BREAKING: Derbyshire school to close tomorrow after huge outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea bug

St John’s C of E Primary School, Laund Nook, Belper, will be shut after 48 pupils were absent on Wednesday and an extra 38 did not attend today.

The school, which has 500 pupils, alerted county council health and safety officers, the Health Protection Agency and Environmental health officers yesterday and arranged for the school to be “deep-cleaned” overnight.

Parents have been warned to keep children who have been affected by the bug not to attend school until at least Monday. A further deep clean will also now take place.

Head teacher Roger Averis said: “On Wednesday (May 18), 48 children were absent from school, with the majority of parents saying this was due to their child suffering from a sickness bug.

“I took immediate advice from the appropriate agencies and we believe the sickness is viral, which means it can be easily spread from pupil to pupil.

“The school was deep-cleaned overnight and we had hoped that the sickness had been contained, as the children who were unwell had stayed at home.

“Unfortunately a further 38 children have become ill overnight, with another child falling ill at school today.”

“Following advice from Derbyshire Health and Safety and Public Health England yesterday and today I believe the best course of action to stop the bug spreading is to close the school on Friday and carry out a further deep-clean.”

Mr Averis added: “I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause due to the short notice but we do not want any more children becoming ill and want to ensure we do all we can to stop the bug spreading.

“I am confident it will be business as usual on Monday but would urge parents to keep children who have been affected at home for 48 hours after their last bout of sickness.”