Thread by @SchoolsWeek, Harries says that in the event schools do reopen, schools "already have [...]

Harries says that in the event schools do reopen, schools "already have very good systems of controls". She says the fact we "haven't seen vast numbers of schools with major outbreaks", we can be "reasonably reassured" system of controls are "pretty effective" #edselctte

Harries says mechanism for transmission of the virus hasn't changed, so measures DfE have recommended for schools previously "still apply". But new variant is more transmissable and all of those interventions will be "monitored" #edselctte

Scientists are asked about lateral flow testing of pupils, and the confidence they have in their safety. Harries says they are "accurate but with provisos". Says they help detect asymptomatic cases #edselctte

Harries says doing two lateral flow tests a week "means that two tests in a week is equivalent in effectiveness and accuracy of one PCR". This is because of speed and the fact you can take positive cases immediately out of circulation #edselctte

Harries adds accuracy of the tests "has perhaps been misunderstood in some circles".

"We're finding it's highly effective at probably around 80-85% at picking up cases in their most infectious period where a PCR test will pick up viral fragments but over a much longer period"

Hargreaves says no test is perfect, and "what we need to try and do is find the appropriate use of lateral flow tests in schools".

Says one use is to pick up additional cases, and there's "broad consensus" that can be useful. But concern is not "over-interpreting negative test"

"If you get a negative test it doesn't mean that you can ignore the usual mitigation procedures, you still need to be doing all of the social distancing, all of the hand washing, all of the mask wearing where appropriate" - Hargreaves #edselctte

Hargreaves says the concern is around the daily contact tracing. Aim is different: to improve attendance. "And there is at least a hypothetical risk of increasing transmission". Says there's a "huge issue of professional judgment" #edselctte

Hargreaves says he thinks experts are "all broadly agreed that there are potential benefits we're all agreed there are potential risks in doing this" #edselctte

"Where we are now is I think we need to be looking at a more detailed evaluation process, and we've got the time until half term to do that," says Hargreaves. Will look at performance of LFD testing in school settings, and behavioural impacts #edselctte

On masks, Viner says it's a "complex area", because evidence on masks and children and young people "is practically zero".

"Very little evidence" that masks make a "significant difference" to children and young people, meaning we have to rely on adult evidence #edselctte

Viner says balance is about educational harms to development and language development that come from wearing masks against "potential epidemiological benefits" #edselctte

Harries says PHE has been looking at the issue of masks in light of new variant, but older children behave much more like adults, so "in areas where social distancing can't be maintained in communal areas", then there's a "reasonable case" for masks in secondary #edselctte

"But as you go down the age groups, for the reasons Russell's highlighted, it becomes less obvious that this is an overall benefit" - Harries #edselctte

Hargreaves says that last term, "we had broadly a system that was working. Schools were largely open and the R rate of transmission went down across most of the country"

#edselctte

"Face coverings can be an additional mitigation. The big question...is whether the new variant changes that position, and I think we'll know more about that in the next few weeks" - Hargreaves #edselctte

Rahman is asked for the DfE's rationale for wanting school staff be prioritised for the vaccine. He says it's "not on a science risk basis", but it's "alongside the same with other critical workers" #edselctte

Rahman is asked to supply the committee with the case the DfE is making for school staff to be moved up the priority list. He says he will write to them #edselctte

Viner is asked if there was anything else government could have done other than the current partial closures.

He says he supported the school closures "with a very very heavy heart"

#edselctte

"When your back's against the wall, you do close schools, but schools need to be the first to open" - Viner

He adds one of the important things to think about when we reopen schools is what happens to other parts of society at the same time #edselctte

"We can open schools earlier if we maintain restrictions in other parts of society" - Viner

#edselctte

Viner harks back to June when schools started to reopen, but "much of the other restrictions had been reduced on May 26 and I think we should be thinking differently this time about the potential for us to go back to a November-style harsher lockdown" #edselctte

Viner: "I think we should be thinking about schools being first to open, not opening as part of a broader reopening. In that way we may get all of our schools opened earlier. We also need to think about differential opening and are there years and classes that can open earlier"

"We saw in November that we could have a national harsher lockdown with schools open, and the R would fall. It did rise in London, and of course that was related to the new variant we think, and it rose at the end of the month" - Viner #edselctte

And that's it. Thanks for following

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