CHILDREN are isolating after Covid-19 cases were confirmed at a city primary school. 

Yesterday, in a letter to parents, Foundry Lane Primary School advised parents that there had been two confirmed cases within the school. 

Today, in a letter seen by the Daily Echo, the school in Shirley added that there had been two further cases. 

Now a "small number" of children who have been in close contact with the individuals are being asked to isolate for 10 days. 

READ MORE

In the letter to parents, which can be found on the school's website, the Headteacher, Sean Taylor, said: "We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England.

"The small number of children who have been in close contact with the individual who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) have received a letter informing them that their child must stay at home for 10 days.

"The school remains open and your child should continue to attend as normal if they remain well."

When approached by the Daily Echo, the school, which had 625 pupils at the time of its last Ofsted report, said it had nothing further to add.

Covid-related pupil absence in England has hit a new record high since all students fully returned to class in March this year, with more than 830,000 children out of school last week, Government figures show.

About one in nine (11.2%) state school pupils did not attend class for Covid-19 related reasons on July 8, up from 8.5% on July 1 and 5.1% on June 24, according to Department for Education (DfE) statistics.

These include approximately 747,000 children self-isolating due to a possible contact with a Covid-19 case, 35,000 pupils with a suspected case of coronavirus and 39,000 with a confirmed case of Covid-19.

The latest figures come after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced last week that the use of “bubbles” in schools and colleges in England will come to an end as the country moves towards easing lockdown restrictions.