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Original poster

Exclusive: DfE considering delay to start of next term

386 replies

herecomestheSon · 16/12/2020 20:37

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
DecemberSun · 17/12/2020 09:45

Teachers and school staff have to make a united stand and refuse to test.

Achristmaspudsskidu · 17/12/2020 10:08

@DecemberSun

Teachers and school staff have to make a united stand and refuse to test.
Parents have the most sway here. If they refuse to consent, it won’t happen.
Eng123 · 17/12/2020 10:22

What is the issue around teachers and volunteers administering tests? It's not a medical procedure it's a throat/nasal swab. Not beyond he whit of the average person!

2020out · 17/12/2020 10:26

@Eng123

What is the issue around teachers and volunteers administering tests? It's not a medical procedure it's a throat/nasal swab. Not beyond he whit of the average person!
I have to fill in a form if I administer a plaster.

I am not allowed to give children hand cream or sun cream.

So I'm quite wary of sticking a cotton swab up their nose. I've been trained to be so...

DecemberSun · 17/12/2020 10:26

@Eng123

What is the issue around teachers and volunteers administering tests? It's not a medical procedure it's a throat/nasal swab. Not beyond he whit of the average person!
When do you suggest they do it? They are teaching all day and only get about 20 minutes for lunch. Then there is lesson preparation time.

I'd love to see how they fit it in to their day. Maybe stick a broom up their backsides to sweep the floor as well.

Don't be so ridiculous.

Bayleaf25 · 17/12/2020 10:29

Our Y13s have their mocks first two weeks back and presumably they are more important than ever this year. Additionally Y13 have already been self-isolating for 10 days so in theory if they didn't mix over Christmas they would be less risk than if they had been surrounded by the 300 other children in their year group bubble.

Also online learning doesn't work for the practical A'Level subjects (of which two of DS's are) as he needs access to specialist equipment and software, so it just means another two weeks of not achieving very much at all.

MrsPworkingmummy · 17/12/2020 10:37

26DecemberSun

Eng123

"What is the issue around teachers and volunteers administering tests? It's not a medical procedure it's a throat/nasal swab. Not beyond he whit of the average person!"

I'm a teacher and simply do not want to do it. I do not want to get close enough to the students to be able to swab their mouths and noses, therefore putting myself at further risk. Absolutely no way. Some of the students' hygiene is awful and I'd feel sick at the thought of having to hold a potentially infected swab. My anxiety would be absolutely through the roof.

RememberSelfCompassion · 17/12/2020 10:44

Er because they should be teaching. Even at 2 mins a child (as if!) Thats a whole lesson testing...

ineedaholidaynow · 17/12/2020 10:49

@Eng123 how do you think a parent volunteer would cope with a stroppy Y11 who didn't really want the test or was mucking about

RedToothBrush · 17/12/2020 11:45

Back on topic...

Kate Ferguson @kateferguson4
Schools return in January is set to be delayed, the DfE's head mandarin has all but confirmed to MPs. Gavin Williamson will make a written statement today.

Kate Ferguson @kateferguson4
The DfE perm sec says there will be no extension to Christmas hols - so looks like online learning for the first stint of term

Kate Ferguson @kateferguson4
Schools update:
* Most secondary school kids will get extra week off school after Xmas
* These kids will be online learning
* Mass testing will be rolled out
* All primary school kids, exam years and vulnerable / key worker kids back in class for start of term

I'm not seeing this being reported elsewhere yet, but the Guardian live feed is saying this:

DfE chief refuses to deny reports return to class for pupils in England in January could be delayed

Susan Acland-Hood, the Department for Education’s most senior civil servant, told MPs that “conversations were going on” over when state school pupils in England would return after the Christmas holidays, but refused to confirm reports that the start of term would be delayed.

Appearing before the Commons’ public accounts committee, Acland-Hood was questioned about claims that the start of term next month would be delayed in England. “We don’t have any plans to lengthen the Christmas holiday,” Acland-Hood said, before hinting that some changes would be announced shortly. She said:

There are conversations going on about exactly how parents and pupils will go back at the beginning of January but I’m afraid I can’t speak to the committee about that this morning.

But Meg Hillier, the committee’s chair, told Acland-Hood:

It is ludicrous that we are at the end of term, the final day for any school in England is tomorrow, and you are sitting here today and you can’t tell us any more detail about what might happen on the fourth or fifth of January next year?

“I entirely accept that this is very difficult for people,” Acland-Hood said.

Hillier responded:
It’s not just difficult, it’s impossible. If a school is breaking up tomorrow and that means pupils and teachers and other staff will not be in school next week, how are they expected to plan for any changes in January?

So this does look likely now.

