Brooke Hill Primary School in Oakham is accused of jeopardising the chance of a family Christmas following its response to a member of staff testing positive for Covid-19
A school has been criticised for jeopardising pupils' chances of enjoying a family Christmas.
A member of staff at Brooke Hill Primary School in Oakham tested positive for Covid-19 on December 3, but the class remained open for a further week until a second case was confirmed.
One parent believes pupils should have been sent home as soon as the first case was confirmed.
If this had happened, the children would now be coming out of isolation. Instead they must stay at home until December 23 and face an anxious wait to see if they develop symptoms before Christmas.
The parent, who did not want to be named, said: "I’m furious that it took a week to close the class. My children were looking forward to spending Christmas with their elderly grandparents, but that is now is in doubt due to the school's slow reaction.
"Christmas was a light at the end of the tunnel and they have put that in jeopardy."
Executive headteacher Sharon Milner said the school responded in line with government guidelines.
The school contacted the Department for Education's coronavirus advice line to and was told that certain individuals should isolate but the class bubble did not need to close.
She added: "The safety and wellbeing of our children, staff and wider school community is central to everything we do – never more so than now – and we know that keeping our schools open is essential for the mental health and long-term development of our young people.
"I would like to reassure our parents, carers and guardians that we took all appropriate steps to protect pupils and we sought and followed government guidance at all times."