All coronavirus guidance for educational settings can be found in one place on GOV.UK. We recommend that you sign up to receive updates directly from gov.uk
DfE guidance for parents and carers
The DfE have issued specific guidance for parents and carers during the pandemic. This is updated regularly and is aligned to the guidance for schools: the most recent update was made on 24 February 2021 to reflect the fact that all pupils will return to school from 8 March 2021.
Please share this information with parents and carers of pupils at your school.
Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing
On Sunday 28 February 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care announced that all households with children of school age can test themselves twice a week at home as schools opened to all pupils from Monday 8 March.
Households, childcare and support bubbles of primary, secondary and college staff can also be tested. Twice-weekly testing will also be offered to adults working in the wider school community, including bus drivers and after school club leaders.
The twice-weekly test kits can be accessed:
- via employers - if they offer testing to their employees
- at a local test site
- by collecting a home test kit
- by ordering a home test kit online
Rapid lateral flow testing for households and bubbles of school pupils and staff provides further information about who can be tested and how to get a test. You should not give your school test kits to parents, carers or household members. Neither should you order additional test kits for this purpose.
We recommend that you advise parents and carers that they can access LFD tests as this will support you in reducing transmission within your school community and locality.