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Schools to open as planned in Jan, says Michael Gove.

221 replies

DonLewis · 28/12/2020 08:56

Breaking news.

I can't help but think this is madness.

OP posts:
Pastanred · 28/12/2020 19:52

Admittedly I haven’t read that but that’s not how they do it anywhere else

I’ve done mine in my bedroom before now

starrynight19 · 28/12/2020 19:54

@Pastanred

They do not need to isolate prior to going into class- that’s how it works now on many settings

It’s once a week don’t forget and many won’t volunteer!

So really it’s 3 staff for one hour a day to do each class

After time many kids will simply do them under supervision rather than one to one so could all do their own in form even!

It’s a quick swab and put in sealed packet

That’s it - whole class could be observed by teacher and be done in 5 mins

People really are over thinking if - many places already doing it

Teacher could hand all out in form/lesson/at lunch and ask them to return them

In my work they’re even given out to do at home and then handed in the next morning

I’m sure it’ll become clear in new year

Wow have you any idea how ridiculous this sounds. Kids can’t even hand in their work with their name on it. Never mind a lateral flow testing kit. Someone who works in a school who actually has done this in a pilot school with the army in to help posted before Xmas saying it takes roughly 30/35 mins per child for test and result.
RememberSelfCompassion · 28/12/2020 19:56

I guess someone who hasnt worked in a school may not realise how tricky it will be. Worth reading up and doing some research from work by headteachers/those who are aware od the logistics.

Pastanred · 28/12/2020 19:57

Sorry but that’s bullshit

Dd tested herself at a walk in site in 5 mins as I’m sure half the kids on here have done

People are making a massive big deal of something which is becoming routine and normal in many workplaces now

RememberSelfCompassion · 28/12/2020 19:57

Oh fgs.

starrynight19 · 28/12/2020 19:58

And as for testing instead of isolating close contacts that’s worked fabulously for Manchester City football club who test everyday and have now even more players testing positive. Two players tested positive on Christmas Day and now more today. Could that be because they have been still training together without social distancing , exactly the same as what will happen in school.

cantkeepawayforever · 28/12/2020 20:11

I particularly like the pages on Workforce.

Frazzled2207 · 28/12/2020 20:11

I predict they will proceed with the plan and the whole testing thing will fail due to lack of resources and then they will have to close.

starrynight19 · 28/12/2020 20:15

Dd tested herself at a walk in site in 5 mins as I’m sure half the kids on here have done

But that’s not what is being proposed in schools.

Lumene · 28/12/2020 20:16

Dd tested herself at a walk in site in 5 mins as I’m sure half the kids on here have done

How old is she though?

Lumene · 28/12/2020 20:18

People are making a massive big deal of something which is becoming routine and normal in many workplaces now

How many 4 and 5 year olds are there in these workplaces?

Pastanred · 28/12/2020 20:23

Lumene

12

Not being proposed for primary yet

Look I’m not saying it’s going to be easy but all you get on here is that it’s impossible

It’s not

It’s been tried in schools already

Dds school tests each month currently as so have seen it can be managed

Many workplaces do it and more I expect will follow til half the country’s being tested.

Yes it’s hard but let’s at least try be proactive

No idea why all the rules for flooring etc as many doing them in their cars so makes no sense

laudemio · 28/12/2020 20:39

New Times report says school opening in doubt after latest Sage report. We are being softened up, its coming.

Lumene · 28/12/2020 20:47

Fair enough Pasta, I take your point about giving it a go.

Equally I understand those involved in organising schools wondering how the hell they are supposed to make it work. Especially given the limited resources and lack of notice, common sense or practical planning that has been forthcoming from the govt.

starrynight19 · 28/12/2020 20:49

@Pastanred did your dd school do it within school with existing staff for all year groups ?

As I say I have only seen one school member explain how it worked in their school. They assisted the army in helping with the tests. Each child had to wait 30/35 minutes for results. They didn’t swab them but had to input barcodes etc.
I would be interested to hear a different experience. All we have is the DFE leaflet and the hope of a day of staff training on the first day back. That’s for the mass testing of year 11 and 13 the first week and then the rest of the school the week after.

