by Mary Graham

A Maidstone school is sending out letters detailing its plans to stop the spread of swine flu after two students were taken ill with flu-like symptoms.

There is no confirmation that the two Valley Park Community School pupils are suffering swine flu, as tests for the virus are no longer being carried out by the NHS. Both pupils are being kept at home.

But the school sent letters out to all parents of pupils on Tuesday morning as a precaution.

Head teacher Vic Ashdown has confirmed that, as a result of the two pupils being taken ill, alcohol gel has been supplied to pupils as a safeguard against the spread of illness.

The school had already ensured every classroom has a supply of tissues, following the government's "catch it , bin it , kill it" advice campaign.

Testing of suspected swine flu patients has stopped in the UK, as the government moved from the containment phase of its plan, which involves laboratory testing and contacting relatives of those suspected of having the infection, to a process of diagnosis through GPs and giving out antiviral drugs.

There have been 37 confirmed cases of swine flu in west Kent.

Head teacher Vic Ashdown said: "Advice from the Health Protection Agency is that there is no reason to close the school or change the way it operates.

"There is no evidence that the risk of the virus spreading within the school is greater than within the general population.

"The school is working closely with all the relevant authorities and assessing the situation regularly.

"Parents have been informed via a letter sent on Tuesday about the situation and are being encouraged to continue sending their children to school."

The number of confirmed cases in the UK has reached 7,500 but case numbers are not being confirmed every day, because testing has stopped. So far seven people with swine flu have died in the UK.

• The latest advice from NHS West Kent is for people who suspect they have swine flu to check their symptoms online at www.nhs.uk, oron 0800 1513 513 before calling their GP who will provide a diagnosis.