 |
answer text |
<p>Rapid testing is a vital part of the Government’s plan to supress COVID-19. Testing
is voluntary but staff, pupils and students are strongly encouraged to participate
in the education testing programme to help to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in school
and college settings and the community.</p><p>Pupils, students, and staff have made
an incredible and important contribution to the Government’s mass testing programme.
As of 23 June, over 60.5 million tests have been completed in total through education
settings since January. In recent weeks, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State
for Education, has written open letters to all parents, and to schools and college
leaders, to thank them for their contribution so far and to encourage them to continue
their efforts to keep pupils and students testing until the end of term.</p><p>The
Department has worked in partnership with NHS Test and Trace to understand the barriers
to rapid testing amongst school and college students and to take steps to encourage
uptake of both testing and the reporting of results. These steps have included: improvements
to the digital journey for parents, providing advice and guidance to schools and colleges,
utilising a range of communications channels to reach parents and pupils directly,
collecting and sharing best practice, and giving schools and colleges access to aggregate
testing data for their setting to support them to take action where participation
rates are low.</p>
|
|
