I don't understand the opposition to mass testing in school

[Blanketyblankblankety]

I thought that's what teachers on here wanted. Won't it mean school will be much safer as you'll be able to identify asymptomatic DC plus not have to rely on parents not to send DC in even with symptoms. Why is there so much negativity?

@Blanketyblankblankety

Forget it. It's impossible to have a discussion on here without it becoming abusive.

Given the amount of shit that's aimed at teachers on MN, I'm not surprised they've reacted strongly to this, as your original post was deliberately goady – "I thought this is what teachers wanted" and "why all the negativity". You knew exactly what you were doing when you worded it like that, because you've posted on plenty of other threads about schools from what I can see.

Surely having lots of random volunteers to conduct tests in a large secondary school after the Christmas holidays will be a risk in itself? How often will the volunteers be tested? Especially if they’re moving between schools.

This is in the times this morning. Sage have said that lateral flow tests shouldn't be used to prevent high risk activities happening. Close contacts, even siblings of positive cases returning to a packed classroom withno social distancing is high risk.

@rosie1959

Would it not be simpler to issue students tests to do at home before they go into school

Much better idea!

My worry about this is slightly different. Let's assume that the lateral flow tests are 70% effective (generous). If a case is identified then testing the whole bubble this way will mean that potentially 30% of kids will test negative and be allowed back to school when they are in fact carrying the virus. Contrast that with the current situation where they would all be asked to isolate for two weeks. I'm not sure how that helps to be honest.

@RiverBanks

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I agree some schools did fail children during the lockdown but there were also many that didn't. The problem is you are saying that all teachers owe time and showing no understanding for the job many are doing now.
When we eventually return to normal, those that have always gone over and above may not do. We have been labelled lazy etc by the media and a number of either poorly informed or genuinely let down parents, as a result some teachers may decide not to do the after school club, sourcing materials at the weekend etc that they've always done in the past. The real losers will be our children.

March has been and gone - we need to unite and look forward together. Yes - our children have been let down but some of that has been unavoidable.
The government releasing further guidance next week does not give schools enough time to implement mass testing. Yes - we need to move forward but it will work better if we stop throwing mud and work together. Making unfair and snide remarks will achieve nothing but resentment.

Frankly I think many teachers will still have hours to make up from the 6 month school closure period.

With that attitude, I guess we can all agree that Ofsted have got nearly a year to ‘pay back’ and can be instructed to single-handed to take over the planning and implementation of the school testing program. In fact, they should be happy for the opportunity to step up!

Oh come on OP! Really?
Of course testing was wanted. But not announced on the last day of term, with Head having been given no info as to how this huge operation will be funded or organised.

With that attitude, I guess we can all agree that Ofsted have got nearly a year to ‘pay back’ and can be instructed to single-handed to take over the planning and implementation of the school testing program. In fact, they should be happy for the opportunity to step up!

An excellent suggestion.

Thanks for the reports. There was a previously banned poster on this thread. We've deleted their posts and sent them on their way.

@MichaelMumsnet

Thanks for the reports. There was a previously banned poster on this thread. We've deleted their posts and sent them on their way.

Thanks Mumsnet!

@lonelyplanet

This is in the times this morning. Sage have said that lateral flow tests shouldn't be used to prevent high risk activities happening. Close contacts, even siblings of positive cases returning to a packed classroom withno social distancing is high risk.

Definitely.

That’s interesting.

Thanks for the reports. There was a previously banned poster on this thread. We've deleted their posts and sent them on their way

Thank you, MNHQ.

That one didn't even attempt to disguise their agenda.

Would it not be simpler to issue students tests to do at home before they go into school

Yes!
I’m not sure why this hasn’t even been considered?!
Those who are positive will be coming into school on a public bus, touching surfaces and coming into contact with various people only to be sent home a couple hours later instead of just staying at home and coming into school if negative.

To those asking about forced testing - there is definitely no forced testing at my school we have been reassured of that.
But we have many students with physical or mental disabilities who are not able to be tested and so I don’t know what is going to happen with them.

