Reception class sent home after confirmed coronavirus case at Manston Primary School

The case was confirmed at Manston Primary School in Dennil Road, Cross Gates, on Monday, September 28.

Pupils and staff who were affected have been sent home to self isolate.

James Clay, Headteacher of Manston Primary School said: "We received confirmation of a positive case affecting our reception class on Monday.

"Following the robust procedures that we have in place, we contacted the Department for Education for further advice and, as directed, disbanded the relevant bubble in school.

"The children and staff affected are now self-isolating at home in line with national guidance and will return to school on 12 October.

"The safety and wellbeing of our whole school community continues to be our main priority and we have safety procedures and risk assessments in place to help limit the spread of the virus.

"We are grateful to all our pupils and parents/carers for their ongoing support.”

What is a 'bubble'?

The government has advised schools to separate pupils into bubbles to reduce contact and limit the transmission of coronavirus.

In secondary schools, the government advice is to separate the bubbles into year groups in order to "enable schools to deliver the full range of curriculum subjects and students to receive specialist teaching."

This means there is no mixing between the year groups in classrooms, corridors and other open areas.

It also allows schools to easily identify those who may need to self-isolate if someone within the bubble tests positive for the virus

This means if a pupil tests positive in one bubble, only that bubble will need to isolate and not the other bubbles, limiting the impact on each year group.