Couldn't make it up...1500 military personnel to support testing in schools...

[ByersRd]

...virtually!

Not even on site, from behind a screen.

@Ivytheterrible79

You couldn't write it. Its hilarious.

I'm totally resigned to the fact that I will in fact be swabbing kids. In fact it wouldn't ever suprise me if in july I'm vaccinating people. I will probably be trained via a video link on how to use a ventilator next.

What would surprise me would be some recognition and access to a vaccine early.

Thank you. You made me LOL. Teachers- Jack of all trades masters of none.

I'm totally resigned to the fact that I will in fact be swabbing kids.

"Teachers are not expected to take a role in the testing process."

"[military] teams will also be on standby to deploy at short notice to provide in-person support to resolve any issues in the situations where testing would otherwise not be able to go ahead. Schools and colleges will shortly be provided with further information on how to request additional support if needed."

www.gov.uk/government/news/military-to-support-the-testing-of-thousands-of-secondary-school-and-college-students-in-england

Everything is supposedly coming “shortly”, including the actual guidance and training videos (which you can’t actually start testing until you have!) Even schools with a space set up and sufficient volunteers won’t be starting this on Monday, as they still don’t have this guidance. It’s appalling how they can go on the news and just lie that schools already have support to start testing on Monday. Then, when it doesn’t happen, some (not all) parents will automatically blame the school because they assume it’s their fault.

I thought January 4th (Monday) was meant to be the training day?

Training can't be on the 4th.
Training will start once LA's and trusts have training to share. Training will be in place once health and safety advisers have considered and understood the risks, in order to support school leaders to apply this to their own school.
In addition advertisements need to be placed for the volunteer recruitment to administer the tests and support the process. Then the volunteers need training.
Logistics need planning too.

And of course once leaders, including governors consider all of the above, they need to approve the plans to administer the tests.
Testing is optional for schools.

I think some schools and colleges will be able to arrange training on the 4th - some LAs have already been involved in the pilot schemes so they will have training material to share.

What I meant was that testing wasn't expected to begin on Monday (Misssugarplum12764's post) as schools were told they could use the 4th as an extra INSET day for training. Obviously schools won't start testing if they are not ready to do so.

"Testing is optional for schools" - yes, I know.

In addition advertisements need to be placed for the volunteer recruitment to administer the tests and support the process.

Paid positions advertised here;

COVID-19 TESTING ASSISTANTS – Bristol, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, Swindon... Job Start Date: 4 January 2021.

25th January start date for Merseyside, Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Halton and Warrington.

"Prospero Teaching are heavily recruiting for COVID-19 Testing Assistants to help provide any additional staffing needs schools may require to fulfil their testing requirements."

prosperoteaching.com/jobs/covid-19-testing-assistant-bristol/

Yep, note 25th of January start, so testing won't start until the end of January once these volunteers are in place.

Of course those adverts are speculative by recruitment/supply agencies, not from schools or LA's. Schools will try and recruit their own due to high supply costs and contract terms and conditions. Finances are tight enough without having to spend more with private agencies.

I will also add that there is a huge increase in TA vacancies. Unprecedented. The last TA recruitment in which I was involved there were only 5 applicants, three withdrew before interview. The recruited TA was a teacher leaving teaching.

Not sure that these TA jobs, managing testing will be any more attractive!

Finances are tight enough without having to spend more with private agencies.

Every secondary school and college in England is being offered testing, with £78 million funding for schools and colleges to support this offer.

Haha! Have you any idea the state our schools are in. Deficit budgets, redundancies, lack of school maintenance.

£78m - Funded by the tax payer, I want best value for my money when recruiting. Not lining the pockets of a private recruitment consultant. (Earning more than the TA conducting the test).

Just like the 'extra' funding for schools for catch up. Might be millions but works out at £80 per pupil ...

Certainly seems to be plenty of job advertisements for temporary testing assistants for schools;

www.reed.co.uk/jobs/covid-19-schools-jobs?temp=True

There are only about 75,000 soldiers with at least 10,000 deployed abroad. In contrast to half a million teachers already in schools...

@Clavinova instead of spouting a whole load of rubbish are you going to volunteer to help with the mass testing?

ineedaholidaynow

I'm not the one spouting rubbish - it was confirmed almost immediately by Nick Gibb (17th/18th Dec) and several other people I heard being interviewed on the radio that teachers would not be asked to supervise the testing - I don't know why so many teachers on here are expecting to do so.

"Students will be expected to swab themselves in the vast majority of cases, under the supervision of a school staff member or volunteer who has been trained for the role. Teachers are not expected to take a role in the testing process"

So the office staff will be doing it? Or the art technician?

@Clavinova

ineedaholidaynow

I'm not the one spouting rubbish - it was confirmed almost immediately by Nick Gibb (17th/18th Dec) and several other people I heard being interviewed on the radio that teachers would not be asked to supervise the testing - I don't know why so many teachers on here are expecting to do so.

To be fair on teachers, Robert Jenrick then went on the telly days after that saying all it would need was 1,2 or 3 teachers to do the testing!