Latest update for parents and carers

For the time being schools have to continue operating as they did before the summer break. This is because most children in our schools are unvaccinated. The government and medical community would like to see what impact the removing of restrictions is having in the wider community before taking that step in our schools and nurseries. This is to help us lower the risk of Covid-19 being passed on in schools and nurseries.

This means some precautions will still be in place when your children return. The more we all stick with these precautions, the less chance there is of an outbreak in one of our nurseries or schools.

More detail can be found in our FAQs but below are the main things you need to know.

Key points

• All staff will continue to wear face coverings in schools and nurseries (unless they are exempt)
• All pupils in our secondary schools will also continue to wear face coverings (unless they are exempt)
• All pupils over the age of 12 will continue to wear face coverings on school transport (unless they are exempt)
• Most of the previous arrangements we had in place in our schools and nurseries will stay in place for at least the first six weeks of term
• No visitors will be allowed in schools for the first six weeks of term, although a parent/carer may accompany a child onto school premises where this is agreed with the school as necessary and is risk assessed in advance
• Test and Protect contact tracing will still be carried out if any staff or children test positive
• Secondary aged children and our staff should continue to test twice a week
• It is highly recommended that all those over 16 get vaccinated as soon as possible
• Staff e.g. visiting teachers, psychologists, nurses, social workers, youth workers, outdoor learning specialists, HEI tutors and those providing therapeutic support will now be able to move between schools, where necessary.

Regular testing can play a big part in stopping the spread on Covid-19 in our schools. Secondary school children can collect kits from school to test at home. Please encourage your children to self-test regularly, using the kits supplied and don’t forget to get regularly tested yourself.

More information on where, when and how the whole family can get tested can be found in the simple guide to testing and vaccine centres in FIfe