Home Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing for students - 17/03/2021

Dear Parents/Carers,

It has been superb to welcome back our students over the last two weeks and to see the enthusiasm of both staff and students, on returning to a sense of normality once again.

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 at Sewell Park Academy 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 Sewell Park safer for everyone.

Testing students at home

Students with consent will be given home test kits tomorrow, Thursday 18th March.

We would like students to take their tests in the afternoon or evening of each Sunday and Wednesday. This includes over the Easter holiday period, especially the Sunday before the return on Monday 12th April.

You will need to tell the school and NHS Test & Trace the result of each test whether it is positive, negative or void.

Students will receive three packs of three tests, with a leaflet detailing how to take the test and how to read the results. Please disregard the leaflet in the box - there is an up-to-date version which we will give to your child. These tests will cover the 7 expected tests up to the students return after the Easter holidays on Monday 12th April. You will receive an email reminder but the tests should be taken on:

• Sunday 21st March

• Wednesday 24th March

• Sunday 28th March

• Wednesday 31st March

• Sunday 4th April

• Wednesday 7th April

• Sunday 11th April

this will leave 2 spare tests in case of any void test results. Students will then be issued new packs at regular intervals over the forthcoming weeks.

Taking the test

Students should take the test 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 here. We will be detailing all of the information to students during period 5 on Thursday 18th March.

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. A student with symptoms should not attend Sewell Park at this point.

What should you do after the test?

If anyone tests positive, that individual, the household and any support bubbles you are part of should self-isolate immediately in line with NHS Test and Trace guidance for 10 days. You need to report the result to both NHS Test & Trace and to Sewell Park Academy using the TestRegister website as detailed below. You should order a confirmatory PCR test if you are testing at home (confirmatory PCR tests are not needed if the test was conducted at the Asymptomatic Test Site at Sewell Park Academy). If the result of the test is unclear (void) you should do another test. Negative and void results should be reported to both NHS Test & Trace and Sewell Park Academy using the TestRegister website as detailed below. 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 wearing a face mask and 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. Reporting the test result On Sunday 21st March, an email from TestRegister (www.testregister.co.uk) will be sent to your child's school email address and to the parent email address that is on your child's consent form. This is a simple system that can be accessed from a laptop or phone and will allow you to register each test result quickly.

Why take part?

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

I am strongly encouraging all students to take part. Testing at home will allow your child and other students to attend Sewell Park as safely as possible and ensure our wider community remains safer. The community has demonstrated a fantastic ability to support each other over the last twelve months and I am confident this will continue through this next phase.

Please contact Caroline Penn (c.penn@sewellpark.org) or Kirsty Eyre (k.eyre@sewellpark.org), our COVID Coordinators, if you have any questions or concerns about home testing.

I also attach the Privacy Notice and Frequently Asked Questions for your information.

Best wishes and thank you for your support.

David Day

Headteacher

Frequently Asked Questions

.pdf

Download PDF • 60KB

LFD Home Test - Privacy Notice

.pdf

Download PDF • 62KB