School bubbles and testing

[enterparentone]

How are schools supposed to know when to send home bubbles if kids aren't being tested so they never get a positive result to trigger action?

This is a very good question and (as a teacher) I suggest you email it to your MP!

We had this very discussion today. PHE won’t tell us to send a bubble home without a positive test.

Yes very true! I wonder if we can all email someone to highlight this? The testing fiasco is terrible. They need to get it sorted. Now!!

not to mention the parents who won't test their children

It’s a good question. With some refusing the test their children and others struggling to get tests other parents and staff won’t know there are potential cases and many are vulnerable or have vulnerable family members.

Did you know schools can't compel parents to tell/show them the results even if they get a test?

And given the delays, it will be too late.

HT's also need to report positive tests to PHE and get advice directly from them.
It wasn't possible to even get through to PHE today. Calls are unanswered and cut off after 30 minutes. With repeated attempts all day ( apart from supervising staggered lunches for two hours) there was no contact at all with PHE.

That's a good idea about emailing the MP.
I'm vulnerable myself and had been so worried about the risk with kids returning. The thought of being exposed to all those households was worrying enough. Now it looks like any hope of identifying an outbreak and taking action has gone. My heart goes out to vulnerable teachers directly in the front line.

@carlukefair

And given the delays, it will be too late.

HT's also need to report positive tests to PHE and get advice directly from them.
It wasn't possible to even get through to PHE today. Calls are unanswered and cut off after 30 minutes. With repeated attempts all day ( apart from supervising staggered lunches for two hours) there was no contact at all with PHE.

This is what I'm hearing from schools in our area too. We haven't needed to so far but I'm sure it will come. The government require schools to consult the local health protection authority before making any decision to close a bubble but you can't get through!

@enterparentone

How are schools supposed to know when to send home bubbles if kids aren't being tested so they never get a positive result to trigger action?

If I didn’t think it was beyond their competence level I’d think the government wanted it this way, so fewer schools report cases.