Southbrook School closed till New Year

After a positive Covid-19 test

A school for pupils with varied complex needs and abilities will be closed until January after a positive Covid-19 test.

Southbrook School, at Bishop Westall Road in Exeter, has taken the decision to close the school for the remainder of the week to pupils following a risk assessments and advice from Public Health England.

The closure follows the identification of a positive Covid-19 case within the school community.

All families of pupils attending the school are aware, and the school’s virtual learning offer will operate as from Tuesday morning until Friday.

Southbrook School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16, with varied complex needs and abilities including moderate or severe learning difficulties and autism.

The pupils may also have speech, language and communication difficulties, sensory impairments and/or physical disabilities.

The school is now one of three within the Devon County Council area that are closed due to a Coronavirus outbreak.

Stansfield Academy, in Falcon Road in Exeter, which is an Alternative Provision Academy providing full time education for children from 4-16 years of age, is also closed due to a confirmed case of Covid-19.

The school is following the Distance Model of Education and Safeguarding and the pupils will have daily welfare checks and an online learning offer during this temporary closure.

And all secondary school provision at the River Dart Academy in Totnes is also closed due to staff self-isolating following contact with a positive case of Covid-19.

Online provision for secondary students is being provided, but the school’s primary unit is open.