- Mar 13, 2020
- Jan 8, 2019
Dear Parents and Carers,
As you will be aware schools are going to be operating a rapid lateral flow testing programme for pupils on their return to school. Along with our ongoing protective measures these tests will help staff and pupils remain in school safely.
Whilst opting for your child to participate in the programme is voluntary I would encourage you to do so as this will be an effective measure in slowing the spread of the virus. This testing is part of a national drive to reduce infection and help ease the lockdown restrictions.
Pupils will be required to administer the swabbing element themselves but will be supervised by a team of trained staff who will then carry out the processing.
I have also tried to answer any potential questions below and I hope this will give you a clear understanding as to what the process involves.
You will receive, via email, a consent form for you to complete and return. We need all responses returned to us no later than 9 a.m. on Thursday 4th March. If you have not received an email by Wednesday 3rd March, or cannot access email for any reason, please contact us as soon as possible.
Testing is not compulsory and no child will be refused admission into school because consent was not given for testing.
A copy of this letter, along with the privacy notice for testing is available on the school website.
For more information please go to:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/asymptomatic-testing-in-schools-and-colleges
1.How often will my child be tested and how does the testing work?
Your child will be offered the opportunity to come into school for a test in the week beginning 8th March. Once all pupils have returned to school, we will offer pupils the opportunity to have 2 further tests from the week beginning 15th March. All in school testing will finish before we break for the Easter holidays.
Once we have delivered the 3 tests in school, you will be offered the chance for your child to have a home test, supervised by parents/carers. More information will follow.
When your child arrives for their test, they will be registered and provided with a barcode which will be scanned once the test has been processed.
Once your child has registered, they will be sent to a testing bay to carry out the swabbing process. The bay will be supervised by a member of the testing team, who will guide your child through the process.
Once your child has carried out the test, they will wait in a designated area for the result to be processed. The processing takes approximately 30 minutes.
2. What happens when the result comes through?
We have set up a testing centre in school. Your child will go to this centre and be supported to administer the test themselves. It involves swabbing your tonsils and your nostrils. We will receive the result after 30 minutes and parents/carers will be informed of the result via a text message from the NHS.