The headteacher of a school with almost every year group isolating has criticised parents for not following isolation rules.
Only the Reception class remains at East Crompton St James' CE Primary School in Shaw, Oldham, following a number of positive Covid cases in the other years.
With cases continuing to rise in the area, executive headteacher Adam Laskey has written to parents, urging them to follow the rules and to report law breakers to the police.
He says the 10-day isolation period pupils are given is 'national policy, stressing that 'all schools have a responsibility to follow the government guidelines to help reduce the transmission of Covid-19 and keep everyone safe'.
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His letter states: "However, it has been disappointing to note that several members of the community have reported seeing children from our school mixing with others in local shops and businesses. Some have even been on holiday. This is unacceptable.
"These children should be isolating, which means they do not leave the house or have any contact with people from outside your household or support bubble, even if they are wearing a mask."
He says it's 'a legal requirement' for those testing positive and any close contacts to self-isolate and if he continues to hear reports of people failing to self-isolate, 'we will have no choice but to notify Public Health England'.
Mr Laskey added: "We encourage any member of the community who is aware of others breaking the law in this respect to report this to the police."
His comments come as positive cases continue to cause disruption across Greater Manchester.
With just weeks left of the summer term, thousands of pupils are once again back home and learning remotely.
There have been calls for isolation rules to be scrapped, with families and headteachers branding them 'ridiculous'.
Only last week Oldham Council leader Arooj Shah requested an urgent review of the rules because of the number of children (more than 6k, or 14% of the borough's kids) now at home.
She said the impact of this on their education 'cannot be overstated' and warned a generation of children could be 'left behind' as a result.
Ministers have already said that isolation rules could be scrapped after July 19, but education leaders here say it needs to happen now to prevent the term being 'a write-off'.
They, along with health experts, also say that is isolation and bubbles are to be ditched, then a real plan is needed to bring mitigation measures to schools which will prevent virus transmission.
Has your school had a positive Covid test this half term? How many times has your child had to isolate this academic year?
Let us know in the comments here or email emma.gill@reachplc.com.
