THE National Education Union (NEU) has launched a new Covid-19-related website to help give parents in England access to the latest public health information in their area.

Users can enter a school name or postcode into the online map to bring up information relevant to them.

The schoolcovidmap.org.uk site, which draws on Government data, will be updated weekly with the rate of cases in a school’s surrounding area.

It will also show whether the local trend of Covid-19 infections is increasing or decreasing and whether a local authority has been placed on Public Health England’s watchlist.

PHE’s weekly surveillance reports of coronavirus cases list some local authorities as areas of “concern”, “enhanced support” or “intervention”.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said: “In much of the country, the map offers reassurance that cases are quite low.

“In other areas, we think that cases are higher, and it reinforces the public health messaging from local authorities, from Government, from head teachers, that the public… have to take the steps you have to take.

“It’ll support heads in encouraging parents and other visitors to the school to maintain social distancing and hygiene.”

“And we think in all situations, it’ll encourage members of the public to follow the public health guidance.”