Pupils at three more schools have been told to self-isolate after pupils were diagnosed with coronavirus.

Staff at Highsted Grammar School in Sittingbourne wrote to parents yesterday evening to say they had been alerted by Public Health England (PHE).

An email by head of school, Anne Kelly, said some youngsters had been among a child who has received a Covid-19 positive test.

It said: "The school has been informed by PHE a number of our pupils have been in contact with a pupil that has tested positive for Covid-19.

"Therefore we have followed the explicit direction of PHE with regards to this matter.

"All relevant parents and carers have been contacted via parent mail and telephone today."

It is not clear which year group is affected or how many pupils have been told to self-isolate.

Highsted Grammar School has been contacted for comment.

Bapchild and Tonge CE Primary School in School Lane, Bapchild, sent letters to parents yesterday saying a child in Year 1 had come down with Covid-19.

Head Christian Kelly said: "Having been informed late on Monday afternoon that a child in Year 1 had tested positive for Covid-19 the school followed the government guidelines, contacted Public Health England and, acting on their advice, asked all pupils in the relevant year group to remain at home for the next 14 days."

He confirmed the child did not contract the virus at school.

When asked to confirm the number of pupils impacted, Mr Kelly said: "We do not feel we need to add anymore now."

Westlands Primary School in Homewood Avenue wrote to parents today to say a case had been confirmed in the school. Year 1 children were told to self-isolate.

Director of public health for Kent, Andrew Scott-Clark, said: “Ensuring pupils and staff can learn and work in a safe environment remains the overriding priority and we work closely with PHE to ensure that any suspected cases of Covid-19 within a school are managed effectively to minimise the spread of the virus.

"PHE will offer advice to any school that needs it on self-isolation, infection control measures and cleaning, while schools will be making sure pupils wash their hands often and staff will be cleaning frequently touched surfaces regularly and minimising contact with other within the school setting and adhering to current social distancing guidance outside of school.

"If you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace service then you should follow the guidance given to self-isolate. More information at www.kent.gov.uk/kentprotect."

Two primary schools alerted parents to cases within bubbles yesterday.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne