Staff test positive for coronavirus at primary school in Kirkham

Several staff members at The Willows Catholic Primary School in Kirkham Preston have tested positive for the virus.

It has been confirmed that several have since returned to the school.

A school spokesperson said: "We've recently had some positive cases involving our staff.

"Some of them have since returned to school."

An anonymous reader with links to the school has claimed that there are 'inadequate' coronavirus measures but the school says they have 'clear safety measures' in place.

The source also claims that parents of key workers and the wider school community were not informed of the cases at the time.

In response to this, a school spokesperson said: "We have a system in place for notifying the parents when a specific class is affected, which includes arrangements so that learning can still continue, and we are notifying the wider school community, as appropriate, to the situation.

"Arrangements are in place to ensure our children’s education is uninterrupted."

Government guidelines say that a school must not share names or details of people with coronavirus unless this is essential to protect others.

Schools must send home those who have been in close contact with a positive case and will advise them to self-isolate for ten days from the day after their contact with the person.

The child's household does not need to self-isolate unless the child or household members develop symptoms.

As usual, children and staff should not attend school if they, or their close contacts, are displaying symptoms of the coronavirus.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has stated that the majority of children and young people display no symptoms or only a 'very mild illness' if infected with the virus.

Schoolchildren in England are expected to return to school on Monday (March 8) with voluntary coronavirus mass testing in place.

The Willows, which has around 208 pupils aged 4-11, was rated 'outstanding' in its latest OFSTED report.