College students are eligible for coronavirus testing, the Department for Education has confirmed. 

In new guidance issued by the government on Monday, it said: “All staff are already eligible for testing, and staff in shielding and high-risk groups should remain at home.

“From 1 June, all children and young people eligible to return to their settings will have access to testing, if they display symptoms, as will any symptomatic member(s) of their household.”

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Speaking in Parliament today, education secretary Gavin Williamson said priority testing for all teachers and those who work in schools if they have symptoms of coronavirus was already in place, and “this priority testing will be extended to all children who attend school and if they are displaying symptoms, as well as their families”.

The DfE confirmed to Tes that this also applied to FE students, as well as college staff who were attending education settings. 

In order to access a test, the DfE said students and relatives should use the 111 online coronavirus service. 

This week, the DfE published guidance asking colleges to prepare to reopen for more students from 1 June at the earliest.