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

@Punxsutawney I agree with your post. DS won't be getting tested, it doesn't mean he's been off flouting the rules and the assumption that no test automatically equates to being a selfish rule breaker or being disgusting is a disgrace.

My DS is having his test today.

But I don't understand why they don't just vaccinate the teachers? Surely that would be less hassle and less expensive than routinely testing hundreds of thousands of kids who will most likely be asymptomatic in any case? And then if one child tests positive, that will mean that entire classes will have to isolate so their educate will still continually be disrupted.

Am I missing something?

Am I missing something?

Yes, you're missing that the main concern over schools is their role as a vector of community transmission, which is what is stoked when pupils pass it amongst themselves, and then they take it home with them. That potentially then infects parents' workplaces and can be plain dangerous to vulnerable household members.

Just do the tests and get on with it. Teachers over 60 will mostly have been vaccinated now, 50s next, 40s very soon. Younger teachers and kids are unlikely to get it or get it mildly. Older vulnerable relatives now have some protection. Just get on with it is my opinion.

@GintyMcGinty

I'm just not bothered I'm afraid.

Children are extremely unlikely to be ill if they catch it.

We are well underway vaccinating those who are at risk if death or hospitalisation.

So let's just crack on with educating them.

My thoughts exactly!

@Thethingswedoforlove

The guidance is not to test if you have had a positive result within the last 90 days. Do you count the parents not consenting on that basis as non consenting parents? Just interested.

DS1 can't have his lateral flow tests done at college for this reason, I hope he isn't being slagged off for not giving consent!

So many ignorant people...we’ll be back in lockdown by Michaelmas 🧐

What teachers and MNetters with nice middle class jobs forget, is that for many people, your asymptomatic child testing positive means 2 weeks without pay or even facing the prospect of losing you job. People often on a low income already, so without the luxury of any cushion.

The numbers of parents reusing are tiny, considering. As I said, at my school a much higher % of students are testing than staff.

*refusing

I think any children who refuse either and their parents who support it are disgusting, you could be putting teachers and their families at risk or even other children with underlying health conditions

My child has a disability. She can’t wear a mask because of it either. None of us are disgusting but your attitude certainly is

School do not really want to be responsible for her testing in school and won’t allow me to come in to school and help her with the test. I’ve spoken with school and they are completely supportive of our decision - they know the reasons why and just want her back in education.

When the home testing starts we will give them go, but no promises. DH, I and her older sister are happy to do the tests when offered.

This is the mask wearing disablism all over again. Where the disabled shouldn’t be allowed out. Now we want to deny children an education.

@GintyMcGinty

Good job there's no adults in schools then

If those adults are vulnerable they will have been vaccinated.

Not necessarily. Group 6 is not yet finished In all areas. It will be first doses only, and even the partial immunity from this will not be fully developed in people who had the vaccine within the last two weeks. My confident prediction is that by Easter we will see a surge of infections among school staff and parents aged 35-65. Most will be OK and recover quickly but there will be hospitalisations and deaths. I have asked my 40-something DS and DIL to be particularly careful.

I was talking to one of my SEN students about the tests yesterday. She was worried that she might get in a muddle once they started doing the tests at home and not do her tests correctly. In my experience, most children/teenagers take the responsibility seriously and want to do the right thing. They do forget about covid once they are in school though, so I imagine the masks will be on and off quite a bit.

Teachers over 60 will mostly have been vaccinated now

Not so. And neither will the many more school support staff who are more likely to be over 60 than qualified teachers, and who will often be in closer contact with children, TAs in particular.

@ktp100

Christ, some parents are absolute BELL ENDS.

Yep

Yes so round here. They've finished group 6 and are well into group 7 so yes so for all the teachers that are 60+ and many that are 50+, unless they have refused the vaccine of course.

My son is autistic spectrum and also extremely squeamish (faints at blood tests etc). He's just arrived home from having a test as school and found it "fine"

@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.

^ 100% this. Those refusing on behalf of their children (with the exception of SEN) enrage me. There is a lot of talk of entitlement on MN in general and I think this is a prime topical example.

I wish the testing was more private. One of my DC has a valid reason not to do the test, but doesn't want anyone to know, so is going to join in with the testing anyway... it will either turn out fine or a complete disaster for them. I have consented for them but said its fine to change their mind on the day.

At my DC school they have to go for the test between a certain.time so it was pretty private. He met one person he knows this morning, in a year of 120.

Why are people not so angry with the staff who aren't bothering?

@Notabove25

Why are people not so angry with the staff who aren't bothering?

Haven’t you noticed, given the year we’ve had, only children and parents can be beaten with the Covid stick!!

When the home testing starts we will give them go, but no promises. DH, I and her older sister are happy to do the tests when offered

The offer was made early last week, and tests are available.

If at all possible, they want you to pick up,from a local testing centre, bit home delivery is available for the housebound, the shielding and others who really cannot pick up

@nether

When the home testing starts we will give them go, but no promises. DH, I and her older sister are happy to do the tests when offered

The offer was made early last week, and tests are available.

If at all possible, they want you to pick up,from a local testing centre, bit home delivery is available for the housebound, the shielding and others who really cannot pick up

I’ve spoken to my child’s school, we’ve been through what their testing procedures and what they want us to do and will do as we’ve been asked to do by them.