To be shocked at yet another last minute gov announcement.

[wantmorenow]

New guidance for schools just announced on a Friday night before schools return. Breathtaking incompetence.

@ThatDamnScientist that’s exactly what’s happening, if it’s sore throats and running noses their being told just to go to school!

Attached now

The tiers are new.

I wish they would highlight the bits of the guidance that change, but obviously they don't want to make our lives easier. I thought the bubble self isolating was already a thing. I think the BBC news website is misleading as per the guidance it does appear to still be two positive test results before considered an outbreak

I thought this was the point of bubbles. It’s hardly unexpected, surely.

The secondary I teach at told us in July or early August that confirmed cases would lead to other students being sent home, potentially including one or more whole year groups.

Ffs shit show in the making.

I’ve understood this to be the case for a while - am I missing something?

I think we just have to get on with it now - all this confusion is just making things worse. Let’s just get the schools open and manage as best we can. No other option really .

With regards to the bubbles, if a child tests positive my understanding is that the school would work with local health authorities to identify who the child was less than two meters for more than 10 minutes and contact the families to self isolate. It wasn't the entire bubble. It was on a case by case basis.

I read that @Morfin especially in respect of masks/face coverings! But later on it does unless in lockdown up to HT's discretion, but certainly gives the impression they are pushing them.

I also notice they do mention Primary school staff may need to wear them in meetings.

cant you are not going to believe this. The bubble bit was in this guidance

www.gov.uk/government/news/all-possible-measures-to-be-taken-before-schools-and-colleges-close

But it has ALREADY been updated this evening since publishing.

“ 28 August 2020
Removed a paragraph on what to do if a positive case is detected, as this information was out of date with the latest guidance at the time of publication.”

It did say

If a suspected case of coronavirus occurs in a school, the pupil or staff member will be asked to self-isolate and get tested while the school continues working as normal with its existing protective measures in place. If a case is confirmed, local public health officials will work with the school to take appropriate measures, including asking all members of a pupil’s bubble to isolate for 14 days and access remote education while other pupils continue attending.

BUT NOT ANY MORE

That's not new though, it is what they said in July.

Goes along with the U-turn giving the A-level triple lock. Two weeks from Scottish Highers they had to come up with that. And how did schools hear, the night before results? Through the BBC. Simply breathtakingly incompetent and thoughtless.

I understand the next release of guidance is going to be in the form of Gavin Williamson whispering it to a mime, who is going to perform it as in interprative dance to an empty Covent Garden at 2am in the morning.

Good luck

At least this explains why Gav wasn't sacked after the A level fiasco, they were waiting for the school shitshow

It was 2 positive tests before the whole bubble could be told to self isolate @RainbowMum11, they obviously mistakenly changed it to one and whole bubble self isolates, and now changed it back. BBC are reporting it as one positive test. That will get some parents frothing!

OMG noble, I was starting to think I’d imagined that paragraph!

So they release it late on a Friday and then still have to change it within a couple of hours. Even for the current shower of incompetent shites that is really awful.

I can't keep up. 😵🥴 Does nobody check before publishing?

That must be one of the quickest u-turns even for them!

Bupkis you just made me snort wine through my nose laughing. Also kind of sobbing because that could be as good a plan as any they have so far made.

Chloe luckily I’d copied and pasted it onto a staffroom thread where it was being discussed or I’d have thought I was going mad too.

It’s ridiculous. I have one in year 9 and one in year 10 so if one is in isolation does the other just got to school despite being in contact with the other 🤷🏼‍♀️

The bubbles thing is almost meaningless in secondary schools. The children aren't able to distance in the classrooms (most schools are turning the desks to the front, but not sure how that's going to stop an airborne virus from spreading over several hours in a packed classroom). Then they'll be bubbled with classes throughout the rest of the year, which can be up to 300 in big schools.

And those children usually have siblings in another year bubble, or in another school. And the bubbles don't work at all when you have several years using a small block of toilets.

I am furious with the government for not coming up with much better solutions, but they seem not just happy to risk cases spreading, but threaten parents who would be able to take their children out temporarily, with fines and prosecution - or deregistration. It feels like they're trying to spread the virus. Schools are doing their best, but what are they meant to do with no extra resources or facilities?

Fuck me, each school will have TEN, yes that's right 10 covid test kits.

Completely agree with Daisy. The PM promised All pupils will be back to school full time in September. Look at the mess that will make. It will help no one. Not the kids, and not the parents who will be called to stay at home every few weeks. Which employer will put up with that?

Ah I missed that detail, sorry.
Bubbles are pretty meaningless anyway though when there are several sibling/family groups within the same school.