Primary school closes after two children test positive for coronavirus

Hamford Primary School, in Walton-on-the-Naze, took the decision to close down this week following confirmed cases of Covid-19 in two children from the same family.

Both children had been attending the school in Elm Tree Avenue, which is run by Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), but showed no symptoms of the disease.

A spokeswoman for Hamford Primary said: “Having taken advice from Public Health England and the NHS, we took the decision to close Hamford Primary on Tuesday, May 19, following two confirmed cases of Covid-19 from two children in the same family. Both children showed no signs of symptoms and had been in school.

“The safety of our children, families and the community is at the heart of all decisions we make, and so we have taken the precautionary measure to close for the rest of the week, returning on Monday, June 1 after the half-term break.”

All children who were in school last week have been advised to book a test, as have parents of children who were also in school, she said.

All staff at the school have also now been tested for coronavirus and the academy has been deep cleaned.

The academy says it is now “focused on detailed preparations for a safe return for children in nursery, reception, year-one and year-six from June, 1,” the spokeswoman added.

Concerns have been raised by parents about the return date of Monday, June 1.

Some school and nursery leaders in Suffolk have spoken of the challenge of trying to provide a welcoming yet safe environment for returning children next month.

More: ‘We don’t want kids to be traumatised’ - schools and nurseries on preparing for more children in JuneMeanwhile, a Gorleston school has also closed “as a precautionary measure” after a key worker whose child was attending the school tested positive for Covid-19.

Peterhouse Primary School closed for a “deep clean” earlier this week.

More: Primary school closes after keyworker parent tests positive for coronavirus