Soaring cases of Covid in under 14s across Richmond have triggered fears of massive absenteeism as children return to school after Christmas.

Many schools in the borough suffered disruption ahead of the festive break with as many as one in ten pupils in some year groups absent.

At the same time, a number of teachers and support staff were forced into self-isolation against a background of the fact that Covid rates in Richmond are well above the national average.

Latest official figures put the Covid rate per 100,000 at 1,916.3, which compares to a UK average of 1,238.6.

The Twickenham MP Munira Wilson, who is the Lib-Dem spokesperson on education, has accused the government of doing too little to prepare for the return to school.

She said: "Air purifiers in every classroom: a cost effective, proven measure that many other countries have put in place to keep schools open safely. Cost is less than half the Royal Yacht, yet the Government won't fund them

"Children are never a priority for this Government."

She added: "Our children have been failed again and again throughout this pandemic by Boris Johnson's government.

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"Of course, schools should stay open but he needs to explain how and with what help for teachers and parents.

"From air purifiers to rolling out the vaccine to teenagers, this Government has dragged its feet.

"Ministers must set out a clear plan to reassure families that schools will be kept open, instead of making yet more empty promises."

Governments around the world have approved children aged 5-11 to be vaccinated, however this has not been the case in Britain.

Currently, only children under 12 who are considered to be medically vulnerable are permitted to be vaccinated.

The net effect of this policy is that the virus is circulating among children, who have been passing it on to adult family members during the Christmas break.