Winchester & Chandler’s Ford MP, Steve Brine, led calls for a rethink on school bubbles this week during an exchange in the Commons with the new Health Secretary.
An increasing number of parents are frustrated at the policy of precautionary isolation which can often see dozens of children sent home because of a potential contact with a virus case. Last week one in ten pupils were absent from school in England amid a quadrupling of pupils self-isolating. Mr Brine told Sajid Javid that he was looking for a change of policy as much as a change of tone from the new man in charge at the Department of Health;
“Too many children are missing school today due to precautionary isolation, the vast majority of them sequential due to bubbles they’re caught in.
“Ten days away from school, friends and real life is then unavoidable under current rules even with a subsequent negative PCR test.”
And he asked the Minister to make a change; “Haven’t our young people suffered enough? Are we going to continue to do this to ourselves? Given the availability and accuracy of testing we need a change of policy.”
Mr Javid responded; “He is right to draw attention to this. It is something that I have focused on from day one which is why I have asked for fresh advice on it. As he knows, that decision was made with the data that was available at the time. Clearly, data is changing all the time, and we must ensure that we keep that under review for exactly the reasons that he has just set out.”
Downing Street subsequently briefed journalists and broadcasters that Ministers wanted to bring an end to school bubbles from September saying Ministers were concerned there would be a “two-tier society” after July 19 with restrictions lifted for adults but enforced for children. Schools Minister Nick Gibb confirmed today (Tuesday) that pilots are being conducted in secondary schools replacing the requirement for children to isolate with daily tests instead.
Speaking after the exchange, Steve Brine said he was pleased to bring a key issue to the fore; “I was pleasantly surprised by Sajid’s response which clearly shows he’s on a mission to end this over-cautious approach which is damaging children’s education as well as their parents ability to work. We need to move to a testing based approach fast. I have spoken to the Health Secretary and the Education Secretary since to drive home the point so we watch this space.”
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