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Original poster

School closures by default

37 replies

2X4B523P · 16/09/2020 18:04

I’ve mentioned this in another thread but thought it deserves one of its own.

So with the fiasco over testing and prioritising certain groups of which schools are not currently included it may force schools to close bubbles or whole school by default. If there are suspected cases but no option to test and carry on if negative then schools might have to treat this as positive test(s) as a precaution.

I can see that there could be many many schools closing over what would have turned out to be something else and not of concern.

Source within this article, which also quotes second national lockdown not ruled out.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8740183/Boris-FAILS-rule-second-lockdown-admits-testing-cope.html

OP posts:
RepeatSwan · 16/09/2020 18:09

Yes this is the burden on heads now - is it worse to assume a negative, risking a wider spread, or worse to assume a positive, risking inconveniencing everyone?

Not sure what options there are under health and safety rules anyway.

One third of my child's class off today. Presumably not covid. Hard to feel confident without a test.

PlateTectonics · 16/09/2020 18:10

It's an utter mess. Wtf are the government doing?

Howslifenow · 16/09/2020 18:22

We have to make our own decisions now for the safety of our KIDS.

ramblingsonthego · 16/09/2020 18:32

I was discussing this earlier and said the exact same thing. Its almost like the government can then turn around and say "we didn't close schools" when by default due to no testing available that exactly what could happen.

This government are an absolute shit show and we still have them for over 4 more years.

frozendaisy · 16/09/2020 18:33

Think we all need to write to our MP to say perhaps it is time to look at part time blended learning at least for pupils able to do so. If you can space people out a bit it would help a bit.

I mean our kids would be gutted they are loving being back full time and one has started a new school, only knowing a couple of others and seems to be making a new friendship group so it's s big ask for him but still better than stop-start-stop-stop-almost start-stop- lockdown

Keepdistance · 16/09/2020 18:39

I expect a lot of symptoms are parents concerned but dont want fines.
But likewise a lot have caught colds in 'covid secure' schools

noblegiraffe · 16/09/2020 18:45

If there are suspected cases but no option to test and carry on if negative then schools might have to treat this as positive test(s) as a precaution.

Can't see this happening. What is a 'suspected case'? The symptoms are so vague that this would hit many typical winter illnesses and kids with symptoms should be at home anyway so how would a school investigate whether set of symptoms is more suspect than any other? That's what the tests are for.

ceeveebee · 16/09/2020 18:53

I think it’s unlikely a school would close a bubble or the whole school on the basis of a suspected case.
Agree more testing capacity needed. But there are so many wasted tests - 220k tests a day over and above the positive results!!
Having heard today from a local (private) school that when one child had symptoms, they advised the whole bubble and their families to have tests, it’s not hard to understand why capacity is very tight.

Appuskidu · 16/09/2020 18:55

It’s a shambles and one the government could have avoided with a bit of planning, funding and listening to the teachers and unions.

middleager · 16/09/2020 19:03

It's a mess. I have a healthy Y10 at home getting scraps while his classmates get full lessons.
Two weeks of this in GCSE years with no proper contingency is a shambles.

My other Y10 DC's school has several cases too.

middleager · 16/09/2020 19:06

@ceeveebee

I think it’s unlikely a school would close a bubble or the whole school on the basis of a suspected case. Agree more testing capacity needed. But there are so many wasted tests - 220k tests a day over and above the positive results!! Having heard today from a local (private) school that when one child had symptoms, they advised the whole bubble and their families to have tests, it’s not hard to understand why capacity is very tight.
My son has not been advised to get a test after a positive case in his options class. I'm on another thread where OP's nephew did get tested as part of the bubble. There seem to be different rules snd tests wasted.

Colleagues in schools are being given different advice depending on who they talk to at PHE.

RepeatSwan · 16/09/2020 19:42

@ceeveebee

I think it’s unlikely a school would close a bubble or the whole school on the basis of a suspected case. Agree more testing capacity needed. But there are so many wasted tests - 220k tests a day over and above the positive results!! Having heard today from a local (private) school that when one child had symptoms, they advised the whole bubble and their families to have tests, it’s not hard to understand why capacity is very tight.
That's what should happen though, really, with the immediate class. NOT their families.
ceeveebee · 16/09/2020 19:48

No it shouldn’t - they should self isolate for 14 days, and only get a test if they show symptoms. Getting a test before symptoms show is a waste of a test

ceeveebee · 16/09/2020 19:49

Not least because it can take 7-14 days for symptoms to show. So getting a negative test on day one would give a false comfort. Hence why quarantine after fleeing travel can’t be reduced by a negative test

NotAKaren · 16/09/2020 19:54

Lack of testing, means lack of staff due to them isolating or having DC off isolating. It is lack of staff that will ultimately close schools.

Southernsoftie76 · 16/09/2020 19:58

@NotAKaren I agree, staff sickness in schools will force school closures like it did in many schools before the lockdown back in March. I predict a very long Christmas break for many kids.

NotAKaren · 16/09/2020 20:12

Teacher testing and testing of their families needs to be a priority if schools are to remain open.

123456abcd · 16/09/2020 20:16

'Bubble' to carry on as normal until a positive test - according to Boris

Oaktree55 · 16/09/2020 20:19

For those not totally up to speed with the 💩 show that will be education in the (majority of) U.K. this winter, are you aware our testing system has collapsed? The rest of Europe’s hasn’t (in the main).

Oaktree55 · 16/09/2020 20:20

Swiftly followed by comments from delusionals who say schooling will be ok 🙄

ceeveebee · 16/09/2020 20:24

Do we think the govt figures on daily tests processed are just lies? Somewhere in this country over 200k tests are being processed every day?

I don’t know anyone personally who needs a test and hasn’t been able to get one (I’m in Manchester) - I know of several at work who are awaiting results but no-one who couldn’t eventually get a test even if it took a day of trying.

noblegiraffe · 16/09/2020 20:33

Do we think the govt figures on daily tests processed are just lies

They have been before, haven’t they? When they wanted to meet that 100,000 target they counted tests that were in the post or not used or more than one on the same person.

Who knows if their figures are correct, tbh. What we do know is that there are lots of people who need tests who can’t get them easily and quickly, and results that are taking days to come through.

Regardless of numbers of tests, this isn’t good enough.

EducatingArti · 16/09/2020 20:36

@ceeveebee

Do we think the govt figures on daily tests processed are just lies? Somewhere in this country over 200k tests are being processed every day?

I don’t know anyone personally who needs a test and hasn’t been able to get one (I’m in Manchester) - I know of several at work who are awaiting results but no-one who couldn’t eventually get a test even if it took a day of trying.

You should listen to the Radio 4 More or less programme on this one!
Original poster
2X4B523P · 16/09/2020 20:44

@123456abcd

Just read that, so anyone symptomatic who is unable to access a test should attend school us usual. Just how big are they trying to make the second wave?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 16/09/2020 20:47

anyone symptomatic who is unable to access a test should attend school us usual.

No, the kid with symptoms stays at home, the school bubble doesn’t isolate unless the kid tests positive.