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The government wants YOU to volunteer as a school covid tester

716 replies

noelgiraffe · 15/12/2020 23:42

The govt have proudly announced that there will be mass testing in secondary schools, colleges and special schools from January.

What the headlines don’t quite convey is that schools will be expected to set up and man their own testing centres and that this make-shift testing of close contacts of positives will replace close contacts having to isolate. The tests pick up about 50% of positive cases so I’m sure this will be fine.

Covidy kids will be getting the bus to school to queue up and be tested by people who have watched a video and a couple of online worksheets.

Even better, they want those people to be YOU!

“The document says that reasonable costs for additional workforce will be reimbursed.

It adds that a school may want to hire temporary staff, such as agency and contract workers, or draw on volunteers such as parents, retired teachers, Red Cross, St John Ambulance and community organisations.”

If you can’t help in person, perhaps you can support by talking positively about this effort on social media and parenting forums?

“Under a section labelled “social media guidance”, the document reads that “consistent, accurate and positive communication about testing activity is essential”.

They want to see “proactive public social media using agreed materials” and schools are encouraged to “monitor your existing social media channels, parents forums etc. and provide any feedback”.”

Come on folks, do your bit!

schoolsweek.co.uk/7-staff-roles-2-hour-training-and-dhsc-sign-off-on-press-schools-given-mass-testing-instructions/

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Sedona123 · 17/12/2020 21:03

[quote noelgiraffe]The govt have proudly announced that there will be mass testing in secondary schools, colleges and special schools from January.

What the headlines don’t quite convey is that schools will be expected to set up and man their own testing centres and that this make-shift testing of close contacts of positives will replace close contacts having to isolate. The tests pick up about 50% of positive cases so I’m sure this will be fine.

Covidy kids will be getting the bus to school to queue up and be tested by people who have watched a video and a couple of online worksheets.

Even better, they want those people to be YOU!

“The document says that reasonable costs for additional workforce will be reimbursed.

It adds that a school may want to hire temporary staff, such as agency and contract workers, or draw on volunteers such as parents, retired teachers, Red Cross, St John Ambulance and community organisations.”

If you can’t help in person, perhaps you can support by talking positively about this effort on social media and parenting forums?

“Under a section labelled “social media guidance”, the document reads that “consistent, accurate and positive communication about testing activity is essential”.

They want to see “proactive public social media using agreed materials” and schools are encouraged to “monitor your existing social media channels, parents forums etc. and provide any feedback”.”

Come on folks, do your bit!

schoolsweek.co.uk/7-staff-roles-2-hour-training-and-dhsc-sign-off-on-press-schools-given-mass-testing-instructions/[/quote]
Have you actually read the link?

No-one is going to have to swab students. The Test Asistants have to "provide guidance and supervision to subjects on swabbing". So in other words, just watch and check that the students are swabbing themselves properly.

They're also Lateral Flow Tests, which just require the students to just swab their own noses.

The links also mention that any students who refuse to do a test, or have covid symptoms but a negative test, will still have to self isolate.

noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 21:05

They're also Lateral Flow Tests, which just require the students to just swab their own noses.

Are you saying that the handbook which was provided to schools for this purpose which shows nose and throat swabbing by a different person is wrong?

I mean, it’s entirely possible.

The government wants YOU to volunteer as a school covid tester
OP posts:
callistography · 17/12/2020 21:07

Cannot be arsed to read the whole thread.
In response to the OP

The government can fuck right off.
I'm a teach
I am not medically trained
I will not be responsible for the testing of children
I am CEB so I will be putting the safety of myself (and therefore my family) first.

callistography · 17/12/2020 21:08

Teacher! Bloody autocorrect

MarshaBradyo · 17/12/2020 21:08

No-one is going to have to swab students. The Test Asistants have to "provide guidance and supervision to subjects on swabbing". So in other words, just watch and check that the students are swabbing themselves properly.

Tf for that. Of course they can do it. They just need supervision.

MillieEpple · 17/12/2020 21:11

Ive had a quick scan of the guidance and it sounds like this mass testing is encouraged but optional. I suppose it takes a brave head to stay no. But i guess in low incidence areas a head could survey parents and see how many support the idea before going aheas

noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 21:17

@MarshaBradyo

No-one is going to have to swab students. The Test Asistants have to "provide guidance and supervision to subjects on swabbing". So in other words, just watch and check that the students are swabbing themselves properly.

Tf for that. Of course they can do it. They just need supervision.

There will certainly be a requirement to conduct tests on pupils as not all of them will be able to do it correctly with supervision.

It says in the guidance it could be either. Just because your kid might be able to, don't assume that's true for all.

The government wants YOU to volunteer as a school covid tester
OP posts:
Sedona123 · 17/12/2020 21:22

@noelgiraffe

They're also Lateral Flow Tests, which just require the students to just swab their own noses.

Are you saying that the handbook which was provided to schools for this purpose which shows nose and throat swabbing by a different person is wrong?

I mean, it’s entirely possible.

If you google lateral flow tests, they are nostrils only, so entirely possible that the wrong handbook has been provided.

