A CRADLEY Heath school where a member of staff has tested positive for COVID -19 now says it has not closed due to coronavirus but because it can't get a key to open the site.

Parents were notified late on Sunday night that Temple Meadow Primary School in Wrights Lane would be closed after "everyone's worst nightmare" happened and the school's site manager tested positive for coronavirus.

Now the school says it has not closed due to a coronavirus outbreak, but because it cannot get a keyholder to open the site, as the assistant site manager has been in contact with the site manager.

The school is likely to stay closed all week. Half term begins next Monday (October 26).

A letter to parents sent out yesterday (Monday) from headteacher Cathy Walsh states: "Thank you for your enquiries in response to the school closure linked to a positive COVID-19 case in school.

"Please be assured that all of the necessary communications with Public Health have been undertaken over the weekend, which includes scrutiny of potential contacts with the case.

"As a result, we did unfortunately identify our Assistant Site Manager as a contact, which has left us with no alternative other than to initiate a closure on the basis of no access to a suitable keyholder, combined with significant gaps in our COVID risk assessment.

"I can confirm that the school has not closed on the basis of a COVID outbreak in school, and that no other staff members or pupils have been identified as contacts; therefore, no bubbles are required to self-isolate. At present, we have no other confirmed cases in school that are impacting on any of our bubbles."

Halesowen News:

A further letter sent out yesterday states: "We have had a very busy day communicating with Public Health linked to our current situation. We remain closed tomorrow and high likely to be closed for the rest of this week. We are actively pursuing any possible ways that we could re-open.

It goes on: "We do acknowledge that this is a huge inconvenience for everybody involved. We will continue to communicate further updates as and when they become available."

Parents have been venting their frustration on social media. One said: "Honestly, you couldn't make it up, I'll fetch the keys myself and go open it for them."

Another person said: "I feel for the moms who have got to take time off work and lose pay."

Parents also expressed concerns over the effect of the school's closure on pupils' education and mental health.

Sandwell Council has been contacted for comment.

The school has also been contacted for comment.