Nearly nine out of 10 pupils in full time education

Nearly 90% of pupils attended school in Wolverhampton last week – a figure described as "remarkable" as the country battles a second wave of coronavirus.

Attendance has remained high throughout the first half-term of the school year, and Councillor Dr Mike Hardacre, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: "The fact that so many pupils have been able to attend school this autumn, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, is remarkable.

“It is testament to the hard work of staff, children and families, with the support of the council and Public Health England, in keeping schools safe environments in which to learn and play, and I commend everyone for their ongoing efforts.
“Our schools have worked incredibly hard over the last few months, introducing a range of measures to make their schools Covid-secure while continuing to deliver excellent teaching and support day in, day out, to pupils, whether they are in school or at home.

"In those cases where there has been a confirmed case in school, we have been able to move quickly to respond, and we've also been able to keep bubble sizes to a minimum so that fewer pupils and staff need to isolate if someone in their bubble tests positive.

"It's important that we all continue to do everything we can to keep our city's schools Covid-secure, and parents and children have a key role to play. Most importantly, if you or anyone in your household has symptoms of Covid-19, no matter how mild, your child should not come to school – instead, your whole household must self-isolate and the person with symptoms should get a test as soon as possible.”

Adults are also asked to do all they can to maintain social distancing when dropping off or picking up their children from school, avoid congregating outside the school gates and consider wearing a face covering. Meanwhile, pupils should wash their hands more often, remain in their bubble when they are in school and wear a face covering as required.
Councillor Hardacre added: “If your child has to self-isolate because of a confirmed case within their school bubble, please remember that they shouldn’t mix with anyone outside the household or go out to places like shops or sports clubs. The rest of the household doesn’t need to self-isolate at this stage, and your child should only get tested if they develop symptoms of Covid-19.

“Please also remember that households in Wolverhampton are not allowed to mix with one another in any indoor setting, and that when they meet outdoors they must practice social distancing and follow the rule of six at all times.

“Sadly this means that your child can’t go around to a friend’s house, and, if they’re meeting up in small groups of no more than six outside, they need to social distance from one another.”

Symptoms of Covid-19 include a fever, a new, continuous cough and loss or change to a person’s sense of taste and smell. People with symptoms, no matter how mild, should immediately self-isolate and book a test by visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119. People can now get tests up to eight days after first developing symptoms.

Anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will be asked to share information about people that have been close contacts recently.

The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus and on the council’s own coronavirus pages at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus. For full details of the local Covid-19 High Alert (tier 2) restrictions currently in place, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covidalert.