Morecambe school closes after staff member tests positive for Covid-19

In a letter to parents and carers on Friday May 15, the school's headteacher Paul Edmondson, said the staff member had not been in school since Friday May 8, but he had closed the school as a safety precaution.

The specialist school, in Morecambe Road, had been open for vulnerable children, and children of key workers.

The letter stated: "As you are probably aware by now, I closed the school yesterday following a member of staff’s positive test result for Covid 19.

"The member of staff has not been in school since Friday 8th May.

"After taking advice from Public Health England and speaking to the Chair of Governors, I made the decision to close the school as a safety precaution, until after the half-term break.

"We have advised everyone who was in the building to be tested as a precaution and to be vigilant as to symptoms developing.

"I would like to reassure you all that whilst pupils and staff have been in school we have been sanitising contact surfaces and resources regularly throughout the day and ensuring that pupils have washed their hands regularly as a precaution to reduce potential transmission and contamination.

"The guidelines state that symptoms may develop between 5 and 14 days.

"If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

"If you or a member of the family shows signs of Covid 19, then the https://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test will take you to the site where you can book a test.

"I will be in touch in terms of how we intend to re-open the school in the coming days. In the meantime, stay safe."

Last week, the government asked schools to prepare to re-open for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils.

However teachers in Lancaster and Morecambe have described the decision as "absolutely reckless".