Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reinstating access to free covid-19 testing in special schools.

COVID-19 presents a low risk of serious illness to most children, young people and fully vaccinated individuals. The Department for Education has invested in carbon dioxide monitors and greater awareness of ventilation in educational settings, which significantly lowers the risk of COVID-19. Given the current low level of risk, since 21 February 2022, all staff and students in mainstream education at secondary school level and above and childcare settings are no longer advised to test twice a week. Testing will take place in special educational needs and disability residential settings only when advised by local health protection teams as part of an outbreak response.