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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/

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Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 18/12/2020 20:11

@MrsChristmasHamlet

Not saying that is right but it will happen if it has to in a good school. But this is the exact problem. Schools will feel obliged to do it - but it's quite literally not our job. If I give up a free period to test some kids, the work I would have done then either doesn't get done, or shifts into the previous little personal time I have. I am employed to teach English. I already go way beyond that like most teachers do, but this is an absolute liberty being taken here.
Yes I agree you shouldn't have too but my point is the government know you and your colleagues will. It is totally unfair but extra tasks outside their job description are routinely done at schools every day. Boris, Gav and the civil servants know you will in the end start swabbing or at least like my school over worked SLT will do it themselves if need be. People saying it is impossible are wrong. It is shocking to spring this on schools at last moment. Not offering decent support to run it is outrageous but it will end up happening and working. Good schools will find a way.

(I am not saying that the recommended new testing schedule will work though or the test will be accurate enough)

MrsChristmasHamlet · 18/12/2020 20:25

I won't. If my colleagues choose too, then more fool them.

MrsChristmasHamlet · 18/12/2020 20:25

*to. I can spell.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 18/12/2020 20:29

@Judashascomeintosomemoney

Does 'Very Community Minded' equate to 'Won't Mind Catching Covid Much'? I think it also equates to ‘Patriotic Duty’, which possibly means Nick Gibb was posting on one of these threads veeery recently Grin
I am picturing a war time style poster with Kevin's mum wearing full PPE pointing at me with a swab now

Your local school needs you!

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 18/12/2020 20:29

@MrsChristmasHamlet

*to. I can spell.
I can't Grin
MrsChristmasHamlet · 18/12/2020 20:57

Spelling is my superpower.

IloveJKRowling · 21/12/2020 14:37

Well there’s PPE available, and also people are very community minded

Yeah, the answer is no. I've done plenty of volunteering in my time. I wouldn't have volunteered in a place that was an obvious, screaming fire risk with no basic safety measures in place.

As noel has pointed out many times over, there's a big difference between doing all you can to reduce risk and accepting there is some residual risk and really not bothering at all in a way which massively inflates risk beyond what is reasonable. We have the latter in the UK in schools - I am sure in a country where kids were wearing masks from age 6 this new variant wouldn't have got a foothold quite so quickly. The fact there are literally no measures to stop airbourne transmission in schools is inexcusable.

They're not even trying to reduce spread in schools. Until they try harder (like they did in the summer - providing extra money for extra TAs and smaller class sizes - when the rate in our area was 1/10th what it is now) then I'm not going to volunteer.

KittyMcKitty · 21/12/2020 17:50

My children’s school has asked for volunteers. Training will be provided by school nurse, PPE is provided. I have a DBS for the school (and also tge school I work in in the same county). I will willingly volunteer on the days I’m not working.

Whilst the system is far from perfect I will happily volunteer.

InTheLongGrass · 21/12/2020 19:25

Aparently the leaflet sent to schools is wrong.
It's also talking about throat and nasal swabs. Thought lateral flow was nasal only?

sleepwouldbenice · 22/12/2020 00:47

@InTheLongGrass

Aparently the leaflet sent to schools is wrong. It's also talking about throat and nasal swabs. Thought lateral flow was nasal only?
Hi no lateral flow testing is definitely throat as well. 3rd time of routine testing here

Expect lots of retching (sorry) and more seriously sneezing happens lots as well as a reflex so please be prepared in terms of space, ventilation, wiping things down etc

On a more positive note whilst I am sure there will be much drama at first and some genuine exceptions to the rules, I can confirm secondary school kids are perfectly capable ofgetting the hang of this

Genuinely good luck and I hope in the longer term in gives some assurance. We all need it

noelgiraffe · 22/12/2020 16:25

Government shelve lateral flow test centre plans due to concerns about accuracy:

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/22/plans-for-30-minute-covid-lateral-flow-tests-in-england-halted-over-accuracy-fears

It doesn't mention that these are the tests due to be used in schools.

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RememberSelfCompassion · 22/12/2020 16:27

Oh ffs. So are they still planning to use these in schools?! I guess anything is better thsn nothing to pick up potential asymptomatic cases, but to prevent students isolating this would be mad.

Whattimeisdinner · 22/12/2020 16:28

noelgiraffe

I predict that schools won’t go back within the first few weeks after Christmas.
This will give them the chance to ‘re-evaluate’ the school testing ‘plan’...
Not another u-turn oh no no no...

noelgiraffe · 22/12/2020 16:29

I can't help but notice that the scheme was 'halted last week' and then on Thursday there was a surprise announcement to mass test all secondary school kids.

Trying to offload the useless tests onto the school sector.

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Itisasecret · 22/12/2020 16:30

@noelgiraffe

Government shelve lateral flow test centre plans due to concerns about accuracy:

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/22/plans-for-30-minute-covid-lateral-flow-tests-in-england-halted-over-accuracy-fears

It doesn't mention that these are the tests due to be used in schools.

Indeed.. However the cynic in me would say. They know schools will not open so they are just ignoring that for now. They will inform schools and everyone else at 23.59 on the 2nd of Jan when SLT have tried to sort it out over the holiday.
Whattimeisdinner · 22/12/2020 16:30

Oh ffs ! I bet you’re right! 😂🤪

Whattimeisdinner · 22/12/2020 16:32

They will inform schools and everyone else at 23.59 on the 2nd of Jan when SLT have tried to sort it out over the holiday.

Our HT has told us not to give it a second of thought over the holiday. 😂

Itisasecret · 22/12/2020 16:33

@Whattimeisdinner

They will inform schools and everyone else at 23.59 on the 2nd of Jan when SLT have tried to sort it out over the holiday.

Our HT has told us not to give it a second of thought over the holiday. 😂

Most have, I know our secondary did too, but that wasn't in Gav's plan.
Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 22/12/2020 16:35

@noelgiraffe

I can't help but notice that the scheme was 'halted last week' and then on Thursday there was a surprise announcement to mass test all secondary school kids.

Trying to offload the useless tests onto the school sector.

Grin
RememberSelfCompassion · 22/12/2020 16:48

Impressed at the SLT saying for teachers to have a break.

I absolutely hate not knowing what is hapoening. We've already lost most of our income, and being vulnerable am not anti keeping my kids home given Im at risk, but I hate not knowing.

It does seem to oscillate between, "keep kids off" and "nothing to see here 30 kids in badly ventilated room is fine." It would be amazing if they could actually spend some time and money on the issue and work out ways to make schools safer.

Even part time school is better than no school and gives kids a chance to go over their learning. And any planned closure is bettef than repeated isolations.

Piggyinblankets · 22/12/2020 16:51

Why oh why doesn't that Guardian article join the dots??

noelgiraffe · 22/12/2020 16:58

We've been saying that about news articles all along, piggy. Why didn't they join the dots between the secondary school infection rates and the fact that kids are not wearing masks in classrooms?

And now they're not joining the dots between the govt cancelling one testing project and unexpectedly announcing another.

Everyone was surprised when the government said that yes, actually, they did have 10 million lateral flow tests ready to go for January schools testing. Now we know why they were so readily available!

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inquietant · 22/12/2020 17:00

@noelgiraffe

I can't help but notice that the scheme was 'halted last week' and then on Thursday there was a surprise announcement to mass test all secondary school kids.

Trying to offload the useless tests onto the school sector.

This is my view too, to avoid getting panned AGAIN for wasting money Angry
Piggyinblankets · 22/12/2020 17:02

This is a scandal really though.