It was a "matter of when, not if" coronavirus would reach a school on the Isle of Wight, according to the man in charge of education on the Island.
Councillor Paul Brading insists plans are in place to tackle an outbreak, after it was revealed a primary school pupil here had tested positive.
A child at Cowes Primary School is now self-isolating, along with 34 other students, their class teacher and their teaching assistant (TA), as Isle of Wight Radio previously reported.
Speaking exclusively to Isle of Wight Radio, Cllr Brading admitted the news came as a "shock", but said plans had been in place for this exact scenario. He said:
"We've been planning since schools went back in September for when we have an incident rather than if. That's the safest way to plan I think. If you assume it's going to happen that's part of the planning process we have in place.
"Of course it's a shock and my sympathies go out to the pupil, family and the whole school and community because it's not nice."
Cowes Primary is not the only education setting to have been affected by the virus.
The Island Nursery, in Sandown, has been shut for two weeks after it was confirmed the manageress had tested positive.
'Class bubbles are working well'
Cllr Brading insists the case at Cowes Primary shows that protocols like 'class bubbles' are working.
'Class bubbles' see children spend time with the same people all week, and do not get to spend time with children in other 'bubbles' at school.
Cllr Brading said:
"The headteacher and all of the staff have made sure the bubble situation is working well. That particular bubble and that particular class - and its teacher and TA - will now need to be off for two weeks. The advice from Public Health England is that's the correct process to do.
"At this point the whole school doesn't need deep cleaning because we focus on that particular bubble. Obviously that classroom will be deep cleaned but not the whole school, it just means that particular bubble which has operated as a bubble since the school went back."
Worried about your child?
Listen as Cllr Brading addresses your concerns with Paul Topping.
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