COVID-19 How to deal with symptoms in a member of staff or pupil in an educational setting
Updated 28th September 2020
It is vital if a member of staff or pupil starts to develop symptoms (high temperature, new continuous cough or loss or change to sense of smell or taste) that the school/educational establishment takes immediate action.
Use the following flowchart to determine what actions to take, as advised by Sandwell Public Health. Please note that this advice is subject to change.
If you have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in your setting, please inform the local authority Public Health Team by emailing PHCovid19_Enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk, do NOT contact Public Health England. A member of the team will get back to you to gather information about the situation and provide further advice. Please refer to the schools checklist. as you will be asked to provide this information. You are not required to complete this form as our information officers will input the information directly onto our secure system.
If you require advice or guidance on Covid-19 issues please read the FAQS. If your query is not answered please contact Sandwell’s Public Health team on PHCovid19_Enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk
Useful telephone numbers and links:
| Advice/Guidance | Email address: |
General Advice:Sandwell’s Public Health team |
PHCovid19_Enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk (Responses between 9am-5pm 7 days a week) |
| For urgent enquiries, if you have a confirmed case | Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 9:30am
Call 0121 569 4719 |
Department for EducationCall the DfE coronavirus helpline if you have a query in England about:
|
DfE coronavirus helpline
Telephone: 0800 046 8687 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm |
Booking a Test:Contact the NHS website. |
You can call 119 or visit: |
Infection, Prevention & Control Guidance:
|
Read the FAQs or contact PHCovid19_Enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk |
More resources
- [Flowchart] How to deal with symptoms in a member of staff or pupil in an educational setting
- Checklist for schools
- School Resource pack
- School FAQs
- Contact Tracing information
- Information for schools on contact tracing 24.9.20
- Letter direct and proximity contacts in a School V2
- Letter for School on outbreak Advice to Parents V2
- Information to assist contact tracing in schools
- Should I send my child to school?
Useful links
- COVID-19 Resources in Community languages
- Guidance for full opening: schools
- Parent FAQs
- Health protection in schools & other childcare facilities
Testing Kits in Schools
Schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland should all have received an initial supply of ten test kits.
Test kits should only be offered in exceptional circumstances to individuals (pupils, teachers and staff) who:
- Have developed symptoms while at school or your college, and
- You believe they may have barriers to accessing a test elsewhere
- You believe that if you sent the individual home without a kit, they would not receive a test at all.
If the individual is under 18 this kit should be given to their parent or carer. Parents or carers will be required to administer the test to children under the age of 11.
These test kits are suitable for use for any individual, including children of Primary age.
Schools and colleges will not be conducting coronavirus tests on site.
For more information please refer to this guidance
Face Coverings in Schools
In education settings where pupils and students in year 7 and above are educated, face coverings should be worn by staff, visitors and pupils/students when moving around in corridors and communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain. It is not necessary to wear face coverings in the classroom, where protective measures already mean the risks are lower and they may inhibit teaching and learning.
Are staff and children in primary schools allowed to use face coverings?
Public Health England does not (based on current evidence) recommend the use of face coverings in primary schools. This evidence will be kept under review. They are considered not to be required in schools as pupils and staff are mixing in consistent groups, and because misuse may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission. There may also be negative effects on communication and thus education.
WHO and UNICEF advise that children aged 12 and over should wear a mask/face covering under the same conditions as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee social distancing from others and there is widespread transmission in the area.
For more information, please refer to the FAQs
