COVID Update: Wed 19th January 2022

By Martin Said19th January 2022

Good evening, please remember to update the results of your lateral flow tests on our website this evening.
https://xpgateshead.org/register-your-covid-home-test-result/
 
New guidance was issued this afternoon around the use of masks in schools. From tomorrow, wearing face coverings in classrooms will become a matter of personal choice.
We however will continue with other mitigations such as increased hand washing, regular lateral flow testing at home and ventilation in school, so layers of clothing remain important too.
 
Thank you for your continued support in helping to keep our community safe.

PARENTS: We need your feedback around our COVID 19 protocols

By Mark Lovatt11th January 2022

We are always seeking ways to improve our handling of COVID and our communication of the protocols in school.

As such we would really appreciate if parents could spend a few minutes completing this short Google Form.

The information you will provide will help us to ensure that we continue to keep our school as safe as we can, and that we communicate our measures with you effectively.

Many thanks

COVID19: PCR test results no longer needed if positive via Lateral Flow. (From Tue 11th Jan)

By Martin Said9th January 2022

As per recent Government announcements, we have received confirmation from the Department of Education that should your child test positive for Covid via a Lateral Flow Test, they are no longer required to accompany this with a PCR test. Instead, they will be required to isolate immediately. If they do test positive, they may leave isolation after 7 days if they receive 2 negative Lateral Flow results 24 hours apart on days 6 and 7.

More details can be found here

‘Confirmatory PCR tests following a positive lateral flow device (LFD) test result are to be temporarily suspended from Tuesday 11 January. This will mean that anyone who receives a positive LFD test result will be required to self-isolate immediately and will not be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

In line with the reduced self-isolation approach announced on 22 December, anyone who tests positive will be able to leave self-isolation 7 days after the date of their initial positive test if they receive 2 negative LFD results, 24 hours apart, on days 6 and 7.‘

Lateral Flow Testing Update

By Martin Said6th January 2022

Please make sure that you have updated our website with the results of your lateral flow test on your son or daughter.

Register your COVID home test result

We need students to continue to test on Sunday and Wednesday evening.

If someone in your household tests positive, your son or daughter should still attend school so long as they are not showing symptoms themselves and have returned a negative result on a lateral flow. We would ask you to do daily lateral flow tests on your son or daughter in this situation.

Under the new guidance, even children that have tested positive in the last 90 days are ‘strongly encouraged’ to take part in lateral flow testing.

This week, Professor Sir Chris Whitty clarified that the lateral flow tests are particularly good at picking up when an individual is infectious, which is the reason for the new guidance.  He also explained that it is the PCR tests that are more sensitive to returning a positive test from a previous infection within 90 days.

If you need more tests for your son or daughter, please ask them to talk to their Crew Leader.