Just in case you don't know - if kids in school refuse to take lateral flow test NOTHING HAPPENS

[LaurieFairyCake]

They just go into lessons like normal

Schools not allowed to send them home

Dh has had 30 parents so far email in to say they don't consent for their children to be tested

And as for masks (compulsory now) - yeah, schools are allowed to make it a rule but they're NOT allowed to exclude them if the don't

Are we all reassured by this utter bullshit?

Nope, thought not

I wonder if parents who are refusing testing and masks will also be moaning if bubbles burst

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

You absolutely cannot force someone to have medical tests.

No, but you can call their parents idiots for refusing it

What does happen is that it's harder to pinpoint when covid trickles around the school and people test positive. So yay.

Mine hate the tests but they're going to suck it up and do them as it'll help control it.

Not necessarily. Lots of people in the vulnerable category have not yet been vaccinated.

We are well under way though. Especially in England. Other nations catching up.

For the majority of children taking the test will be no big deal and so there is no real reason to take a stand and refuse. Obviously this doesn't apply to those where there is a particular issue. But grandstanding about it where there isnt an issue isn't very helpful

I didn't think it would be compulsory - have to have bodily autonomy

I thought the teachers would be able to send refusers of tests and masks HOME - to exclude them

And they can't 🤷‍♀️

I think I thought that the government might FINALLY be taking this shit seriously after a 100,000 dead and a bloody long third lockdown

But no - kids can refuse to wear a mask and not get sent home to stay inside

It's like Eat out to help out, let's all have Christmas crap again

Many vulnerable haven't been vaccinated yet.

I also just asked Dh if any of the senior team had been vaccinated

Nope, none of the 5 of them have

And one of the teachers died last term (50's, fit and well)

How many children at his school are actually refusing?

We've made it clear neither masks nor tests are compulsory but explained all the reasons we hope they'll all test and wear masks in certain circumstances and they have.

I hate this assumption that huge numbers of young people will refuse just for the hell of it. They won't.

He's had 30 parents email in to refuse (school of 1400 ish)

I am clinically vulnerable and had my first jab this week. I will have some immunity in maybe three weeks. I have been quite lucky to be jabbed relatively early in our area. The vulnerable are NOT vaccinated.

So about 2%, some of whom will have genuine reasons and most of whom (I'd be prepared to bet) are the ones who most need to be in school. If 98% test, the system works.

And on top of that I read an article earlier that said in January and February teachers/ school staff were 20% and 43% higher infection rates compared to general population.

That's with schools closed to all but Kw and V.

I'll await the "collect your child because their bubble has burst" email 🤔

Christ, some parents are absolute BELL ENDS.

Sounds about right. I work in a college. We have been told that if students refuse, its okay because we have masks and social distancing. Thats not taking into account that last term, they didn't do those things either!

@AmyC40

My Dd is at college and gets there by train. We want her to have the lateral flow tests but the first 3 have to be done in college...she then needs to have a parent / friend on hand to bring her home if any of them prove positive as she quite rightly can't use public transport. I don't drive, friends are working and parents self-isolating so she has no option to return without doing them.

Ask to do them at home from the off.

My ds college agreed as he won't self test (ASD) but was happy for me to.
He did his first one at home yesterday. Really easy.

But I ready do home tests twice weekly for my work so he will just do his same days with agreement from college.

I don’t think many kids are refusing. It’s their bloody parents!

The messages you send to your child when you refuse the get them tested:
You think they can’t handle it (the vast majority of them can and you should teach them you believe they can)
You teach them that social responsibility and personal responsibility is not important (it is)
You teach them that you can protect them always from things they will find tough (you can’t)
You teach them their teachers are not worth protecting (they are)

Genuinely cannot understand why people are snowflaking their kids in this way (bar SEN or medical reasons).

My daughter’s best friend’s parents are refusing testing. It is really challenging my relationship with them.

@GintyMcGinty

Good job there's no adults in schools then

If those adults are vulnerable they will have been vaccinated.

Actually that's not true. Most of group 6 haven't yet been done.

Our school has had 1250 out of 1300 consents.

We tested over 500 today.

Very proud of our parents, students, and staff.

The daughter herself would sail through it.

@gluteustothemaximus you should feel proud of your community. That is impressive.

Well those who teach Primary & SEN are in the same boat but add in the lack of social distancing too as the younger ones can't understand it

Just have to crack on, it's gone on long enough now

@SergeiL

I don’t think many kids are refusing. It’s their bloody parents!

The messages you send to your child when you refuse the get them tested:
You think they can’t handle it (the vast majority of them can and you should teach them you believe they can)
You teach them that social responsibility and personal responsibility is not important (it is)
You teach them that you can protect them always from things they will find tough (you can’t)
You teach them their teachers are not worth protecting (they are)

Genuinely cannot understand why people are snowflaking their kids in this way (bar SEN or medical reasons).

My daughter’s best friend’s parents are refusing testing. It is really challenging my relationship with them.

Great post.

Great message about the wider reaching message.

Are those 30 on top of any medical / SN exemptions? Are there exemptions for medical / SN reasons? Mine are primary age so not affected but I’m not sure DS would manage the test without being forcibly restrained.