The Thirty-seventh Republic - Mass testing rolls on - school staff remain expendable

[SantaAssociationRepresentitve]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders, and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Do not give the staffroom password just in case it attracts the wrong sort

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation.

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom and you will receive a detention

@LumpySpacedPrincess

What a bloody mess. Currently 3 of my colleagues are ill with covid but we're just going back in come Monday. They really do hate us don't they.

They seem to hate everybody. For some reason they now seem to be actively trying to kill people.

Not teachers, I suspect most of them will be alright. But there doesn’t seem to be any particular rush to try and get this virus under control. If the new strain is now everywhere and hospital admissions are now increasing nearly everywhere, why is the whole country not tier 4.

Why are all schools not shut. If the schools they are shutting now are the ones in the first tier 4 areas, the next ones will be the ones in the next read that went T4, finishing up with the ones in Tier 3 being the last to close. Why are we waiting until there’s a complete crisis when the must know exactly what’s going to happen next? Why are this useless load of ministers incapable of learning from every mistake they’ve made in handling covid so far?

@LumpySpacedPrincess

What a bloody mess. Currently 3 of my colleagues are ill with covid but we're just going back in come Monday. They really do hate us don't they.

Yep, same here!!

Heard of another colleague testing positive today. That makes 5 of us sick over the Christmas hols now.

And all technically back in on Tuesday.

Right, the SECOND a child slightly coughs /says they have a tummy ache / looks a bit peaky, they get bundled up and packed off home. I'm taking absolutely no chances.

I honestly thought my morale was already on the floor!! Turns out it could sink even lower...

Yup Rafals....

Yup Rafals....

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay
Why are we waiting until there’s a complete crisis when the must know exactly what’s going to happen next?

Boris, and so by extension his cabinet, is a ditherer and not a decisive decision maker. He hates when there are options and so will always wait until there's no choice. That way, he doesn't really have to take responsibility for it.

As a result, the Government's policies and decisions are always reactive not proactive.

(See how much I agree with you?)

How do we know the tests being delivered aren't for mass testing? They've already said exam years at front of queue for testing W/c 11th?

Re stomach aches, they havant even expanded the symptom list

No mention of masks...

Both of the 1:1 assistants in my bubble (because, you know, technically I'm not in a bubble with the other people I work with, including the one I share an office with) have CEV family members at home. They were both at home entirely between March-September. I'm dreading one or both of them saying they are staying away. I can't do my job on my own without them, so that'll mean two of our children not having their allocated 1:1 support as people get jiggled around (and cross bubbles).

I really, really want to be in for my kids, but not feeling like this. I can't teach properly if I'm feeling nervous, panicky and weepy. Just hope I feel a bit better before Tuesday.

@DecemberStar

(See how much I agree with you?)

How do we know the tests being delivered aren't for mass testing? They've already said exam years at front of queue for testing W/c 11th?

When the idea of testing in schools was first announced, it was made clear in the guidance that this was close contact testing not regular mass testing as had taken place in universities. The only exception to this was staff, who they do want to test regularly.

They may have changed this for returning year groups after the holidays (though I've not seen anything confirming this) but, once the term is properly underway, tests are for close contacts.

[quote Iamnotthe1]@SansaSnark
(and yes, I agree the tests are sort of pointless, but at 50% accuracy, they are marginally better than nothing).

Not when they are the replacement for isolation.

There is no mass testing - that's a misconception pushed by the headlines. Those 1000 tests you got are exclusively for close contact testing.[/quote]
All school students are to be tested once before schools resume, aren't they? This is definitely the assumption my school are working on- but maybe they are wrong.

Obviously testing as a replacement for contact tracing is useless.

I was forced to have coffee with Simon Armitage once.
Is he as boring as he appears to be? I love everything about the Pendle Witches and the history of the area, but his documentary sent me to sleep. DS does an impression of his voice that is duller than Father Stone’s . Can’t be doing with his Professional Northerner schtick.

Isn't there ANYONE who can stage an intervention?

@KatherineOfGaunt

Both of the 1:1 assistants in my bubble (because, you know, technically I'm not in a bubble with the other people I work with, including the one I share an office with) have CEV family members at home. They were both at home entirely between March-September. I'm dreading one or both of them saying they are staying away. I can't do my job on my own without them, so that'll mean two of our children not having their allocated 1:1 support as people get jiggled around (and cross bubbles).

I really, really want to be in for my kids, but not feeling like this. I can't teach properly if I'm feeling nervous, panicky and weepy. Just hope I feel a bit better before Tuesday.

Honestly, if you feel panicky, I would strongly suggest getting signed off.

There is no benefit to forcing yourself in next week.

Exactly, Rafa! And with the vaccines so close. It beggars belief how they are still flapping around.

I’m sure that’s what Gav said, 2 tests before return to school and then close contact testing to replace self-isolation.

The original plan was two tests for all 3 days apart and then they could return (although the tests aren't compulsory). Is this not happening?

@SansaSnark

There is no requirement for pupils to be tested before returning in January. Actually, the whole testing system isn't mandatory just "strongly recommended".

Just done a bit of checking. Whilst not required, the Government thinks it's a good idea to test everyone as they return. After that, they'd like a routine of weekly tests for staff and close contact tests for students. So not mass testing really.

Will keyworker and vulnerable be tested before they return ?

@CallmeAngelGabriel

Off-topic, but was Thread 36 the quickest on record?

It was all that talk of shagging

It certainly sounds vague on the initial testing front doesn't it? Guess we have to await the Guidance..... (this thread might go quicker than the previous one!)

Am SO relieved to find other Armitage haters / at least finders-of-said-Laureate-very-tedious (esp the voice)

I mean I love poetry and have tried with him, but....

@starrynight19

Will keyworker and vulnerable be tested before they return ?

That's implied by the "starting with those already in school" bit

[quote Iamnotthe1]@SansaSnark

There is no requirement for pupils to be tested before returning in January. Actually, the whole testing system isn't mandatory just "strongly recommended".

Just done a bit of checking. Whilst not required, the Government thinks it's a good idea to test everyone as they return. After that, they'd like a routine of weekly tests for staff and close contact tests for students. So not mass testing really.[/quote]
What are you basing this on?

I haven't read the detail, but my school communicated to parents that all students would be tested before the school fully reopened.

Maybe they have fucked up? I can't imagine our parents loving a back track on that.

@Hercwasonasnowball

The original plan was two tests for all 3 days apart and then they could return (although the tests aren't compulsory). Is this not happening?

Not quite.

They have the first test:
Positives - go for a second "proper" test to confirm but isolate in the meantime.
Negatives - come to school and then retest three days later.

Call me.

I'm absolutely sure there is, there are so many different perspectives to this....

Someone legal, safety etc... I'm not up in unions etc but surely they have legal teams?

I've said this so many times, sorry if you have already read this but in an age of risk assessments for everything, even cake sales and who handles the money I just can't believe that there isn't a risk assessment, duty of care, locus parentis thing here!!

Well, @SansaSnark , I'll see how I am, but I would find it very hard to be off. My colleagues would be really under pressure to cover me.