Dear Parent/Carer
Thank you for your support and patience this week as we have utilised a staggered start to facilitate on-site testing for all students. The process was invaluable in identifying any asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 and across the 7 year groups we identified 12 positive cases. Without the rigorous testing process, these cases may have gone undetected and caused a further spread amongst the school population and in turn caused further disruption to the beginning of term.
After this week, we will be asking that students return to carrying out two lateral flow tests at home each week in line with the current expectations for staff, in the same way that they did before Christmas. With fewer restrictions in place, this testing is now one of the main strategies for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Without this, asymptomatic students could potentially be in school passing the virus on to other students and staff.
Despite some reports in the media, we currently have very good attendance for staff and students and we would like this to continue to ensure that we remain fully open for all students. As such, it is vital that we continue to test. Not only would a potential outbreak put students at risk but obviously should teaching staff contract the virus, staff absence would put us in a position where face-to-face teaching in its usual guise could become compromised.
The students will be bringing their next set of rapid test kits home tomorrow and they should then complete a home test every Sunday and Wednesday starting on Sunday 16 January.
There is an expectation from the NHS and the DfE that the test results are reported promptly. The reporting of tests towards the latter end of last term was less consistent and I urge you to ensure results are recorded so that we can best manage this current phase of the pandemic to maximise the number of staff and students we can keep safely in school.
Following each test, it is important that the results are reported in two ways.
To the NHS: Follow this link – https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result
To the school: You can either follow the link below or click the link that will be sent in the reminder text message each Wednesday and Sunday. It is essential that you spell your child’s name correctly and consistently each time you input a result.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBvL05MPZkUx5M63wGNxmZWLbX19dXDvwlfvFW_kWIQuP80w/viewform?usp=sf_link
Thank you once again for your continued support with this process.
Yours sincerely
Miss L Heard
Vice Principal & COVID Co-ordinator