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Original poster

School re-opening under threat - thread 2

276 replies

DomDoesWotHeWants · 31/07/2020 15:10

First thread here -

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3981349-School-re-opening-under-threat?msgid=98768334

It seems to me that Johnson is creeping towards masks in schools come September, given that he's extended the paces they have to be worn.

Do teachers think that's enough?

OP posts:
tootyfruitypickle · 03/08/2020 15:29

Hancock has indicated the 90 mins swabs may be extended to schools . I’m assuming it would be for symptomatic children. Of course it’s not a complete solution but it’s a big step along the way.

tootyfruitypickle · 03/08/2020 15:31

It would stop the spread because of the level of information available, even a slightly cough, temp etc, could be checked.

labyrinthloafer · 03/08/2020 15:33

@tootyfruitypickle

It would stop the spread because of the level of information available, even a slightly cough, temp etc, could be checked.
It wouldn't stop the spread any more than sending them home with those symptoms.

It might help get them back in faster, but unless they intend to test proactively it won't make any difference.

Nearly everything they say on testing is shit.

tootyfruitypickle · 03/08/2020 15:36

It would mean less disruption , because they would know very quickly if all ok, and conversely could act quickly with a faster confirmed case. I can’t see every child with a cough being sent home immediately . They’ll all be faking it in double maths for one thing. They won’t if the consequence is being marched off for a throat swab!

labyrinthloafer · 03/08/2020 15:51

@tootyfruitypickle

It would mean less disruption , because they would know very quickly if all ok, and conversely could act quickly with a faster confirmed case. I can’t see every child with a cough being sent home immediately . They’ll all be faking it in double maths for one thing. They won’t if the consequence is being marched off for a throat swab!
Schools are saying anyone with symptoms must go home.

NHS says you return to school 'when better' even after negative test.

You still have to go home to have this test - teachers will not be shoving things up kids'noses!

CarrieBlue · 03/08/2020 16:01

@tootyfruitypickle

It would mean less disruption , because they would know very quickly if all ok, and conversely could act quickly with a faster confirmed case. I can’t see every child with a cough being sent home immediately . They’ll all be faking it in double maths for one thing. They won’t if the consequence is being marched off for a throat swab!
Parents would be expected to take their child home - faking coughs repeatedly would mean a parent having to collect repeatedly so probably wouldn’t happen often unless the parent was happy to miss work regularly
DipSwimSwoosh · 03/08/2020 16:01

Oh please no masks at schools. I can't teach in a mask. Can't we just keep away from each other and wash our hands a lot?

tootyfruitypickle · 03/08/2020 16:04

I’m absolutely certain there will be the usual rounds of fake coughing that the teachers will have to judge if fake / ignore etc.

Testing will end up being the key to schools, I’m sure that’s where all the efforts are now, it’s been made very clear that kids will (finally!) be our first priority. With the local info combined, strategic testing can take place and schools can be as safe as is possible in the current climate, making the risk balance firmly on the side of keeping all kids in school.

MarshaBradyo · 03/08/2020 16:13

Tooty yes I hope that is where we swing to.

cantkeepawayforever · 03/08/2020 16:18

Can't we just keep away from each other and wash our hands a lot?

I am 75cm from my closest line of pupils (I have 33 of them) and handwashing time will be at a premium because I can't leave them alone BUT lunchtime supervisors will only be able to work outside so i have to supervise lunch eating every day, and cover break at least 2 days per week.

I's quite along way from my class to the nearest set of staff toilets, too....

cantkeepawayforever · 03/08/2020 16:21

schools can be as safe as is possible in the current climate

What are the measures that you think will keep schools 'as safe as possible'? Do you think they are genuinely effective, or does it just sound as if schools are being asked to 'look busy making it look as if things might be safer', given that enclosed, poorly-ventilated, crowded rooms in which people remain for a significant period of time are already known to be the riskiest environments in terms of Covid spread?

CarrieBlue · 03/08/2020 16:31

@tootyfruitypickle

I’m absolutely certain there will be the usual rounds of fake coughing that the teachers will have to judge if fake / ignore etc.

Testing will end up being the key to schools, I’m sure that’s where all the efforts are now, it’s been made very clear that kids will (finally!) be our first priority. With the local info combined, strategic testing can take place and schools can be as safe as is possible in the current climate, making the risk balance firmly on the side of keeping all kids in school.

