A number of pupils and teachers today to stay away from a school in Gedling yesterday after a staff member was diagnosed with coronavirus have been asked to return.
Selected year groups were asked to stay away from Carlton le Willows Academy yesterday as a precaution following the confirmed case.
Several teachers were also asked to self isolate
But after seeking further guidance, the school has invited them back.
A spokesman for Carlton le Willows Academy told Gedling Eye: “After seeking further guidance and clarification on what is deemed close contact, some teachers asked to self isolate yesterday have been advised it is safe for them to be back in school.
“As a result parents have now been informed that all year groups can return to school from today (17).”
Yesterday, headteacher Craig Weaver criticised the slow response from Public Health England following the confirmed case.
Mr Weaver told Gedling Eye: “Carlton le Willows Academy has a raft of measures in place to ensure a Covid secure environment for all staff and students.
“On Tuesday, we were notified that a member of staff had tested positive to the virus and in line with national guidelines immediately contacted Public Health England.
“Unfortunately, they were slow in responding and also failed to give the clear and specific guidance that schools were promised on interpreting close contacts, leaving us having to make a public health call and decide which staff to send home.
“We had no option but to keep some year groups off school.”
Public Health England defended their actions after being contacted by this website.
A PHE spokesperson said: “We are aware that a small number of schools have encountered delays in receiving guidance at a local level on what steps they should take to manage a COVID-19 case.
“We are working closely with colleagues at the Department for Education to assist them in developing a solution to this problem which will enable schools to access the advice that they need in the most immediate way possible.”
