A PARENT has called for Covid testing in primary schools after a pupil in their child's year group caught the virus.

Pupils in the Year 6 bubble at Stanford Junior School in Brighton have been told to self-isolate for ten days as a result of the positive test.

This morning, parents received the following message from the school: "Dear parent/carer. There has been a confirmed case of Covid reported this morning in Year 6, therefore the year 6 bubble needs to be closed with immediate effect.

"Please come and collect your Year 6 child from school immediately. They are to be collected from their normal entrance/exit point."

A parent of one of the affected children, who asked not to be named, said this was the second time this had happened since schools had returned earlier this month following the relaxation of lockdown restrictions.

They said: "Two weeks ago, Year 6 pupils were sent home because there was a Covid case, And there was a case late last year as well.

"Everybody only came back to school yesterday, and the next day they were all sent home again."

They said that regular testing could be used to prevent further incidences.

They said: "This (pupils being told to self-isolate due to a confirmed Covid case within the school community) is down to the fact that there's no testing.

"The school is doing nothing wrong, they have been brilliant, but without testing this is insane. The situation is ludicrous.

"It will happen again and again. My child has missed four weeks of school, not including lockdown, because of this."

The children have been asked to self-isolate for ten days as a result of the positive test within the school community, the parent said.

"They can't leave their house or garden. During lockdown children can at least go for a walk with a friend, but now they can't even do that.

"If they get testing for the children on a regular basis then, if there's an outbreak, they can test the children that have been sent home. They can then go back to school if they test negative."

A statement from the Department for Education published last week states: "Tests will be available to pupils, students and staff at secondary schools and colleges – so pupils in year 7 and above. Their households and bubbles will also be able to get tested.

"Primary school staff, their families and the childcare and support bubbles of pupils also have access to testing. Primary school pupils themselves will not take asymptomatic tests but should book a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test online if they develop symptoms."

PCR tests check for the genetic material (RNA) of the virus in the sample. You send the sample for processing at a lab

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: "Year 6 pupils and staff from Stanford Junior School have been told to self-isolate due to a number of positive cases in the year group.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation and supporting the school in managing cases.

"Stanford Junior School conducted a thorough risk assessment before re-opening more widely in line with guidance from the council and put in place rigorous controls to stop the potential transmission of Covid-19.

"The school dealt rapidly with the cases, identifying contacts and telling cases and contacts to self-isolate immediately, to reduce transmission and keep people safe.

"The school has also sought advice and support from the council, the Department for Education and the regional Public Health England specialist Health Protection Team in line with Covid-19 protocols, and no concerns have been raised with the school’s approach.”