I also can't see why the testing has to be in school. NHS and care staff are issued with packs to do the test at home. It's a DIY thing anyway. The teacher is only going to be overseeing so why could their parents not do that?
We then submit the result just via text.
If you were worried about lying you could ask for a photo of the test showing the serial number.
Why is there this need to make schools and teachers be responsible?

@DougRossIsTheBoss

I also can't see why the testing has to be in school. NHS and care staff are issued with packs to do the test at home. It's a DIY thing anyway. The teacher is only going to be overseeing so why could their parents not do that? We then submit the result just via text. If you were worried about lying you could ask for a photo of the test showing the serial number. Why is there this need to make schools and teachers be responsible?

This sounds so sensible.

The thought of it being now policy to send close contacts and siblings of positive cases into school instead of self isolating is really worrying me.

It’s also worrying me that nobody is really talking about it. All I can see is comments about the logistics of setting up testing sites, but why is this change not being shouted from the rooftops??

There's zero chance of this testing happening, probably best to just accept that schools will be closing, and plan for that instead.

@BlanketyblankBlankety - teachers are on their knees. Announcing mass testing and a delayed return to school on the eve of the holidays is unforgivable. And I'm sure you'd love it if loads of volunteers who aren't CRB checked turn up in your children's school. Your children will have loads more disruption if this continues because there will be mass strikes. Teachers are not the enemy here, they want the same as you. I'm not a teacher by the way. And I no longer have school aged children.

Yes!
I’m not sure why this hasn’t even been considered?!
This has been mentioned a few times now so I’m re-posting this from earlier in the thread. Basically the MHRA do not consider home administered tests to be accurate enough to be relied on and so have blocked them being sent to individuals at home.

@Judashascomeintosomemoney

Yes! I’m not sure why this hasn’t even been considered?! This has been mentioned a few times now so I’m re-posting this from earlier in the thread. Basically the MHRA do not consider home administered tests to be accurate enough to be relied on and so have blocked them being sent to individuals at home.

Ahhh!

But those quick 50% accuracy lateral flow jobbies done at school on close contacts of positive cases by Kevin’s mum will be just fine

This has been mentioned a few times now so I’m re-posting this from earlier in the thread. Basically the MHRA do not consider home administered tests to be accurate enough to be relied on and so have blocked them being sent to individuals at home.

Thank you.

As a teacher I am no more capable at giving a test at school than I would be as a parent giving it at home.
I suppose we will be given training during the first week back which other parents wouldn’t have but I still don’t understand how allowing positive cases into school is going to reduce the spread.

I would not be surprised if the entire testing thing is nothing but a smokescreen. I think the government may have been advised that it is going to be absolutely essential to shut schools to keep the hospitals from overflowing. They don't want to back track on their "keep schools open at all costs" so, in order to have a lockdown that will include schools, they have invented this crappy testing fiasco. They also probably know that it will be impossible to do in a week, leaving the option that if cases are particularly high in the run up to the 11th, they may need to delay school return further. But not because they are a hotbed of spread, no, no, no. The delay will be caused by schools not doing the impossible quickly enough.

@Nellodee

I would not be surprised if the entire testing thing is nothing but a smokescreen. I think the government may have been advised that it is going to be absolutely essential to shut schools to keep the hospitals from overflowing. They don't want to back track on their "keep schools open at all costs" so, in order to have a lockdown that will include schools, they have invented this crappy testing fiasco. They also probably know that it will be impossible to do in a week, leaving the option that if cases are particularly high in the run up to the 11th, they may need to delay school return further. But not because they are a hotbed of spread, no, no, no. The delay will be caused by schools not doing the impossible quickly enough.

Exactly what I think too.

They may need to delay school return further. But not because they are a hotbed of spread, no, no, no. The delay will be caused by schools not doing the impossible quickly enough.

This is definitely a possibility. The sad part is a lot of people will fall for the lies and blame schools. You can see it now when posters / the public talk about schools with rising cases / closing due to cases. It's rarely the Gov who are at fault or to blame, instead it's the narrative that the school / staff didn't do enough, didn't have enough measures in place, must have done something wrong etc. When the reality is the school was following the crappy guidance, which does little to help prevent the spread of the virus.