Testing for pupils, staff and households with children in school
Local schools will begin to welcome pupils back to face to face teaching from Monday 8 March, with appropriate testing in place to help keep pupils, staff and families safe. The following people will have access to regular rapid lateral flow testing as schools reopen:
- secondary school pupils and college students
- staff of primary and secondary schools, nurseries and colleges
- households, childcare and support bubbles of nursery children, primary and secondary-age pupils and college students (all households with children of school age can now get two rapid COVID-19 tests per person per week)
- households, childcare and support bubbles of staff of nurseries, primary and secondary schools, and colleges
Children of primary school age or younger will not be asked to test at this time.
Secondary school pupils should be having LFD tests at home using a home testing kit provided by their school.
Children and staff identified by schools as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case, are advised to also take a PCR test from local test centres. If the result is negative, they should complete the recommended self-isolation period and must not attend school before the end date.
All adults (including childcare and support bubbles) can get a twice-weekly LFD tests:
- through their employer if they offer testing to employees
- by collecting a home test kit from a local pharmacy (check for your local area)
- by ordering a home test kit online