Pastanred · 28/12/2020 20:54

Ours did the pcr test so it was sent off but it was voluntary for all year groups and like i say 25% didn’t volunteer

It’s voluntary with new testing so I read on that guidance someone posted

Kids did it themselves and just lined up and went through in their form groups

I presume admin did the codes but can’t say for sure

It was only once a month tho and kids were just supervised as all year 7 above

In my work we submit consent online which then automatically generates labels with barcodes

When I go for testing my label is there so I just do my test, seal it and stick my label on and walk out - that’s it.

I presume someone else does the admin side but testing wise we do ourselves and I can’t see why a child couldn’t but admit the admin side and cordinating may take more people but in time I expect it’ll prove quicker

cantkeepawayforever · 28/12/2020 20:56

Pasta,

I am married to someone who is responsible for setting this up for a 3000+ strong educational setting on multiple sites.

They need, according to the calculation given in the guidance, up to 36 full time staff, all of whom must be unpaid (as it has been made clear that there is no additional money. on questioning within the select committee) and must be available on demand for 7 days of work. All must either have DBS OR there must be a member of staff with DBS present (but safe) in every testing room to oversee all non-DBSed adults.

The government has not communicated how many tests per day they will be given, whether they will indeed come with the appropriate PPE and whether costs will be reimbursed.

At least 3 large rooms within the sites must be available, all must have non-porous floors, and all must have space for queueing and for processing tests, as well as students waiting for results, because obviously it would be very hard - and would create a huge number of new close contacts - if tested students who could be positive are released out into the site before their results are complete. As every single room on the sites is in full time use, in order to reduce group sizes (they take Covid security seriously, with 2m boxes for staff and limited numbers per room) the timetables have to be changed.

Luckily, the head has decided that this is obviously ludicrous and has refused to do any work on it until after 4th January / whenever the number of tests per day per setting is released, whichever is later. Otherwise DH, rather than having the first days off since March (and i include all weekends, as he is in charge of contact tracing so spends weekends doing that), would have spent the Christmas break sorting everything out.

Pastanred · 28/12/2020 20:56

I guess it depends on if you have tech savvy people too as you’d I imagine someone with good ict could do 2-3 times the work of someone who’s not skilled

cantkeepawayforever · 28/12/2020 20:58

When I go for testing my label is there so I just do my test, seal it and stick my label on and walk out - that’s it.

So you don't process your test? That's what school staff will be expected to do - process the test and generate a result before the child can be released.

cantkeepawayforever · 28/12/2020 20:59

I guess it depends on if you have tech savvy people too as you’d I imagine someone with good ict could do 2-3 times the work of someone who’s not skilled

I am not sure that processing rapid flow tests is ICT work? More biochemistry.....

Pastanred · 28/12/2020 20:59

The isolation/separation wouldn’t refer to the random tests though - there’s no requirement to separate or isolate asymptomatic pupils who’ve not been in contact

Vast majority of tests will be the standard weekly ones

I’m Surprised they’re not sending them home

So much easier as you can request a lft to do at home now so why not makes no sense at all

Pastanred · 28/12/2020 20:59

Tech for the barcodes, inputting the personal data, consent details etc

Pastanred · 28/12/2020 21:00

Can’t

They don’t need a test and release for asymptomatic - that’s for contacts which over time will massively reduce

Normal week to week testing requires no isolation

cantkeepawayforever · 28/12/2020 21:02

Pasta, we are talking at cross purposes becuase we are talking about different things.

I am talking about the 'once every day for 7 days' testing that education settings are being required to set up INSTEAD of sending classes / bubbles / year groups home to isolate.

I know no schools which have not had to send children home to isolate last term - one local school sent home 6 year groups out of 7, one 5 year groups out of 7 due to huge numbers of positive tests, so you are talking about 1000-1200 pupils daily.

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