Testing & Symptoms

Please see the following guidance below for help with symptoms of COVID and where to book testing if required:

Updated 1 November 2021

Letter from Essex County Council - Primary Testing

The following link provides information of where in Essex testing will be taking place. This is updated every Friday.

Current dates and locations for mobile testing units - Essex County Council

Current dates and locations for mobile testing units. Mobile testing units are at various locations across Essex, and they are run by the Ministry of Defence.

www.essex.gov.uk

Accessing testing

The fastest way to get a test result is to go to a testing site. Individuals will need a pre-booked appointment, or they will not be given a test. People can also order home test kits to be sent directly to them. To book an appointment or order a home kit, please visit:

https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

These routes remain the primary channels for any individuals displaying coronavirus symptoms to get a test.

Updated 19 July 2021

Encouraging families to self-test during the school holidays

Thank you for your work on Covid-19 testing throughout the school term. Now we’re looking towards the school holidays, we’re strongly encouraging all families with secondary school children to self-test twice a week.

Testing is a key line of defence against the spread of Covid-19. With other protective measures such as face coverings and social distancing no longer legally required, testing is even more important. It’s the only way to know if you have Covid-19 and make sure you don’t spread it to friends and family. As many as 1 in 3 people do not show any symptoms so self-testing can detect these hidden cases and keep everyone safe.

Please share with parents and carers that they can collect packs of self-tests from libraries and pharmacies. Alternatively, they can order self-tests online. They should record their results by following the instructions in the test kit.

If someone develops symptoms, they should order a different type of test (a PCR test) or call 111, and self-isolate immediately

Updated 26 April 2021

Self-Testing for Families
Everyone in Essex is now able to collect self-test kits from participating libraries and pharmacies. Regular self-testing among school communities will help keep all children and their families safe as we move along the roadmap out of lock down.

We encourage parents and guardians to collect free packs of self-test kits for their families. Alternatively, they can order them online.

Find out where you can collect self-test kits near you on the Essex County Council website, or order self-test kits online from GOV.UK.

If you test positive from a self-test kit or develop symptoms, you should book a follow-up test on GOV.UK or call 119.

We would also like to remind families that there is financial support available if they need to self-isolate. The criteria have recently been extended so that parents and guardians are eligible if they need to take time off work to look after a child or young person who is self-isolating. You must also meet the other criteria.

Updated 26 March 2021

Primary school pupils and rapid asymptomatic testing

On advice from Public Health England (PHE), pupils in primary schools and children in nursery settings are not included in the rapid asymptomatic testing programme.

PHE has advised that there are currently limited public health benefits to testing primary-aged pupils with lateral flow devices (LFD). In addition, primary-aged pupils, particularly younger children, may find the LFD testing process unpleasant and are unable to self-swab.

We are advising that primary-aged pupils should only be tested if they are symptomatic, in which case their families should follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and book a PCR test for the child.

Updated 5 October 2020

Please click here for the Covid-19 symptom parental support tool

Updated 24 September 2020

Public Health England have produced a letter for schools to distribute to parents which explains when a person requires a coronavirus test and what the symptoms of coronavirus are.

The intention of the letter is to help prevent children being taken out of school unnecessarily and answer some of the questions parents may have around testing.

You can view the letter here.

COVID-19 symptoms image for social media - if your child has a high temperature, a cough or a change in sense of smell or taste, book a test

Updated 18 September 2020

Click here for a flow chart to help with child's illness symptoms and attending school.

Updated 17 September 2020

Who to contact in an emergency

If at any stage someone at your setting cannot cope with the symptoms or their condition significantly worsens, use the https://111.nhs.uk/COVID-19 service. If you do not have internet access, dial NHS 111. In a medical emergency, dial 999.

Updated 14 September 2020

Please click on the link below for some helpful advice regarding COVID-related pupil absence and some FAQs regarding Track and Trace: