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 level of covid-19 infections among primary school age children as of 23 November 2021; and what steps he is taking to tackle that matter.

No specific assessment has been made for the period to 23 November2021.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors the number of COVID-19 cases by age group in the weekly COVID-19 surveillance reports which are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-2021-to-2022-season

The Department for Education has published guidance on the actions school leaders should take to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in their school, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/schools-covid-19-operational-guidance

This includes public health advice endorsed by the UKHSA.

In addition, the contingency framework describes the principles of managing local outbreaks of COVID-19 in education and childcare settings. Local authorities, directors of public health and local health protection teams can recommend measures described in the contingency framework in individual education and childcare settings as part of their outbreak management responsibilities. The contingency framework is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-restrictions-in-education-and-childcare-settings/contingency-framework-education-and-childcare-settings