Dear Parent/Carer,
Please find below a letter explaining the changes to contact tracing for children and young people. I hope that this is useful and helps to answer any questions that you may have with regards to recent changes in the procedure. Should you wish to discuss the contents of this letter further, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Download: 20210914082543309_ParentCarersLetterSchools10sept2021
Many thanks,
Craig Knight
Depute Headteacher
Pupil Support Team
The Pupil Support Leaders will be unable to respond to emails and make contact with parents/carers/pupils during the Summer break. If you wish to leave a message for a Pupil Support Leader, please email: dalkeith.hs@midlothian.gov.uk
This email will be picked up by the pupil support team on Monday 16th August.
If you need to speak to someone urgently regarding child protection, please contact the Emergency Social Work service on 0800 731 6969 or Police Scotland 101 or 999 in an emergency.
As previously shared, these key contact may also be useful:
Ms Preston
Depute Headteacher
Dalkeith High School
Dear Parent/Carer,
As you may be aware, both staff and senior phase pupils attending school will be invited to participate in the COVID-19 asymptomatic testing programme. Attached are 3 documents relating to Lateral Flow Testing at Dalkeith High School.
Download: Midlothian Privacy Notice.docx : Consent Form Pupil Version : Letter
Information is also available on the Dalkeith High School YouTube page (https://youtu.be/DJIAOh4jx7s).
Regular collection of test kits will be available from Monday 22nd February as detailed in the attached letter, however we would encourage senior pupils who will be attending school for practical subjects or those senior pupils attending the Hub to collect test kits prior to returning on Monday 22nd February.
Test kits will be available to collect from the school office on Friday 19th February at the following times and pupils should bring a completed consent form or ensure this is returned electronically prior to collecting test kits. Electronic forms can be sent to Dalkeith.hs@midlothian.gov.uk
Lothian – 9:00am to 9:30am
Buccleuch – 9:30am to 10:00am
Dalhousie – 10:00am to 10:30am
Melville – 10:30am to 11:00am
Please note, test kits are currently only available for those senior pupils who will be physically attending school.
Kind regards,
Craig Knight
Depute Headteacher
Dalkeith High School
0131 654 4701
Please find below a letter from Fiona Robertson, Executive Director, Children Young People & Partnerships
Download: Parents and Carers 020221.PDF
Download: Fiona Robertson letter 2/11/20
I’m writing to thank parents, carers and pupils who are helping keep local people safe and ultimately saving lives by complying with national coronavirus restrictions. I am sure you will appreciate the significant effort of all of our staff working in schools to do the same. However, I also need to stress we must remain vigilant as local cases of coronavirus are rising. As is the case across other areas in Scotland, this is, in part, because of transmission within local gatherings.
We continue to work alongside NHS Public Health and Police Scotland to protect local people. Please remember the restrictions in place on indoor gatherings in private homes. You should not meet anyone from outside your household inside your home or their home. This ban includes extended family members although you are permitted to provide care or support to a vulnerable person in their home and there are exemptions for childcare and tradespeople doing essential work. The rules on indoor gatherings apply to you and your family, including your young people over the age of 12, so we ask you to help them understand the rules and set an example for them too.
Where there are breaches of the legislation, Police Scotland will engage, explain the legislation and encourage compliance and will use enforcement action as a last resort.
We know that the overwhelming majority of people of all ages are following the rules and realise not meeting friends and family is hard, particularly on young people. However, to reduce the number of transmissions of the virus and keep schools open, all of us, young and old, need to do our bit by complying with the rules.
Thank you again for you and your family’s continued support.
Fiona Robertson
Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships
Download: CAMHS leaflet parents
Download: CAMHS leaflet teenagers
Dear Parent/Carer,
Please find below a document prepared by NHS Lothian that aims to clarify specific questions and concerns that have been raised by parents and carers over the past few weeks.
I would like to emphasise that a young person should not attend school if they have any of the following COVID-19 symptoms.
Note: A new, continuous cough means coughing for longer than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual.
Download: COVID-19 FAQs for parents and carers V2 010920
Kind regards,
Craig Knight
Depute Headteacher
Dear Parent/Carer,
As a reminder, if a young person shows any symptoms of COVID-19, it is essential that they do not attend school but instead self-isolate (along with their household) and book a test.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:
A new, continuous cough
A fever/ high temperatures
A change or loss in taste and/or smell (anosmia).
If a young person tests negative they can return to school provided they are well enough and have not had a fever for 48 hours. Confirmation of the negative result should be sent to Dalkeith_hs@midlothian.gov.uk before the young person returns to school.
Thank you,
Craig Knight
Depute Headteacher
