A primary school in Thornton Heath has been forced to delay the return of a number of its pupils after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19 coronavirus.

Earlier this week (September 7), the school announced that a staff member tested positive for the virus and that it had immediately changed its plans for reopening.

In a letter sent to parents and carers and seen by the Croydon Guardian, the CEO of Inspire Group, who run the school, said pupils from the reception and Year 2 age groups from the Canterbury Road would no longer be returning to school as planned.

"I am writing to inform you that due to a member of staff working at West Thornton Primary School testing positively for Coronavirus, we have had to delay the return to school of pupils in Reception and Year 2 at Canterbury Road for a further two weeks until Monday 21st September 2020," Rob Carpenter wrote.

Your Local Guardian: Screenshot of the letter sent to parents and carers of pupils at the West Thornton Primary School. Screenshot of the letter sent to parents and carers of pupils at the West Thornton Primary School.

"Having taken advice from Public Health England (PHE), some staff at West Thornton (Canterbury Road site) will self-isolate, for a period of 14 days from Friday 4th September to Sunday 20th September," he added.

In a later update posted on the school's website, a spokesperson said that, in addition, all pupils from at the Rosecourt Rose site would also be delayed in returning to school until Monday, September 21, as a further precaution against the further spread of the virus.

"All pupils at Roescourt Road and pupils in Reception and Year 1 at Canterbury Road for two weeks until Monday 21st September 2020," they said.

"Having taken advice from DfE and Public Health England, all staff at Rosecourt Road as well as the Reception and Year Two teams at Canterbury Road will self-isolate, for a period of 14 days from Friday 4th September to Sunday 20th September."

The school said that it had undertaken a deep clean during the week to help ensure against any further transmission of Covid-19 on site.

The arrived amid a rise in cases in the Croydon area — and across the UK — in recent days.

According to the latest PHE data, there were over 20 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in the borough between August 31-September 6.

That included six new cases in West Thornton South and Ampere Way.