Parents to check kids for Covid twice a week with rapid tests kits for school return

Parents are set to test their kids for Covid twice a week at home in a bid to start the phased return to classrooms.

Plans to ensure kids return to school safely will mean a step up in testing.

Lateral flow tests will be used at home according to the new plans, The Telegraph has disclosed.

The government is due to announce plans to ease out of lockdown on February 22.

It has been reported kids will go back to school from March 8 in the first phase of ending restrictions.

Secondary schools will carry out mass testing of students at the start of term, however parents will then need to test children bi-weekly.

This comes as the education union struck a deal with ministers to ensure a safe return.

Initially the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said pupils should be given home test kits rather than being tested at schools.

Though a deal has now been reached to do an initial test at school and then further tests at home.

Secondary school pupils will be allowed to return in a staggered system with one year group back at a time to ensure pupils are tested.

This however may take two weeks for all pupils to be back at school.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce further plans such as the re-opening of non-essential shops at the same time.

Later that month, hospitality venues, hotels, leisure facilities, and some sporting venues will reopen, it is claimed.

However, the plans have not yet been signed off by No 10 and could be subject to change.

Classroom learning was always expected to be the first thing to return as part of the easing of lockdown due to mounting concerns from teachers and parents alike over the potential damage of extended periods outside the classroom.

There is still worry from some medical experts that the reopening of schools could lead to yet another spike in infections and place further pressure on already strained hospital services.