FAQs
Return to school – January 2021
What day does my child return to school?
Year 11 and 13 will be returning on Monday 11 January 2021. In the event we are able to get testing up and running alongside parental consent prior to this, some may be invited in to undertake tests on Thursday 7 January or Friday 8 January 2021.
Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 are expected to return to school week commencing Monday 18 January. This may be a phased return and we will be finalising details in the very near future and will let you know any specific details asap.
Online learning for all students will begin Tuesday 5 January 2021.
I’m a critical worker, can my child come back to school?
Yes, although as before where appropriate and safe it is better for students to stay at home and access learning online, in line with the tier 4 expectations. The childcare hub provision is therefore offered to students in years 7 and 8 whose parents are critical workers. If your child is in Year 9 and you do not feel it appropriate for them to be left unsupervised, we will be happy to discuss your request with you.
Students in years 7-13 who have a social worker or an EHCP may also attend the hub.
The hub will simply be students doing their remote learning on a computer, supervised but not with their timetabled teachers.
If you are a critical worker and need your child to attend the hub, please let us know via email by 1pm Friday 1 January 2021, admin@ullswatercc.co.uk
If my child needs to attend the school hub will lunch be provided?
Students will need to bring a packed lunch with them, unless they are eligible for free school meals, in which case we will provide lunch.
Will the children of critical workers be taught in their year group bubbles?
This is unlikely but students will be socially distanced within school and classes.
How will remote learning work?
Online learning will be available for all students from Tuesday 5 January 2021. This will follow their normal timetable. For information about our remote learning provision, click here.
My child receives free school meals, will I receive a voucher when they’re not in school?
Yes. All entitled students will receive vouchers from Tuesday 5 January 2021. These e-vouchers will cover the period of time students are not in school.
What are the arrangements for examinations that are due to take place?
The Secretary of State for Education made it explicit that examinations will continue as planned. Students who are due to sit these examinations, and their parents, will be contacted by the school. All students have already been made aware of their January exams and these will continue as planned.
NHS Test and Trace: COVID-19 testing for students
Will my child receive a covid test before returning to school?
We are working hard to get our testing process up and running. We do hope to test most staff and students prior to, or at the start of, their formal return to school. This will depend on many things including the availability of tests, PPE, staff and transport. As a result this may mean that we have a more specific staggered start for students depending on their year group, and whether they use school transport or live locally to the school.
Students who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 90 days would not be re-tested under this scheme
How often will students be tested?
The current plans are to test students at the start of term, this will involve testing them twice, roughly 3 days apart.
What if a student tests positive?
Participating students who test positive will be informed about their results individually, parents/carers will also be notified. Guidance on safe travel and additional precautions will be provided along with test results.
Students who test positive will need to take a further ‘PCR test’ (similar to those done in local and regional testing sites) on the same day (or as soon as possible). We recommend you make your way to the Penrith walk in testing centre located within the Penrith Bus station or by following the existing testing process and going to www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119 to book a follow-up test. If ordering a PCR test yourselves, you should choose to visit a drive-through test site if possible, as it is faster than requesting a home test.
During this time while waiting for the PCR result (via text/email) students will need to self-isolate.
If the PCR test returns a positive result they will have to self-isolate and follow the guidance from NHS Test and Trace.
What happens if the test is negative?
They will be able to stay in school and resume their activities as normal. A student will only be told if they test positive on a ‘lateral flow’ test, so if you do not hear you can assume it was negative. A small number of students may need to repeat the test if the first test was invalid or void for some reason.
What if a close contact at school tests positive?
A close contact of someone in school who has tested positive for COVID-19 may be able to return to school if they agree to be tested once a day for 7 school days and the tests remain negative. This is if the school is able to accommodate this approach . It is likely the school will need to prioritise students for this follow up ‘serial testing’ depending on the available resources.
If they do not want to take the test, they will need to follow the same process UCC has implemented since September and self isolate as per the national guidelines for 10 days.
Further details will be provided at the time, but if you would prefer your child to self-isolate instead of doing daily testing, they can.
What if my child develops symptoms?
This testing programme at school is for people with no symptoms. If your child develops symptoms at any time (such as a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste) they must immediately self-isolate, and book a test by calling 119 or visiting https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
How can you use my child’s data? What is the difference between consenting to the test and consenting to you using my child’s data?
Taking part in the test is voluntary; this is what is called medical consent. If you want your child to be tested, you need to understand that as part of testing their personal data will be processed. This use of their data is allowed under data protection legislation, known as UKGDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
School is responsible for managing the processing of the test and ensuring all the personal data relating to the test is properly managed in accordance with our legal obligations.
What personal data will you be asking for?
When you register for a test you need to provide the school with your child’s;
- Name
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Home postcode
- Email address
- Mobile number
- Name of Parent or Carer
This allows us to register your child for a test and to process the results. Once your child is registered for a test they will be assigned a unique barcode which will be used to identify the test without the need for sharing a lot of personal data.
Once the test has been completed, we will also record the results.
Do you process any personal data if I refuse the test?
We will record that you have been offered and rejected a test so that we do not keep asking you to agree to a test. The school will not tell any unauthorised person that is not directly involved in the recording of tests who has refused a test. Schools will not share refusals with other parents or students.
What personal data is used in getting test results?
School will use the personal data you provided for registering your child’s test, to send the results to the named parent/carer of children who test positive for coronavirus on the day of the test.
Who are the results shared with?
In the event of a positive result, in addition to sharing with the parent/carer, school will only share the result with appropriate contacts such as the Headteacher, and nominated persons to allow the school to start their own Covid isolation processes. The school will not tell any unauthorised person who has received a positive result. School will not share positive results with other parents or students. The same applies to negative results.
Will the school tell people connected with my child if they have had a test?
No. The school will not tell anyone that is not directly involved with administering the test who has had a test and who has not had a test, or what the result is.
Will my child’s personal data be used for research and statistical purposes?
Yes. Data used for research and statistical purposes by DHSC/NHS will not use personal data that identifies your child. Aggregate level data that won’t identify individuals will be used. This is lawful under UK data protection legislation.
How will my child’s data be used?
Your child’s details will be used to complete testing. As part of testing, details of students and their parents/carers, as well as staff, may be used for;
- Registering your child and recording their participation in the testing
- Matching your child’s contact details with health data stored by the NHS
- Communicating with you about testing
- Contacting you if you are the parent/carer of someone who is participating in the programme
- Contacting you with your child’s test results by text/email
- Contacting you relating to your child’s positive or inconclusive result to collect other medical information about your child’s health relating to Covid-19
- Phoning you to gather feedback to inform improvements that could be made to a full end-to-end testing process.
How long will my child’s data be kept for?
School will keep the data used for testing for up to 14 days.
Your child’s information will be passed on to the DHSC who will share this information with the NHS who will keep it for as long as it is required to provide your child with direct care and to support NHS initiatives to fight Covid-19.
UCC were asking for volunteers for the testing programme, will these people be DBS checked?
In most cases, the tests are self-administered and so there will be no contact between adults and children. No adult who does not hold a current enhanced DBS will be coming into close contact with children. The vast majority of volunteers do hold a current enhanced DBS, and those volunteers who do not can be involved in other elements of the testing process under close supervision.