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

[CheltenhamLady]

Just that?

Is it right or fair?

Parents are volunteering at my sons school but its indi so they are better at free thinking solutions rather than formula following. Much like every other aspect of this pandemic.

Indi needs to survive where as states dont have that motivator

It is not fair to ask school staff to do his tbh. And the governments headline ‘1500 army personnel being deployed to help schools’ is utter bollocks as what schools need is more hands not someone on the end of a phone or zoom call

The testing replacing isolation is intended to be rolled out in primary too in the spring.

Although I won’t be holding my breath.

And whoever does them, if they are the same as the NHS staff tests, you need to wait 30 mins before reading the answer. My kids don't have half an hour in school before actual start of lessons, so teaching time will be affected, or they will be released to first lesson before outcome known...or maybe the 30+ tests from each class get mixed up and they all have to retest or isolate just in case :(

@ineedaholidaynow, thank you. Sorry to sound so confused but if someone in DS’s class tests positive and he needs to isolate, should DD at senior school isolate too? What if DS develops symptoms? Should DD isolate at home with us then? Would school inform her close contacts then or not?

@noblegiraffe

The testing replacing isolation is intended to be rolled out in primary too in the spring.

Although I won’t be holding my breath.

Holding your breath is going to be the next strategy announced by Gavin to make schools safe.

@Blubellsarebells

I very much doubt the tests will turn up where they need to be and on time. This is not going to work for all the reasons stated. Another poor show/pie in the sky.

Very likely , same as summer schools and the mass catch up tutoring programme probably.

@Achristmaspudsskidu

I don't think most are isolating anyway though. In fact I know lots who haven't isolated when they should have been.

So the testing might be a better of two evils.

DD just reminded me of the girl in her form given a detention in March for insisting upon wearing a mask. Apparently they were useless and unnecessary.

Holding your breath is going to be the next strategy announced by Gavin to make schools safe.

If you are a contact, only the contact has to isolate not the rest of the contact's family. If DS is a contact then no DD doesn't have to isolate, but once DS gets symptoms then your whole household has to isolate.

I’m nit clear on the detail here. So the kids do the test themselves ie sticking it up their nose

Is that you, Gav?

Maybe the tests will end up in the same place as all those extra laptops schools were promised.
Its just more bullshit.
Im almost certain nothing will come of it.
My city was promised mass quick testing.
Nothing.

@Achristmaspudsskidu

Teachers aren't nurses & they aren't being treated as keyworkers by being allowed the vaccine. Sorry but this isn't fair and it's all very surreal

[quote Whataloadofshit]@Achristmaspudsskidu

I don't think most are isolating anyway though. In fact I know lots who haven't isolated when they should have been.

So the testing might be a better of two evils.

[/quote]
They won’t have been in school if they were a close contact in school and supposed to be isolating. Now they will.

My kids school has emailed tonight asking for a) consent and b) community volunteers.

I absolutely don't think it should be school staff doing testing. I absolutely don't think it should be non-medically trained volunteers either. I think if the govt want to roll out mass testing in schools they need to have secured a team of people qualified to do this. What they've actually done is such a slap dash load of cack.

Why aren't they using the saliva tests? Just as effective and non-invasive. That's what they're using in the US now.

@Blubellsarebells

Maybe the tests will end up in the same place as all those extra laptops schools were promised. Its just more bullshit. Im almost certain nothing will come of it. My city was promised mass quick testing. Nothing.

Yes we have been tier three forever , still no mass testing. Lead to us becoming tier 4 now brilliant.

It’s absolutely not right or fair for teaching staff to go testing or even supervision. I do understand that we are in the middle of pandemic but I prefer more investment to PCR testing especially when it could be done at home.
Personally I won’t give my consent to test DD. She’s 16 but won’t be able to do a test or to give her consent because she has additional needs. And tbh she won’t give consent, she won’t give her consent even for a finger prick if you ask her. For her any testing will be very traumatic so I won’t consent for her doing lateral flows test which are not reliable. In case if symptoms she will be booked to have PCR test, at home, done by me or her Dad. And if in contact with a positive case she will stay at home if necessary and as long as necessary.

@Inthemuckheap

Why aren't they using the saliva tests? Just as effective and non-invasive. That's what they're using in the US now.

Because Matt Hancock doesn’t have any mates in the saliva test business.

I initially thought they were a much easier test than the tonsil swab.

Not only is it not fair for teachers to do this, is it legal?

We received by email his week, consent forms and a letter outlining the plan. I've not responded as yet and in any case the dates will be changing following yesterday's announcement. I do not agree to testing replacing the isolation of close contacts. I feel this is a disaster in the making. Even if I object we are still more at risk as my child could now be sat next to a close contact who will eventually test positive. If this goes ahead I'm considering homeschooling until the vaccine has been sufficiently rolled out. My husband is ecv but back at work. I have a year 10 and another in year 11. Important school years but not at any cost in my opinion.

I also work in a sen school and received an email to say we would be testing our secondary age students, however our numbers are small and we have an onsite nurse. Our head was perplexed to say the least as had no idea how many tests or equipment we were getting. They are apparently being sent to us on Monday and staff will be the guinea-pigs. What fun!

I still can't believe that twonk Williamson thought secondaries would be up and running with this scheme by Tuesday after having just 1 day to set up, train and plan. What a completely useless, incompetent, waste of space.

I'm not consenting for my children unless the tests are in addition to isolation.

Because Matt Hancock doesn’t have any mates in the saliva test business.

Yep. Depressing when you stop and think about why they're making the decisions, even more depressing that those making the decisions are socially distanced in the commons or working from home.