Are masks here to stay in secondary schools?

[Tonylepony]

My dc hate them but wear them without question. DS wears glasses which can be annoying as he does get issues with them steaming up but he rarely complains. I’m a little concerned about the summer when it gets hot as DD is prone to fainting. I remember Boris saying dc would be required to wear masks until Easter and it would then be reviewed, but I’ve not heard anything since. Anyone had an update?

@ChloeDecker no- at my kids schools the kids do not swab themselves.

And as a glasses wearer myself of course we are trying everything to stop fogging.

I have spent a fortune on lots of different types of masks- nose clips/different fittings/tighter/looser/higher/lower.

@GlacindaTheTroll DS school its staff doing the swabbing, (and they are still testing at school) DD school was adult volunteers.

I’ve heard until May 17 at least

I'm sure there are some schools which depart from government advice, and teachers who are on contracts which require them to act in that way (the unions say that some might be contractually obliged)

Never confuse what is happening in your school with what is the norm across schools (look at DofE, union, TES and other MSM for that).

Especially after the first 3 tests, after which the testing does not have to be on school premises at all.

Masks are not here to stay- but let's see how things go this half term.

I have spent a fortune on lots of different types of masks- nose clips/different fittings/tighter/looser/higher/lower.

You need to get some anti fog wipes for the glasses themselves, which are fantastic. Just one wipe in the morning and you are good for the day! Doesn’t matter what mask you have then. She’ll be so much happier

And sorry for assuming your DS’s schools did the swabs themselves. Please note that this is very very unusual and is against guidance (and so is continuing to test in school after the first 3). Even actual test centres don’t do the swabbing on LFTs! Very unusual and very risky move at your DS’s school but it’s their choice (and insurance!)

I didn't assume all schools were exactly the same- just a bit surprised that other posters were categorically saying kids swab themselves.

One of my Kids schools has been doing mass testing in school since October and they have different guidelines due to PHE being involved. That's why they're still testing at school

Anti-fog wipes for glasses- I thought they were bad for the anti glare coating on glasses?

Most of the anti fog wipes are absolutely fine for glasses with anti glare coating (I use them)

For example:

Life Art reusable wipe (which I use) www.google.co.uk/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjnrfHHjO_vAhXG7u0KHft3BwQYABAkGgJkZw&ae=2&sig=AOD64_3Z5vkKb8qCAe07ber-Vxz-hYDZbA&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwiJv-rHjO_vAhXMTcAKHafLDaYQ0Qx6BAgEEAE

Or these ones from Superdrug etc.

opticians.superdrug.com/anti-fog-wipes

A good homemade tip is to also wash, in the morning, the glasses in a bowl of warm soapy water (washing up liquid) then dry. They stay pretty misty free all day and I did this early on in the pandemic last year.

@ChloeDecker thanks for the tip. I’ve just ordered the life art wipe for ds

@ChloeDecker

I think it’s absolutely horrific putting children in makes all day long

You should try heading over to Twitter and see the thousands of posts from young people/children/teens telling adults like you not to speak for them and that they are fine wearing masks.

And Quidditch Queen - that is easy for you to say when you have already been vaccinated. Have some recognition for all of your colleagues who haven’t.

Oh have a day off will you 😂 let me guess your poor child is stuck in one all day! They don’t realise the long term effects and how utterly unhealthy it is, but hold up if it’s on Twitter then.......

There are no long term effects of wearing masks! I had to wear masks going out in the London smog from the age of 5 on medical advice, this was 50 years ago. Didn't stop me gaining several degrees etc.

Children wore masks in the 1918 epidemic.

No long term effects known.