaccination status, are no longer be required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests.
From 24 February, workers are not legally obliged to tell their employers when they are required to self-isolate.
Self-isolation support payments, national funding for practical support and the medicine delivery service have ended. People who were instructed to self-isolate before this date will still be able to claim support payments within the next 42 days.
It is no longer mandatory for venues to require attendees to demonstrate their COVID-19 status. However, some venues or events may still choose to require proof of COVID-19 status as a condition of entry to reduce risk for attendees and staff. You will be able to show vaccination status, a recent negative test or exemption through the NHS Covid Pass. You can access you NHS COVID Pass through the NHS Covid-19 app, NHS.UK, or as a letter that can be requested by ringing NHS 119. Learn more on the government website.
From 19 January, you are no longer asked to work from home if you can. Talk to your employer to agree arrangements to return to your workplace.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will publish updated guidance on 24 February.
Managing the risks of spreading and catching COVID-19
You can still reduce the risk of catching and passing on COVID-19 by following the safe behaviours that have become familiar during the pandemic.
Face covering
Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, especially where you come into contact with people you do not usually meet, when rates of transmission are high. For further information visit: Face coverings when to wear one and how to make your own.
Ventilation
Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer. You can let in fresh air by uncovering vents and opening doors and windows. Opening your windows for just 10 minutes, or a small amount of time continuously where you can, makes a significant difference. This is particularly important before, during and after meeting indoors with people you do not live with.
Hand hygiene
Regular hand washing or use of hand sanitiser is an effective way to reduce your risk of catching illnesses, including COVID-19. If you need to sneeze or cough, use a tissue to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it.’
Where possible, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you do need to touch your face, for example to put on or take off your face covering, wash or sanitise your hands before and after.
Socialise safely
Consider the risks when meeting people you do not usually live with. You might choose to limit close contact or use lateral flow tests before and after being in close contact with others.
Vaccination
The vaccines are safe and effective. Getting fully vaccinated is the best way of protecting you and others against COVID-19.
If you have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s not too late. Find out more about how to get vaccinated in Portsmouth.
Testing
When symptom-free, use rapid lateral flow tests to increase the chances of detecting COVID-19 when you are infectious but are not displaying symptoms. You should also take a rapid lateral flow test if you expect to spend time in a high-risk environment during your day, particularly if you are visiting people who are at higher risk of severe illness if they were infected with COVID-19. Find out more.
Try to stay at home if you’re unwell
If you feel unwell, try to stay at home until you feel better and reduce the risk that you will pass on an illness to your friends, colleagues, and others in your community. Take a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms and avoid contact with other people if you test positive.
Changes to the self-isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19
From Monday 17 January, people who are self-isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with a lateral flow device (LFD) test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if they test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to their education or childcare setting immediately on day 6.
The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day. All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace.
If the result of either of their tests is positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest.
Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.
Further information on self-isolation for those with COVID-19 is available.
Temporary suspension of confirmatory PCR tests in education and childcare settings
Confirmatory PCR testing following a positive result on a lateral flow device (LFD) have been temporarily suspended from Tuesday 11 January. This means that for all education and childcare settings, staff and students who have tested (either at home or through ATS) and reported a positive LFD result will no longer be advised to get a confirmatory PCR test.
This change is informed by public health advice. With high COVID-19 rates, the risk of a positive LFD result being false is very small. We therefore don’t need to ask people to do a confirmatory PCR unless they:
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· have symptoms (in which case they need to follow the stay at home guidance, self-isolate and order a PCR test) · wish to claim the Test and Trace Support Payment · have been advised to take a PCR test because they are in a clinically vulnerable group · have been advised to do so as part of a research or surveillance programme |
Education and childcare settings are not expected to trace contacts of a positive case as this will remain the responsibility of NHS Test and Trace. From today, Tuesday 11 January, contact tracing is triggered once a positive LFD test is reported.
Students should be strongly encouraged to test twice weekly at home and to report all results to NHS Test and Trace and to their setting. Anyone with a positive LFD test result should self-isolate and follow self-isolation guidance.
Information on the new arrangements can be found in the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.
If you test Covid positive and HAVE NO symptoms:
If you have no Covid symptoms then you are not required to take a PCR test.
You will be required to take a LFD test on day 6 and day 7 of your self-isolation period. If they are both negative test results then you are no longer required to complete the 10 full days of self-isolation. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. This also applies to children under 5, with LFD testing at parental or guardian discretion.
