Kids return to school in Covid-19 U-turn after dinner lady tests positive for coronavirus

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A total of 36 children served dinners at Bramley Sunnyside Junior School, where the dinner lady works, were initially told to stay at home for two weeks as a precaution.

But in a U-turn, they have been told that it is safe for them to return.

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A joint statement issued by Rotherham Council and Bramley Sunnyside Junior School said: “A member of the council’s school catering team at Bramley Sunnyside Junior School tested positive for Covid-19 late on September 4.

“The member of staff had been isolating at home, pending the result of the test, after first displaying some mild symptoms the previous day.

“The council and school immediately implemented its Covid-19 action plans and other members of the catering team based at the school were instructed to self-isolate for 14 days and arrange a test.

“Initially, as a precaution and following interim advice from the Department for Education, a letter was sent to the parents of 36 children who were identified as potentially having contact with the affected member of staff.

"However, following clarification from Public Health England that the stringent measures in place to minimise the risk of infection are robust, those children are now being given the all-clear to return to school.

“A deep clean of the kitchen area has taken place. As a temporary measure, meals are being prepared off-site.

“Thanks to the actions taken by the member of catering staff, the catering team and the school, our plans were executed well and the infection was contained whilst causing the minimum amount of disruption to school life.”

There have been a number of other confirmed cases in schools over recent days.

In Sheffield, children are self-isolating because of cases at King Ecgbert School in Dore; Abbeyfield Primary School in Pitsmoor; King Edward VII School in Broomhill; Birkdale School’s Sixth Form; Chaucer School in Parson Cross and Hillsborough Primary School in Hillsborough.

There has also been a case confirmed at Athersley South Primary School in Barnsley.

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