What will schools do when kids get the inevitable temperatures over winter?

[toastmeahotcrossbun]

Won't they be having to close down every 5 minutes? So many will get temperatures over autumn/winter as they always do. Or will the schools just rely on people getting kids tested ASAP and then close for 2 weeks if someone tests positive? I'm struggling to see how it will work in practice

It's impossible to teach properly in many (most?) schools from 2m away. I think that's important for the general public to understand.

Most classrooms aren't big enough, especially with full classes (primary and secondary).
Primary children require contact with teachers that is closer than 1m.

We're supposed to be closing gaps and catching children up, we can't do that from 2m away without marking properly or giving immediate feedback while they are working (the best most effective feedback).

@Letseatgrandma

What is guidance says is all well and good. But in reality once a positive case is confirmed you’ll find attendance drops as parents keep their kids off school.

School will then be in a position where who school attendance figures will drop (which are important and can trigger on Ofsted inspection and sanctions for the school).

This is the most genius part of the government’s plans. It makes heads responsible for everything- school closure, attendance figures and potential deaths.

I’d really like to thank the ass hats at ‘Us for Them’ for pushing for this absolute shit show. And now for whining about not wanting mask wearing in schools. What utter counts.

We've had some experience of what's coming in September. Dd has a periodic fever syndrome so gets fevers/rash/painful joints/sore throat very regularly (every two weeks currently). She has to have test before being allowed back into school or she quarantines for two weeks. School said it's our choice on what we do but they do pester us to get her tested which we've done as I need to work away from the home. To be fair to school, they know her so don't react to the sore throat and rash but they have to react to the fevers.

You need to make a decision in advance in your family about what you'll do if there is one confirmed case in your child's bubble - especially in primary school. Will you send your child in? Or keep them off for 2 weeks? I think that's a conversation to be had without panicking.

@labyrinthloafer

Just read on another thread (there's a lot of schools opening threads - it's looming now!) that even after a negative test if still unwell you must isolate under NHS guidance? - presumably because the test is so unreliable!

So even more gaps amongst staff and students.

I bet staff will be told to return once there is a negative test though!

This is interesting. If you test positive, you stay at home for 7 days after the symptoms start, but you’re fine to go back to school then if you ‘only’ have a cough or a loss of taste/smell.

So, basically that’s suggests that only a temperature is important on deciding when you can go back!

Or have I read that wrong??

The bubbles thing for secondary schools is pretty ridiculous tbh. In any school there will be loads of siblings in different bubbles. Teachers moving from bubble to bubble simply won't be able to maintain 2m distance at all times. Kids will be on school buses together etc.

And yes, the " Ooh I must have Covid, Miss. I'll pack my things" and deliberate coughing at other kids and at teachers is going to be a nightmare.

This is why the unions are pushing for more info. The guidance is open to interpretation.

Honestly i dont have the answers to the
questions asked from my last post, i only know what we have been informed at the end of term.

I asked my head what happens if we are back for 2 weeks and bubble bursts, (full pay, working from home) then back for 2 weeks and my childs bubble bursts (different school) them im back for 6 weeks then my husband contracts it? I was asking about pay and sickness record, i was told i was exaggerating and any bridges will be crossed at the time.

In September in my school teachers have to have 2 weeks remote learning ready to go at the drop of a hat, if the teacher is ill the TA takes over (i know not all schools have class TA's but mine does)

I am looking forward to going back after the holls but it is not going to be straight forward, complaints were already coming in thick and fast from parents the last few weeks about September's new routines.

But hopefully with the increased awareness of hygiene and social distancing their should be fewer colds and other nasties floating about than usual.

I think they'll only close if they get a child with a positive result, not just symptoms.

