Boris Johnson has insisted schools are safe to re-open next month just hours after the Children’s Commissioner called for routine coronavirus testing for pupils and teachers.
The prime minister praised the work that had been done to prepare schools for September.
At the weekend he said the country had a moral duty to get children back in school.
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But Anne Longfield, the children’s commissioner for England, called for more testing in schools, in contrast to ministers who say the precautions already taken are sufficient.
Asked if all teachers and older children should be tested weekly, she told Times Radio: “I wouldn’t want to say weekly, but I would want to say regularly, and that may be weekly.
“There is much less concern around children who are less than secondary age… Secondary schools, where you have bigger environment and older children, it makes sense that testing and tracking should be part of that.”
Mr Johnson said: “I think it is very important that everybody works together to ensure schools are safe – and they are. They are Covid secure and I have been very impressed by the work that teachers have done, working with the unions, to make sure sure that all schools are safe to go back to in September”.
He conceded schools could be forced to close as a result of local action, but he said he hoped that would not happen.
The Prime Minister, who was visiting a school in east London, said: “I very much hope that doesn’t happen for any pupils but clearly what we are doing – the way we are trying to manage the Covid pandemic – is to have local measures in place and local test and trace to introduce restrictions where that’s necessary.
“But, as we have all said, the last thing we want to do is to close schools.
“We think that education is the priority for the country and that is simple social justice.”
On Sunday, Gavin Williamson claimed there was “little evidence” to suggest coronavirus is transmitted at school.
In a statement, the education secretary said the government was doing “everything in our power” to ensure children can return safely in September, adding: “We have always been and will be guided by the best scientific and medical advice. The latest research by Public Health England which is expected to be published later this year – one of the largest studies on the coronavirus in schools in the world – makes it clear there is little evidence that the virus is transmitted at school
“There is also growing confidence among parents about their children returning. This is down to the hard work of school staff across the country who are putting in place a range of protective measures to prepare to welcome back all pupils at the start of term.”
His comments were echoed by a leading child health expert professor Russell Viner, who said a Public Health England (PHE) study, which has not yet been published, will conclude that “children play a minor role in the transmission of the virus and schools play a minor role in the transmission of the virus”.
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The president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), also told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that reopening of schools “is one of the least risky things we can do”.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Monday, care minister Helen Whatley also said it was the government’s priority to have children “fully” back at schools in England by September when the new academic year usually begins.
“Schools are safe and there are extra measures that schools are being advised by Public Health England to take; for instance, to have staggered start and finish times, staggered breaks, to teach children in bubbles, and teachers can enforce, encourage hand washing, hand sanitising, so all the steps that will make schools even safer for our children to be back.”
Pressed on whether schools should stay open in the event of a local lockdown imposed by the government and local authorities in response to a Covid-19 outbreak, she added: “Yes, that is the approach, so, for instance, in places like Leicester and Greater Manchester, and areas where we have local restrictions going on, absolutely schools should still be going back. It is essential that children get back into school this autumn term.”
Last week ministers announced extra funding for school buses to help pupils return safely.