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 and return to your education or childcare setting from day 7. If they are positive then you should continue your self-isolation for the 10 full days.
Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.
Further information, including examples of when to end self-isolation if you have had COVID-19 symptoms, is available in the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.
You will be required to report the positive LFD on the NHS website link as well as the student link and email covid@saintedmunds.org.uk the positive text/email notification including the day of the final self-isolation period. If the day 6 and day 7 LFDs are positive please email the results to covid@saintedmunds.org.uk
If you test Covid positive and HAVE symptoms:
You will be still be required to complete a PCR test.
Anyone, including children, with symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, new continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste) should get a PCR test to check if they have the virus.
If you develop symptoms, no matter how mild and even if you’ve had the vaccine, you should arrange a PCR test immediately and shouldn’t leave home except to get tested. Testing in person is booked online and PCR home testing kits are available if needed. In Portsmouth the PCR testing site is in the outdoor area of 315 Commercial Road, PO1 4BU (former Sainsbury’s car park). To get tested you’ll need to book a test through the NHS website or Government website (here you can also order PCR home test kits).
If the result is positive you will need to take a LFD test on day 6 and day 7 of your self-isolation period and follow the isolation stages above or in the diagram example below and email the positive LFD and result of the PCR to covid@saintedmunds.org.uk
Examples of when to end self-isolation if you have had COVID-19 symptoms or have received a positive COVID-19 test result
Update 17/01/2022:
From Monday 17 January, people with COVID-19 in England can end their self-isolation after 5 full days, as long as they test negative on day 5 and day 6.
Changes to self-isolation rules from 21 December 2021
Close contacts
Close contacts have to isolate for 10 days if they are not fully vaccinated.
If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus you are advised to get a LFD test as soon as possible as you may have been infected – even if you have been vaccinated.
From 14 December 2021, close contacts who are fully vaccinated (with at least two doses), and close contacts aged between 5 and 18 years, do not need to self-isolate if they take rapid lateral flow tests for seven consecutive days and the test results remain negative.
Under-5s do not need to self-isolate after contact with a positive case.
If contacted by the NHS Covid App to say that you have been in close proximity to someone who subsequently tested positive for Covid, you should follow the guidance to take a daily LFD test for 7 days. You will still need to isolate for 10 days if you’re not exempt from self-isolation.
It’s really important that we all continue to follow coronavirus safety advice to keep ourselves and others safe.
Covid - Know The Symptoms & Get Tested
If you have coronavirus symptoms, you should book a test by calling 119 or visiting Gov.UK. The symptoms are:
A high temperature
A new, continuous cough
A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
If a student tests positive with Covid please email covid@saintedmunds.org.uk with a copy of the positive test result confirmation.
If your child is ill at all, then err on the side of caution and keep at home until they are fully well. If they have Covid symptoms then you must keep them at home, complete the LFD and if this is positive and the student still has Covid symptoms then you should book a PCR test.
All students should continue to test twice a week on a Wednesday and on a Sunday and results recorded through the NHS website and on the student link below.
Click here to submit a student's LFT test result to the school
Support for Victims of Domestic & Sexual Abuse during Covid-19
For advice, help & support out of hours or for specific needs:
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline Freephone 24hr 02394 216 816. Online support: www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-us
- Rape Crisis National Helpline 0808 802 9999 12.00 -14.30 and 19.00 – 21.30 every day. Online support: www.rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/want-to-talk
- LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline 0800 999 5428
- Men’s Advice Line for male victims of domestic abuse: 0808 801 0327 or www.mensadviceline.org.uk
- The Mix, free remote counselling and help for under 25’s: 0808 808 4994
- Rights of Women legal advice lines: www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/get-advice/advice-lines
- For domestic abuse perpetrators and those supporting them Respect Phone line provides a confidential helpline, email and webchat service: 0808 8024040 or www.respectphoneline.org.uk
- Childline - call 0800 1111 or access online: https://www.childline.org.uk
Useful Resources
| Name | |
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| OMG DA during covid.docx.pdf | Download |
Statement from the Solent NHS Trust Public Nursing Team (26th May 2020)
Portsmouth School Nursing Service continues to provide non-emergency health related advice and support, e.g. sleep, bed wetting, healthy weight, soiling, emotional health and well-being, additional and long term health conditions.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s health or development then please contact us by
Telephone - 03001236629 or Text us on 07491163276
