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Hundreds of pupils across Greater Manchester have to isolate themselves after positive cases of coronavirus in their schools.
Just days after welcoming the children into the classroom, 15 schools have had to tell some students that they must now stay home for fifteen days.
Putting children in bubbles as part of safety measures to prevent the spread of the virus means that any children inside those bubbles must isolate themselves.
And while in primary schools the number may be smaller, with classes of about 30, in secondary schools year-round groups are bubbled up, with up to 200 children affected.
Co-op Academy in Swinton has been hit the hardest after the positive cases in Year 7 and Year 10 meant that both age groups were sent home on Monday morning.
While the school initially said siblings should also stay out, parents have now been told that brothers and sisters can attend.
Only if self-isolating children begin to experience symptoms will other members of your household face the same restrictions.
But even if parents don’t need to isolate themselves, it’s a severe blow to those with young children who were relying on schools to return so they could go to work.
(Image: Co-op Academy Swinton)
And it has left many in fear of children entering and leaving school as more cases are identified.
The mother of a child at Co-op Academy Swinton shared her dismay at the situation and suggested that her son would be better off at home.
She said, “What are the rules if we just want to keep our kids away for the foreseeable time? This is just going to continue and they will continue to be sent home.
“The third day and it happened. It’s going to be a weekly occurrence. I’m not putting my son at risk, he has severe asthma. So I don’t want him to come back.”
At Newall Green Elementary School in Wythenshawe, staff were alerted to a positive case Monday morning and initially told Year 1 and Year 2 children to stay home.
But after further discussion, they have now restricted self-isolation to just one Year 1 class.
Executive Director Sarah Rudd said: “We were alerted first thing in the morning this morning before classes began of a confirmed case within the school. We made the decision in the interest of keeping all children and staff safe to err on the side of caution and ask for two years The groups will remain at home today, awaiting further advice from health officials.No groups from other years were affected.
“Since then, we have had detailed discussions with health colleagues who have advised us that only one class of students and teachers should isolate themselves and stay out of school for the next 14 days, while the rest of the classes in groups of two years and their teachers can go back to school tomorrow.
“The school already has all the required security measures in place, however, as an additional precaution, all classrooms in the two affected age groups are also undergoing a deep cleaning process in preparation for the return of the students.”
(Image: Google Maps)
The first school to announce a positive case was Buile Hill Academy in Salford, where all Year 7s will have to stay out until 18 September.
But throughout Monday, the MEN has been informed of more than a dozen schools across Greater Manchester in the same situation, and Dean Trust Wigan is another in which a whole year has been affected.
The full list of schools where students self-isolate after confirmed cases:
- Buile Hill Academy, Salford – (Year 7)
- Co-op Academy Swinton – (Year 7 and Year 10)
- Dean Trust Wigan – (Year 8)
- Manchester High School for Girls – (Preparation for 5th year)
- Newall Green Elementary School, Wythenshawe – (One class in Year 1)
- Yew Tree Community School, Chadderton – (Class 4 Red)
- Middleton Parish Church School
- Bowlee Park Community School, Middleton – (Year 1 Class 3 and Year 1 Class 4)
- St Stephen’s RC Primary School, Droylsden – (Case confirmed in Key Stage 2)
- St Anne Elementary School, Denton – (One class in Year 5)
- Old Hall Drive Academy, Gorton – (Year 6)
- Old Moat Elementary School, Withington – (Year 6)
- Gorse Hill Elementary School, Stretford – (Year 1)
- Brooklands Elementary School, Sale
- Seymour Park Community Elementary, Old Trafford
While some parents are understandably frustrated that children have more free time when they have just returned, the schools say they are simply following the guidelines set out by Public Health England and the Department of Education.
And while some parents are pleased that siblings of self-isolating children can still attend, for others it is an additional concern.
The father of a child in one of the affected elementary schools told the MEN: “This makes me nervous and very confused, as it clearly says that siblings in the affected class can still attend, giving slightly contradictory signals.”
“For example, if another child in my child’s fifth-grade class had a sibling in the affected class, my child would be mixing with a child potentially living with someone with the virus.”
Another parent told us that they would prefer that schools in higher risk areas remain closed.
The mother, whose son is at Bowlee Park Community School in Middleton, where Year 1 classes 3 and 4 have to be isolated, told MEN’s Manchester family: “I have a son in Bowlee but not in the affected year.
“I didn’t find out at school at first, another parent told me. The school didn’t text us until the parents started calling the school asking if it was true, and at dinner time they sent messages of text to all parents.
“I don’t think schools in the worst affected areas should open yet. We come under the Rochdale district, which is obviously a very high risk area.”
Jac Casson of Greater Manchester National Executive Members for the NASUWT Teachers Union, says the number of pupils who have to isolate themselves is not a surprise and is something we should expect to see more of.
She said: “Sadly, given that the infection rate appears to be growing in many areas of Greater Manchester, this is likely to happen in more than the handful of schools that were already affected just days after the new school term.”
“We know that leadership teams, teachers and other staff are working hard to provide a safe learning environment for students and will understandably be concerned about these confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Greater Manchester schools and the country in general.
“The NASUWT supports and is committed to the goal of students attending school and benefiting from being taught by their teachers. However, it is critical that everything that needs to be done is done to ensure staff safety. And students and to protect the health of the local community. “
Professor Kate Ardern, director of public health for the Wigan Council, agrees that an increase in cases is “inevitable” as children return to school.
Confirming the self-isolation of all Year 8 students at Dean Trust Wigan, he said: “The return to schools will inevitably see an increase in cases across the country, but it is important to note that all relevant and necessary security measures they are in place and strictly followed.
“We are supporting the school with advice and guidance right now. The school remains open and it is not necessary for any other child to isolate himself, stay away from school or be tested, unless he develops symptoms of Covid-19. “
A spokesperson for the Trafford Council said: “Our public health team is working closely with three Trafford elementary schools where a small number of pupils tested positive for Covid 19. The schools involved are Seymour Park Primary, Brooklands Primary and Gorse Hill Primary.
“Schools have informed all parents and children and staff in affected classes have been asked to self-isolate for two weeks in accordance with government guidelines.
“The schools in question will remain open to other students during this time and the affected areas will be thoroughly cleaned. The health and safety of students and staff in all of our schools continues to be our number one priority and our Public Health Team will continue to work closely with school leaders to provide the necessary support. ”
Ms Casson says that due to the coronavirus nature of schools, schools will need to ‘continually review their measures and controls’ to minimize the risk of virus transmission, and perhaps should consider reducing the number within the bubbles. .
He added: “It may be that schools can learn from the experiences of others, where year-round clusters and numerous staff members have to isolate themselves for 14 days, and make more attempts to reduce the number of bubbles and adhere more strictly to social distancing.
“We understand that it is a difficult task for schools, local authorities and Multiple Academy Trusts, however they must ensure that all security measures that need to be implemented are in place and followed by children and adults.”
Has your school had to send children home to isolate themselves? Let us know in the comments or email the details to [email protected].
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