Eastbourne pupils at two schools told to self-isolate as children test positive for Covid-19

Parents of children at Cavendish School and neighbouring Ocklynge were yesterday (Tuesday) sent letters – which the Herald has seen – advising them of the situation.

Ocklynge headteacher Jon Reynard said in the letter, “I am emailing immediately inform you of a confirmed case of Covid19 in school. We have been in touch with Public Health England, and we are following their advice closely.

“Having received a report of a pupil who has symptoms compatible with coronavirus and has subsequently tested positive, we have informed all the parents in the same key worker bubble group and the associated staff to self-isolate for 14 days and access a test should they develop the symptoms.

“The infection has not been contracted through school. We are taking all the required measures and being very cautious in advising all those children who were in the same bubble group this week and last to self-isolate and get tested if they show symptoms.”

Mr Reynard said the school appreciated it is “a difficult and worrying time” and thanked the school community and parents for their support.

At Cavendish, headteacher Peter Marchant also sent a letter to parents yesterday.

He said, “We are writing to let you know that we received confirmation today (Tueday) that there has been a confirmed case of Covid-19. The school closed the green bubble as a precaution on Friday June 19 due to a household member of a pupil in the bubble having tested positive.

“We have now had confirmation that the pupil from this household has now received a positive test result.

“As a result of the positive test we are closing the secondary green bubble for two weeks starting from June 21 and the green bubble will be reopening on Monday July 6.

“Pupils from the green bubble are advised to self-isolate until July 5 and further to this the other bubbles in the secondary phase are unaffected and remain open as normal. The wider opening to Year 10 from Monday June 29 will continue as planned. The primary phase is unaffected and will remain open as normal.”

In February a staff member at Ocklynge was told to self isolate after coming into contact with an infected person

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