If you would like your child to be given home test kits, please email hometesting@cleaswellhill.org 

 

Dear parent or carer

Up to one in three people who have COVID-19 can spread the virus without knowing. This is because they have no symptoms. To reduce the spread of the virus, we need to identify those individuals. We can do this in schools by carrying out tests at home twice every week, 3-4 days apart.

The Government has recently announced that all secondary and college aged students will be offered tests to make the return to school safer for everyone.

Testing students at home

Students taking part will be provided with test kits to take home.

We would like them to take their tests before school/college on Mondays and Thursdays

You will need to tell the school if the result is positive.

Tests are free of charge. Students will receive packs of 3 or 7 tests with a leaflet on how to take the test and report the results.

Make sure you have enough time to do the test before going to school. Preferably this would be in the morning before going into school. However, we understand that for some people this may be challenging. Therefore, tests can be taken the evening before school if needed. You need to report test results to NHS Test & Trace.

 

Taking the test

Students should take the test before coming into school twice a week. We will give students a leaflet with instructions on how to do the test with the kit. There is also a useful video to show you how to take the test.

Help and support is available, including instructions in different languages on how to test and report the results and a video showing you how to take the test. There is no need to keep used test equipment after the test result has been reported. You can put it in your normal bin (household waste).

This does not replace symptomatic testing. If you have symptoms, you should self-isolate immediately, book a PCR test and follow national guidelines.

 

What should you do after the test?

Anyone with a positive test result will need to:

• self-isolate in line with the stay at home guidance
• book a further test (a lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test) to confirm the result

Whilst awaiting the PCR result, the individual should continue to self-isolate.

If the PCR test is taken within the 2 days following the positive LFD result, and is negative, it overrides the self-test LFD test and your child can return to nursery, childminders, school or college, as long as they don’t have COVID-19 symptoms.

If you are fully vaccinated or aged under 18 years and 6 months, you will not be required to self-isolate if you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19. Please refer to Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection for more information.

If the result of the test is unclear (void) you should do another test.

A negative result does not guarantee that you are not carrying the virus. So, you should continue to follow social distancing, and other measures to reduce transmission such as regularly washing your hands and observing social distancing.

If you or anyone in your household gets symptoms of the virus you should follow national guidelines on self-isolation and testing.

 

You need to report each test result 

The result of each test needs to be reported using the NHS Test & Trace self-report website: https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result.

You will also need to tell the school if the result is positive.

 

Why take part

Taking part in testing is voluntary and all students will be able to attend school whether they take part in testing or not.

I am strongly encouraging all students to take part. Testing at home will allow your child, other students and our staff to attend school as safely as possible.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about home testing.

Thank you for your support.

 

Mike Jackson

Headteacher

_____________________________________________________

Some frequently asked questions 

 

Can my child take the test themselves?

Students aged 18 and over should do the test themselves and report the result, with help if they need it.

 

Students aged 12-17 should do the test themselves with adult supervision. The adult may help the student to take the test if they need support.

 

Students aged 11 must be tested by an adult and the adult must report the result.

 

Reporting problems or issues with testing

If there is an issue with the test kit, for example something is missing, please report it by calling 119.

 

If an accident or injury happens whilst using the test kit, please seek medical care by calling 111 (or 999 if it is an emergency). Please also report what happened using this website:  https://coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

 

What type of tests will be used?

We will be sending home Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests. They are a fast and simple way to test people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19, but who may still be spreading the virus.

The tests are easy to use and give results in 30 minutes.

Further information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-lateral-flow-antigen-testing-for-people-without-symptoms

 

Are LFD tests accurate?

Lateral Flow Devices identify people who are likely to be infectious. These individuals tend to spread the virus to many people and so identifying them through this test is important.

 

These tests have been widely and successfully used to detect COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals and are approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The speed and convenience of the tests supports the detection of the virus in asymptomatic individuals, who would not otherwise have got tested.

 

The tests are highly specific, with low chance of false positives. They are also very sensitive and are able to identify the majority of the most infectious yet asymptomatic individuals. Extensive evaluation has been carried out on the tests and it shows that they are both accurate and sensitive enough to be used in the community for screening and surveillance purposes.

 

It is important to remember that these tests are only an aid to help stop the spread of the virus and you should continue to follow other guidance such as on wearing face coverings and social distancing.

 

How are LFD tests different to PCR tests?

There are 2 main types of test to check if you have coronavirus:

• polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests check for the genetic material (RNA) of the virus in the sample – you send the sample for processing at a lab
• lateral flow device (LFD) tests detect proteins called ‘antigens’ produced by the virus

LFD tests give rapid results, in 30 minutes after taking the test.

 

What does it mean if my child has a positive result?

Anyone with a positive test result will need to:

• self-isolate in line with the stay at home guidance
• book a further test (a lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test) to confirm the result, whether the test was done at home, school or college

 

Whilst awaiting the PCR result, the individual should continue to self-isolate.

 

If the PCR test is taken within the 2 days following the positive LFD result, and is negative, it overrides the self-test LFD test and your child can return to nursery, childminders, school or college, as long as they don’t have COVID-19 symptoms.

 

If you are fully vaccinated or aged under 18 years and 6 months, you will not be required to self-isolate if you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19. Please refer to Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection for more information.

 

What does it mean if my child has a negative result?

A negative result does not guarantee that your child is not carrying the virus. So, you should continue to follow measures to reduce transmission such as regularly washing your hands.

 

What if my child has a void result? 

If the result of the test is unclear (void), they should take another one. If the next test is also void, your child should take a PCR test. You can book a test here. 

 

All void results need to be reported to NHS Test & Trace.

 

How do you report the result?

You can report the result of the test (whether it is positive, negative or void) using this service. You will receive a text or email from NHS Test & Trace confirming that you have reported your test result.

 

All test results need to be reported to NHS Test & Trace.

Positive test results should also be reported to school.