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Original poster

All have covid except one DC. Do I really send them to school?

69 replies

LarryVeest · 26/10/2021 07:52

All of us have covid, except youngest DC, who has had a negative PCR result yesterday, and a negative LFT just now. I'm a bit torn about sending them into school. Surely it's just a matter of time before they get covid too? On the other hand it seems unfair to DC to keep them at home for (potentially) an extra long isolation (eg if they get a positive result in a few days, and then have to start 10 days isolation).

OP posts:
Original poster
LarryVeest · 26/10/2021 08:05

Bump

OP posts:
cultkid · 26/10/2021 08:06

Aren't they off for mid term atm?

ILoveAnOwl · 26/10/2021 08:07

I wouldn't send them in. Could you ask the school fir work to keep them occupied so they won't fall too far behind? I hope the rest of you get better soon!

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Covid-19
Piapiano · 26/10/2021 08:07

Those are the rules, crazy as they are. I would suggest doing LFTs every morning so that if they do get it you'll know as soon as possible.

Nicknacky · 26/10/2021 08:08

@cultkid It’s not half term everywhere.

rushedruined · 26/10/2021 08:08

This just seems utterly mad to me.

Of course we shouldn't be sending children who are super-likely to be infected and infectious into schools.

Original poster
LarryVeest · 26/10/2021 08:08

@cultkid

Aren't they off for mid term atm?
I think I'd have noticed if it was half term :-D. DC will be marked as having as unauthorised absence, apparently Confused
OP posts:
MaryBoBary · 26/10/2021 08:10

Id send him to school. They've missed enough and he's negative, so should be in school.

HairyScaryMonster · 26/10/2021 08:12

It seems to be rife in schools, how old?

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 26/10/2021 08:13

My family of 5 have just had it, except for one. He had two PCRs and did an LFT every day. He's Year 11 so, although I was torn, I'm glad I sent him.

Original poster
LarryVeest · 26/10/2021 08:13

It does seem pretty crazy. But then again home learning was an unmitigated disaster for this DC and I'm not keen to do it for any longer than necessary. LFT was resoundingly negative. FFS. I'm so bored of this shite.

OP posts:
Original poster
LarryVeest · 26/10/2021 08:14

12 year old

OP posts:
JingsMahBucket · 26/10/2021 08:17

@LarryVeest

It does seem pretty crazy. But then again home learning was an unmitigated disaster for this DC and I'm not keen to do it for any longer than necessary. LFT was resoundingly negative. FFS. I'm so bored of this shite.
In that case I’d send him in.
ChimChimeny · 26/10/2021 08:17

I'd do LFT every morning & send them if it's negative.

It isn't a forgone conclusion they'll get it

Incognito22333 · 26/10/2021 08:19

I would LFT every morning before school and take his temperature and if both clear send him in. That is being prudent, but also following current rules. In my DC primary (small one form entry) they know the kids from Covid positive families and are keeping an eye for symptoms during the day and sending them straight to the office where there is an isolation room if they develop any symptoms.

I think we are in an interim period and some DCs in some families are not catching it/ some of those DCs have already had it.

Frazzled2207 · 26/10/2021 08:22

Our school are quite clear that we send in with a daily negative lft. They have all missed enough tbh.
I know a lot of families who’ve had covid recently but none where everyone got it. In most cases 2/3
People tested positive.

The bigger challenge is getting the child to school if parents are positive. I’d hope in that scenario school was accomodating

twinmum86 · 26/10/2021 08:24

I've seen it written that most people catch Covid within the first 5 days. So I think in your situation I would maybe invent some kind of symptom (vomiting maybe) that could keep him off for a few days and then re test before he goes back.

I know they've missed a lot already, and I know they are fully entitled to be in. I would just feel awful about potentially infecting someone vulnerable for the sake of a few days.

twinmum86 · 26/10/2021 08:27

Lateral flows are pretty pointless unless you have a true asymptomatic case.

A friends family had one child test positive with symptoms on LFT. All booked PCRs but did LFT in the meantime. They had no symptoms and LFT were negative.

All bar one PCR came back positive and symptoms start within the next 2-3 days.

Please don't rely on LFT. They are only meant to be used to catch asymptomatic people.

That said, I do understand people are a bit stuck when it comes to schools policies.

DinosApple · 26/10/2021 08:27

Schools as they have to follow the rules set at local authority level. Lots of my friends had the same dilemma, but school were adamant that negative siblings had to be in school. Fines were mentioned Hmm.

In the end, unsurprisingly, Covid in schools round here got so rife that the county changed the rules and now masks must be worn. And siblings now must isolate until 4 days after the first family positive, then go for another PCR and, if they are still negative, then they can go back to school.
It's all a bit of an entirely predictable nightmare.

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 26/10/2021 08:29

My family were the opposite way round in that my eldest, in his GCSE year didn't have it and the rest of us did. He had negative PCR when we had our positives then daily LFTs. He never got it so in the end I was glad I'd sent him in and he hadn't missed any more school.

It's tough, I had to go into work at first after the other 2DC were positiveness it feels odd after the stricter rules up to last summer.

Luckily I was positive on the following Monday am so hadn't been in when I was contagious.

Silverswirl · 26/10/2021 08:30

Yes you send them.
It’s an offence to not send a child to school.
If they have symptoms or a positive LTF they stay home.
It’s that simple

clockover · 26/10/2021 08:32

I wouldn't, but I'm in Scotland where if you phoned a kid in sick for the week it would be acceptable and none of this 'unauthorised' absence stuff. I don't really understand the English system, or even why it matters if an absence is authorised or not, or it seems a little mad to me that parents are expected to send their children in to school when they are unwell (going on previous threads here, not talking about covid). The risk of your DC having covid and passing it about is quite high though, so I would keep them off because I feel that's the right thing to do. The 'rules' are crazy and the case are rising.

Original poster
LarryVeest · 26/10/2021 08:33

We were all exposed to covid a week ago (staying for a few days with someone who had it, no classic symptoms). And DC had a negative PCR result yesterday (test taken on Sunday). I've sent them to school. They're going to start as far away from people a possible.

OP posts:
clockover · 26/10/2021 08:35

Oops cross posted!

actiongirl1978 · 26/10/2021 08:35

Three of us had it, no isolating in the house. DH (no 4) didn't catch it despite being in the same house for 3 weeks wfh.

It isn't a given that everyone will get it. Send your child to school.