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.

Who suggested school nurses should do it?

I live in a town with a population of around 115k

The school nursing TEAM is 6 part time nurses. They bring in extra staff to administer the vaccines. The flu season is October to December all day every day in schools. Then they have the teens cervical ones in spring.
They do the height and weight checks.
They also provide counselling to vulnerable students and parents.

Don't think they have the resources either.

@ineedaholidaynow

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

But that would be so many pupils it could reasonably be described as mass testing

I absolutely want testing in schools.

It needs to be done by actual medical professionals.

I'm completely in agreement that this is a terrible plan and I think that mass testing in schools should a) not be used to avoid isolation and b) carried out at home - but surely no one really thought that school testing would realistically be done by HCPs? Surely self/parent administration is the only reasonable option here?

Who are you frustrated with @Humbersausage?

@Humbersausage

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

You are frustrated with COMPLETELY THE WRONG PEOPLE

We’re all frustrated with the government for being just flat-out shit at their jobs.

@ineedaholidaynow

Who are you frustrated with *@Humbersausage*?

Many on this thread who just seem to yet again shying away from the challenge to really do something almost patriotic. In the sense that they would really be serving their communities by keeping our children an teenagers in school

PPs have made clear there isn’t the resources for others to do it if all tests had multiple witnesses and the tester was given ppe would that be ok?

In the sense that they would really be serving their communities by keeping our children an teenagers in school

We are.
By fucking teaching them.

That is our job. Not being bloody field medics in the zero free time we have.

the challenge to really do something almost patriotic.

Jumped the shark here.

Serco have been paid 22 billion to do this.

The DfE has lost a lot of respect from the teaching profession this year. It has been one load of mismanagement shambles after another.

@PurpleDaisies

In the sense that they would really be serving their communities by keeping our children an teenagers in school

We are.
By fucking teaching them.

That is our job. Not being bloody field medics in the zero free time we have.

You are teaching them when in school but that doesn’t help the (not at all your fault) many isolating periods and the 6 month closure before that

But that would be so many pupils it could reasonably be described as mass testing

No, it could reasonably be described as ‘DfE recommends school pupils stop self-isolating when they’ve been in contact with positive covid cases and recommends they use 50% effective daily tests instead, and just carry on as normal’.

@Humbersausage

PPs have made clear there isn’t the resources for others to do it if all tests had multiple witnesses and the tester was given ppe would that be ok?

No because it is going to put more kids with covid into classrooms than previously.

And previously it was a disaster.

@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)

Yes to saliva (spit) 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.

Very happy to work with the DfE on these, as well as implementing a wide range of safety measures to ensure more pupils spend more time being properly educated.

@Humbersausage
Well why don't you start work at 7am. Finish at 4pm if you're lucky. Be flat out the entire time, eat on the run.

Then after work, swab test 30 teens every day. In your own time.
They go home to try to recuperate (do some more work) before repeating.

All day every day since March our teachers have been slogging.

@noelgiraffe

the challenge to really do something almost patriotic.

Jumped the shark here.

Serco have been paid 22 billion to do this.

Yup, I wondered where Farage was.

I think the bus drivers driving the kids in should step up and do it. Maybe the dinner ladies whilst they're prepping the food each morning. Logistically it will be a nightmare for teachers and support staff as they're all busy doing their actual jobs!? We barely have time to grab a brew and have a wee, never mind testing the students for covid 🙄

Got to love Humber

Tonight’s u4t rep

Love how, even in their guidance, they can't answer a straight question:

"Who will be doing the testing in schools and colleges?"
"The Government is supporting all schools and colleges to set up appropriate spaces on site that can be used for testing. Schools and colleges are supplied with test kits and PPE and training will be provided. We will provide an advice line and guidance to support schools."

Do you realise how insulting you have been to all the teachers on this thread @Humbersausage?

I am not a teacher, but I am a school governor and I have seen the hard work all the staff have put in this term in all the schools I am involved in. There are really no words that I can say to them that express my gratitude for all that they have done.

Many on this thread who just seem to yet again shying away from the challenge to really do something almost patriotic.

Patriotic? Oh my god, you must be stupid beyond words if that's your argument for teachers being forced to administer tests on the very same kids they're not allowed to give even Calpol to! Oh, and teachers are already serving their communities by teaching their children day in, day out. It's not the job of teachers to keep children in school during a pandemic - it's the bloody Government that has made a shitshow of handling everything so far.

Your wilful ignorance is staggering.

You are teaching them when in school but that doesn’t help the (not at all your fault) many isolating periods and the 6 month closure before that

Oh yeah. I forgot that when that happened I was sunbathing with little mojitos instead of remote teaching.

Humbersausage

Many on this thread who just seem to yet again shying away from the challenge to really do something almost patriotic.

And you claim not to be being goady.
You really are blind to the situation that teachers are in.

Stop drinking the kool Aid and read up on the situation before you post anymore bollocks.

As well as being trained to administer tests. Staff/volunteers would also need to be trained in PPE use. How to remove and dispose.
Mass testing via the army is whats needed here. School staff should not be expected to get that close to large numbers of pupils that have been in contact with a positive case. Surely it massively increases the teachers risk of infection and would lead to more staff off.