Exclusive: DfE considering delay to start of next term

[herecomestheSon]

www.tes.com/news/exclusive-dfe-considering-delay-start-next-term?fbclid=IwAR1QLOa7VrpJz2QeOpMo90R45SfwOfIPsr9pI_SMYEoClaJwJuAjbGB9cB8

According to the Times Educational Supplement.

Yesterday the NEU teaching union urged the government to move teaching online for the first week of next term to give schools enough time to train staff in administering Covid-19 tests.

The Department for Education is expected to make an announcement about the potential later start tomorrow, according to sources close to the DfE.

I thought it would interest you lot.

I do hope they do but I’m not holding my breath as it seems too sensible a decision for them to make. Regardless, I don’t think I’ll be sending mine back for the first week so I can see if anyone has brought it into the school after the Xmas Covid parties They’ll just have to have ‘a cough’ for the week.

I absolutely cant believe staff will go along with administering these tests. Or that they wont continue to send people home to isolate.

If theres covid in my kids school I truly want them to isolate the contacts.

I wonder if its a bit like the boiling frog analogy and headteachers are just going along with it all.

If theres covid in my kids school I truly want them to isolate the contacts.

This is what I'm concerned about, and I feel very sorry for the teachers in all of this. Surely they can't be expected to administer tests next?

Just in time for the last day of term. I mean it isn’t like anyone wants a Christmas holiday.

The cynic in me thinks it is finally dawning on them, the shit show that is coming in January. Knocking on 30k cases today if you include Wales but everyone is free to mix from next week.

January is going to be awful and they know it. Other countries, even the die hard Netherlands have shut schools until the end of January. No one is being quite as stupid as us though.

Plus this ‘mass testing’ is a bit of a joke and poorly thought out. They didn’t think about the logistics.

My ds in y11 has his mocks the first week back, so that's not going to be a good idea for his school

Why aren’t the NEU pushing for not school staff to be doing these tests? Surely this is not a teacher role?

But id the shit storm is coming in January whg on earth introduce somethibg that will make it worse....

@PurpleDaisies

Why aren’t the NEU pushing for not school staff to be doing these tests? Surely this is not a teacher role?

I agree. I’m hoping they are formulating a plan as we speak.

I don’t want kids who are close contacts of positive cases tested AT school every day and carrying on as normal just to help the government pretend attendance is fine and schools are safe. I want them out of circulation and self isolating, like they are in every other sector.

The guidance for administering the tests is mind blowing! How big secondaries are meant to have this up and running for January is beyond me.

get-help-with-remote-education.education.gov.uk/rapid-testing/?fbclid=IwAR1Hu1T_8T5W4JeZIkmVGRMv9dRF11zUjp0ZKXezd0GcjN3Xh-buOjPxtBc

This is a bloody joke.

Look at who they think can do the tests...
Volunteers!

Just for secondary schools? Or do they mean primary too?

Just secondary @Waxonwaxoff0

Considering it's meant to be happening in primaries in spring, I think they should have come and watched the flu spray process. Took a few hours to get some of mine to have it done. Can't imagine ME sticking something up their nose or whatever, will go down well. Oh, also I won't do it. That's above and beyond.

@PurpleDaisies thanks, it wasn't very clear in the article.

Seems sensible but this government isn't sensible!

I think this may be more realistic than people might be suggesting.

We ALREADY know that universities are to be staggered back.

And the christmas restriction guidance has been updated. I don't believe this was stressed in the earlier press conference this afternoon but it says:

From 28 December
It is important to cut down on social contact after seeing your Christmas bubble, to reduce the risk of chains of transmission. From 28 December, you must follow the guidance for the tier in your area, as a minimum. Christmas bubbles will no longer apply. In most places across the UK, that means you cannot mix with other households indoors, including on New Years’ Eve.

Those who choose to form a Christmas bubble should exercise additional caution and cut down on unnecessary social contact after seeing their Christmas bubble to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. This includes not meeting up with friends or family outside your household for New Years Eve.

Note this is aimed both at people who bubble up AND people who don't.

I therefore don't rule out a mini lockdown in the days after the 27th being put in... And starting schools back later or via online for a week, wouldn't be that out there in that context either.

@Waxonwaxoff0

Just for secondary schools? Or do they mean primary too?

The replacement of self isolation for close contacts of positive cases with daily in-school testing is apparently being rolled out in secondary first, then primary.

There is no information on whether the delayed start to the spring term is for primary/secondary or both yet though.

I’m sure the DfE will reveal all in a timely manner...

Well that makes no sense. If learning goes online I’ll. have even less time to be trained. Online lessons take more time to prepare...
Mind you, I’ll have resigned if they do this so I won’t be training or doing lessons. I’m supply on a long term contract so I can just leave. That’s great for everyone isn’t it?

I hope they don’t. My son has had 6 weeks so far self isolating without leaving the house, and is off now as they’ve shut his whole year. Online learning is such a poor substitution for school and I’m so angry that he is not being schooled. I desperately want him at school. I will give up my job and go and test them if it keeps them at school or at least volunteer before the work day begins.

I can't see testing in primary schools being a success. Getting children as young as 4 to do those tests isn't going to be easy!

I also work in a secondary school, a different one to my son so will happily volunteer to do tests there if it keeps kids in school.

Im scared:(

How are staff supposed to find the time to administer these tests? Are they going to reduce teacher workload perhaps, or are they just going to burden them with extra work?

I mean, I know the answer to that one already but couldn't let it go by without mentioning.

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

Considering it's meant to be happening in primaries in spring, I think they should have come and watched the flu spray process. Took a few hours to get some of mine to have it done. Can't imagine ME sticking something up their nose or whatever, will go down well. Oh, also I won't do it. That's above and beyond.

It won't happen in primaries cos it will go fairly tits up in secondaries.

And yes getting 4, 5 and 6 year olds to do this? Without parents? Are you having a laugh?

No way I'd consent to it tbh. Certainly not if its untrained volunteers with no medical qualification.

@SionnachRua

How are staff supposed to find the time to administer these tests? Are they going to reduce teacher workload perhaps, or are they just going to burden them with extra work?

I mean, I know the answer to that one already but couldn't let it go by without mentioning.

Maybe it will replace the time they’re spending contact tracing.

That they’re also not paid for.

I did the home test on a family of kids I teach yesterday in their back garden as their mum couldn’t/wouldn’t do it. I won’t be signing up to volunteer for this at my school though ..!!

I agree with delaying face to face teaching in England though after allowing all the Christmas mixing.