Lateral Flow (Home) Testing LFhT, for students in secondary school environments
From the 8th March 2021, the government have initiated the transition for all secondary school students from asymptomatic testing at the school, to twice weekly home self-testing. This follows national guidelines for students and staff who will then be home testing only.
It is important to remind ourselves that the larger the number of people who self-test regularly, the more likely it is that students (and staff) will not transmit and spread the COVID virus unknowingly.
Although the principle remains the same, the actual routines for students and staff are slightly different with home self-testing:
Parental consent is not required for home testing
Reporting your results is an obligation (once you have accepted and opened your home self-test kit)
Upon the receipt of a positive test and whilst awaiting any further instruction/confirmation, self-isolation is required for you, anyone who lives with you and anyone in your support bubble.
Timescale
From 8th March 2021, students will undergo 3 tests at school. For most students, upon the completion of the third test, they will be presented with their own home self-test kit. Each kit contains 7 testing units, enough for the first 3 weeks of twice weekly testing. All instructions and information are contained in the step-by-step guides and there is information available on-line. All students will have completed their 3 tests at school by no later than Friday 26th March 2021and all students will then be undertaking home self-testing only. There will be no further testing at school for the majority of students (and staff).
YouTube training Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9XR8RZxKNo&list=PLvaBZskxS7tzQYlVg7lwH5uxAD9UrSzGJ
Link to ‘How to Guide’ Rapid testing of education staff and secondary age pupils at home: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jYv0MjFyIIbzgPn_1S10OuRgfrj_b5_P
Each testing pack contains:
Instructions for use. The booklet also has a recording section for your own reference.
Extraction tube holder and a number of extraction tubes, swabs and test strips for 7 home tests. There are also small extraction buffer sachets and a number of waste bags.
You will need to perform your test and record the result (regardless of the outcome). On the actual test strip will be a QR code and unique number for your test and test result. This is very similar to the bar code previously issued to you.
As an institution, we shall also record your result and ask that you follow the instructions below. All data will be held privately and confidentially (as with the current system).
Once you have submitted the test result on the government website, please also submit it via the following Chenderit School google form: http://chenderit.info/student-lft
This information will help us to understand how many tests are being completed and the status of students working within our school.
Note: A small contingency testing service will be made available onsite for those students who are unable to conduct their own home-testing regime and who, therefore, will need support at school.
In anticipation of your continued support and commitment to helping our school and the local community, I thank you for your commitment to self-testing at home regularly. Please do not hesitate to make contact with the form tutor, in the first instance, if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you, Mr Lloyd-Jones.