Thank you for continuing to help keep us all safe by taking the supplied twice weekly Lateral Flow Tests (LFT). As cases in the country are rising it is very important that we all keep testing regularly so that any necessary action can be implemented immediately and help reduce the spread.

I have listed below my 15 steps of testing, please take a few seconds to check that you are following these and therefore completing the test correctly:

1. lay out testing kit with all items – LFT test, testing swab, test tube, vile of liquid, tissue and hand sanitiser

2. blow nose and cough in a tissue – dispose

3. sanitise hands

4. open LFT indicator and write on initials (if more than one person doing a test at the same time)

5. break vile and deposit all fluid into test tube – squeeze hard there isn’t much.

6. sanitise hands

7. open swab collector (large cotton bud)

8. swab your sample – 5 seconds stroking each tonsil then 5 seconds twisting up top of each nostril

9. put cotton bud into test tube and swish around in liquid for at least 10 seconds

10. SQUEEZE OUT the cotton bud using the flexi sides of the test tube (very important bit)

11. flip and fasten the lid on the test tube

12. drip 2-3 drops into the well of the LFT

13. set timer for 30 mins

14. log test result on NHS site  – book a PCR test if LFT is positive.

15. log student or staff test result on the school site – ring school and inform directly if this is positive, the whole household should isolate until you have the PCR test result.

Dispose of the used kit into your normal bin.

Families of staff and school children are able to get free LTF kits from the NHS, these can be collected from the NHS collection points or posted to you (not via school).