WWYD - school ringing to fetch sick child

[confusedofengland]

So, DS3 is in Year 1, he is nearly 6. In his class of 30 DC, there were 9 children off yesterday with a sick bug. One actually vomited in class, 3 were sent home feeling sick, 5 were sick overnight & did not go in. Since DS has heard about this, he has been periodically saying he has a tummy ache, then eating & behaving as normal, very lively, eaten chocolate offered to him etc. Slept fine last night.

I was volunteering at the village library this morning, as I do each week. We are not allowed to open with less than 2 people. I also do paid work at this & other libraries all within a 15 minute drive from home. I had a call halfway through my shift, at 11am, to say DS was 'pale & complaining of a tummy ache' so could I fetch him immediately? I explained that I was working & would need to wait until 1pm as otherwise the library, which was hosting an event, would have to close. They said that was no good & I had to come immediately.

So, a customer who is also my friend, stepped in & I went to fetch DS. It took them 10 mins to fetch him from the classroom & when he came out he was eating an apple, jumping around & not pale! I took the apple from him & said that was not a good thing to eat if he had a tummy ache. He was asking for lunch & quite chatty, as normal. We came straight home (5 min walk) & I have put him to bed, saying that if he is ill he needs to get some sleep. I intend to leave him there a while then get him to do reading/writing this afternoon if he is still ok (as I suspect he will be).

Have I done the right thing or have I overreacted? I can't help but think that if I worked any distance away, as lots of parents here do, the school would not have called me & I do feel a little irritated to ge called out to a child who seems perfectly fine!

[inwood]

I think with that many kids off the school are trying to limit the spread and didn't want him puking in class if he was actually ill.

Don't blame them.

[Mrsjayy]

Ifa child issaying they are sick and the school think they are sick they will contact that sick childs emergency contact to collect them a school is not "childcare".

[LemonScentedStickyBat]

It’s a judgment call. Same as if your child complains of a tummy ache in the morning and you have to decide whether to Fahd then in or not. Sometimes you make the wrong call.

[LemonScentedStickyBat]

take them in or not!

[Mrsjayy]

You could always take himback and say he is not ill and playing up.

[confusedofengland]

I do understand that, but surely he shouldn't be given anything to eat if he says he's feeling sick! Seems bizarre to me!

[ballsdeep]

If a child is saying he feels sick, especially with a sickness bug going around, then the school were right to send him home.

[Mrsjayy]

Who gave him the apple ? I think current advice if you feel hungry to eat even if you feel sick.

[Seeline]

I don't think the school was wrong.

If you did work a long way away, or were out for the day, presumably you would have someone else who could pick up in an emergency?

If you doubt that your child is really ill, then I think your approach at home is correct.

[IToldYouIWasFreaky]

I can't help but think that if I worked any distance away, as lots of parents here do, the school would not have called me & I do feel a little irritated to ge called out to a child who seems perfectly fine!

How do school know how far away you work!? It takes me min 1 hour to get from work to school but I've had plenty of calls to ask me to go and collect DS. It's annoying, especially when sometimes you feel the schools is overreacting but it's just a fact of life when you are a working parent!

[confusedofengland]

The apple was from the free fruit they get at school. At home, I would have given him something but maybe a cracker or plain toast, I would have thought the acidity would hurt a poorly tummy.

I'm obviously in the wrong though, so I can accept that. I will see how he is tonight & tomorrow morning & take it from there.

[confusedofengland]

It is a fairly small village & I know at least 1 of the receptionists on a personal level, so they know that I work no further than 20 mins away.

[Greyhound22]

My son has done this to me a couple of times. What can they do? If they're saying they feel sick they'll probably get in more trouble if they don't call you.

On the other hand my son often complains of tummy ache in the morning and it's nerves so I tell them but they've got that sussed.

I should think they are on high alert with such sickness levels.

[ChicChicChicChiclana]

It's difficult for the school though, can't you see? Your wwyd is really about how you should treat your son as he has tried it on? Don't be too cross with him - he's only 6!

[Mrsjayy]

If a stomach bug is flying round a school the staff are going to be on high alert and send children home if they say they feel ill they don't mess about with ifs and buts.

[NoSquirrels]

I think the school’s not wrong - a third of the class with a sickness bug means that if another one starts complaining of feeling sick you want them out of there ASAP! Not their fault he’s actually not ill - they’re being cautious. If you can’t pick up straight away then you have to get someone else to collect - that’s pretty standard and most schools won’t accept a 2hr+ delay. It sucks, but it is what it is.

[Mrsjayy]

A few primary schools around her closed due to norovirus.

[confusedofengland]

I said up there ^^ that I am obviously in the wrong.

[NoSquirrels]

I can't help but think that if I worked any distance away, as lots of parents here do, the school would not have called me & I do feel a little irritated to ge called out to a child who seems perfectly fine!

I assure you they’d still have called whichever parent was listed as emergency contact, and asked them but to take 2 hours!

[Russell19]

I worked at a school a few years ago who had lots of complaints from parents like you about this. The governors decided to tell teachers not to call home unless the child was actually sick. I had children asleep on my knee they were that poorly but because they hadn't been sick I couldn't call home. It was awful and I felt so sorry for them. At the end of the day I'm a teacher not a nurse and I can't do my job if I am looking after a poorly child.

I left that school.

[Goldwispa]

My sister lied about being sick in the toilet at primary school so my mum took her back to school, she never did it again

[confusedofengland]

Russell I do & have collected, I would not leave him if I had been asked to collect him. Nor will I complain to the school, although I might just tell them he has been completely fine & normal. But I am surprised they allowed a child they say has been sitting with a sick bowl to eat an acidic snack such as an apple & to jump around while eating it!

[Russell19]

I do agree with the apple really. If I had called a parent to come I probably wouldn't let them eat if their parent was coming within 15 minutes.

[JemimaPuddleCat]

If they think a child is sick, they send them home regardless of how far away you work. That's why they ask for several emergency contacts.

If you are pissed off with anyone, be pissed off with your son for faking illness to leave school.

[youwereagoodcakeclyde]

No I don’t think the school could take any chances with an epidemic in the class. They can’t wait until he vomits and would have to take him complaining of stomach ache as true!
I work further away than you and get called if my child is unwell.