Eng123 · 17/12/2020 11:54

@ineedaholidaynow
Why does a yr 11 not do it themself?

BungleandGeorge · 17/12/2020 12:12

Why are people saying this isn’t a medical procedure? It’s a diagnostic medical test. It would probably be much simpler and avoid issues if the kids did it themselves. Those who are unable (little kids/SEN) are a whole different kettle of fish than getting an older child to do it themselves

MarshaBradyo · 17/12/2020 12:13

I don’t know why they can’t do it themselves. Mine did age 10 and there’s no way I’d do the teen.

PurpleDaisies · 17/12/2020 12:13

@MarshaBradyo

I don’t know why they can’t do it themselves. Mine did age 10 and there’s no way I’d do the teen.
Because the accuracy of the lateral flow tests is absolutely crap when not done by trained people.
MarshaBradyo · 17/12/2020 12:16

Does it come back inconclusive? Or false result

PurpleDaisies · 17/12/2020 12:16

False negative

FiggyPuddingFiend · 17/12/2020 12:18

If the kids are going to test themselves, why get them to come into school to do it. Surely it would make more sense for them to do it in the morning supervised by parents than have a load of potentially infectious teenagers on site that if they test positive need to get home... I realise there are issues with people potentially lying and saying they've done it when they haven't, however I still think this would be better than them all coming into school.

BungleandGeorge · 17/12/2020 12:57

The lateral flow tests aren’t the same procedure as the pcr or other rapid tests. You swirl around the front of the nostril. You don’t have to push them right in or do tonsils like the others.

RedToothBrush · 17/12/2020 13:00

BBC now reporting:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-55348886
Staggered return in January for England's secondary schools

The return to school in January will be staggered in England's secondaries, with some starting online in rather than in class, the BBC has learned.

It will allow head teachers to set up a Covid testing scheme announced this week - but with exam-year pupils going back to start term as usual.

The National Education Union said making the announcement on the last day of the school term showed "panic".

School leaders will be expected to run and manage the testing regime.

Secondary school age children have among the highest infection rates but an ONS report suggests virus rates in schools reflect the levels in their local communities.

The government insists this is not an extension to the school holidays and primary schools will not be affected by the move.

Eng123 · 17/12/2020 13:27

A lateral flow test is an easy process! I've used them for blood work previously. Honestly are people so useless that they can't be trusted to follow simple instructions. We do have a society of wallflowers who can't judge risk for themselves or use a screwdriver.
Agree it would be better to test at home prior to going though.

MarshaBradyo · 17/12/2020 13:28

@BungleandGeorge

The lateral flow tests aren’t the same procedure as the pcr or other rapid tests. You swirl around the front of the nostril. You don’t have to push them right in or do tonsils like the others.
Sounds fine for secondary age to do it
gebruiker · 17/12/2020 13:40

If it is as simple as BungleandGeorge suggests (though I haven't heard that before), then a secondary school pupil could do themselves. My DS would not be able to stick something as far back as the PCR swabs - I think the brain's natural defence can just make some people not able to, bit like a gag reflex.

I am not thrilled about DS not going to school at the start of term. It will be a very quiet Christmas, may be with just me. It will be very isolating for him to another week or two or even more, who knows, stuck at home, while not actually being 'off' but having to sit in his room doing online lessons all day.

What happens with all the sports club currently allowed to operate? The DC are not allowed to go to school but are allowed to mix at sports clubs and other after school activities in January?

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 17/12/2020 14:03

Why has Gavin Williamson still got a post? One incompetent cock up after another.

Even this week has been hysterical

  1. Let’s send snotty letter to Greenwich (first letter dated incorrectly) saying we will take you to court for closing 3 days early
  2. Let’s sneak out school testing program ( it doesn’t matter that some schools have already broken up). PowerPoint sent with resources to follow
  3. Let’s do a staggered return. (Okay some schools have finished and so staff might find it tricky to plan around that but hey it’s not our problem)

Where is Gavin? Tenerife?

gebruiker · 17/12/2020 14:07

@StaffAssociationRepresentative

Why has Gavin Williamson still got a post? One incompetent cock up after another.

Even this week has been hysterical

  1. Let’s send snotty letter to Greenwich (first letter dated incorrectly) saying we will take you to court for closing 3 days early
  2. Let’s sneak out school testing program ( it doesn’t matter that some schools have already broken up). PowerPoint sent with resources to follow
  3. Let’s do a staggered return. (Okay some schools have finished and so staff might find it tricky to plan around that but hey it’s not our problem)

Where is Gavin? Tenerife?

Yes, Greenwich schools not allowed to do online learning in December, everyone told to do online learning in January (even areas in tier 1).