Council sets out plans for school coronavirus tests from January

DEVON County Council’s head of education and learning has written to parents to explain how the government’s plans to roll out rapid testing for coronavirus in schools will work

From January every secondary school and college in England, as well as special schools and alternative provision, will have access to rapid coronavirus testing which provide a result in about 30 minutes.

Dawn Stabb, the council’s education boss, said in the letter to parents that the infection prevention and control measures such as wearing face coverings, regular handwashing and bubbles will be kept in place to keep staff and students as safe as possible.

But the test is designed to quickly identify whether a pupil or staff member has coronavirus to avoid any unnecessary periods of self-isolation and absence from school.

All testing is optional so consent of parents and guardians is needed before any child could receive the test.

She added: “The government is prioritising secondary schools and colleges for testing because a positive case very often results in more students being sent home and having their education disrupted.

“They also want to ensure pupils and students in crucial exam years can access as much face-to-face teaching as possible. They hope to roll out testing in primary schools in the spring.”

Children of primary school age are not affected and primary school children should return to school after Christmas as previously planned.

Pupils in special schools or alternative provisionare expected to attend from the start of term.