COVID-19 UPDATES
Dear Parent/Carer,
Regular asymptomatic (no symptoms) COVID-19 testing has been in place for all staff at schools and colleges since January.
The Government has recently announced that all secondary aged students will also be offered regular asymptomatic COVID-19 tests to take at home. All secondary aged students will be offered tests to take at home twice a week, so that we can reduce the spread of the virus.
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 Eskdale School by carrying out tests at home twice every week.
Testing pupils/students at home
We understand that each child has individual needs. Many children will adapt to testing becoming part of their routine, others will find it more challenging. Taking part in testing is voluntary and all children will be able to attend Eskdale School whether they take part or not. We hope that the option to take the test in the morning or the evening on a Sunday and Wednesday will support families to test at home.
Sealed tests kits will be collected from school by all students. Tests are free of charge. Your son/daughter will receive 2 packs of 3 tests in a box with a leaflet on how to take the test and report the results. If your child does not bring the tests home please inform school.
The result of each test needs to be reported using the NHS Test & Trace self-report website: https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result.
Parents will also need to tell the school the result of each test by completing the form in the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/X2P3M7X
Positive test results
If a student has a positive test result, they will need to immediately self-isolate and will also need to take a PCR test at a testing centre to confirm the result. This is the advice provided by Public Health England.
Students with symptoms
If your child has symptoms of Covid-19 (a persistent cough, a fever and/or a loss of taste and/or smell) they must take a PCR test at a testing centre. A negative LFD test will not be sufficient to allow your child to return to school if they have symptoms of Covid-19.
Taking 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 in the national testing programme.
Please read the attached Privacy Notice and FAQs. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Thank you for your support.
Mr A Fyfe
Headteacher