Dear Parents/Carers,
The Department for Education has recently announced that it will start a programme of asymptomatic Covid-19 testing in primary schools, school-based nurseries and maintained nursery schools. Our school has now taken delivery of these tests.
The testing of staff will start next week. The tests will take place twice weekly (usually Sunday Morning and Wednesday evening) at home. This will give us some time to inform you of bubble closures as soon as we can. This form of testing will hopefully minimise the chance of asymptomatic staff attending school and being in a class.
If a staff member tests positive following testing using a Lateral Flow Test, they will need to have this confirmed by taking a PCR test (taken at a test centre) with results normally available within 48 hours, or sooner. The safety of our school community is paramount, should a member of staff have a positive Lateral Flow test, we will take the following action:
- The class bubble will temporarily close immediately
- The staff member will have a PCR test
- The member of staff has a negative PCR test – the bubble will reopen the next day
- The member of staff has a positive PCR test – the bubble will remain closed with members of that bubble isolating for 10 days
We are pleased that this is happening for our staff, as we want to make our school a safe place for everyone. This does however, mean that more bubbles may close at short notice and we ask that you continue to work with us and support us in trying to keep everyone as safe as we possibly can during these difficult times.
Thank you for your continued support during this difficult time.
Stay safe.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Lythe
School Business Manager