UK quarantine - 'Test to Release Scheme'

Since December, The Bright World Team has been guiding our students who opt in to the Scheme, helping them to book a test with one of the recognised provider on the UK Government website.

Tests can be delivered to the address where you are isolating and are posted back to the laboratory or students can attend a clinic for their test.

We estimate that test results will be returned between day 6 - 8 of the quarantine period. These are sent by email. If the test result is negative, then the student can end their quarantine and return to school. If the test is positive, then they need to remain in quarantine for a further 10 days.

If it is inconclusive or the test failed parents can arrange to take another test privately and repeat the process.

We have studied the different options available in terms of how and where to take the test and feel that for our students, a postal test is the easiest, safest and most straight forward. The postal tests are swab saliva tests that involve saliva only and are not intrusive or unpleasant. We feel that a swab test and the postal route is the most straightforward. We do not know how efficient the testing companies on the list are and if tests will arrive on time and results will be fast.

You can also choose a clinic and we can arrange travel to and from to take a test. Results could also be slow at coming back from these.

Your quarantine starts on the day AFTER you arrive in the UK. For example, if you arrive on a Monday afternoon, your first day of quarantine is the Tuesday. You can then take your test on the Saturday later on that week.

Each provider is different and you pay when you book online. It seems that the average for a postal test is around £120.

Once you have taken the test on Day 5, your host family will assist you and take your pre-paid parcel to post it as quickly as possible.

According to the websites of the testing companies, test results will be emailed to you between 24 and 48 hours after the test is received by them. If the results are back earlier and are negative then students are free to leave early and return to school.

If your test results show that you are Covid-19 positive then you will need to isolate for a further 10 days at the host family. Tests can also fail if insufficient saliva is sent or can be inconclusive. In these cases, you can repeat the process and order a second test.

A failed or inconclusive test is going to delay your early release from quarantine. Also, as there is no precedent to this situation and the process is new to all the companies on the government list, we cannot recommend any company. There is simply no experience to learn from yet.

It may be that the company you choose will not be efficient or will be overloaded with demand for tests and will not be able to fulfil the turnaround times that they promise.

If we do learn that some companies are more efficient than others or the postal system that we currently feel is the best one is not actually as easy as an in-clinic test, we will adapt, let our customers know and change our guidance accordingly as we learn.

• We can help you by giving you the list of companies using the online postal test.
• We can direct you to the Passenger Locator Form you need to complete before you travel.
• Provided you are registered with Bright World Guardianships, we can provide you with a quarantine host family and a safe place to stay that will be fully catered with activities during your quarantine journey.
• We will take receipt of and keep your test safe should it arrive before you do.
• We can assist students with taking the test and posting it to the relevant place.
• We will assist you with your onward journey back to school or will continue to take care of you should you need to take another test or remain in isolation for a further period of time.