COVID-19 Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing at

Montgomery Academy for children and staff returning from 1st September 2021

 

Dear Parent/Carer or colleague,

 

I am writing to provide further details regarding the Government expectation of schools that students will be tested twice with LFDs on their return to school from 1st September 2021.

 

Where will testing take place?

 

The testing site for the return of students at Montgomery Academy will be the Sports Hall.

 

Who will carry out the testing?

 

The school has appointed a team of colleagues (who are all DBS cleared) to oversee the testing.  Students and staff are required to swab their own nose and throat before it is passed to the testing team for processing.  As part of the consent form, parents/carers will receive notification by text and email of their child’s result.

 

How often will staff and students be tested?

 

Students will be tested twice when they return with a gap of 3-5 days between each test.  After that the plan is for parents to test students twice a week at home and then inform NHS track and trace of the result, as well as the school.

 

Staff will be tested twice a week in school until home testing kits are delivered to school, at which point tests can be taken at home.

 

Montgomery will run a small testing site in school after the main mass testing has been completed, in case any students or staff would rather be tested at school than at home.

 

When students and staff are back in school, if they are identified as a close contact to a positive case of Covid-19 then they will be recommended to take a PCR test.

 

What type of test is it?

 

The testing kits used are the rapid (LFD) lateral flow device tests. 

 

What happens if my result is positive?

 

If students do test positive at school we will expect parents to collect them from school as soon as possible.  Students will remain isolated until collected.  Staff testing positive will need to go home.  If a positive result is confirmed at school, students or staff should begin their period of self-isolation immediately.  If a student or member of staff tests positive at home, the member of staff or parent/carer of the student will need to arrange for a PCR laboratory test using the normal arrangements (https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or phoning 119).

The school will need to see the results of this test.  If the laboratory test is negative students/staff can return to school.  If it is positive then the student/member of staff will need to isolate and the school will begin the identification of close contacts.

 

What happens If my result is negative?

 

Students and staff can continue to attend school/work in the normal way.

 

Do I have to take part?

 

We must have parental consent for children under 16 to take part and individual consent for anyone over 16.  Explicit consent is required.  This means we must have the consent form signed before we can test your child or you, if you are a member of staff.  The consent form is completed through a Google Form.  The link to this electronic consent form is at the end of this letter following the ‘Terms of Consent.’

 

Please complete the online form at your earliest convenience if you or your child wish to take part.  An electronic signature of adding your name at the bottom of the form is sufficient.  Paper copies of the form can be provided upon request, but postal times may mean it takes longer.  Montgomery Academy is in no way applying pressure to take part.  There is an equivalent form for registering that you reject consent for the testing.  Please complete just one of the two forms for each of your children at the school.  We will seek to contact parents/staff that have not completed one of the two forms, so we know their intentions either way.  We will not allow students back in to normal lessons until we have confirmation that the parent/carer gives consent or not.

 

What if I have questions?

 

The NHS and Government website provide plenty of information about COVID-19 and the testing requirements, if you have a specific question about how the testing will take place at Montgomery Academy please contact the testing lead Estelle Bellamy at covidtesting@montgomery.fcat.org.uk

 

The electronic consent form is for participation in tests designed to detect asymptomatic coronavirus cases. Anyone experiencing symptoms should follow Government guidance for self-isolation, even if they have had a recent negative lateral flow test. 

 

 

Consent relates to the following groups of students/pupils and staff as follows:

 

  • For pupils and students younger than 16 years - this form must be completed by the parent or legal guardian. Please complete one consent form for each child you wish to participate in testing.
  • For any pupil or student who does not have the capacity to provide informed consent - this form must be completed by the parent or legal guardian. Please complete one consent form for each child you wish to participate in testing
  • Staff will complete this form themselves.

 

To CONFIRM consent please follow these 3 steps:

  1. Read the Terms of Consent 
  2. Read the Privacy Notice
  3. Complete this Electronic Consent Form and then click submit.

 

To REJECT consent please follow this step:

  1. Complete this alternative Electronic Consent Form (reject) and then click submit.