School staff facing shortage of virus test kits
One in three school support and nursery staff say their employers are unable to provide them with enough lateral flow tests to do the recommended number of checks, a union claims.
A survey of more than 2,300 school support staff in England, including teaching assistants, administrators and cleaners, indicated they could not follow Government guidance for twice-weekly tests as their school did not have an adequate supply of kits.
Unison said its study showed that many employees were going into school not knowing if they carried the virus.
Of those unable to get hold of enough tests at work, more than three in five said they could not get tests locally or online.
Unison's head of education Mike Short said: "Without regular testing for staff, it's really difficult for schools to minimise Covid disruption.
"Schools and nurseries up and down the country have been struggling with high absence rates, and a poor supply of tests only makes things worse.
"Despite Government guarantees that there were no shortages of tests, the reality on the ground is that staff don't have enough.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: "Lateral flow tests are critical to enabling pupils and staff to return to school quickly so there must be a ready supply available throughout the term.
"The decision to lift plan B measures – and stop mask wearing in schools – will feel, to many school leaders, at odds with the current situation on the ground.
"Mass disruption is ongoing, with high numbers of staff and pupils absent.”