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Self-Testing for students and staff

Self-Testing Lateral Flow Test Kits for Students

As part of the Government's strategy to reduce the spread of Covid-19, secondary schools throughout England have this week taken delivery of Lateral Flow Test kits for staff and students to use at home.

Self-testing at home is voluntary but we would strongly advise that students use these tests. This is to ensure that we can minimise any disruption onsite and 'missed learning' should we need to ask large groups of students to self-isolate, if they have been identified as close contacts of a confirmed positive Covid-19 case.

All students in the academy will be given two 'self-testing' Lateral Flow Test kits to take home with them on Friday 12 March.

These initial kits each contain three Lateral Flow Tests, which will be enough tests to cover students until we break up for the Easter holiday.

As best practice, we would advise that students take a test on a Sunday evening and a Wednesday evening each week. If students have still not completed their three Lateral Flow Tests onsite this week, and consent has already been given, they will also be tested onsite next week until the three tests are complete.

The 'Self-Testing Information Guide' that will be passed to students also, clearly explains the contents within each 'self-test' kit, the process for administering the test and finally how to upload your results.

All results, whether negative, void or positive, should be uploaded to the NHS website as per the instructions in the Information Guide.

If at any point a 'self- test' result at home is positive, you should immediately self-isolate and arrange to have a 'PCR' Covid-19 test at an approved NHS Test Centre. If the 'PCR' test is negative, this will then override the 'self-test' taken at home, and the student should therefore return to the academy

The academy only needs to be made aware of any positive case ('self-test' or 'PCR') and so please contact us to inform by using the following email address:  covid19@thesuttonacademy.org.uk

The following Gov.uk website contains further support information, and a video should you require it.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-self-test-help

Many thanks for your continued support.