Teachers and pupils will be able to get coronavirus tests when schools return if they show symptoms, Gavin Williamson says

Gavin Williamson said staff and pupils can get tested if they develop symptoms when schools return
PA
Imogen Braddick13 May 2020

Teachers and pupils will be able to get tested for Covid-19 if they develop symptoms when they return to school, the Education Secretary said.

Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, Gavin Williamson said the testing of staff and students will enable a track-and-trace approach to be taken to any confirmed cases.

Primary school pupils in England are due to go back to school for a month before the summer.

The Government said it expects children to be able to return to nurseries, and for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils to be back in school from June 1 at the earliest.

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Mr Williamson said the reason schools are reopening is because "we know that children benefit from being educated by their brilliant teachers in front of them".

Answering an urgent Commons question from Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Layla Moran, Mr Williamson said: “On Monday my department published initial guidance for settings on how to begin to prepare and we’ll work with the sector leaders to develop this further in the coming weeks.

“This guidance sets out protective measures to minimise the risk of infection, including restricting class sizes and limiting mixing between groups.

“Crucially all children and staff will have access to testing if they develop symptoms of coronavirus.

“This will enable a track-and-trace approach to be taken to any confirmed cases.”

Mr Williamson acknowledged allowing pupils to return to school will be “challenging”.

“We continue to follow the best medical and scientific advice and believe that this phased return is the most sensible course of action to take," he said.

“I know that this will be challenging but I know that nursery, school and college staff will do everything in their power to start welcoming our children back to continue their education.”

Mr Williamson, pressed by Ms Moran for reassurances about the safety of sending children back to school, told the Commons: “When you have medical and scientific advice that is saying it’s the right time to start bringing schools back in a phased and controlled manner, it seems only the right thing to do and the only responsible thing to do.”

The Education Secretary said the Government has worked “very closely with all the teaching unions and headteachers’ unions”, with time made available each week to discuss matters.

“This is what’s informed and developed the guidance we have shared with schools,” Mr Williamson said.

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He added: “We recognise children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are the ones who are going to suffer the most if we do not bring schools back when we’re able to do so.

“I’m more than happy to share all the advice we have received from Sage.”

But Labour’s shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said that the guidance provided by the Government on schools does not provide the “clear assurances” needed on safety.

She told the Commons: “We all desperately want schools to reopen for the sake of children’s education and wellbeing.

“But (Mr Williamson) must appreciate that the guidance provided so far does not yet provide the clear assurances over safety that are needed.

Primary school classes could return on June 1 at the earliest
PA

“Shielding families, anxious, worried grandparents and teaching staff in fear, sadly sums up the theme of the last 48 hours.”

Ms Long-Bailey said that social distancing for younger school year groups would be “virtually impossible”.

She told MPs: “Will he (Mr Williamson) acknowledge that for younger year groups social distancing will be virtually impossible and that the current guidance sadly gives the impression that those pupils and staff should just accept being exposed?”

Mr Williamson responded: “I have always been clear that we would give the sector as much notice as possible and we have said that if we are allowed, which it seems likely that we will be able to, we’d like to see schools opening from June 1, giving schools as much forward notice as possible in order for them to get ready.

“We think this is a responsible and sensible approach in terms of the phased return.”

Nine education unions, representing school leaders, teachers and support staff, have accused the Government of showing a “lack of understanding” about the dangers of the spread of coronavirus in schools.

The joint statement, published by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), warns that staff will “not be protected” by social distancing if primary schools reopen to more year groups from next month.

The statement says: “We all want schools to reopen, but that should only happen when it is safe to do so.

“The Government is showing a lack of understanding about the dangers of the spread of coronavirus within schools, and outwards from schools to parents, sibling and relatives, and to the wider community.”

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