Home testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) for parents carers and childcare and support bubbles
Dear Parents/Carers
Home testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) for parents, carers and childcare and support bubbles
Undertaking regular, rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing helps reduce transmission of the virus. Parents and other adults in households with children at school or college, who do not have symptoms, can now access regular, rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing. This includes childcare and support bubbles.
Tests are fast, easy and completely free. There are different ways for a household, childcare or support bubble to collect their test to take at home, twice weekly:
- an employer if they offer testing to employees.
- by ordering a home test kit online from the link to the gov.uk website provided below:
https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
There will be additional options available in future and we will contact you again when these are available.
If you have any queries about the tests, please call 119 (free from mobiles and landlines). Lines are open every day from 7am to 11pm.
Children of primary school age (and below) without symptoms are not being asked to take a test.
Testing is voluntary, but strongly recommended to all who are eligible. Alongside the vaccine, washing hands, wearing face coverings, and maintaining social distancing, rapid testing plays a vital role in reducing transmission rates. Getting into the habit of regular testing as part of our everyday lives will help us all to play our part and do what we can to protect each other.
Together we can make a difference if we all play our part to keep each other safe.
Yours sincerely
Richard Crane Amanda Healy
Head of Education and Skills Director of Public Health
Children and Young People’s Services Adult and Health Services
