St Anne's Catholic School St Anne's Catholic School

Saliva Testing before returning to School

26th February 2021

Dear Parents

Saliva Testing before returning to School

Further to my email on Wednesday, I wanted to give you an update as to where we are at with our planning of saliva testing.

We are pleased to be a part of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Saliva Testing Programme. The saliva test is more sensitive than the swab tests, and it more comfortable to be tested. It will also reduce the impact on teaching time once we are back in fully as it is conducted at home. Information about the programme can be found here: https://www.southampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid19/covid-testing/hiow-testing-programme/schools.aspx

We want to make sure that as many pupils as possible have a test, and that the result of that is negative before they come back on site. For that reason, we are starting the weekly saliva testing before students return. We would strongly encourage everyone to take part in the programme.

If your child is not already coming in to school, this will mean that you, or your child, will need to make two trips next week.

The first will be to visit school briefly to pick up a test kit. The second will be to a location in the city (including St Anne's) to drop off a saliva sample. Details can be found in the table below.

Our normal days for the saliva testing are Mondays and Thursdays throughout the term. However, we have had confirmation yesterday afternoon that the labs can process an extra set of tests to cover years 10-13 on Wednesday 3^rd March.

We shared this plan with students in assembly this morning. Clicking the last sentence will show you the assembly if your daughter logs in to Teams for you. The section linked to this plan starts at around 12 minutes.

The plan for training, pick up and drop offs is as follows:

Event	Location	Years 7-9	Years 10-13
Saliva testing training	Remotely on Microsoft Teams	Tuesday 2nd March during morning registration on Teams	Monday 1st March during morning registration on Teams
Times to pick up test kits (All at St Anne's)	St Anne's Catholic School. Come to reception.	One of: Tuesday, 2nd March: 17:00-18:00 Wednesday, 3rd March: 08:30-15:30 Thursday, 4th March: 08:30-15:30 Friday, 5th March: 08:30-15:30	One of: Monday 1st March: 09:30-15:30 Tuesday, 2nd March: 08:30-15:30 Tuesday, 2nd March: 17:00-18:00
Drop off of saliva samples	St Anne’s Catholic School and various locations around and beyond the city. Other locations to be communicated on Monday.	Monday, 8th March: 08:00-09:30	Wednesday, 3rd March: 08:00-09:30
Notification of test results	To parents phone and email based on the details we hold for you on SIMS.	Within three days of the sample being dropped off.	Within three days of the sample being dropped off.

Test kits and samples can be picked up or dropped off by the pupil or by the parent.

Drop off locations are being selected to reduce the need for you or your daughter to travel all the way in to St Anne's if that is easier. We are looking to pick locations around and beyond the city. We will let parents know where these are on Monday.

I will also write with more information about the phased return on Monday. I can say at this stage that no year groups will be returning on Monday, 8th March, but students will be coming back onsite very soon after.

If you have any questions about this programme, please go to: https://www.southampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid19/covid-testing/hiow-testing-programme/schools.aspx

If you have any other questions or comments, please email info@st-annes.uk.com.

Thank you

Mr Rouse

Headteacher