The principal of Honiton Community College has sent out a statement in a letter to parents containing Covid-19 guidance for students returning to school for the spring term on Wednesday 5 January.

The statement includes information on wearing face coverings, testing, and other measures.

Face coverings will have to be worn in the classroom, and the principal has asked parents to make sure their children bring a face mask and a spare to school tomorrow.

Students will also be asked to take one on-site test when they come back.

Principal Glenn Smith said: "It is the government's decision to re-introduce face coverings in classrooms for students in Year 7 and above in light of the Omicron variant surge.

"The advice on face coverings in classrooms will be in place until Wednesday 26 January, when Plan B regulations are currently scheduled to expire, at which point it will be reviewed.

"While there are obvious drawbacks to the use of face coverings in classrooms, it is clear that the Omicron variant poses a very significant additional risk to education with the potential for further widespread disruption of schools, colleges, and young people.

"It is absolutely essential that everything possible is done to reduce transmission and ensure that children remain in school, and we therefore support the reintroduction of face coverings in classrooms for students in Year 7 and above.

"Therefore, please make sure your child/ren are provided with a face covering for their return to college tomorrow and have a spare with them in case they break or lose it.

"The college will have a small contingency for emergencies, but schools and colleges have not been sufficiently supplied to provide all students with them and it is becoming increasingly difficult to source new masks."

Testing and self-isolation changes

Mr Smith added: "The government have asked that secondary school students undertake one on-site test, upon their return in January. It stated: 'This will help boost testing participation and reduce transmission after a period of social mixing during the holidays. Students should then be strongly encouraged to continue testing twice weekly at home and to report all results to NHS Test and Traceand to their setting.'

"I wrote to you and explained this just before the holiday and this is a polite reminder that we will be undertaking this, as instructed, tomorrow morning (unless we have previously been given a valid reason not to do so).

"The most recent government advice goes on to state: 'Even if someone has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, they are strongly encouraged to take part in LFD (Lateral Flow Device) testing onsite through ATS or at home once they have completed their isolation period for their prior infection.'

"Since Wednesday 22 December, the 10-day self-isolation period for people who record a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 has been reduced to seven days in most circumstances, unless you cannot test for any reason.

"Individuals may now take LFD tests on day six and day seven of their self-isolation period. Those who receive two negative test results are no longer required to complete 10 full days of self-isolation.

"The first test must be taken no earlier than day six of the self-isolation period and tests must be taken 24 hours apart. 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 setting from day eight.

"Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests will need to complete the full 10-day period of self-isolation.

"People who are fully vaccinated, or children and young people aged between five and 18 years and six months, identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should take an LFD test every day for seven days and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time."

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