To think that if testing in secondary is optional there's no point?

[FitbitCat]

We've just had a message from our head letting us know the school testing is optional and we will need to register our children if we want them tested. Surely this means the irresponsible families will just not register nor take part and there becomes little point to the whole exercise?

Those are probably the minority of children then. Reminds me of the mums who say they are “heartbroken” to see their babies cry getting routine vaccinations. As if that’s worse than their infant catching measles.

Testing won’t go ahead.Gavin talking shit again.schools will close

My DD has SEN and very anxious about any medical procedures so I wouldn’t allow her to get tested in these circumstances.
I wouldn’t mind to keep her at home for the first week, we can go into isolation altogether, we are not seeing people anyway.

Am presuming the testing is the lateral flow test, much more rapid results but less accuracy?

Guardian said roll out of these type of tests have been halted for now. I presume this includes school too? I don’t how temporary though that will be.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/22/plans-for-30-minute-covid-lateral-flow-tests-in-england-halted-over-accuracy-fears?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

These are the same tests that France wouldn't accept in lorry drivers crossing the channel because of their inaccuracies.

I believe that they would make schools more dangerous instead of safer.

And my kid is one who would much prefer to self isolate than be tested at school.

So I would not consent to it.

I've signed the consent form for dd. It does say she can refuse on the day.
They are rolling this out at work for us too in January.
We both had covid in October. Does this mean we cant be tested?

It will be totally up to our youngest (14), if he wants to be tested or not. He's sensible enough to make his own decision on that, his body, his choice.

It has to be optional. Do you want kids arrested, held down and swabbed? Think on. We don't live in a fucking police state.

My DCs were done yesterday at the local hospital and the horse actually said 'we need to see you gag'.

Jesus Christ!!! Hancock's got horses administering tests now?

I can just imagine it, "All Year 9s to line up in front of Shergar for your tests. Red Rum will be doing all Year 10s".

"Currently, any child who has been near a confirmed case goes home for 10 days"

I'd just say this isn't necessarily the case. I'd say anyone who has been identified by the school track and trace system goes home for 10 days.

Some schools might go round with a measuring tape checking who sits within 2m but mine just sends home kids who sit directly next to them.

This might also mean that the lateral flow tests won't be effective in reducing infections either unless the contact tracing is more thorough.

@WhoWants2Know

These are the same tests that France wouldn't accept in lorry drivers crossing the channel because of their inaccuracies.

I believe that they would make schools more dangerous instead of safer.

And my kid is one who would much prefer to self isolate than be tested at school.

So I would not consent to it.

The tests are (source BMJ) under 60% accurate when carried out by trained members of the public

I think it is utterly wrong to use them instead of SI

I do support mass resting in schools - doing everyone, finding the asymptomatic cases and isolating them. The low accuracy doesn't matter if you're looking for cases that would not otherwise have been spotted because each one found is a plus, and false negatives don't matter because you'd not have noticed an asymptomatic case anyhow so no loss.

Instead of SI, it's completely different. Every person who would otherwise have been in isoation has been out and about. A false negative (or a late negative) means that someone infectious, who would otherwise have been in isolation, is mixing with other people and therefore putting the community at additional risk. Schools aren't exactly covid safe.

I wouldn't say no point, but its effectiveness will be much reduced. Same as face coverings effectively being optional because those who don't like them claim medical conditions they don't have.

If you have to opt in, those that will be missed will include children of parents who don't read emails, respond to letters or emails from schools, just don't engage. Then there are those where the parents use their children to continue their bitterness towards each other and will blame the other.

[quote Ffsffsffsffsffs]**@stanlet* It's not traumatic, is it?*

Obviously never had one yourself, or tried to administer a test on an 11 year old eh?[/quote]
I've had about 6 (ivf requirement) and I had to test my 3 year old. He screamed the place down and then it was done.

No trauma

He screamed the place down

Not traumatic at all then?

Hahaha have you had a 3 year old recently? Mine screamed yesterday because her Peppa Pig sheets were in the wash. Is she traumatised?

@TheGreatWave

This really really will help cut transmission in schools. It is a really really good thing for teachers and pupils.

Asymptomatic spread maybe, but as this will replace SI then you are simply robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Asymptomatic spread is huge amongst children, and plenty are going into school with cold symptoms and tummy aches which could be symptoms of Covid but aren't the 'main three' symptoms.

