Penwortham Primary School sends children home after confirmed case of COVID-19

Helen Hesketh, headteacher at Penwortham Primary School in Crookings Lane, has confirmed that a person within the school community has tested positive for COVID-19.

The school did not say whether the case is related to a child or a member of staff, but Mrs Hesketh said a number of pupils have been asked to study from home for the next 14 days.

She said: "We have been advised of a positive case, and following our robust procedures a number of individuals who may have been in close contact have been asked to isolate.

"We have a very detailed risk assessment in place for just this sort of incident, and we are following our plans carefully.

"Parents have been kept fully informed. Learning for the children involved will now be online until the self-isolation period ends."

In December 2018, the school was hit by an outbreak of the sickness bug viral gastroenteritis, commonly known as norovirus, which affected 40 children and one member of staff. The school was advised to shut by Public Health England and a deep clean was carried out before pupils were welcomed back to class.

The Lancashire Post is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. For unlimited access to Lancashire news and information online, you can subscribe here: https://www.lep.co.uk/subscriptions