A teaching union has said that plans to remove the need to test under-5s without symptoms for Covid will bring “little comfort” to education staff, with a “complete review” required for schools to protect staff and learners.

Education Minister Jeremy Miles outlined changes to advice for pupils that will mean learners in secondary schools and colleges who are under 18 and have a household member who has tested positive for Covid-19 will need to undertake daily lateral flow tests every day for seven days, in addition to PCR tests on day two and day eight.

Mr Miles also agreed that the Welsh Government will no longer recommend that children under five years of age take Covid-19 tests without symptoms.

Laura Doel, NAHT Cymru director said the union is “deeply disappointed” in the announcement.

“When there have been 10,000 Covid cases in schools in September alone; when studies show that one in seven children who get Covid will develop long Covid; when schools are struggling to stay open and even when they can, they are doing so with school leaders, TAs and supply teachers taking classes to combat the high levels of staff absence, how bad does the situation need to get before he considers reviewing the framework?

“The education workforce is at breaking-point, with staff absence having a very real impact on the delivery of education and the wellbeing of staff.

“Schools cannot support home learning for those having to self-isolate when they can barely support the learners in the classroom.

“The best place for learners to get the education they deserve is in school, therefore it is our duty to do all we can to protect staff and learners.

“Bringing in additional LFT testing for secondaries school household contacts and removing the need to test under-5s for Covid will bring little comfort to school leaders in those settings.

“For our primary schools that continue to suffer from the impact of Covid, there was no comfort at all.

“The removal of under-5s testing, which in itself is a mitigation measure against the spread of the virus sends completely the wrong message to parents.

“We urge the Welsh Government to sit up and listen to the profession, recognise that even if schools are open they continue to suffer from the impact of Covid and urgently review the support for schools that is severely lacking.”

Mr Miles said on Tuesday: “I am immensely grateful to the staff working in our schools and colleges for all they have done to support learners returning for the new term and to our childcare settings for supporting our younger children.

“Since the start of September we have seen unprecedented levels of lateral flow and PCR testing, particularly amongst school aged children, enabling us to find more cases.

“By finding and isolating positive cases we can help to stop onward transmission of Covid-19.

“I want to do all I can to minimise disruption to education and childcare.

“I recognise that some schools and parents have been confused and concerned that pupils can attend school or college if they are a household contact as long as they are asymptomatic.

“I have listened to these concerns and considered what additional assurance can be provided while also enabling learners to continue to attend school.

“Where appropriate we want to reduce the testing of children without symptoms but due to the increase in prevalence and the concerns expressed about household contacts it is vital that we do all we can to keep children in school,” Mr Miles said.

“In considering the merits of testing, asymptomatic testing in particular, it is important to consider the potential harms.

“I have been concerned at the level of PCR testing being undertaken of children under 5 years of age which has increased fivefold since the beginning of August.

“Following advice from our testing advisory group I have agreed that we will no longer recommend that children under five years of age take Covid-19 tests without symptoms.”

The changes will formally come into effect from Monday, 11 October.