A small number of cases with one of the Covid-19 Indian variant has been confirmed at Burton Borough School in Newport.

All cases have self-isolated and extended contact tracing has been taking place to identify their contacts and ask them to also self-isolate.

Public Health England has advised that, while the Covid-19 Indian variant is considered to be more transmissible, there is no firm evidence yet to show this variant has any greater impact on severity of disease or evades the vaccine.

As an extra precaution and to minimise the risk of the variant spreading in the community, the following groups are asked to get tested:

• As a priority – secondary-school aged children in Newport, staff at the schools and their extended families and support bubbles (from Burton Borough, Haberdashers’ Adams Grammar and Newport Girls’ High School Academy) are urged to take a PCR Covid-19 test, even if they are not showing symptoms and even if the adults in the families have been vaccinated;
• Families with primary-school aged children in Newport as well as all other Newport residents are encouraged to get PCR tested as soon as they can.

A new testing centre is opening in Newport from today, 19 May (at Shuker Playing Fields, Sports and Social Club, Barnmeadow Road, TF10 7TP),  to make it easier for people to get tested.

Opening times are Monday to Friday, 11am-6pm and 9am-3pm over the weekends. People can drop in between the opening times – no appointments needed, but queues may be possible so please plan ahead.

If it is more convenient, you can book an appointment at other PCR testing sites across the borough.

When completing the booking form, in the section “Why are you getting tested?”, please select the option “My local council or health protection team has asked me (or someone I live with) to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms.”

I am very grateful to all parents and carers who continue to travel school with consideration for the community.

Our advice, as always, is to walk/cycle/scoot to school where possible.  If it is necessary to drive to school please park safely away from Avenue Road and walk from there.

Traffic Enforcement Officers are patrolling Avenue Road frequently and are ticketing cars deemed to be inappropriately parked.  Please be aware of this.

Thank you to everyone for working together to keep our children safe on their journey to school.

Mrs M

NJS Parents and Carers,

I hope you are all keeping well.

Telford and Wrekin have issued a statement this morning regarding surge testing in our town.  I have copied this statement below for your attention.

I want to reassure you that NJS continues to work within a COVID secure risk assessment.  The staff, as always, are working tirelessly to keep NJS as safe as we can in response to guidance.

I would like to emphasise that the priority for surge testing is the families of those with children in our local Secondary Schools.  There is no need for the information below to impact upon school attendance.

Our best wishes go to the community.

Take care

Mrs Moody

A small number of cases with one of the Covid-19 Indian variant has been confirmed at Burton Borough School in Newport.

All cases have self-isolated and extended contact tracing has been taking place to identify their contacts and ask them to also self-isolate.

Public Health England has advised that, while the Covid-19 Indian variant is considered to be more transmissible, there is no firm evidence yet to show this variant has any greater impact on severity of disease or evades the vaccine.

As an extra precaution and to minimise the risk of the variant spreading in the community, the following groups are asked to get tested:

• As a priority – secondary-school aged children in Newport, staff at the schools and their extended families and support bubbles (from Burton Borough, Haberdashers’ Adams Grammar and Newport Girls’ High School Academy) are urged to take a PCR Covid-19 test, even if they are not showing symptoms and even if the adults in the families have been vaccinated;
• Families with primary-school aged children in Newport as well as all other Newport residents are encouraged to get PCR tested as soon as they can.

A new testing centre is opening in Newport from today, 19 May (at Shuker Playing Fields, Sports and Social Club, Barnmeadow Road, TF10 7TP),  to make it easier for people to get tested.

Opening times are Monday to Friday, 11am-6pm and 9am-3pm over the weekends. People can drop in between the opening times – no appointments needed, but queues may be possible so please plan ahead.

If it is more convenient, you can book an appointment at other PCR testing sites across the borough.

When completing the booking form, in the section “Why are you getting tested?”, please select the option “My local council or health protection team has asked me (or someone I live with) to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms.”

Please see below a link to the Local Authority guidance that confirms when you will be requested to get a COVID test:

https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20791/getting_a_covid-19_test_in_telford_and_wrekin/5261/do_you_have_main_covid-19_symptoms_or_other_symptoms

Throughout the pandemic the team at NJS have been working extremely hard to keep our school community as safe as possible and to adhere to guidance at all times.

We are asked to ensure that children do NOT attend for school if they have any of the three main symptoms: a cough, temperature or loss of taste or smell.  If your child, or a member of their household, has these symptoms a PCR test is required with a negative result before they can return to school.  This is a requirement from the DFE guidance and the Health Protection Hub who we work closely with.

In Telford and Wrekin the Health Hub also advise precautionary PCR testing if a child has other symptoms e.g. sore throat etc.  We will ask for your support with testing in this circumstance in order to keep our community as safe as we can.

PCR tests can be booked online https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test (if you are booking a precautionary test please click ‘advised by LA’) and we recommend this is done as soon as symptoms occur.  Our current experience is that results are being returned within 24hours so prompt testing can mean minimal time away from school.

Please understand that the staff in school are working with the very best of intentions at this time.  We want to avoid bubble closures and reduce transmission in our community: we would appreciate you working with us to achieve this.

Thank you for your support.

Mrs Moody