School virus absences fall as heads call for guidance

Covid-related school absence rates have fallen over the past two weeks, according to the latest Government data.

Attendance figures show that 90.3% of pupils were at their desk on February 10 – the highest levels since November 11.

The Department of Education figures show 181,600 pupils (2.2%) were off for Covid-related reasons on the day – down from 3.9% on February 3.

An estimated 135,600 pupils were off with a confirmed case of Covid-19 – 1.7%, compared with 3.1% on February 3.

The proportion of staff absent for Covid-related reasons also fell, with 7.5% of teachers and school leaders off compared with 9.1% on February 3.

In total, 2.8% of teachers and school leaders were absent for Covid-related reasons on February 10 compared with 4.4% on February 3.

Heads have called for clearer guidance for schools following the Government announcement of a relaxation of Covid restrictions.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union, NAHT, said: "Everyone is sincerely hoping that the two weeks of improved pupil attendance figures we've seen will be a continued trend.

"Buttoensurethat,theGovernment needs to do more to explain to the public the actionstheyarenowsupposedto be taking to keep themselves and others safe.

"Although the legal responsibilityfortestingandisolation has been removed, we all still have a personal responsibility to keep each other safe.

"Parentsandcarersneedto know what to do when a child has Covid, and that should be madeclearbyGovernment,not left up to individual schools."