Dear Parents and carers,

You will have seen on the national news, stories about cases of scarlet fever and invasive Strep
A infections in children and I wanted to write to you to offer some reassurance and provide
some important information.

We are working closely with local authority public health colleagues and the local infection
prevention and control team who are supported by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), to
ensure the health and safety of our whole school community. A reporting and advice system is in
place across all educational settings in the East Riding and covers all notifiable diseases and
infections.

At this time of year there are lots of viruses circulating in our communities which can cause
sore throats, colds and coughs. These are usually resolved without any medical help. Sometimes
children pick up a bacterial infection, such as the group A strep, on top of a virus and that can
make them more unwell. This type of infection is uncommon, however if this does happen, it is
important that you look for general symptoms and seek medical advice promptly so that your
child can be treated to stop any infection. Please make sure you talk to a health professional if
your child is showing signs of becoming seriously unwell after scarlet fever, a sore throat, or a
respiratory infection.

If you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement.
Contact your GP or call 111 if your child;

· is getting worse
· is feeding or eating much less than normal
· has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration
· is under three months old and has a temperature of 38oC, or is older than three months and
has a temperature of 39oC or more
· feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty
· is very tired or irritable.
Call 999 or go to A&E if;
· your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy
sucking under their ribs
· there are pauses when your child breathes
· your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
· your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake.

Good hand and respiratory hygiene is important for stopping the spread of many bugs. By
teaching your child how to wash their hands properly with soap and water for 20 seconds,
usually the time it takes to sing ‘happy birthday’; using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes;
keeping away from others when feeling unwell, they will be able to reduce the risk of picking up
or spreading infections.

The health, safety and wellbeing of our children and staff is extremely important to us and we
thank you for your continued support. For further information please see UKHSA update on
scarlet fever and invasive Group A strep – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Yours sincerely,

Mrs C M Ainley
Headteache