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Monday 15th March 2021

 

Dear Parent or guardian,

Lateral Flow Home Testing

We are approaching the end of the 3rd lateral flow test for Covid-19 in school for those who provided consent. Following this, students should self-test at home and we will be providing all students with 2 boxes of home test kits.

Each box contains the items for 3 home tests and an instruction booklet. Please note the instruction booklet in the test kit is incorrect and can be discarded. Your child will be provided with the new instruction guidance as a separate booklet when receiving their home test kits. The following NHS video guidance is also useful in explaining how to conduct the test at home – https://youtu.be/S9XR8RZxKNo.

It is advised that a test is conducted twice a week. We suggest the test is taken every Monday and Thursday morning before school.

You are required to report the result of home lateral tests using the Covid-19 test result website (https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result), regardless if the test result is positive, negative or void. As a school, we do not have access to this information, so we ask that you please complete the following form to log your child’s result – https://forms.gle/qDukN2o5aotZ8bka7. This is so that we can keep a record and advise you of the next steps if needed.

It is very unlikely, but if any clinical or non-clinical issues occur, this must be reported. Examples of clinical issues are a swab breaking in the mouth, bleeding, allergic reaction on using the test kit etc. If there is a clinical incident which led or has potential for harm, participants are advised to report it on https://coronavirusyellowcard.mhra.gov.uk. This is not for seeking immediate medical care, which should be sought through the usual route of contacting 111 or 999. Non-clinical issues would be for example a missing item for a test kit, in which case participants should contact 119 to report this.

These lateral flow test are for students with no symptoms only. If you child develops symptoms at any time, such as a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste, they must immediately self-isolate, and you will need to book a test by calling 119 or visiting https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirustest.

 

If your child’s result to a lateral flow test or a PCR test booked due to symptoms is positive, please ensure you contact the school’s attendance officer immediately.

 

Along with the other protective measures we are taking, these tests will help staff and students to remain in school safely. Up to one third of people who have coronavirus experience no symptoms. By testing we will help to stop the virus spread and help to keep our school open as safely as possible. The test is voluntary, but I would encourage everyone to take it.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Paul Woods

Headteacher