Do you have questions about the return to school or regular COVID-19 testing? Ask GP Dr Amir Khan and principal Gerard Garvey

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With schools now open to all children, we know that many parents are feeling relieved to have their children back to school. However, you might still be feeling a bit unsure about the transition, what new and existing protective measures are being implemented (including regular rapid testing), or how teachers are helping children catch up following time away from the classroom. So, this week GP Dr Amir Khan and principal Gerard Garvey will be here on Mumsnet answering any questions you have about children's return to school.

Find out more about the experts below:

Dr Amir Khan is an NHS Doctor, GP, and best-selling author. Dr Amir is a frequent face on ‘Good Morning Britain’ and ‘Lorraine’ and will be able to offer his expert medical advice on any questions that you have as all children return to schools.

Gerard Garvey is the principal at Newcastle Sixth Form College. Gerard has first-hand experience of ensuring that schools are ready to welcome students back with additional COVID-19 measures so parents and pupils can feel at ease about face-to-face learning.

Here’s what Dr Amir Khan says: “It’s great to be seeing all children heading back to schools. Being in the classroom is so important, and children and young people continue to be at relatively low risk from COVID-19. It’s great to see new and existing measures in place at schools, to help protect both students and staff. New measures such as increased use of face coverings for all educational staff as well as secondary and college pupils and regular rapid COVID-19 testing are now available for secondary school and college pupils, education staff, and families and bubbles of all children.

Rapid lateral flow tests are essential in the fight against Covid-19. If you, your family or bubble test positive at home, then you should all self-isolate and the person who has tested positive should also take a confirmatory PCR test and follow latest government guidance. All these measures are there to ensure your child is safe at school because ultimately, it really is the best place for children to be, not just for their education but for their mental wellbeing and development too.”

Here’s what Gerard Garvey, says: “It’s been challenging for a lot of children, teachers and parents, particularly over the last few months, so it’s great our doors are open to all children once more, to see their smiling faces! The new and existing measures in place, will take the risk of Covid-19 down even further than it has been before. All students are our priority, and we want to reassure parents that we are keeping your children as safe as possible at school. Please ask us any questions you may have.”

From more information on testing for education staff, parents and support bubbles of nursery, school and college students, and what to do if you receive a positive result, to the rules on face coverings and what protective measures schools have put in place to welcome children back, Dr Amir and Gerard Garvey will be answering your questions throughout the week.

Please note that Dr Amir will not be able to respond to questions asking for specific or personal medical advice. If you are worried about a personal health issue, please contact your GP.

As a thanks for their time, all who leave a question on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list) supplied by Mumsnet. The prize draw will be carried out on 23rd March.

Thanks,

MNHQ

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Hi Dr Khan

Do you and other medics think there is social distancing in schools? I see you have mentioned this as a control measure?

Thanks

Lateral flow testing and social distancing have been shown to work

I presume you mean in schools, @DrAmirKhan. When and by whom was this study done? You really shouldn’t say things like this without good evidence.

@lemonjam

At our school only the row in front and behind in a classroom get sent home of someone tests positive- does that really work?

Hi lemonjam

Like your school, we also only ask those in the immediate vicinity of a learner with a positive result to self-isolate. Every school will be different due to classroom layouts and class sizes. We have single learner desks and have these spaced at just over 1 meter which means we usually have to get between 5-8 to self-isolate. Our experience during the mass testing pilot in December – where we tested all learners every week – gave no indication that we needed to change this process.

@sjonlegs

My eldest son attends a specialist school and with profound medical and complex special needs and being pre-verbal he can't vocalise his opinions. The tests are not a legal requirement, or mandatory, and whilst my other two children in mainstream are taking the tests regularly and giving their consent, he can't. In the interest of fighting this virus, and his vulnerability, however, we would like to do regular tests on him at home, how possible is it to obtain these quick tests to perform on him and where would we get them from? Please advise. Thanks

Hi sjonlegs

My advice would be to contact your son’s school. AT my college, we have now issued all consenting learners with home test kits to begin using these right away. You should be able to access these from the school.

@BristolMum96

Is there any point in the LFT considering nearly a third of the pupils at my child's school are refusing to take it ? Will it bring a false security?

Hello BristolMum96 (and others who posted very similar questions)

At Newcastle Sixth Form College we have had over 800 students consenting to testing, but this still means a sizeable proportion of our learners opted out. For me, the fact that we have been able to test the vast majority of our college community means that we have a sense of how many asymptomatic cases there are, this has given us reassurance that it is now safe for them to be back in the classroom. As I have commented on earlier posts, testing is only one part of the reopening strategy and we still have all of the measures that were in place before Christmas including increased sanitisation and social distancing measures.

@skippink

How long will testing go on for? What are the benefits for doing the tests?

Hi skippink

In most schools, those consenting should have had three tests across the last two weeks and should now be moving to home testing. The school should be in the process of issuing the test kits. The last two weeks should have provided consenting learners with the familiarity with the process so that they can effectively administer the tests themselves. In some circumstances, schools may continue to administer tests for learners – at my college we are keeping our testing centre assembled should this need to be put back into use.

@ohdannyboy

How regularly would I expect my child to be tested - and do you see this being a regular practice in the long term

Hi ohdannyboy (and others who posted similar questions)

All consenting staff and learners should now be moving to home testing and undertaking 2 tests per week. At this stage, it is unclear how long this will need to continue but our students are reporting that this is quick and easy to administer and they appreciate that this is allowing them to remain in college and experience face-to-face learning.

@buckley1983

I'd be interested to learn more about whether there might be more of a focus on the emotional wellbeing of our children. There is certainly much more awareness & discussion around mental health than there was 10 years ago - but this pandemic has had a huge impact on the mental health of many, not least on the mental health of our children. Some children have been incredibly anxious about returning to school, others have been in tears having been off school for so long - for children (like my own son) who have no siblings - there are huge gaps where he has not been able to be around other children at all. Luckily he has adjusted well - but I would love to learn more about any additional learning/education regarding the impact of the pandemic on mental health which is being built into the cirriculum. Thank you :)

Hi buckley1983

I have no doubt that the setbacks our young people have had in the last year are not just educational. We certainly saw a decline in the emotional wellbeing of some of our learners and there was some anxiety about the return to the classroom. Fortunately for most, being back in school/college is having a positive impact on their mental health and most are now settled back in and benefiting from face-to-face interaction with their teachers and peers. We recognise that our role is more than simply delivering the contents of a particular qualification and we look to provide the wrap around support that learners need to get back on track and achieve their goals.

Many thanks for your questions, I hope my answers were helpful and I would always advise those with concerns to contact your child's school in the first instance. Be assured that everyone who chooses to work in education wants the best for young people and will be working extremely hard to get them on track.

Goodbye
Gerard

There is no social distancing in most schools. This has been pointed out repeatedly from posters upthread, including from teaching staff in schools without social distancing. It's at a minimum rude to continue to parrot the social distancing line when it's clearly not true in many (I suspect the majority of) cases.

I personally don't know of a single school where it's true. The virtual tours I did of secondaries in Sept were eye opening. Unbelievably crowded.

I suppose 2+2=5 and schools have social distancing. Orwellian.

Hi everyone! Thanks for all of your questions. This Q&A has now closed and we have selected a lucky prize winner for this prize draw. The winner is @kungfupidge - congratulations!