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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
FrippEnos · 16/12/2020 21:56

Humbersausage
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 dear.

Hardbackwriter · 16/12/2020 21:57

@MidtoLon

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.
I am astonished by this and it must be incredibly unusual (or they're just not actually doing it well enough to get a proper result - I think ONS only tell you if you test positive, so perhaps hers are always invalid?). I've had to test my two year told three times and he's been distraught each time, and that's the experience of everyone I know with a child too young to perform the test on themselves, that it's been upsetting and scary for the child. It is really quite an invasive and unpleasant test. I wouldn't want a young child to be tested by their teacher for the teacher's sake but also theirs - it would be so upsetting and scary for them.
Humbersausage · 16/12/2020 21:57

Could existing testing staff not be redeployed to schools what about offering additional hours to test and trace staff to do this?

Humbersausage · 16/12/2020 21:57

@FrippEnos

Humbersausage 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 dear.

What do you mean?
AuntieStella · 16/12/2020 21:57

@Achristmaspudsskidu

Mass testing scenario that I and other teachers would like: 15 close contacts sent home, others in class (or better still, year group) tested to pick up other cases allowing better control of spread.

This is it in a nutshell.

Are there people out there who don’t think this suggestion is a good one?

I think this is the only scenario that should be considered

At least until they have immunised everyone in at least priority 6 and higher

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 16/12/2020 21:57

Hang on - I just need to find my ‘Covid u4t DfE schools’ bingo card.

Timeturnerplease · 16/12/2020 21:58

I’m not opposed to the idea of carrying out tests on my class (though I teach 7/8 year olds so some parents might not be too thrilled). I’ve done many more things that I’m not trained for to support families.

I just want to know WHEN we are going to find time to do this. At 7.30am, when I arrive at school to prep for the day? At lunchtime, when I serve lunch to my class and frantically try and borrow an adult to stand outside the room and supervise so I can have five minutes to go to the loo and administer my medication? After school, when I antibac spray and hoover my classroom/mark/make resources/deal with parent emails/complete SEN paperwork? At 5.30pm, when I try and collect my daughter early enough to see her before bedtime? Between 7 and 10pm every night when I get the bulk of my planning done?

I for one will be fuming if the government announce that this is to be done during the school day, when they fought so hard against Greenwich BC ‘taking learning time’ from pupils.

Humbersausage · 16/12/2020 21:58

@PurpleDaisies

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.

Did I say that?
FrippEnos · 16/12/2020 21:59

Humbersausage

What do you mean?

Same as before, you have no idea and no desire to find out the truth.

But keep posting it just the same bullshit, different poster.

ThelmaNotLouise · 16/12/2020 22:00

@Humbersausage

Could existing testing staff not be redeployed to schools what about offering additional hours to test and trace staff to do this?
Not the worst solution – as long as they've all been DBS checked so they can be around children.
StaffAssociationRepresentative · 16/12/2020 22:01

Humber has only got to mention two more things and I think I can shout house.....

Got my pen ready 😂😂😂

Achristmaspudsskidu · 16/12/2020 22:02

@StaffAssociationRepresentative

Humber has only got to mention two more things and I think I can shout house.....

Got my pen ready 😂😂😂

Brilliant!
Humbersausage · 16/12/2020 22:02

Fascinating I am called “goady” for respectfully pointing out the truth but many on this thread think it’s open season to insult, ridicule, gaslight and accuse me of being part of a cult

ThelmaNotLouise · 16/12/2020 22:04

Fascinating I am called “goady” for respectfully pointing out the truth

Here, let me rewrite that for you:

Fascinating I am called “goady” for being goady and casting slurs against a profession that has already taken so much abuse already during this pandemic.

PurpleDaisies · 16/12/2020 22:04

@Humbersausage

Fascinating I am called “goady” for respectfully pointing out the truth but many on this thread think it’s open season to insult, ridicule, gaslight and accuse me of being part of a cult
You are being ridiculed because your suggestions are ridiculous.
Humbersausage · 16/12/2020 22:05

@ThelmaNotLouise

Fascinating I am called “goady” for respectfully pointing out the truth

Here, let me rewrite that for you:

Fascinating I am called “goady” for being goady and casting slurs against a profession that has already taken so much abuse already during this pandemic.

That’s a total fabrication and what slurs have I uttered?
SineOfTheTimes · 16/12/2020 22:05

@Humbersausage

Could existing testing staff not be redeployed to schools what about offering additional hours to test and trace staff to do this?
Using existing T&T staff - currently actively working for 1% of their working hours, according to the National Audit Office - to do this work sounds like an excellent plan.

Does this need to involve schools, though, with the consequent risk to the wider community, and the increased risk of schools closing because of staff isolation?

WhenSheWasBad · 16/12/2020 22:05

There’s no way I can find time to do this (even if I wanted to which I don’t) I get to work at 7.15am and leave at 4.30pm.

I’m run off my feet all day. I’m emotional and exhausted, genuinely can’t take on anymore right now without totally buckling.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 16/12/2020 22:05

@Itisasecret

Hi Ecosse.
Maybe, though I was thinking more along the lines of Dolores Umbridge. Couldn’t trust MNHQ to drop the message in before page 40 so joined the thread themself...
FrazzledChip · 16/12/2020 22:06

Sorry I don't want to administer tests and I don't want my kid's school to have to do it either. They've enough to do and so have I. I can't imagine how long it would take to do an entire class, let alone the school. You need to ensure samples aren't mixed up, some kids have sensory issues and will be hard to swab. Imagine the parents who complain we made Johnny's nose bleed etc. I'm sorry this is all wrong - can you imagine nurses being asked to teach young patients on the wards (like they don't have anything better to do!). I would imagine any testing would require parental permission and I certainly wouldn't be giving mine.

FrippEnos · 16/12/2020 22:06

Yup, What ThelmaNotLouise posted.

@Humbersausage You have been weighed; you have been measured; and you have been found wanting, lets drop the pity party act.

Hardbackwriter · 16/12/2020 22:06

@Humbersausage

Could existing testing staff not be redeployed to schools what about offering additional hours to test and trace staff to do this?
But most test centre staff don't do tests, they hand them out and collect them and sort the logistics. I think that if you want anyone but a parent/guardian to carry out a test on a small child they'd need to be a trained medical professional (which isn't going to happen, which is why I think any mass testing for school children would have to be done at home)
KnowingMeKnowingYule · 16/12/2020 22:06

The truth?! 😂 Absolutely you were being goady.

Support your children's educators is my advice. Funnily enough we do this job as we are the ones who want to improve kids' life chances. Oh and I'll do that by teaching my subject, imparting knowledge and inspiring a love of learning... not by sticking a cotton wool bud up their noses.

mondaywine · 16/12/2020 22:07

What truth? You’ve spouted nothing but a pile of hot air. This is not a job for a member of school staff or worse, a volunteer. I cannot begin to imagine why parents would even be willing to let school staff administer this test.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 16/12/2020 22:08

@Humbersausage

Could existing testing staff not be redeployed to schools what about offering additional hours to test and trace staff to do this?
Excellent idea, maybe contact Gav with that one because there’s not much anyone on this thread could do about that.