Two Covid tests every week for thousands of teachers and pupils
Staff and children are ‘strongly encouraged’ to sign up
SCHOOLS will this week begin a mass testing programme which could mean pupils can finally return to class full-time.
Tens of thousands of tests are being delivered to schools across Scotland.
Up to 24,000 pupils and more than 50,000 teachers will be ‘strongly encouraged’ to sign up for home screening twice a week.
The tests detect the virus in those who have no symptoms and who may otherwise unwittingly spread it in schools.
Under the new measures, senior pupils and staff will test themselves at home every three to four days – ideally in the morning before going to school.
If successful, the scheme could be crucial in allowing more pupils to return.
However, the scheme is voluntary and it is unclear how many staff and teenagers would sign up.
The first kits are set to be handed out within days and the EIS teaching union has urged staff and pupils to ‘opt in’ to testing.
Stewart Hunter, children and families convener at Dundee City Council, said: ‘Tests are a way to keep our schools as safe as possible and to reduce risks.
‘I would ask all staff and families of senior pupils to look out for these letters and to take action as quickly as possible.
‘A negative test does not mean that we can drop our guard in any way against coronavirus. I would urge everyone to stick with the FACTS guidance to help us drive down the number of cases further.’
The Scottish Government is due to announce on Tuesday if some pupils can return to school from February 22, as previously proposed.
But fears were raised at the end of last week that the planned return could be postponed because virus infection rates remain stubbornly high across the country.
Nursery children and Primary 13 are set to go back full time, with a limited return for senior pupils
‘Testing is voluntary but it is important they opt in’
who need to do practical work for national qualifications.
Assuming they do return to school, senior pupils with no symptoms will be asked to use the lateral flow test kits.
Pupils and staff who test positive will be told to isolate immediately and take a lab-analysed PCR test, which are seen as more accurate.
Older primary children and secondary pupils not attending school will not take part.
With around 301,000 secondary pupils in Scotland, and no more than 8 per cent of them to be in school at any time, the number to be offered testing is estimated to be from 15,000 to 24,000.
The NASUWT teaching union has already told Education Secretary John Swinney that ‘effective and competent mass asymptomatic testing arrangements for staff and pupils are a key strand of safely reopening schools’. Local authorities have confirmed that preparations are under way, with many schools already having received their test kits.
Highland Council said it was ‘actively encouraging’ staff and older pupils to take part.
Midlothian Council is introducing ‘a robust plan’ to ‘ensure the safe rollout of the testing kits’.
Among the first to be offered the home tests will be pupils in the Western Isles, who will return to school on Tuesday after their February break.
James Cameron, head of education for West Lothian Council, said: ‘We expect most kits to be issued after the February holiday, i.e. Thursday and Friday next week, with testing starting immediately before the return [on February 22], in line with Scottish and UK Government and health service instructions.’
The kits will contain enough tests to last for three to four weeks.
These will be taken at home three to four days apart and the results – available in 30 minutes – are logged online.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: ‘Although this testing is voluntary, it is important that teachers and pupils opt in.’
Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said that ‘testing of staff and pupils is only one aspect of the measures needed to ensure Covid safety in all educational settings’. A Government spokesman said: ‘Asymptomatic, at-home, twice-weekly LFD tests will be offered initially to those who work in schools, early learning and childcare settings attached to schools, and pupils in S4-6 who attend school.
‘We are working through the logistics of making the same testing available to standalone local authority early learning settings and day care of children services in the private, voluntary and independent sector.’