Children at Dulwich Hamlet Junior School back in class after Covid-19 outbreak – including “some” Omicron cases

Children at a primary school are back in class today after it was forced to close on Monday due to a Covid-19 outbreak – including “some” cases of the new variant, Omicron.

Dulwich Hamlet Junior School in Dulwich Village shut its doors to students because of a surge in staff and students testing positive for the coronavirus.

But by Tuesday children in years 4 to 6 were back in lessons, with the whole school returning by Wednesday.

The Charter Schools Educational Trust, which runs the academy, said bosses had decided to move all learning online on Monday as a precaution.

The Trust said: “We reluctantly took the decision on Sunday evening to move all learning online for pupils at Dulwich Hamlet Junior School on Monday, December 13.

“This follows a rapid increase in the number of positive Covid cases among both staff and pupils, including some which have been confirmed as the Omicron variant.

“The Trust and school leaders had to make this decision in the absence of direct access to advice on Sunday from Public Health England, and is in line with current government guidance.

Self-isolation rules changed from Tuesday so that fully-vaccinated adults who are a close contact of someone with Covid-19 will be allowed to carry on life as normal, provided they take daily lateral flow tests.

The rules will also be relaxed for children aged five to 18 years and six months who are identified as a close contact.

And the change in rules allowed all pupils to return to the classroom by Wednesday.

On Wednesday a spokesman added: “All year groups are now back in school from today as part of a managed return supported by Public Health England and the Department for Education. Pupils and staff are doing daily lateral flow tests.”

It had earlier said: “The Trust’s intention is to ensure that staff and pupils are kept safe in school and that pupils continue to receive a full education in the last week of term, hopefully onsite for as many pupils as possible.”

The outstanding-rated school will close for Christmas today, before reopening to pupils next year on January 5.

Pictured top: Dulwich Hamlet Primary School