Covid tests to let children of key workers return to school
A NEW testing system will be introduced for children of essential workers who need to return to on-site schooling or childcare.
Parents have been contacted to see if there was interest in sending their children into schools for the half-term break, as the island prepares to partially reopen its education sites.
A new testing system is being developed by Public Health to support this.
Officers from Education and Health & Social Care have been working to develop a system which will safely allow targeted groups of vulnerable children and those of some essential workers to benefit from on-site care next week.
Children or staff will be tested beforehand and on a rolling basis after that.
Only children where both parents are essential workers, unless it is a single-parent household, and where all adults in the home need to leave the house to work, will be allowed to attend.
Early years, special schools, primary schools and secondary schools primarily for pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 will be prioritised initially.
The College of FE will continue to offer remote support as required.
Children attending special schools will be invited into school on an individual basis.
Those parents of eligible children for half-term support are being asked to respond quickly to help to establish the numbers.