The tests are only being rolled out in senior schools and universities so obviously for students to swab themselves. No-one is going to be swabbing any else's primary school child.

noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 21:24

entirely possible that the wrong handbook has been provided.

😭 I mean, how can we be in this position? The handbook is dated 15th December and doesn't even have the right test details??

No-one is going to be swabbing any else's primary school child.

Stated plans are to roll it out to primary in the spring.

OP posts:
EndoplasmicReticulum · 17/12/2020 21:25

I'd be interested to know how many parents would say no to testing.

I think I'd say no - on the basis that using the 50% tests instead of isolating is dangerous, it would be safer for my family if my child isolated instead rather than go to school with all the other close contacts for inaccurate testing.

You'd have others who say no because they don't want their children to have the invasive test carried out by someone untrained / barely trained.

There would be some who say no because they realise that the test would be difficult for their child to deal with e.g. SEN

You might have some parents who would say no because they are also teachers or sympathetic to teachers and realise what a shitshow the whole thing is.

That's before we even get to the covid deniers.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 17/12/2020 21:26

"Not all of them will be able to do it correctly with supervision."

Anyone who has ever taught KS3 science will know this to be true.

farfallarocks · 17/12/2020 21:28

Perhaps some problem solving and solution orientation from some of the teachers on here might not be amiss. Every post is negative. Every post is ‘here is the problem’ here is why the government are awful. I didn’t vote for this government and I don’t think they have done a good job handling this crisis but Noble and others, honestly it’s exhausting just reading your negative posts. What’s your solution?
Your language ‘Covidy’ kids, kids breathing all over me is all so negative and hostile.

noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 21:30

Noble and others, honestly it’s exhausting just reading your negative posts. What’s your solution?

I have spent many, many threads detailing my solutions. It wasn't this shitshow that will make schools less safe and place an unbearable workload on them in a time when their workload is already unbearable.

OP posts:
noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 21:33

negative and hostile.

Yes, terrible that teachers who have just been told to set up and staff a covid testing site over Christmas ready to test the entire student population in January while moving to online teaching that will require scrapping plans and replanning might be negative and hostile to the idea. Oh, and self-isolation for close contacts is being binned and replaced with something shit so schools will be less safe.

FFS. Listen to what is being proposed. It's an unworkable pile of wank and calling it out as such doesn't make me the problem.

OP posts:
farfallarocks · 17/12/2020 21:35

It’s your language as relates to the kids that is hostile and worrying.

FiggyPuddingFiend · 17/12/2020 21:38

@EndoplasmicReticulum

"Not all of them will be able to do it correctly with supervision."

Anyone who has ever taught KS3 science will know this to be true.

Or KS4, or even KS5 science...
noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 21:38

Describing a kid with covid as a 'covidy kid' is what you're worried about in all this?

Wow. You really have the wrong priorities. You really should be raging about the pile of shit being dumped on schools that will affect the quality of education provided.

OP posts:
MitziK · 17/12/2020 21:39

@noelgiraffe

negative and hostile.

Yes, terrible that teachers who have just been told to set up and staff a covid testing site over Christmas ready to test the entire student population in January while moving to online teaching that will require scrapping plans and replanning might be negative and hostile to the idea. Oh, and self-isolation for close contacts is being binned and replaced with something shit so schools will be less safe.

FFS. Listen to what is being proposed. It's an unworkable pile of wank and calling it out as such doesn't make me the problem.

I think what Farfalla means is 'Watch your tone'.

Even SLT aren't being dicks these days. They're being polite, so very, very tired and just want to get kids taught safely. Which just isn't possible and they know it.

noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 21:40

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Nellodee · 17/12/2020 21:40

I am imagining that conversations went something like this:

"Shall we get the schools to do some mass testing?"
"That sounds like a vote winner. How will it actually work though?"
"I don't give a fuck - that's their problem."
"If we spring this on them for the beginning of January, we're going to get a lot of bad press."
"Fine, fine. Give them a week to get their shit together."
"Will that be enough time?"
"Let me refer you back to my 'I don't give a fuck'."

mrshoho · 17/12/2020 21:43

FFS. Listen to what is being proposed. It's an unworkable pile of wank and calling it out as such doesn't make me the problem

Great description 👌

farfallarocks · 17/12/2020 21:44

No need to be rude. I don’t mean watch your tone at all. Just because I disagree with you doesn’t mean I don’t respect teachers or you or make me patronising.

Nellodee · 17/12/2020 21:47

Right now I think most teachers are feeling this.

The government wants YOU to volunteer as a school covid tester
DonkeyMcFluff · 17/12/2020 21:49

Loads will refuse to be tested!
-Covid deniers
-Pupils with SEN
-Those who don’t want to be tested by unqualified randoms
-Kids who want a holiday isolation period off school

When I was at school the other kids would take literally any excuse not to go to lessons. They would “go on strike” for better food in the canteen, or because of a “protest” about rights of one kind or another. If they think they can have a jolly off school by refusing to be tested, they will.

MrsChristmasHamlet · 17/12/2020 21:58

Perhaps some problem solving and solution orientation from some of the teachers on here might not be amiss. Every post is negative.
I'm very good at problem solving. I'm solution oriented. I'm relentlessly positive. About teaching English... which is my actual job.