Where are people getting the idea that a positive test means automatic closure of the bubble? That might have been the case in July but it's not in the guidance for Sept. It might be the outcome of the review by the local public health authority but it's not automatic and call me a cynic but I suspect they'll be under pressure to keep schools as open as possible

A study said handwashing reduced d&v but not colds etc.
People need to test their kids as otherwise the bubble continue. If not willing to do that then you should be pushing gov to close bubbles for symptoms only.
Otherwise it could be a local lockdown because the whole school caught it and spread it to secondary and workplaces.
Really hope for a saliva test. Or option for that when child cant do swabs

how do we give a child a test?? My ds10 doesn't even have the flu jab as he is violently sick. He has a need for a nasal spray but short of pinning him down screaming we can't use it
If that were me I'd keep them home for 2 weeks without the test, and all self isolate. The thought of pinning down a screaming child who is so scared and especially with this invasive test is awful. Use the two weeks to find ways of very gradually getting him over the root of the problem which seems to be the nasal spray.

It’s heartening to hear from people working in schools who are thinking through the practicalities. I sound mildly hysterical but my child has a visual impairment, at 1m he can see the outline of shapes And he has no depth perception, so we’re basically relying on everyone staying 2m away from him. And accepting he’ll be more isolated than usual. He practising wearing masks in case he needs to see something. The head called me and told me in all honesty she has no idea how she’s going to make it work. There’s no training for this. I won’t be holding her responsible. How can they judge who is at it? “cough cough” I’m not doing the maths test.

I’m going back to not thinking about it.

@ohthegoats

Ha..

This must be far far worse for teachers - but have been discussing with friends how we are all just dreading September this year, and it is affecting the enjoyment of summer too.

That perfectly sums it up.

Bit silly really as not closing it means more closures ultimately.

Realistically though how often does your child have a high temperature? Coughs and sniffles maybe often but rarely have my dc had temperatures

Mine has been told she'll be sent home. Interesting as she's 6th form and starting A levels, plus a boarder.
She's never without a cold in winter.

@AlphaDalpha

But hopefully with the increased awareness of hygiene and social distancing their should be fewer colds and other nasties floating about than usual.

There won't be any social distancing in schools, that's the whole problem. so colds etc. will spread in school just fine.

@AlphaDalpha

But hopefully with the increased awareness of hygiene and social distancing their should be fewer colds and other nasties floating about than usual.

Well, there won’t be social distancing in schools and children weren’t supposed to have time off with a cold anyway, so I’m not sure that will make too much difference.

@Uhoh2020

Realistically though how often does your child have a high temperature? Coughs and sniffles maybe often but rarely have my dc had temperatures

But they have to go home for a cough too, not just a temperature

What’s the alternate though - better to try than be in the situation we were in before?

Mine are at three different schools, they are going to be off a fair bit next term I imagine.

@Uhoh2020 my DSs (and DH) get them every time they have a cold. I don’t (even with the same cold)...apparently DH was the same as a small child. DH is a teacher. This is going to be fun!

It's important to note there are no good solution here, there is "the least bad" solution and worse solutions.

Yes kids will be kids and not socially distance etc, but unless there are better options it's a pointless argument.

• This must be far far worse for teachers - but have been discussing with friends how we are all just dreading September this year, and it is affecting the enjoyment of summer too.

That perfectly sums it up.*

I posted that meme in Staffroom. My DH sent it to me to make me laugh as he knows how anxious I am about September. Made me feel worse 😬

Trying to stay positive and have faith in them guidance’ but then I remember:

-I’m teaching over 200 pupils a day
-I won’t be able to stay 2m away from pupils as classrooms are too small
-We won’t have masks in a poorly ventilated room

• We have the same number of toilets and sinks that we have before lockdown but our intake has increased from this September to facilitate an extra class.

-There will be no extra time for cleaning or hand washing. Less so for staff as we have had our duties increased so we have one break a day. -No extra money for soap/sanitiser if there was the time!

Parents have heard the word ‘bubble’ and assume that equals protection. It really doesn’t, it’s just there to reduce chances of school closing.

@commentatorz

This is not the ‘least bad’. This is the actual worst case scenario. It will lead to massive loss of learning, disruption of routines and complete chaos in schools.

My head has been very clear that this is a shit plan. And that there are a hundred different versions of the plan that are better than this. Ask any head teacher. They are hog tied by the guidance.

I wish we had broadcast the staff meeting we had (online) to all the parents as well. Then they might understand how utterly impossible, ridiculous and unachievable the plan is.