Coronavirus outbreak closes an entire school
PRIMARY SHUTS AFTER ‘INCREASING NUMBERS’ OF CASES
A HULL primary school has been forced to close entirely after several cases of coronavirus within the school.
Adelaide Primary School in Walker Street, west Hull, will now not reopen until after the half term, and a deep clean of the buildings has began.
The school has not confirmed the exact number of positive cases, but has said “increasing numbers of positive and symptomatic cases” is the reason the school has had to close.
Parents were sent a text on 7.30pm on Tuesday evening informing them that the “difficult decision” to close the school to all pupils had been made.
A “blend of children” have been told to self-isolate and the school says clear letters were sent to everyone concerned.
It came after all Year 2 and Year 6 pupils had already been sent home. Year 6 were sent home on October 14, after a member of staff in the bubble tested positive for the virus.
Year 2 were then sent home on Monday, October 19 – just two days before the school closed entirely, after more positive cases were reported.
The text to parents says: “Dear parents, after taking advice from public health officials, we have taken the difficult decision to close the school to ALL pupils from tomorrow, for the safety of our families and staff.
Children had their own desks and there is a one-way system in classrooms
“Further information will be sent to you tomorrow, including home learning and free school meals.”
The school is continuing to provide free school meals and support to any families who need it while it is closed.
The school closure comes after a mum spoke out about other parents who were “oblivious” to social distancing rules on the school run.
Last month she warned parents would only have themselves to blame if there was to be a coronavirus outbreak at school, branding their lack of social distancing skills on the school run an “absolute joke”.
The mum said many parents, “who all know each other”, gathered in large crowds outside the school gates and seem completely “oblivious” to any kind of social distancing rules.
The mum, who did not wish to be named, said she was not surprised to see more cases at the school.
She said: “I knew it would happen because despite all the measures the school had in place, there was still people who didn’t listen”.
Steve Kernan, executive headteacher at Adelaide Primary School, said: “As a result of increasing numbers of positive and symptomatic cases within the school community, we have taken the difficult decision to close Adelaide Primary School for the rest of this week leading up to half term.
“It is not a decision that we have taken lightly but our priority is to ensure the health and safety of our pupils and families and we have been working closely with Public Health colleagues to reach this decision.
“We want to reassure families that we are doing everything we can to support them during this uncertain period, and there is dedicated emergency contact for those who wish to inform the school of any further cases.
“We will have a team of staff in school through to Friday who will be available to receive and make calls and offer advice to our parents and carers to ensure communications are kept as tight as they can be given the circumstances.
“We will be conducting a full deep clean of the school site over the half term. Free school meals will be available to all those families who are eligible and we have a programme of high-quality home learning readily accessible for all year groups.
“Our Safeguarding and Wellbeing Teams will also ensure that all those families who may need additional support at this difficult time receive appropriate communications between now and Friday and, where necessary, into the break.
“Our priority is for anyone who is unwell to make a speedy recovery and to support them where we can. Community spirit and support from our staff, parents and carers has been overwhelming and we look forward to welcoming everyone back after half term”.