Health & Safety
Testing At Home
Information for Parents
Testing for those with Symptoms
The type of Covid-19 test you or your child should take depends on whether or not you or your child are presenting with any symptoms. There are two types of test currently available – one is a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, and the other an LFT (Lateral Flow Test).
Testing for those with symptoms
If you or your child have any of the classic three Covid-19 symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste - you should isolate and get a PCR test. If the result of your PCR test is positive, you and your close contacts should isolate for 10 days following the positive result. If the result is negative, you do not need to isolate.
If you or your child have other new or unusual symptoms or if in doubt, you can get a PCR test. You do not need to isolate for 10 days until you receive your results, unless you are isolating for other reasons such as 48-hour diarrhoea or vomiting, or if you are feeling unwell in general. If you test positive following your PCR test, you and your close contacts must isolate for 10 days following the positive result.
If the result is negative, and you no longer have symptoms, you do not need to isolate.
Get a PCR test here: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
Testing for those without symptoms
Twice-weekly asymptomatic testing is now available and you can find out more about how to access these tests here. This testing is carried out using a Lateral Flow Test.
If you do use a LFT on your child at home and the result is positive, you will need to do a follow-up PCR test to confirm the test is positive and isolate for 10 days. You will need to communicate this with your child's school.
In the event of an outbreak of Covid-19 at a school, where your child does not have symptoms, but they have come into close contact with a positive case, then they will also need to isolate for 10 days.
Thank you for your ongoing efforts in keeping those around you safe by following national guidelines around Hands, Face, Space, as well as taking part in the twice-weekly testing available to you.
Whole School Risk Assessment
The risk assessment has been updated in light with the current context