Families of secondary school children being offered home testing kits

[RedskyAtnight]

Just wondering how widespread this is?
In our area, families of secondary school children are being offered the opportunity to have a home testing kit (i.e. the whole family can get tested). It's being suggested that we should test as soon as possible, and before schools return in January.
This is the standard test, not the rapid response test.
I'm not sure how much take up there will be - I imagine many people with no symptoms might be wary of getting a positive test at the start of the Christmas holidays, though others might use it to test before they go and see relatives.

@Orangeblossom77777

Not sure what the problem is with asking?!

I mean that it’ll be all the same places that get all of the extra testing and support and not the ones that have been stuck in tier 3 for months!

@middleager

Tier 3 West Mids here. Six isolations and Covid for one secondary DC since Sep due to mass school cases and a month of SIs for DC at another secondary.

Our schools have been on their knees for months yet not one test offered-- there are 10% of positivesin one child's class FFS.

Why have we been left to fester?

I'd be so cross in your shoes. Yet the Govt leap to action as soon as it's London.

TIer 3 NW. We've been offered nothing. Just weeks of repeated self isolation (exam years) since September. I think we're up to 12 weeks between my two at the minute.

We haven’t been told anything about it but our school is closed from last week due to crazy numbers of cases.

I’m in an area with cases over 500p 100,000 and lots of cases in our secondary.What are the ethics around me ordering a test for dc? The system will crumble next week surely ?!

Tier 3 Greater Manchester, nothing offered here. Year 13 pupil has had 2 lots of self isolation so far.

LadyCatStark
Sorry but we’ve been in National/local lockdown most the year and now T3 and DS has had a letter

This is a copy of the letter

COVID testing for pupils in secondary schools and their families
COVID‐19 cases in SE have been rising rapidly recently, with the highest rates of infection among the 11‐18 age group.
As many as 1 in 3 people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and could be spreading it without realising it. It is common for children to either have no symptoms or have mild symptoms that may NOT include the typical symptoms.
I am writing to you to explain how we have arranged for you and your family to get tested now, and also to ask you and your families to limit your social activities to avoid spreading the virus unknowingly.

Locally, we have made arrangement for all staff, students and their families who attend secondary schools and colleges to request a home testing kit. You can request a kit for every member of your household online at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

Yep we have.