How are they going to test children twice a week?

[Baileysforchristmas]

Just listening to the updates. When schools go back children will be tested twice a week which is a great idea but how are they going to do this?

The parents will have to do it at home.

It says on the BBC that secondary pupils will be tested three times in school, further tests will be carried out at home by parents.

Schools can have a phases return in the first week to focus on testing.

@Baileysforchristmas

Just listening to the updates. When schools go back children will be tested twice a week which is a great idea but how are they going to do this?

It’ll be for secondary school children only and done at home with parental supervision.

Probably at home lateral flow testing same as NHS staff.

LFT in extended tutor?

Details here from the guidance about how the home testing will work for secondary pupils. It’s the same lateral flow tests that teachers do.

Worth noting as well that testing is voluntary

That’s good news that the testing will be at home. Our school’s sports hall has been converted into a testing centre so hopefully this means we can turn it back.

So you test at home, lateral flow tests sent home for each family with secondary school children? Who checks this is being done? Do you need proof of negative test to show the school?

@Baileysforchristmas

So you test at home, lateral flow tests sent home for each family with secondary school children? Who checks this is being done? Do you need proof of negative test to show the school?

No one, its voluntary.

@Baileysforchristmas

So you test at home, lateral flow tests sent home for each family with secondary school children? Who checks this is being done? Do you need proof of negative test to show the school?

Can only presume your school will be in contact to let you know what their system will be.

@Baileysforchristmas

So you test at home, lateral flow tests sent home for each family with secondary school children? Who checks this is being done? Do you need proof of negative test to show the school?

Nobody checks it’s being done and you don’t need proof of a negative test to show the school.

Parents at home in young ones, good luck with that. Seniors will do it themselves in school, according to various reports (guesses 😁) by “commentators in the radio today.

Lovely in theory 🙄

Parents at home in young ones, good luck with that. Seniors will do it themselves in school

No. Primary children aren’t going to be tested and secondary children will be doing their tests at home with their parents supervising if necessary. It’s all in the guidance

My daughter’s 15 so will do it herself, she’s done a home test before, not a problem so not worried about that, just wondering how many lateral flow tests they have for every secondary school children home, then what’s the point if no one checks? I would do it as I want schools open but don’t want to put teachers at risk, neither would my daughter, I hope everyone has that view.

@Howshouldibehave I can’t read the guidelines it’s all blurry if I enlarge it.

It’s freely available to search for...

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/963541/Schools_coronavirus_operational_guidance.pdf#page23

Thanks

Lateral Flow Testing has been happening in schools for some weeks now.
It's actually relatively straight forward. Parent gives or declines permission. Parent registers child on NHS Covid test sight with the parents email or mobile number. Parent gets results.

The children I test are remarkably resilient. They were initially talked through the steps of self testing, now they only need minimal support and encouragement.

The big challenge after 8th March will be just be the logistics. Well aired space, testing stations and information recording.

The big challenge after 8th March will be just be the logistics. Well aired space, testing stations and information recording

The tests will be done by the pupils at home in all but very few cases.

@Howshouldibehave

The big challenge after 8th March will be just be the logistics. Well aired space, testing stations and information recording

The tests will be done by the pupils at home in all but very few cases.

The first three tests will take place at school. The average secondary school in England has 900 pupils.

Today 20:36 Howshouldibehave

Parents at home in young ones, good luck with that. Seniors will do it themselves in school

No. Primary children aren’t going to be tested and secondary children will be doing their tests at home with their parents supervising if necessary. It’s all in the guidance“

Interesting, just watched PM’s statement (my eyes 😱) and I thought he’d said all pupils. Maybe I was focussing on my own family age group.

Will look again (stiff drink first)

We have been testing in our tiny SEN school since January. We had to convert one of our classrooms (we only have 5 in total, so this has caused us a bit of a problem). But the biggest problem we have had is getting rid of the medical waste! Not one of our current waste management companies has any capacity so we have the used tests currently bagged up in a locked cupboard until we can find a company who will

Sorry - posted too soon.
A company who will dispose of it safely for us.

I agree StopGo.
I'm a volunteer at my children's school and we've been testing boarders, key worker/vulnerable children and staff for 7 weeks now and it has all been very straightforward. We've had no significant adverse events at all and nobody who has tried has been unable to swab themselves. There are some who haven't consented, which is their right, but the majority have taken it in their stride.
I was pretty sceptical myself before we started so I do understand why people think it won't work, but if the pupils at my boys' school are anything to go by, there's nothing too much to worry about. Once they've done it a couple of times they just get on with it with no fuss.
The logistics of mass testing are going to be a challenge but the actual test process isn't difficult.I think once a week would be do-able in our school, but twice a week probably not, just because of the space and number of volunteers it would need. I think we could probably test one year group per morning or afternoon if we can get enough volunteers but the space available then becomes rate limiting. No doubt we will find out in a couple of weeks!