I won’t be judging - cough=home, parent to deal with test
WhyNotMe40 · 03/08/2020 17:12

Had enough with Corona coughing in March. Any cough will be straight to the office and home, and let parents deal with it. Should make lessons a lot easier by removing the usual disrupting types

labyrinthloafer · 03/08/2020 17:14

@CarrieBlue

I expect you will not be allowed to judge, can you imagine the fall out if you judge wrongly?

I want teachers to send kids with a cough home straight away.

Better someone is skiving than spreading real germs!

CarrieBlue · 03/08/2020 17:17

[quote labyrinthloafer]@CarrieBlue

I expect you will not be allowed to judge, can you imagine the fall out if you judge wrongly?

I want teachers to send kids with a cough home straight away.

Better someone is skiving than spreading real germs![/quote]
Absolutely! Parents can deal with whether they are faking or not - I will have zero tolerance.

IloveJKRowling · 03/08/2020 17:38

Good to hear about the zero tolerance. It needs to be that way.

Would this make worried teachers and parents feel better? Seems a lot more doable than masks?

It's not about feeling better, it's about stopping spread of the virus. Masks work, they are proven to work, many times over. Cheap, easy, effective. Why not do both testing and masks? We'll reduce school closures if we do. Children in other countries manage it fine.

It may be the case that teachers can't wear masks and teach (particularly if they have lip reading children in class) but they could have the choice of visors or not. If most of the kids wore masks it would still reduce risks massively.

cantkeepawayforever · 03/08/2020 17:49

I think zero tolerance will be difficult unless all staff in the school are the same, and are backed up by effective SLT.

For reasons of age and underlying conditions, i am very scrupulous about following Covid guidance in school, whereas many of my colleagues (younger and / or no underlying conditions) are much less so. SLT are a mixture of scrupulous and lacksadaisical, led by anything-for-an-easy-life-and-to-be-liked-by-parents.

I entirely anticipate sending a coughing child to be sent home, to have them returned by leadership with a 'oh, it's nothing, and we don't want to bother mum / dad because they're at work so just keep them to the end of the day' [have had it before with vomiters], and to be the only person who makes a fuss....

lifeafter50 · 03/08/2020 19:38

If they could get the 90 min test in schools you could test the coughed and if negative send them back into class /no need to be sent home. Send home anyone with symptoms that test positive and the rest just carry on.

ColouringPencils · 03/08/2020 19:40

It will be hard as some children always have a cough. My asthmatic DD often has a light cough on and off for months in the winter, triggered by PE in the cold air for example. Teachers can't be expected to know that is not coronavirus, but equally it's going to be very disruptive for loads of kids. I remember in the last day she was in school before lockdown, 3 children in her class of 30 were sent home by 9am for coughing. None of them turned out to have covid as far as I know, but teacher was rightly very cautious. Perhaps more importantly, the kids were also so jumpy. Constant hand washing/ hand gelling, I knew so many kids that ended up with broken skin on their hands. Are we now equipped to deal with all of this?

labyrinthloafer · 03/08/2020 19:42

@lifeafter50

If they could get the 90 min test in schools you could test the coughed and if negative send them back into class /no need to be sent home. Send home anyone with symptoms that test positive and the rest just carry on.
The test won't be administered in school as you'd need a nurse or a parent, teachers can't do it.
IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 03/08/2020 20:07

I don’t think teachers should be administering tests, they trained to tech not be healthcare at risk in situations like this.

labyrinthloafer · 03/08/2020 20:11

They won't be able to do it, they won't be insured for nostril insertion. Plus risk to their own health from transmission. Plus they'll do it really badly.

Plus parents like me would not allow it anyway.

People do need to think things through.

Letseatgrandma · 03/08/2020 20:18

Teachers won’t be doing it as they’ll be teaching.

Our school nurse only comes to us once a half term for a morning, so that won’t be possible either.

ginginchinchin · 03/08/2020 20:47

This thread was quite upsetting for me as it made me revisit childhood.

Letseatgrandma · 03/08/2020 20:51

@ginginchinchin

This thread was quite upsetting for me as it made me revisit childhood.
Oh no-sorry to hear that, @ginginchinchin.
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