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.

@Humbersausage

It’s mildly irritating that many of the same people who have been for months pushing for testing in school to be now turning round and trying to kill exactly what they asked for in the cradle. It’s almost as if this has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with certain left wing elements of the teaching profession trying to undermine the government because they don’t agree with then ideologically.

Well it’s a shame that you haven’t actually understood the difference between what was wanted and what is proposed and have instead leapt straight for bollocks politicking.

As I have been one of those pushing for testing I will re-iterate my request:

An end to only sending home close contacts as it is not working, isolation needs to be more widely used not less. I wanted mass testing of an entire bubble when there was a positive case. Tests administered properly that work effectively, one of those mobile testing units we were promised in September maybe. And once the asymptomatics have been flushed out, proper isolation of their classes. Retesting 7 days later.

What we’ve got is the demand that headteachers create and staff an on-site testing lab over the Christmas holidays. Close contacts will no longer be required to isolate, but instead rock up to school (potentially spreading covid on the way), to have a 50% effective test administered by someone working for free. Then they are free to head to lessons because the shonky test didn’t pick up their covid.

That’s not anything to do with left versus right, but sanity versus lunacy.

@Humbersausage

It’s mildly irritating that many of the same people who have been for months pushing for testing in school to be now turning round and trying to kill exactly what they asked for in the cradle. It’s almost as if this has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with certain left wing elements of the teaching profession trying to undermine the government because they don’t agree with then ideologically.

I think it's teachers wanting someone else to administer the tests because they don't want unreasonable parents to be accuse them of assault when a swab gives someone a nosebleed or makes them gag/vomit. They don't want to be the target of UsForThem types who won't consent to testing and won't pickup their kids to isolate because they think it's a hoax

I'm a single parent. I have asthma. I'm not risking me and mine to stick swabs up infected teens noses
Quite. When we went to the out of town testing centre, in our car, we were met by a strictly controlled, well planned, drive through staffed by people in what resembled Hazmat suits. We weren’t allowed to even roll our windows down to speak to them, they communicated by written boards (Love, Actually style). They passed the testing kit to us with a litter picker and we had to throw them back out in to a basket. Now, only a few weeks later, suddenly Kevin’s Mum and Pauline from the sixth form cafe are totally qualified to carry out the tests 🤨.

[quote Anon22]It is a lateral flow saliva test.

dfemedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/12/15/mass-testing-in-schools-your-questions-answered/[/quote]
No, it’s not @Anon22

Read the handbook

schoolsweek.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Schools_Colleges_Testing-Handbook_version-3.3-Copy.pdf

@Humbersausage

they just aren't trained to do this

Many people have made huge changes to their roles this year so many groups of people have massively stepped up its just disappointing that teachers have time and time again (on MN at least) refused to step up to the mark when called upon

I think I stepped up magnificently delivering a full time-table on line and extra-curricular activities- no need to be so goady about teachers not stepping up.

Some teachers were also delivering free-school meals to those in need - that was stepping up

I agree with you all. But I have no doubt that teachers will be asked to do this and teachers will do it.

It's kind of scary, how we all end up complying. I don't know what the answer is.

Get the Army involved. Teachers need tk teach. There's enough non-teaching crap dumped on them as it is.

@Humbersausage

It’s mildly irritating that many of the same people who have been for months pushing for testing in school to be now turning round and trying to kill exactly what they asked for in the cradle. It’s almost as if this has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with certain left wing elements of the teaching profession trying to undermine the government because they don’t agree with then ideologically.

Yes to saliva lateral flow tests used for screening everyone for asymptomatic cases, in an efficient and time and resource effective manner.

Yes to swab lateral flow or PCR tests, administered by an external, funded mobile unit of suitably trained and insured staff, with pupils going directly to the unit without using public transport or being in contact with the members of the school community who aren't close contacts.

How much money has been poured ineffectively into Test and Trace so far? This is the kind of appalling profligate spending which should be condemned, surely?

I understand there are legitimate concerns but why not try to work with dfe instead of a point blank refusal which is just so it in the spirit when there have been so many other people who have hugely stepped up to the mark (not that many teachers haven’t)

[quote Anon22]It is a lateral flow saliva test.

dfemedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/12/15/mass-testing-in-schools-your-questions-answered/[/quote]
Again, this is what has been sent to schools. Throat and nose.

waxonwaxoff0 my 3yr old granddaughter has been having, initially weekly then monthly, throat and nasal swab tests along with her parents as part of the ONS survey since the summer. It does not and never has bothered her at all.

Maybe the DfE could step up to the mark

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Get the Army involved. Teachers need tk teach. There's enough non-teaching crap dumped on them as it is.

Lol. If education has been cut to the bone, do you not realise the military have too? They don’t have the people power either.

It really is all coming home to roost.

As a teacher, I will NOT be agreeing to administer these tests. I highly doubt many teachers will agree to this. Completely outside of our professional remit.

@ineedaholidaynow

Maybe the DfE could step up to the mark

They have by providing this mass testing

@callistography

As a teacher, I will NOT be agreeing to administer these tests. I highly doubt many teachers will agree to this. Completely outside of our professional remit.

I would love many PPs to explain to me how this one is “stepping up to the mark”

Humbersausage

They have by providing this mass testing

Still wrong, keep trying.

@Humbersausage

I understand there are legitimate concerns but why not try to work with dfe instead of a point blank refusal which is just so it in the spirit when there have been so many other people who have hugely stepped up to the mark (not that many teachers haven’t)

The DfE who are threatening to take schools to court? Why can’t they just work with schools to keep children and teachers safe instead of being batshit bully-boys creating covid plague pits?

Why is the onus on teachers to back down on something that is blatantly unsafe?

Humbersausage They're looking for parent volunteers too. Look forward to seeing you at the head of the queue.

(PS> Stop being so fucking goady.)

I’m sorry if this comes across as goody I am just so frustrated

It's not mass testing @Humbersausage, it is only testing students who should otherwise be self isolating

Hi Ecosse.

@Humbersausage

I understand there are legitimate concerns but why not try to work with dfe instead of a point blank refusal which is just so it in the spirit when there have been so many other people who have hugely stepped up to the mark (not that many teachers haven’t)

How do you suggest they work with the DfE? There are no staff to administer these tests. There is no money to hire staff to administer these tests. The accuracy of these tests depends on having someone medical administering them.

Schools have no experience setting up mobile testing centres. You’d have thought that this might be something experts organised by the DfE might be good at?