A message from Paul Wagstaff,
Director of Education & Skills
15 January 2021
FOR PRIMARY AND PRIMARY SPECIAL SCHOOL LEADERS
Dear colleagues,
I wanted to alert you to a message that has recently been released by the DfE regarding the delivery of lateral flow tests to our primary schools and primary special schools.
Schools are to receive boxes of lateral flow tests on Monday 18 January in the same way secondary schools were provided with these on 4 January. For colleagues who have been keeping abreast of the communications from West Sussex on this issue, I would point you to the following pieces of guidance we have provided for secondary colleagues:
6 January 2021: Secondary School Lateral Flow Tests
Whilst we are aware that kits have been distributed to all secondary schools and webinars have been provided nationally, we are picking up that there is currently conflicting advice and answers to questions being raised by those schools who have begun to undertake, or are planning to undertake, the tests in school from the various helplines advertised. Our advice at the moment is that, due to the other pressures facing schools in planning for the new arrangements this half term, it would be wise to focus on the other key priorities linked to establishing systems for students to access learning either at home or face to face. We will be picking up the conflicting messages with the appropriate authorities and will advise schools once there is greater consistency and clarity in the messaging.
14 January 2021: Testing in schools (for school leaders)
Please find attached a letter setting out the council public health position regarding lateral flow testing, from Interim Director Tony Hill.
It is currently the position of West Sussex County Council that, where the use of lateral flow tests potentially has value for the testing of staff, we do not support the serial testing of pupils using the lateral flow tests at this time, as stated by our Director of Public Health.
Consultation on alternative arrangements for VTQs 2021
Finally, the government has just opened the consultation on alternative arrangements for the 2021 exams, specifically vocational qualifications. Please ensure that you have your say.
Best wishes
Paul
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