CHILDREN aged four and five in a primary school’s reception class have been ordered to self-isolate at home over half-term after a member of staff tested positive for Covid.

A Year 6 pupil also tested positive at Ashfield Park Primary in Ross-on-Wye last week, with both year groups told to stay away from school from Wednesday (October 21) until the start of the holiday (Friday), although there has been no statement regarding the older children aged nine and 10 having to self-isolate.

John Kyrle High School has also announced its second case of Covid just over three weeks after a Year 13 student tested positive, this time involving a Year 9 pupil.

In a message to reception parents, Ashfield Park Primary headteacher Steven Kendrick said: “All Reception children must self-isolate for 14 days until (Monday) November 2.”

He added: “If anyone else has been identified in the school as being a contact of the confirmed case they must self-isolate at home for 14 days…

“It is important that contacts isolate at home for 14 days to help stop the spread of the virus. This means that Reception children should not leave the home setting for 14 days…

“Reception children will not be allowed to return to school until Tuesday 3rd November when we hope to welcome them all back to school safely.

“I understand that self-isolating a Reception child will not be easy and therefore I urge you to consider taking extra precautions to both safeguard yourself, your family and the community.”

Mr Kendrick had earlier announced on Wednesday: “We have been advised by Public Health England / Herefordshire Public Health that there have been two confirmed isolated cases of COVID-19 within the school.

“One case was for a staff member in Reception and the other for a Year 6 child.

“Neither child or staff member has had any close contact.

“I have therefore taken the decision following liaison with Public Health England and the Local Authority Outbreak Team to close both Year 6 and Reception bubbles.

“I have given serious consideration to closing the whole school one day early given how close we are to the half-term holidays, but have been advised to follow protocols set by the Local Authority.

“Therefore the school will remain open. I do understand however that some of you may consider not bringing siblings to school tomorrow but I would please ask you to follow school protocol on absence and inform the admin team.”

He advised that if children developed Covid symptoms, they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the day after their symptoms appeared.

Anyone with symptoms is eligible for testing which can be arranged online at www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

In the event of a child falling ill, “all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days” added the head.

As well as advising parents on what to do if children develop symptoms, messages on the school’s Facebook page also include hygiene advice on reducing the risk of catching the virus.

John Kyrle head teacher Nigel Griffiths told parents last Friday (October 23) that a Year 9 pupil who had been away from school for the previous week had tested positive for the virus.

“All parents of students who have been in close contact with the student who tested positive have been directly notified by us today,” he said.

Any children showing any symptoms of Covid should stay at home for 10 days from the start of symptoms, and any other household members who remain well should self-isolate for 14 days from that point, he added.