Click on this link if you would like to see translated versions of the guidance.

Monday 15th March 2021

 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

We hope that this letter finds you all well and safe.

 

It has been so lovely to have the students back in school this last week and we have been so impressed with the way that they have adapted to the ‘new normal’ of testing. We have conducted almost three thousand tests over the last two weeks with almost 90% of the school population having tested. You will be pleased to know that we have not had any positive cases. Thank you again for your encouragement and support throughout this process. It is also great to see that almost all students have chosen to wear a mask in and around school.

 

Now we have supervised the children self testing in school, we are moving onto asking them to self test at home. We will be distributing two packs of tests per child on Monday 15th March after school. These will be enough to last the students until the Easter break. They should test twice weekly, at intervals of between 3 - 5 days.

Each pack will have a booklet that clearly explains exactly what the children will need to do, how to take the test, as well as how to log the result. I have attached a pdf of the short presentation that we will be sharing in tutor time today with the whole school, so that you can see what we have explained.

 

The rapid lateral flow test is the coronavirus test that students will do at home. It gives a test result within 30 minutes. These are the same tests that we have been teaching the students to use over the past two weeks. When we have been speaking to the students, the vast majority seem to be very confident continuing to test at home. A small number, as you might imagine, might need your continuing supervision or support.

 

The instructions tell them how to:

 

• register their test kit online

• take a swab sample for themselves

• read their results on the test device

• report their results to the NHS

 

Please remember that these rapid tests are for people without symptoms. If your child has symptoms, they should self-isolate and get a PCR test.

 

If your child tests positive you MUST inform the school as well as logging it on the NHS website. Please do not inform the school of negative tests. 

 

Around 1 in 3 people who have coronavirus (COVID-19) have no symptoms. By rolling out rapid testing at Norwood we are helping to uncover hidden cases of the virus, break the chains of transmission and stop outbreaks before they get a chance to develop.

 

What about those parents who did not give consent to school testing?

If you did not give consent for us to test your child in school, we will assume that you do not want a home test kit. If you did not give consent to school testing but now want a home test kit please email the school to notify us of your wishes by Monday morning 9am.

 

What to do if my child tests Positive using the Lateral Flow Test?

Inform the school via the main reception or email post@thenorwoodschool.org

It is also helpful to let your child's tutor know so that they can then liaise with teaching staff re remote learning during your child’ isolation.

All positive results from rapid tests undertaken at home need to be confirmed with a standard PCR test. This is because these tests are not conducted in a controlled environment and will not have trained staff on hand. Following a positive LFD test at home, a confirmatory PCR test should be booked online or by calling 119. Whilst awaiting the PCR result, the student and their close contacts should self-isolate. If the PCR test is negative, it overrides the self-test LFD test (at home only) and a child can return to school.

 

Here are some helpful links that you might find useful:

 

Short film introducing Rapid Lateral Flow Testing

 

For copies of the instructions and guidance sent home translated into 12 languages click here

 

Guidance on school website here

Households and bubbles of pupils, students and staff of schools get rapid lateral flow tests

 

COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing

 

What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during COVID-19

 

Please do let us know if you have any questions about Home Testing, your first port of call should be your child’s form tutor in the first instance.

 

Thank you again and Good Luck!

Have a lovely weekend,

 

Kind regards

 

Ms Nicholas

Senior Deputy Headteacher