Our Ref: PM/GLM/Mar2021_PP_HomeTesting.docx Date: 17 March 2021 Dear Parent/Carer

Primary Phase – Home Testing for Covid-19

We are delighted to have all our pupils back in school and we would like to remind you of some ways that we can all work together to reduce the risk of Covid-19.

Although the vaccination programme is continuing to be successfully introduced across the country, we still need to remain cautious and take every step necessary to ensure we minimise the continued spread of the virus, even though the risk to young people is very small.

Testing for the virus is a very helpful and important part of this process and I am pleased that all staff in the school will now be tested twice a week so that any staff member who has the virus, but is showing no symptoms will be quickly identified and able to self-isolate.

There is no requirement for primary school children to be tested, but the Government is now making available rapid lateral flow tests to those in pupils’ households or bubbles. Members of your child’s household, childcare bubble or support bubble can get a twice-weekly test:

◼ Through your employer if they offer testing to employees; ◼ By ordering a home test kit online; ◼ Collect from a local test site (most collection points are open from 1.30pm to 7.00pm): • Armitage / Moseley Road - Lower Carpark, • Central Retail Park, Ancoats and Beswick • Belle Vue Speedway, • Brownley Road, • Birchall Way (Former Landrover garage), • Denmark Road Building, • , Fallowfield • Ukrainian Cultural Centre, Cheetham

Please note that these will not be available from the school directly, but they are another way in which we as a school community can all protect ourselves and one another from the virus. More information how to access these tests is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rapid-lateral-flow-testing-for-households- and-bubbles-of-school-pupils-and-staff.

In addition to testing measures, we must of course remain vigilant and continue to follow the guidelines that have become so routine across the school this academic year. Thus, pupils will continue to learn in their bubbles and self-isolate should they be in close contact with someone who tests positive for the virus. There are other things we can all do to help reduce the risk of getting ill with Covid-19:

◼ wash our hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds; ◼ use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available; ◼ wash our hands as soon as we get home; Cont’d… Principal: Peter Mulholland BA Hons (Oxon), MA William Hulme’s Grammar School is part of United Learning. United Learning comprises: UCST William Hulme’s Grammar School, Spring Bridge Road, , M16 8PR (Registered in No: 2780748. Charity No. 1016538) and ULT (Registered in England No. 4439859. Tel: 0161 226 2054 Email: [email protected] An Exempt Charity). Companies limited by guarantee. VAT number 834 8515 12. Registered address: United Learning, Worldwide House, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough PE3 6SB. Website: www.whgs-academy.org

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◼ cover our mouth and nose with a tissue or our sleeve (not our hands) when we cough or sneeze; ◼ put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash our hands afterwards.

If your child shows any symptoms of Covid-19 (a new, continuous cough and/or a high temperature and/or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste and smell) please do not send them to school but go to the dedicated NHS 111 Covid site to check the symptoms: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/.

Across the school we will continue to follow the advice of the medical and scientific experts in everything we do. We want to maximise the number of days that each child now has in school, but we will still be following the official guidance on self-isolation and closing bubbles if cases emerge. Thus, it is in everyone's interests that we all do everything we can to avoid transmission of the virus to reduce the need for bubbles closing.

Please do continue to follow all the Government's advice so that we can avoid children having to learn from home as much as possible, after so long away from school. Likewise, in school, as you would expect, we will have everything we need to in place to make it a safe environment for pupils.

Thank you for your continued assistance.

Yours sincerely

Mrs K M Heaton Mr P Mulholland Primary Phase Headteacher Principal