Is it right that Teachers/support staff are expected to carry out testing?

[CheltenhamLady]

Just that?

Is it right or fair?

Nope. It's just another duty foisted on them, as if they haven't already had far too much to do after years and years of budgetary cuts from the Tories.😡

If support staff are testing, who is supporting the children they are usually supporting?

Both my children’s schools have asked for volunteers.

I’ve volunteered for DSs school, not sure what I’ll be doing as they haven’t quite figured it all out. I would fully expect all but a very tiny minority of students to be able to test themselves (mainstream comp).

Apparently not teachers as they are busy teaching. It looks like it will fall to admin / support staff and schools are currently trying to get volunteers. This is being done via email / parent mail and leaflet dropping in the local area.
The DFE have also suggested the PTA , exam invigilators and governors.

But as you said most of these people already have a job role so hopefully there will be lots of volunteers.

If support staff are testing, who is supporting the children they are usually supporting?

Nobody. Same with the teachers who are having to make difficult choices.

I'm support staff not teaching but volunteer in class to support my level 2 TA course.

I wouldn't mind testing others providing there's full training on how to do it properly.

I absolutely would not do this.

Would you let your solicitor test your children? Or the manager of your local Tesco’s? Or a police officer?

Fortunately I work in a school which a)knows better than to suggest we do this b) is fortunate enough to have in house nursing staff and money for overtime.

I still expect the tests to have a very high failure rate and be worse than useless in containing the continuing inevitable spread.

But the govt get to ‘try’ this for half a term or so and then wide eyed look surprised when it’s failed and hope to goodness they’ve managed to vaccinate enough people to get the hospital numbers down by then. All whilst appearing to be ‘doing their best’.

Apparently the kids will be supervised doing their tests. Given the hysteria which breaks out among teens during normal jabs that should be fun.

Yeah but don't forget there'll be a member of Army personnel available on a Zoom call so it'll all be fine.

Are teachers being expected to do the tests?

I honestly can't work the fuck out what's going on with the testing. I thought it was lateral flow not swabs, and the dc would do their own.

But to answer, no, I don't think that teachers should have to do the tests. I say that as someone who would gladly volunteer to help if it kept schools open. Teachers have enough to do.

I can't say I'd be thrilled at a non medical professional swabbing one of my dc either. I'd rather do my own child.

Yeah but don't forget there'll be a member of Army personnel available on a Zoom call so it'll all be fine

Only half of one though per school don’t forget, not enough for one each.

Apologies, yes that is correct, it does say this:

Participation is voluntary for the programme and active consent is required either by staff,
pupils or parents /legal guardians, as appropriate. Consent needs to be for the weekly
testing and for the serial testing component of the programme.
People who decline to participate in serial testing will follow the usual national guidelines
and are legally obliged to self-isolate according to the advice given to them by the NHS
Test & Trace service.

I hope as many parents as possible refuse to give consent.

Well, we are an AP school. We are supposed to he fully open from next week, while simultaneously setting up a full testing programme. With children who are not always the most cooperative. Staffing it will be really tough. All SLT teach. We have one admin person. The army will be doing a webinar though, so we do have military support...

I hope as many parents as possible refuse to give consent.

Why?

@Achristmaspudsskidu what would you like to happen instead - schools closed indefinitely?

@AaronPurr

I think if a child turns up for school they will be automatically tested.

Why would you think that?

No consent, no test.

Parents of 11-15s can refuse consent. Children 16+ can consent in their own if they are deemed competent.

If the child/young person/parent/staff member refuses consent, then they must follow national rules instead. So instead of doing 7 days of consecutive lateral flow tests, they would need to self-isolate for 10 days and get a PCR test if they have symptoms.

I doubt the army is too thrilled about this task!

And how many parents are happy for this to replace isolating. Given it’s not at all accurate when done by a professional never mind anyone else. Just another way to make schools even more unsafe.

@Whataloadofshit

I hope as many parents as possible refuse to give consent.

Why?

If you read mg post at 5.50pm, you’ll see why I think this.

I think that people who have been identified as close contacts should be self-isolating at home for 10 days, like they would everywhere else in the country.

The more parents that consent to do this, the more potentially positive cases there will be left in schools.

We have just been send the consent form for DS, it also states that if DS refuses to have the test on the day then he won't be tested. I am happy for him to have the mass testing but not happy for him to have a daily test instead of isolation if he is a contact. His school are really good at remote provision of work so he won't be missing much if he has to be at home.

I have children at university who have done the lateral flow tests. If you test positive on campus you have to go to a testing centre to get a proper test so there is a failsafe.

Are they planning this for schools? Nobody knows. The heads & teachers certainly have no idea.

@AppleKatie

I absolutely would not do this.

Would you let your solicitor test your children? Or the manager of your local Tesco’s? Or a police officer?

Fortunately I work in a school which a)knows better than to suggest we do this b) is fortunate enough to have in house nursing staff and money for overtime.

I still expect the tests to have a very high failure rate and be worse than useless in containing the continuing inevitable spread.

But the govt get to ‘try’ this for half a term or so and then wide eyed look surprised when it’s failed and hope to goodness they’ve managed to vaccinate enough people to get the hospital numbers down by then. All whilst appearing to be ‘doing their best’.

I understand your point and agree with the concept but silly examples like the manager of tescos or my solicitor really don't help this. For people to take the issue seriously the histrionics need to stay out of it .

I would not let the manager of tescos care for my children in a childcare setting , nor my solicitor.

I do trust the teachers and support staff to teach and care for my children at school as they are DBS checked and work under Ofsted guidance.

However this is an unreasonable request of them. I don't doubt their ability but I do doubt if its feasible or fair to expect them to do it.

Look I agree with the concerns but going over the top with tenuous examples really helps noone and just makes those objecting look a bit unhinged.

@EndoplasmicReticulum

Nope.

Although in most cases the students will be testing themselves (anyone who has ever met year 9 will realise that this is not a sensible plan either).

Plus (and I know I go on about this a lot but it really does need saying) - the tests are at best 50% accurate at detecting positives.

Very true.

Ps I love your username. It always catches my eye as my ds has a rare mutation in bscl2 gene and it talks about this in the genetics report! (Have no idea what it means though 🙈🤣)

[quote Cactusowl]@Achristmaspudsskidu what would you like to happen instead - schools closed indefinitely?[/quote]
Nope.

I want close contacts of positive cases to self isolate for 10 days-like everywhere else in the country.

Since when has a zoom webinar been classified as ‘army support’. The whole thing is a joke.