Questions Submitted Under Council Procedure Rule 10
(i) By Councillor Neil to Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning
On December 20, The Secretary of State promised laptops for vulnerable pupils would be delivered within two days of a request from schools in January.
Have all schools been advised of this and how many have been received? Can the Council also apply for these to ensure every known vulnerable child has access to their own computer for online learning and is not waiting to share with other siblings?
(ii) By Councillor Temperton to Councillor Bettison OBE, Leader of the Council
Scientific analysis shows that the Lateral Flow Test is less than 60% accurate if administered by an untrained person. Although every positive test result on an asymptomatic person would help reduce transmission, a negative result could just be because of an inadequate sample and the person could still be infected. The accuracy of this test depends on the quality of sampling and is best done by trained staff.
Can the Council organise training for the test administrators so that when schools need to use these tests to help safeguard their staff and students, the tests are more reliable?
(iii) By Councillor Brown to Councillor Bettison OBE, Leader of the Council
Given the exponential increase in local cases, what plans does the Council have to develop community testing?
Minutes:
1. Councillor Neil asked Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning the following published question:
On December 20, The Secretary of State promised laptops for vulnerable pupils would be delivered within two days of a request from schools in January.
Have all schools been advised of this and how many have been received? Can the Council also apply for these to ensure every known vulnerable child has access to their own computer for online learning and is not waiting to share with other siblings?
In response Councillor Dr Barnard stated that secondary schools were able to place their orders for devices at the start of last week and 185 devices were delivered within two to three days. The opportunity for Primary schools to place orders began that day and he anticipated that these would be fulfilled on a similar timescale. Since devices had arrived the school IT managers had ensured they had the correct software, access to data and connectivity and that the young people that they have been allocated devices were able to use them. He advised that schools were now focused on keeping pupils motivated and engaged with learning.
He confirmed that the Council could not apply for any devices as they were provided on a school by school basis consistent with local management of schools. Advice and support were provided to schools so that the devices were fit for purpose. He concluded that other schemes and opportunities available were explored to make sure as many Bracknell Forest children as possible had access to data and devices.
Councillor Neil asked a supplementary question relating to those at risk of digital divide being considered vulnerable and therefore able to attend school, was this happening in Bracknell Forest and what was the impact on schools and the ability to socially distance.
Councillor Dr Barnard responded that pupils would continue to be encouraged to work from home to minimise the risk of virus transmission. He advised that schools were balancing the need to keep students safe at home and the needs of those that required support for a number of reasons be taught in classroom when no other route was suitable they were invited to attend. Some schools found that up to 40% of their students were now attending school and children whose parents were key workers had priority access to attend. He was pleased to see a creative use of the learning platforms available; each school was taking an individual approach and normalise teaching in the difficult circumstances.
2. Councillor Temperton asked Councillor Bettison OBE, Leader of the Council, the following published question:
Scientific analysis shows that the Lateral Flow Test is less than 60% accurate if administered by an untrained person. Although every positive test result on an asymptomatic person would help reduce transmission, a negative result could just be because of an inadequate sample and the person could still be infected. The accuracy of this test depends on the quality of sampling and is ... view the full minutes text for item 43