Wolverhampton MP demands clarity after hundreds of pupils sent home due to Covid outbreaks
An MP has demanded clarity from Public Health England over school virus cases after hundreds of pupils were sent home due to local outbreaks.
In Wolverhampton around 200 pupils were sent home to self-isolate for a fortnight after two positive Covid-19 cases in two schools, while students have also been sent home after positive tests were recorded at schools in Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley.
Labour MP Pat McFadden has written to PHE questioning why whole year groups have been sent home. He has warned of the consequences of large numbers of pupils missing school, and said headteachers needed clarity to help them respond to Covid-19 cases in a "proportionate way".
Wolverhampton South East MP Mr McFadden, said: "Children have already missed almost six months of formal education and it is important we do all we can to make the return to school a success.
"In these cases we have seen whole year groups sent home including children in different classes where a single case has been identified. I think it is very important that Public Health England clarify the advice on this.
"Does a school really have to send a whole year group home? Parents will understandably be asking what are the implications where a child is identified as positive and has a sibling in a different year group at the same school or at a different school?
"Clarity is really important to help head teachers respond in a proportionate way and to help parents know what to expect."
Mr McFadden's letter says: "Yesterday in my constituency, just as schools are returning, almost 200 pupils at two separate schools were asked to return home and isolate as a result of a single Covid case identified in each school.
"The headteachers say that the decision to send home whole year groups – in each case three classes of 90 pupils each – comes as a result of advice from Public Health England.
"That is 90 pupils from each school now isolating, and 90 sets of parents who can’t work, unless they can work from home.
"Then there are the implications for the children’s siblings and the schools they attend, eg if the case is in a primary school but the child has an older sibling in a secondary school.
"Can you clarify that it is PHE’s advice that if a single case is identified, a whole year group – including children in separate classes from the one where the case is identified – have to go home and isolate? If so can you send me the document where this advice has been sent to schools?
"Obviously, the implications of this are that a few cases in different year groups could effectively close whole schools, at a time when many children have already missed six months of formal education and when there is a great deal of work to do to help children catch up and make sure they don’t miss out because of what has been happening this year.
"No doubt as schools return there will be more cases identified in the coming weeks. It is very important that this advice is as clear as possible so that head teachers know how to respond and parents know what to expect."
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told the Commons on Monday that the Government was "very much" in control of the safe return of pupils.
