Reinstate isolation for Covid pupils’ families, says union

SELF-ISOLATION for family members if a pupil has Covid should be brought back, a teachers’ union has said as it warned that siblings sharing bedrooms are spreading the virus.

Under government guidelines, students should only stay at home if they test positive for the virus. Their close contacts – including classmates and siblings – are advised to get a PCR test but should continue going to school unless they also test positive.

But the National Association of Head teachers (NAHT) has called for family members to self-isolate when a child catches Covid as it says that siblings are “actively contributing” to the spread of the virus in schools.

A survey of more than 1,000 members found that almost four in five head teachers do not have confidence in the Government’s Covid guidance for schools.

Nearly three in 10 think the NAHT should be calling for additional restrictions in schools this autumn term, while more than half want to see stricter rules if there is a further rise in cases.

Of those who believe current Covid guidance for schools does not go far enough, 80 per cent want rules on selfisolation for family members to become more stringent. Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said: “Clearly Covid and Covid-related absence is still interrupting education for staff and students. We are hearing from members on a daily basis, who are still experiencing a high level of disruption.”

He said head teachers were “particularly concerned” about guidance relating to siblings and household contacts.

“If a child tests positive for Covid, their siblings can continue to attend school, even if they share a bedroom, for example. Our members say this is

‘There is a risk the policy is inadvertently leading to more children missing school in the long run’

actively contributing to the spread of Covid in schools,” Mr Whiteman said.

“School leaders want the Government to revisit its guidance, particularly when it comes to contact tracing and self-isolation. No one wants to see a child miss any time off school, but there is a real risk that the current policy is inadvertently leading to more children missing school in the long run.”

Many school leaders said they were already experiencing “a high level of disruption” this term.