Covid-19 Guidance for Families and Settings

As part of the national test and trace programme, the Health Protection Teams (HPT) of Public Health England will conduct a risk assessment and advise early years and childcare on the most appropriate action to take if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the setting. As appropriate, other children may be asked to self-isolate at home as a precautionary measure. It is not expected that closure of the whole setting will be necessary where settings are following advice around infection control.

Within the Test and Trace process, a close contact is anyone who:

· had face-to-face contact of any duration (less than 1 metre away) with the case or

· were coughed or sneezed on by the case or

· had unprotected physical contact (skin to skin) with case or

· Spent more than 1 minute within 1 metre of the case or

· spent more than 15 minutes within 2 metres of the case or

travelled in a car or other small vehicle (even on a short journey) with a person confirmed as having COVID-19.

How do I contact the HPT of Public Health England? You can contact them via phone 0300 303 8537 (option 9), or via email eoe.crc@phe.gov.uk

I can’t get through to the HPT, what should I do?

Early years settings or childcare providers in Cambridgeshire should contact Annette Brooker (07760375164) or email EarlyYears.service@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Early years settings or childcare providers in Peterborough should contact Karen Hingston (07920160301) or email Earlyyearsandchildcare@peterborough.gov.uk.

If a child, young person or staff member develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should be sent home and advised to self-isolate, along with their fellow household members, and should book a test. The national guidance does not deem isolation of the bubble necessary on the basis of symptoms only.

Do other staff members need to self-isolate if a staff member tests positive?

No, generally not. Other staff members outside of the affected bubble do not need to self-isolate if a staff member contracts COVID-19. The reason for this is because staff members should be able to implement social distancing between each other when at work. It is appreciated that this will not always be possible with children in the setting and so the immediate bubble is advised to self-isolate if one of their group contracts the virus. This includes staff within the group.

It is important that you follow the advice given by the HPT. There may be intelligence or details of your scenario which means a different path is more suitable. The risk assessment will help to determine what is right in your situation.

If you are have questions or concerns, you can raise these with

Annette Brooker (07760375164) – Cambridgeshire

Karen Hingston (07920160301) – Peterborough

It is a good idea to revisit your risk assessment and ensure that all staff are allocated to a ‘bubble’. Supernumerary managers do not need to be allocated to a bubble and should ensure that they are practicing social distancing. This means they will not be considered a contact if there is a confirmed case.

No this is not necessary.

Yes. We would ask you to notify us of a possible case of COVID-19 by providing:

• Name of setting

• Number of children with symptoms

• Confirmation that the child/member of staff has booked a test

Please ensure you type ‘Possible COVID-19 case’ in the email subject header.

For early years settings or childcare providers in Cambridgeshire, this should be sent to EarlyYears.service@cambridgeshire.gov.uk For early years settings or childcare providers in Peterborough, this should be sent to Earlyyearsandchildcare@peterborough.gov.uk

Advice on cleaning, and other infection prevention/control measures, when there is a confirmed case will be provided by the Health Protection Team of Public Health England. It is not necessary to close the whole setting to deep clean as a result of a case of COVID-19. It is advised that, if possible, children/staff are moved away from the area in which the symptomatic individual has been in order to clean.

Yes we would advise you to be transparent with parents. We have put together a template which you may wish to personalise and send to parents/carers. However, you should not include personally identifiable information in this communication without permission from the responsible adult of the individual involved.

Yes, it is advisable to inform the affected bubble immediately and the wider setting community as soon as possible. Transparency at this time is important as it allows parents, children and staff to be even more vigilant. The HPT will provide the appropriate letter for you to use and as above personally identifiable information should not be shared.

No. You only need to notify Ofsted where the case is confirmed.

Yes. You should notify Ofsted as soon as possible with details of the incident.

A guide to the test and trace system in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough