A WHOLE year group at a village school just outside Kidderminster has been told to self-isolate after a confirmed case of coronavirus.

The Shuttle understands Year 5 is the year affected at the one-form entry Belbroughton Primary School on Bradford Lane, Belbroughton.

Worcestershire Children First, the agency responsible for education delivery across the county, confirmed a positive Covid-19 test had been returned but did not specify whether it was a child or member of staff who had fallen ill.

Children in the affected year are being supported to learn from home while absent from the school.

Dr Kathryn Cobain, director for Public Health for Worcestershire said: “An individual from Belbroughton Primary School has tested positive for Covid-19.

"This case was quickly identified, and the school is being supported by Public Health.

"Additional measures have been put in place to protect the school and help minimise any further disruption.

"The bubble which the individual was in, is now self-isolating for 14 days in line with guidance and will continue their learning through remote access.”

The school becomes the fourth in the Bromsgrove district to have been forced to tell staff and pupils to self-isolate since the new term began just a fortnight ago, according to official figures seen by The Shuttle.

Woodrush High School in Wythall sent a Year 7 class and three staff home after a pupil tested positive just days after school reopened fully following the coronavirus lockdown.

Soon after that, Millfields First School told a class and an after-school group to self-isolate after a member of staff returned a positive test.

And Rigby Hall Special School, in Aston Fields, collapsed a bubble as a 'precautionary measure' after 10 pupils showed coronavirus symptoms.

Within Wyre Forest, 60 reception students at Burlish Park Primary School in Stourport were told to self-isolate after a case was confirmed last week.

Two classes were shut down in response to the positive case, and children are now self-isolating at home for 14 days.

In nearby Redditch, a whole year group of Arrow Vale Academy Year 9 pupils - around 240 children - have been told to self-isolate after a positive case of the disease.