Test and Trace Information
- The Government Guidance on the full reopening of schools sets out the intended process for how NHS Test and Trace will work with respect to schools.
- Ultimately, NHS Test and Trace, and/or any other health body such as Public Health, should not request specific details of pupils and/or staff members from a school.
- If someone who has attended a school tests positive for COVID-19, NHS Test and Trace will inform the school’s Local Health Protection Team. In turn that Team will contact the school to provide advice on how to deal with the situation after they have undertaken their rapid risk assessment. It is important that the school keeps records of pupils and staff members within each bubble so that they can apply the advice given by the Team to the correct individuals.
- If the school learn of a positive result directly from a pupil/parent/staff member, or otherwise not from their Local Health Protection Team, the onus is then on the school to contact the Team for the advice on how to deal with the situation and implement it accordingly.
- At no point during the process should NHS Test and Trace and/or your local health protection team ask for specific details of individuals.
If your school does receive a request for personal details, it is recommended that you contact Warwickshire Legal Services, or your legal representative, for advice.
If a parent expresses that they do not consent to the sharing of their child’s information with NHS Test and Trace and/or any other health agencies, it is suggested that you respond as follows:
- Acknowledge the request that details are not to be passed to NHS Test and Trace and/or any other health agencies mentioned in the request
- Confirm that if their child presents symptoms, they should stay at home and arrange a test, and for the results of the test to be shared with the school.
- Explain why it is necessary, i.e. to protect others who the child may have had close contact with before symptoms developed, particularly where the child has tested positive.
- Confirmation on how the process works (with reference to the first bullet points above) if you wish to provide a bit more in depth information.