Start of the Spring Term
Further delay to the return of students to schools in January
On the 30th December the government announced that the staggered return to on site provision in secondary schools in January will be delayed by a week, to support schools in preparing for the roll out of mass rapid testing, and in light of rising levels of cases in the region.
The school will now be closed to all students on Monday 4th January for an inset day to enable further preparations for student and staff Covid -19 testing.
From Tuesday 5th January, only vulnerable students and the children of critical workers will be expected to attend school for on site provision. All other students will be educated remotely, and your child will be expected to work remotely from 5th January onwards. Your child should log in to Teams and access the invites to registration periods and lessons that follow their timetable.
From Monday 11th January, Years 11 and 13 will return to on site provision, whilst all remaining year groups will return in the week commencing Monday 18th January.
All students should return to on site provision as outlined above, unless their GP or clinician has specifically advised that they should remain on the shielded patient list. These students will be asked to stay at home and will be set work remotely. Please contact the school if you believe your child falls into this category.
The testing process, consent and registration information
We have now received further details around mass testing and the registration and consent process to be followed.
Those taking the test will be supervised by trained staff. The ‘lateral flow’ tests are quick and easy using a swab of your nose and throat. For under 18s, staff can oversee the swab process.
Results (which take around half an hour from testing) will be shared directly with staff and pupils participating. Where participants are under 16, parents or legal guardians will also be informed.
There is a link below, to a one-page guide from the NHS on the process as well as an FAQ section at the end of this email:
We are asking parents/carers to complete the consent and registration form by following the link provided below (one per student) in advance of their child returning to on site provision. This will support us in delivering mass testing to control the spread of the virus.
Consent to Lateral Flow Testing – Students (office.com)
We strongly encourage all parents/carers to consent to testing and support the government’s efforts to control the spread of the virus.
Thank you again for your support throughout this challenging time, and I am sure that by working together and engaging positively with the government’s strategy we can help reduce the spread of the virus and potentially safe lives.
James Whittaker
Headteacher Knutsford Academy & Cheshire Studio School
Rapid Covid-19 Testing – Frequently Asked Questions
What if a pupil tests positive?
Participating staff and pupils who test positive will be informed about their results individually. Where participants are under 16, parents or legal guardians will also be notified. Guidance on safe travel and additional precautions will be provided along with test results.
Pupils will need to take a further ‘PCR test’ (similar to those done in local and regional testing sites) on the same day (or as soon as possible). School will be able to provide these PCR test kits to perform at home or you can go to www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119 to book a follow-up test. If ordering a PCR test yourselves, they should choose to visit a drive-through test site if possible, as it is faster than requesting a home test.
During this time while they wait for the PCR result (via text / email) they will need to self-isolate.
If the PCR test returns a positive result you will have to self-isolate and follow the guidance from NHS Test and Trace.
What happens if the test is negative?
They will be able to stay in [school/college] and resume their activities as normal. A pupil will only be told if they test positive on a ‘lateral flow’ test, so if you do not hear you can assume it was negative. A small number of pupils may need to repeat the test if the first test was invalid or void for some reason.
What if a close contact at school/college tests positive?
A close contact of someone in school/college who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be able to return to school if they agree to be tested once a day for 7 days and the test is negative. If they do not want to take the test, they will need to self-isolate as per the national guidelines. This does not apply to household members or close contacts outside of school who will still need to self-isolate. Further details will be provided at the time, but if you would prefer to self-isolate instead of doing daily testing, you can.
What if my child develops symptoms?
This testing programme at school is for people with no symptoms. If your child develops symptoms at any time (such as a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste) they must immediately self-isolate, and book a test by calling 119 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or visiting https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
We will support our staff and pupils throughout, but please contact us if you need this information in any other language or format or if you have any questions. You can call the school office on 01565 632277
