A primary school in Slade Green has announced it will remain open after the NHS advised a teacher to self-isolate over the weekend as a precaution against coronavirus.

Haberdashers’ Aske’s Slade Green Temple Grove School issued a letter to parents on Sunday, March 8, detailing precautions were to be put in place and teaching was to carry on as normal following a teacher being tested for coronavirus - though the results of the test have yet to be confirmed.

Parents say the teacher reportedly went to Italy in February half-term and has since been back at school teaching.

Concerns were raised to News Shopper over fears that children could have already been infected, with claims that a cleaning of the school had not been thorough enough after the teacher was told not to come in.

But the school defended its approach, stating that the school had been cleaned in accordance with government advice.

It also defended staying open, citing government advice that it was "not necessary or appropriate to close schools in cases where coronavirus has not been confirmed".

One parent said: “I feel that cleaning the school using just cleaners that work at the school is not good enough.

“I think they should have shut the school as a precaution.

“Risks should not be taken with how fast this virus is spreading.

“When there is a direct threat to my child, I don’t want to send them to school.

“I am worried sick.”

A spokesperson for the headteacher said: “Haberdashers’ Aske’s Slade Green Temple Grove School was first informed on Friday evening that a member of staff had been advised by NHS111 to self-isolate and, as a precaution, to have a test for coronavirus.

“We think it is important to be as open and transparent as possible with parents in these circumstances while respecting the member of staff’s confidentiality.

“We wrote to parents on Sunday to inform them about the situation and explain the steps taken, including cleaning the school.

“The school has followed the published government guidance on dealing with this situation at every stage and will continue to do so.

“The advice is clear that the school should remain open and that all staff and students should continue to attend as normal.

“We will continue to keep parents fully informed and let them know about any more information we receive."

The school has issued a Q&A to answer parents questions at: https://www.habssladegreentg.org.uk/Parents/Letters/