Charlton School

Dear Parents/Carers,

Please find a summary table below for the arrangements over the coming days for our testing programme and returning to school.

Full details of times for testing, the consent form for testing and the letters sent previously can be accessed at the following link:

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

Thank you for your support with the testing programme, as of this morning, we have had over 73% of the student population consent for testing.

Whilst testing is non-compulsory, we strongly recommend that all students undertake this process.  If you are happy for your child to be tested, please complete the online consent form:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=2s8TOK9SpUy44yMVeXcKukUVAPHX4pVNshvCJ8oFcsFUNlhPVk1OWTBGR0ZTS0tQQ0M3VDc4QUdPWi4u

If you have previously provided consent due to accessing our on-site provision during lockdown, you do not need to complete it again.  Please complete the consent form by 3.00pm on Thursday 4^th March to allow us to bulk upload registrations to the NHS Test and Trace system.  Students who have tested positive for Coronavirus within the last 90 days are exempt from testing and should not complete the consent form.

In addition to the testing in schools, home testing is now available for adults who live in households with children in education, this includes parents/carers and those in their support or childcare bubbles. More information on this is available at the following link:

 http://newsroom.telford.gov.uk/News/Details/15676

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 to keeping the school open and I would urge all families to participate in home testing to support keeping coronavirus out of our school.

Yours faithfully

Mr A McNaughton

Principal