Do you think that by refusing the test (if your DC can cope with it) you're going to make the situation worse or better? Because if you think you're going to make it better than you are deluded.

My DC have taken it without issue several times. They understood why it was necessary and got on with it in the same way that they coped with vaccinations at school.

Every single asymptomatic case detected in anyone, especially a child in school is a good thing.

These tests detected 18 infected people at my husbands work place. Every single one had a positive regular test afterwards, the two people who were negative continued to be negative as evidenced by regular tests. No one had symptoms other than tiredness at the time of the test, most did afterwards.

It's the same as mask wearing, if everyone who can can wear one does so than it will make a difference. Some people genuinely can't, and that's fine as they are in the minority. I'm so relieved that amongst my contacts and groups only 2 have said they will not opt in, 70 have said they will, plus no doubt many who haven't commented (I'm part of a full year group on Facebook).

@Achristmaspudsskidu

He screamed the place down

Not traumatic at all then?

Needs must. We can't all be happy all of the time. Things need doing

Chaotic, the ones who tested negative with the old virus, that may change now, with the latest mutation.

But the whole point of this plan is the majority of children are asymptomatic
I know.
That doesn't mean I have to consent to random volunteers performing a medical procedure on my DC. I was challenging the idea that anyone who doesn't consent to the new programme of testing was probably an irresponsible family. My point was that we are being responsible as a family, and I wouldn't allow DC to be tested by random people.

If they had a HCP or appropriately trained first responders or St John's ambulance volunteers then I would be absolutely ok with DC being tested in school.

The government has had months to consider an effective and workable plan for test and trace in schools. I support a workable plan. At the moment, I'd not be happy with my DC being tested in the current plan.

@PandemicPavolova yes that's true. But the lateral flow tests still prevented 18 people from carrying on working and potentially infecting the public, plus their families. We are very grateful to have been able to have them. Everyone was wearing PPE and distancing at work so none of them would have been asked to isolate by T&T, it's been a very sobering week.

@LolaSmiles my opinion is that you're being overly cautious and obstructive, unless your DC are likely to be unable to cope with the procedure- which is fine.

It's not a medical procedure, it's a swab of the nose and throat.

These people will receive some training. How much training do you think the people doing the tests on other people at routine test sites have had? How about the carers in care homes? They weren't all medically trained before this, some have been trained up to do the job.

In addition, it's perfectly easy to do them on yourself, especially with some supervision. Are you aware that at drive in test sites people are given the option to do the test on themselves. I was and I did, again no big deal.

What purpose does all your hand wringing solve FGs!

I would support a scheme that was designed to identify asymptomatic cases.

However this proposal is a shambles and I will not be supporting it.

Chaotic45
Based on the every changing and shambolic handling of things by the DfE, I don't trust them to handle this properly. Too much last minute information releases, changing messages and all dumped on headteachers at the start of the Christmas holiday.

I've done several test on myself. They were manageable and uncomfortable. Thankfully my DC haven't needed tests, but I know people who have done tests on their child and found it difficult and upsetting. I wouldn't want random people doing it to my DC.

My DC aren't secondary aged so it doesn't affect me thankfully. I just don't think that parents who opt out of this new system / want to see how it works before signing consent are irresponsible.

Unfortunately from my perspective the DfE has shot itself in the foot. If they had been remotely competent throughout the pandemic, I'd have faith that they would give appropriate training and they'd have a reasonable plan, and would probably be ok with DC being tested in school. But they've been awful throughout.

He screamed the place down

Not traumatic at all then?

Upset and traumatised are not the same thing. As someone who lives with PTSD I can assure you they are not even close. If a parent feels that being tested at school would be too upsetting for their child with SEN then it's perfectly reasonable to choose to test them at home instead or to self isolate. But casually throwing around words like "trauma" isn't helpful.

That doesn't mean I have to consent to random volunteers performing a medical procedure on my DC.

Nobody is going to be performing "a medical procedure" on any children. The children will test themselves under the supervision of staff/volunteers. But of course, you're right that parents are free to refuse consent. It just means that if your child is identified as a close contact of a positive case they will have to isolate for 10 days instead of remaining in school.