Coronavirus Latest updates on COVID-19 and our services. Updates on COVID-19 Midlothian Council Search this site Home Coronavirus Schools, early learning and children 2 November update From 15 November, we’ll be reopening our primary school lunch halls on a phased basis to offer P1-P7 pupils two hot meal options and one cold meal option. Hot meals will also be available in our high schools from 29 November. BACS payments covering Monday 1 Nov to Friday 26 November have been made to parents of pupils who qualify for free school meals. Individual schools will be in touch with parents and carers about arrangements for the phased reopening. National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch has written to parents and carers Professor Jason Leitch, the National Clinical Director, has written to parents and carers on 16 September to explain more about how cases of Covid-19 are being managed in schools and childcare settings. Read the letter NHS Lothian public health has sent a letter to parents and carers In addition to the information included in the 9 September update, we also requested a letter from NHS public health for parents and carers. Dona Milne Director of Public Health and Health Policy at NHS Lothian has now issued us with that letter which gives more details to help explain the change to national guidance around positive coronavirus cases in schools. The letter has been sent to parents and carers. Here is a copy of the letter 9 September update: Procedure if someone in school tests positive for coronavirus We are aware some parents and carers may be uncertain about what happens when someone in a school tests positive for coronavirus. From 9 August, the national guidance, which all schools must follow, changed. When someone tests positive for COVID-19 they will get a phone call from Test and Protect. For children under the age of 16, the parent or carer will be contacted. Test and Protect gives advice and takes details of any recent close contacts. They will talk through what a close contact is. Those contacts will be called by Test and Protect and asked to self-isolate and get a PCR test. If the test is positive they stay at home for 10 days. This is different from the previous procedure when schools identified and contacted close contacts of a positive case in the school. We now no longer have the remit nor the required information to carry out this role, as per the updated national guidance. Parents and carers will be informed there is a positive case in school via a Warn and Inform letter. In the case where additional children test positive within a class within a short time frame multiple letters will not be sent to the same class. However, unless you are contacted and advised otherwise by Test and Protect, your child should attend school as normal, provided they are well and have no symptoms of COVID-19. Please be assured we continue to work with the NHS Lothian Health Protection Team, who carry out a risk assessment of schools when someone at your child’s school test positive or there are multiple people with symptoms. The risk assessment, by those same health protection experts, then informs all decisions around making sure all measures are in place to keep pupils and staff safe. We must, and do, follow all public health guidance as the health and wellbeing of children and staff is our priority. Frequently asked questions for parents and carers about positive cases in schools New school term The same arrangements as the pre-summer break remain in place and the situation will be reviewed on a regular basis based on updated national guidance. Information about pupils' return to school has been sent parents and carers prior to the start of the new term, including the latest Scottish Government guidance. Measure that remain in place include: Physical distancing of at least one metre between all staff, and between staff and pupils. Face coverings to be worn by all staff and young people aged 12 and over. Enhanced cleaning, ventilation and hygiene measures. Drop off and pick up arrangements that request parents/carers to: Avoid gathering at school gates. Wear a face covering where required. Maintain physical distancing. Immediate changes There are changes to some measures to be implemented as soon as possible which include: Removing the requirement to maintain groups or ‘bubbles’ in ELC and schools. On dedicated school transport only adults and young people aged 12 and over should wear a face covering. Changes to the arrangements for self-isolation and contact tracing. What to do if your child tests positive or is a prolonged close contact of a positive case The latest NHS Inform advice includes where to get a local PCR test. You can also find information on getting tested, and which test you need, on the council's community testing pages. A negative PCR test will allow your child to return to school without the need for the 10-day self-isolation. Our ELC settings and schools will no longer be involved in contact tracing as this will be done via Test and Protect. Primary 1 In line with the published guidance, parents/carers of children starting in Primary 1 will generally not be able to access the school building or grounds on the first day of term. For a limited number of children who require additional support, alternative arrangements may be possible. Please contact your school directly to discuss with the Head Teacher. Testing Programme Staff in all settings, and young people attending secondary school are being asked to consider taking a lateral flow test prior to returning to school. Ideally, the second weekly test should be taken either in the morning before the pupil or staff member leaves for the first day of school or the evening before. It is really important that results are recorded online, whether positive, negative or void. Testing can help reduce the risks of COVID-19 outbreaks in schools. Many schools provided test kits to staff and pupils prior to the summer break. If any staff or pupils have not received test kits, find out how to get tested and where to get home testing kits on our Community Testing pages. Vaccinations Certain groups of young people aged 12-17 are being offered the Covid-19 vaccination. The key groups are: All young people aged 16-17. Young people aged 12-17 with certain conditions. Young people aged 12-17 who are household contacts of other adults and children who are vulnerable. If your child is included in any of these groups you will be contacted directly by NHS Lothian with further details. 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Related Downloads Coronavirus documents Schools, early learning and children (You are here) Letter to parents and carers from National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch Letter from NHS Lothian public health to parents and carers Helping your children to cope Children's Services Supporting young carers during COVID19 Woodburn Primary School update 2 September Related pages Advice for all unpaid carers during the pandemic Advice for businesses and jobseekers Advice for tenants Bed and Breakfast providers hardship relief fund Bins and recycling Births, ceremonies and deaths Building Standards - Coronavirus (Covid 19) advice COVID-19 Shielding Contact us Council Tax, benefits and welfare Council service changes from 5 January Covid community testing Food and safety advice for businesses Health and social care Homelessness Latest updates Libraries, leisure centres and parks Newly self-employed hardship fund Our critical services Planning Service - COVID-19 pandemic service update Saving on energy bills while at home Scottish Government business support grants Spaces for People Support for all during COVID-19 Test and Protect guidance for businesses Contact Us myaccount Site map A-Z of services Accessibility Privacy and cookies © 2021 Midlothian Council; t: 0131 270 7500, e: enquiries@midlothian.gov.uk Designed and Powered by Jadu Facebook Twitter Flickr Youtube 4 Star Rating - Better Connected Cookie Control Your choice regarding cookies on this site We use necessary cookies to make our site work. 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