Rapid lateral flow testing for households and bubbles of school pupils and staff

Around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus (COVID-19) do not have symptoms but can still pass it on to others. Regular testing of people without symptoms (asymptomatic testing) is important to help stop the virus spreading. As lockdown restrictions gradually ease, we all need to play our part to help protect each other.

On Sunday 28 February, the Department of Health and Social Care announced that from Monday 1 March, households with primary school, secondary school and college age children, including childcare and support bubbles, can test themselves twice every week at home as schools return from Monday 8 March. Households, childcare and support bubbles of primary, secondary and college staff can also be tested. Twice-weekly testing will also be offered to adults working in the wider school community, including bus drivers and after school club leaders. The twice-weekly test kits can be accessed:

• via employers if they offer testing to employees
• at a local test site
• by collecting a home test kit from a test site
• by ordering a home test kit online

As per the guidance, schools are not allowed give test kits to parents, carers or household members. It is the parent/carers responsibility to order these. 

This guidance provides information on who can be tested and how you can get a test. Please follow the link below, which provides further information:

Rapid lateral flow testing for households and bubbles of school pupils and staff - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We would encourage all families to access this if possible. It is important that you also let school know if any of your household/support/childcare bubble are showing any Coronavirus symptoms. If you have symptoms of Coronavirus , arrange to have a PCR test if you have not already had one. Stay at home while you are waiting for a home self-sampling kit, a test site appointment or a test result. Do not use the rapid lateral flow testing service as this is only for people without symptoms. The symptoms of Coronavirus which should prompt self-isolation and a PCR test remain as follows:

• a new, continuous cough
• a high temperature 
• a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia). 

As previously communicated, if a child presents these symptoms in school, they will be isolated from other pupils and we will ask for them to be collected. At this point a test should be booked/taken and we would ask for any results to be shared with the school. Pupils who are sent home due to presenting symptoms will only be allowed to return to school once the outcome of the test is received or the designated period of self-isolation has been followed. Siblings of a child with symptoms will also need to be collected at this point. Should a child test positive, we will follow Public Health England guidance. This may result in wider testing, a period of isolation or the school having to close bubbles for a period of time.

Thank you for your continued support in helping to keep our school and wider community safe.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Liley

Below is a link to a website that is updated regularly by central government with the latest advice to schools on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19