Charlton School

Dear Parents/Carers

May I start by thanking you and our students for the fantastic way you have responded to our testing processes in school.  We managed to test the whole school within two and a half days and are now in the process of repeating this for the students second and third tests.

In 9 days of testing, we will have conducted over 3000 lateral flow tests.  We identified a positive case within the initial round of tests, only a very small number of students were identified by National Track and Trace as needing to isolate.  Having conducted the testing in this manner, it prevented many students from having to isolate again, after their return to school.

After receiving their third test in school, students will receive two home test packs, each containing 3 tests.  Students can test once more during week commencing 15^th March, two tests in the weeks commencing 22^nd and 29^th March and one further test prior to returning after the Easter holidays, either on the Sunday evening or Monday Morning.  These tests must only be used by the Charlton students they were issued to.

It is recommended that students test on a Monday and Thursday morning, but the guidance acknowledges it may be easier to do this on a Sunday and Wednesday night once students will be back in their home with no further opportunities to come in to contact with people who may have the virus.

Students will also bring home a booklet, “Your step-by-step guide for Covid-19 self-testing”.  This booklet guides you through a process the students will be familiar with and explains how to record your test results with the NHS via a website, or by phoning a telephone number.

We are also required to collate test information as a school and this can be logged by clicking the following link, it is a very quick and easy process.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=2s8TOK9SpUy44yMVeXcKukUVAPHX4pVNshvCJ8oFcsFURDIzVEQzM0pFNlBTR1VZUVBNMkE5QVRPQi4u

For any positive test results, in addition to reporting the case online through our form above you must also telephone the school at the earliest opportunity.

We will post this letter on our website at the following link, so you have easy access to complete the form after every home test:

http://charlton.uk.com/quick-links/parents/covid-19-return-to-school-information

Attached is a leaflet from the NHS that gives further guidance on the importance of home testing.   Below is the information shared previously about households who can access test kits for themselves to support the testing being conducted by our students.

The following information has been provided by Telford and Wrekin.  Households, childcare and support bubbles of primary, secondary and college staff can also be tested.   Twice-weekly testing will also be offered to adults working in the wider school community, including bus drivers and after school club leaders. 

The twice-weekly test kits in Telford and Wrekin (for people feeling well, with no coronavirus symptoms - in the above-mentioned groups) can be accessed as follows:

By going to a community-test site

You can have a rapid test at one of the three Council-run test sites (in Oakengates, Madeley and Newport) or participating pharmacies.   Testing at these sites is assisted, which means you will swab yourself under the supervision of a trained operator. To book a rapid test appointment, go to rapidtest.telford.gov.uk 

By collecting a home test kit from an NHS “Test & Trace” site

In Telford and Wrekin, there are 5 NHS “Test & Trace” sites – tests can be collected from these sites between 1pm and 7pm:

• Ironbridge Park and Ride, Off A4169, TF4 3QE
• Legges Way Car Park - Legges Way, Madeley, TF7 5UD
• The Place Car Park, The Place New Street, Oakengates, TF2 6ET (Please note: This is the Walk In Centre on the Car Park, not the rapid test centre at The Place.)
• Donnington Wood Bowling Club, School Road, Donnington (Telford), TF2 8HU
• Wrekin Road Car Park, Wellington, TF1 1YZ

Anyone aged 18 or over can collect testing kits - there is no need to book an appointment to collect your testing kit, you can just turn up.  You can collect up to 4 home test kits, each kit contains 7 tests.  You can check online if the location is busy before you go. Tests can be collected from any of the test centres shown on the NHS map Find your nearest home test kit collection point

By contacting your employer if your employer provides testing 

Some employers may be offering rapid testing, please check with your employer to see if this option is available to you.

By ordering online a home test kit 

If you cannot get tested at your workplace, or are unable to go to a test site or collect test kits, you can order online a home test kit.  Please do not order online if you can get a test through other methods.  This frees up home delivery for those who need it most.

Mass testing will be crucial in keeping the school open and I would urge all families to participate in home testing, both of our students and themselves, to support keeping coronavirus out of our school.

Yours faithfully

Mr A McNaughton

Principal