On this page you will find up to date Government advice regarding COVID 19 symptoms and testing and what to do if you have a positive test result.
Attendance:
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.
Admitting children into school:
In most cases, parents and guardians will agree that a pupil with symptoms should not attend the school, given the potential risk to others.
If a parent or guardian insists on a pupil attending, we are able to refuse the pupil if, in our reasonable judgement, it is necessary to protect other pupils and staff from possible infection with COVID-19. This decision will always be carefully considered in light of all the circumstances and current public health advice.
Children and young people aged 18 years and under who have a positive test result
It is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.
Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal.
If you are feeling unwell and do not test positive or test negative for COVID-19
If you do not feel well enough to go to work and do your normal activities, you should:
- try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people
- avoid meeting people at higher risk from COVID-19, especially if their immune system means they’re at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, even if they’ve had a COVID-19 vaccine
You can go back to your normal activities if you:
- feel well enough to do so
- do not have a high temperature
You can find separate guidance for children and young people aged 18 or under on GOV.UK.
Information:
You may need to quarantine when you arrive in England from abroad. Check the quarantine rules when entering England on GOV.UK
