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Please, I beg beg beg, refer to the flow charts re attendance in school. The tables have turned, or at least re calibrated a little, and if in doubt keep your child off, whereas previous we've said, if in doubt send your child in, and if they're remain unwell, or get worse, we'll send them home! Many of us, me included, were brought up with the mentality of "you'll be fine - get in!" I remember my mum saying to me on many occasion, "if you're not well enough to go to school, you're not well enough to go out....." The climate is very different now, and that messes with my neuroplasticity!  We all benefit by keeping COVID out of the school for as long as we can! We've managed a week! It is beneficial over a very short term for individual children to be off for a day or so whilst awaiting for general symptoms to subside, or awaiting PCR test results, than for a whole bubble to close for 10 days. By being ultra cautious, and my inconveniencing ourselves, we all benefit.  

It is widely accepted now that the test questions on the NHS website are not really up to date, as more evidence emerges. They have to be answered flexibly with children, finding a best fit, as children do have atypical symptoms of COVID when compared to post 18 adults. 

My ramblings are not personal opinion, but evidenced based. An interesting quote from a BMJ medical journal, published on 13th March says that, where there is active community transmission of COVID children with the main COVID symptoms, or children with general fever infectious symptoms should undergo a PCR test, and be considered to have the disease until proven otherwise. With a rise of 15.2% of people testing positive in Chorley, in the last 7 days, it is safe to say there is community transmission in Chorley.  

Furthermore, if any member of your household has COVID symptoms then the whole household needs to self isolate until a PCR test results comes back. 

A couple of points re LFD tests.

These tests are only good for asymptomatic testing., and should only be used for such testing. They should not be used if you have symptoms of COVID. 

If you have Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms please self-isolate immediately and follow government guidelines. This NHS guidance will help: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirusCOVID-19. 

If you are using LFD to check for asymptomatic carrying then:

If the result is positive, start self-isolation immediately as per government guidelines and book a follow-up PCR test to confirm your test result. The whole household should begin self isolation. 

If it is negative, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS then crack on.  If the test is inconclusive, you should undertake another lateral flow test immediately and record your result. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, even if you have a negative result, you should self-isolate as per government guidelines and arrange a COVID-19 test. 

We're not out of the rambling unchartered woods of COVID yet. Of course, there is a clear path out of trouble..... but it is a path we must walk slowly, and cautiously. 

Folks, there is a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel. I firmly believe that. But it is weak, frail, and vulnerable. Think of it as a new green plant shoot. It needs our love, respect, our nurture and our help to thrive, otherwise it will easily become extinguished. Just because school's have re-opened - alas, the country hasn't, not just yet. 

If in doubt get a test. If any member of your household has symptoms of COVID then the whole household needs to self isolate - this includes siblings at school. Statistically I know any test result is unlikely to be positive - that's good isn't it? In the UK, on average we do 1614145 tests each day, of which 4618 test positive.  So, that's a positive return of 0.28%. Drill down, and only 1 in 350 are positive. In a full Wembley stadium, around 90 people will have it. But it is better to be safe than sorry, and if we take 2 days "off line" whilst we wait for a test result, that is better than an whole bubble isolating. It's also better for the stress levels of staff. That said, I know it will get into school - I just desperately want to get to Easter

LFD test are not a substitute for PCR tests - LFD test are for regular asymptomatic testing.

Masks are still worn on the playground, and by staff in communal areas. 

We still need to socially distant on the playground. Even if we've had the vaccine. Having had the vaccine is great, but we still have to follow all the rules. Latest evidence is we can still spread it, we can still carry it we can in fact still get it. 

So come on folks, let's take a step back from the finishing line - we 're not there it. And if we're to get there soon we need to remain careful and cautious.