Head is sending kids home to have a PCR for sitting near a confirmed case

[Monkeybumbum7]

This isn’t government policy and I’m fuming.

Got to the school door today to be sent home again to do a PCR because my child sits near someone who has tested positive. The head said ‘this isn’t government policy but we are trying to contain an outbreak’.

I’m with you op. I don’t believe half the people on here who are apparently happily shoving these swabs up their kids noses and down their throats every two minutes. My dc1 can do the nose one but has vomited at every single attempt to do the throat one. My dc2 is prone to nosebleeds, and no matter how gentle we are we are guaranteed to 2-3 days of gushing nosebleeds after every test, they also struggle with the throat swab and we can only get a second or so on each tonsil. My dc has never had more than one as they found it traumatising and goes into hysterics at the mere mention of them having one. None of my children will be tested again. We’ve all already had Covid and I’m one of those extremely selfish people who put my childrens happiness and well being above strangers health

Dc3 that third one should have said

@Winniemarysarah, I'm more inclined to believe the sensible posters on here taking a rational view than the drama of your post.

It was running rife in our primary school 2/3 weeks ago. One class ended up with 17 cases. We had a few occasions when children from one year had to sit in the hall with one teacher as we were struggling with staff - luckily there were so many in the year, the teacher and TA only had half of the year there. It's a very sensible precaution, reduces chance of infection so school can stay open, and also amongst people who are elderly or vulnerable and could still end up in hospital.

Government policy is about protecting the economy, not people. The school is being sensible.

Many schools are close to the threshold where they will have to close. Which would you prefer - a day or two for a PCR test and potentially several weeks off because cases get too high?

Why are you 'fuming' op?

@CallmeHendricks

You should be grateful they're trying to contain an outbreak, which would be far more disruptive to you if it takes hold.

I completely agree

Heaven forbid a school should try to contain an outbreak 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️!

Have you any idea what schools are juggling with this term? Staff and pupil absence are rocketing round here. Schools are having to manage that on the one hand and Ofsted telling them life is normal on the other.

A PCR is a simple way to identify potentially sick kids and staff and curtail the spread - what the anger?!

Thankfully your headteacher is more concerned with health issues than the economy. Good thinking on their part.

Not that you wanted to hear that, of course, going by the tone of your opening gambit.

If it nips it in the bud what's the problem? Better to try and stop it now than for lots of teachers to go off sick for a few days. If too many staff are ill then school grinds to a halt.

And i speak as a working lone parent who has had many work / sick child problems.

@TheLovelinessOfDemons

I thought you couldn't get a PCR without symptoms?

Nope. Everyone who is a close contact of someone who is positive is advised to have a PCR.

I wish DS's school would

we are trying to contain an outbreak

What is it about this statement that you are "fuming" about?

Being a close contact of a confirmed case absolutely is a reason to get a PCR test.

And would you fume more or less if your child contracted Covid, mucking up all your plans for the next couple of weeks?

our school sent yr1 home for tests
at least 2 positives plus pregnant teacher positive

Ours are doing the same, but it is difficult. A positive case was identified so all children had to be picked up and not allowed back until they had a negative PCR. Most were off for 2.5 days. Back for a couple of days then another case was found. The school said they wouldn't insist on another test but that parents could take their child out for a test if they wanted to. So close to a week missed for some children. We live quote rurally so not many testing centres, hence the delay. They are missing school either way. Many, many, many are completely asymptomatic.