More on schools closing longer over Christmas

Lumene · 2020-12-17T11:25:59+00:00

Looks like TES was right: [[https://mobile.twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1339520201428267008]]

peacockfeather11 · 17/12/2020 12:39

I wonder if this is for both primary and secondary

Original poster

Lumene · 17/12/2020 12:42

Looks like some secondary only.

OP posts:

Original poster

Lumene · 17/12/2020 12:43

But all including primary to get tested on return - not sure how the fuck that will work?!?

www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/13504326/school-holidays-extended-secondary/

OP posts:

FiggyPuddingFiend · 17/12/2020 12:46

Testing all on return is an excellent idea, however it is a massive logistical operation. Not sure how feasible it is to set up in such a short period of time.

Original poster

Lumene · 17/12/2020 12:50

Agree Figgy testing makes a lot of sense if it can be done.

Not sure how schools are supposed to do this though. Not keen on the idea of non medically trained people trying to swab primary kids, especially 4 and 5 year olds, and SEN children or those with negative feelings about school.

OP posts:

FiggyPuddingFiend · 17/12/2020 12:52

I've looked up - there are 8.82 million school children in England. That is a lot of tests to do in a week...

On a smaller scale we have about 2000 people at the secondary school I work at (including staff and students). So that's 400 a day, with each tester being able to do about 12 an hour, we'd need quite a few testers to get through everyone.

elsaesmeralda · 17/12/2020 12:56

My 6 year old has asd and there is not a chance in hell he will have a swab up his nose or throat, he can't even hack having his nails cut !

Char2015 · 17/12/2020 12:59

In theory, it is a sensible idea to test kids upon their return. However, in reality I cannot see it working out especially when schools are now breaking up for holidays and teachers are taking their well earned breaks.

RedToothBrush · 17/12/2020 13:01

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.

Char2015 · 17/12/2020 13:01

@elsaesmeralda

My 6 year old has asd and there is not a chance in hell he will have a swab up his nose or throat, he can't even hack having his nails cut !

There was some mention of schools being sent different tests that don't have to go up nose or to the back of the throat. I'm don't know the full details. And that's not to say any test will be easy to conduct or have done on any young person.

FourTeaFallOut · 17/12/2020 13:10

Am I being dense? How are they staggering the return? Do they mean some schools will be online and some will be in class on return or do they mean some year groups will be online and some will be in class?

FourTeaFallOut · 17/12/2020 13:12

Wait, by year group. Sorry, ignore me.

MummytoCSJH · 17/12/2020 13:18

@elsaesmeralda I came to say the same about my DS6. Not a chance he will have it done if its nose/throat and it will not make it any easier to get him to school when it's already extremely difficult!! I suppose it depends what the other type of tests are. I would definitely prefer having him tested for his safety and others, it will have a massive knock on effect though for kids with SEN.

DayBath · 17/12/2020 13:42

Sorry if I'm being thick here, but why aren't primary schools included? They may not want to pay for tests for primary schools if covid numbers are lower but surely a delayed return after Christmas mixing would make sense for primary as well, to weed out the symptomatic cases before they go back. They could just do online learning for a week or two without the cost of testing to help suppress the January wave.

RedskyAtnight · 17/12/2020 14:01

So schools are just expected to magic up online training for the first week back at half a day's notice?
My DC's school has already said that it can't see the testing system being in place much before Feb half term - they have to recruit people to do it, train them up, sort space in school, re-organise walkways ...

ByersRd · 17/12/2020 14:05

Shocking last minute notice to schools. Some are already finished for Christmas. Most close tomorrow. Poor staff and leaders, planning for all of these changes to remote learning and instigating testing during their Christmas break.

RSC's calling meetings for HT's next week!
Diabolical after the year that school staff have had. Everyone is on their knees

RedToothBrush · 17/12/2020 14:11

@DayBath

Sorry if I'm being thick here, but why aren't primary schools included? They may not want to pay for tests for primary schools if covid numbers are lower but surely a delayed return after Christmas mixing would make sense for primary as well, to weed out the symptomatic cases before they go back. They could just do online learning for a week or two without the cost of testing to help suppress the January wave.

Its possibly because very young children are less likely to get it. And its harder to teach reception and infants online as the very thing they are learning is primarily social skills rather than academic skills.

itispersonal · 17/12/2020 14:21

What a b*stard of a government. Teachers are on their penultimate days, heads and senior staff who worked through the summer holidays have been dropped in it last minute again!
So rather than have a relaxing Christmas break which they thoroughly deserve, they've now got to sit and wait for information to drop from the DfE of the January return!

RhubarbAndMustard · 17/12/2020 14:22

I don't think primary children are getting it less at all. It's swept through our primary. I think they have more asymptomatic cases though.

madasamarchhare · 17/12/2020 14:34

Typical of this government that they make such an announcement and leave the schools no time to prepare. In theory it’s a great idea to test everyone before they return but logistically it’s not all that feasible. Why have they not sacked Gavin Williamson yet he is so incapable.

ByersRd · 17/12/2020 19:19

DfE update has arrived about this...18.20!

lunar1 · 17/12/2020 19:27

I can't have a random who watched a YouTube video swab my 9 year old. He had his nostrils cauterised this year due to severe nose bleeds. He's been getting them since he needed repeated NG tubes a few years ago.

I'm not having anyone blindly poking around in there! I'll do it myself for them if that's an option otherwise he can go back late.