Two cases of coronavirus confirmed at primary school now closing for deep-clean


Two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed at a primary leading to the school’s immediate closure.

Teachers and the children of key workers and vulnerable pupils have been attending sessions at Springfield Primary School in Derby for the past few weeks, despite schools being closed down in March.

As the school cannot be specific about which staff or pupils have been in contact with the confirmed cases, it means that anyone who has been at the school with them will have to self-isolate.

David Blackwell, chief executive of the Odyssey Collaborative Trust, which consists of six city schools including Springfield Primary in Spondon, said it “emphasises what can happen very quickly”, reports Derbyshire Live.

He said: “The diagnosis was reported to us on Thursday and so the school will close now for 14 days because all of those who were attending are now in self-isolation and there is no need for us to be open.

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“We will be deep cleaning the school and carrying out additional cleaning.

“But we are happy that the cases do not affect any other school in the trust and is confined to Springfield Primary.”

Speaking to Derbyshire Live earlier this week about the Government’s drive to get pupils back into primary schools from June 1, Mr Blackwell said that sticking to Government guidelines regarding having 15 pupils in a classroom to ensure social distancing is almost impossible to achieve.

He also said it could prove difficult convincing staff and parents that everyone would be safe if they return from June 1.

Mr Blackwell said: “These two cases emphasise what can happen very quickly in a school environment.

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“We are still working towards re-opening to some pupils on June 1 but with an enhanced resource facility of 15 pupils and more staff needed to supervise them to consider, it could be difficult to accommodate all of them and get a full year group in.

“Transport will also be an important factor as many of them normally come to school by taxi, which also has its own social distancing problems.”

Mr Blackwell added that Government guidance suggested pupil groups should be working with the same teacher all the time in a “bubble”.

He said: “This would mean that if anyone had coronavirus confirmed in the group then only those children, and associated staff, would have to self-isolate and not the whole school.”

Any parent wishing to seek advice or more information can contact [email protected]



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