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Original poster

Reception child - to send to school or keep at home?

20 replies

newmummylucy · 09/10/2024 18:40

sorry - Im reposting here as Im not sure where I should've posted this threat.

Hi!

My DC has been at school for about 3 weeks now and is already on her 2nd cold...I was in 2 minds today on whether to send her in as she was up in the night not feeling well, is coughing up thick mucus, has heavy tired eyes and is just generally full of cold. I did send her in as her school is very strict but I said to her teacher to please call me if she says she's not feeling well. At school pick up her teacher said to me that my DC had came to the teacher several times throughout the day saying she wasn't feeling well and wanting to go home but the teacher thought that she just wanted to go home as she'd heard us talking in the morning about calling mummy etc if she's unwell.
Im quite cross that they didn't hear her voice and that now my DC feels like she doesn't have a voice in these situations when she is already very reserved.
She doesn't have a temperature but she's just very quiet, pale, heavy eyes and as I said before coughing up thick mucus and has a really blocked nose. She had a huge meltdown after school today because she just wanted to go to bed and she's been asleep since half 5 this evening.
I dont know if im being a helicopter parent or whether I should keep her at home? If it were my choice and I wouldn't feel judged from my husband or school I would keep her home for a day to rest but I dont know if i'm being dramatic/too soft because I know if I kept her home for every cold she would never be at school!

Thankyou

OP posts:
ahemfem · 09/10/2024 21:05

There is a particularly nasty cold going round at the moment. I wouldn't trust those teachers to decide. You decide in the morning.

Bumblebeebumblebeebum · 09/10/2024 21:07

Just keep her at home. she’s tiny! The other kids and teacher don’t want her germs either!

thesurreymum · 09/10/2024 21:11

Do what's best for your child! Is your child even 5 yet? If she isn't then legally she does not even need to be in school. I am a stickler for my kids attendance, my mum was far too soft when we were kids about having days off. However you know yourself when you are generally not well it is counterproductive to be in school/work.

Let your child recover tomorrow and stock up on a good multi-vitamin and Vitamin C. I always put Vicks rub under thier socks at bedtime when they have a cold.

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TeenLifeMum · 09/10/2024 21:13

I’m pretty strict re dc going to school but kept 2 of mine off from secondary last week. You can usually tell when it’s more than a sniffle and in reception I’d be far more lenient.

DownWhichOfLate · 09/10/2024 21:26

Keep her at home! Poor child. If she’s that unwell she needs to rest. Being at school would be at best pointless, but could actually prolong her illness.

SparkyBlue · 09/10/2024 21:28

Keep her at home. There is nothing worse than a heavy cold you can feel absolutely and utterly miserable. If she doesn't recover properly she will be unwell again soon. My only DD just started school in September and came out today looking absolutely terrible and saying she felt "funny". Anyway she ended up with a temperature of 39.6 and she is currently watching moana in my bed and apparently several of her pals are also sick. It's just part and parcel of school life.

DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace · 09/10/2024 21:29

I think she sounds unwell enough to keep her off. I don't understand people who say there's never any need to be off school/work for "just" a cold. Some colds can be mild, but some can make you feel like absolute crap.

My DD (just started year 1) has 100% attendance so I don't keep her off at the drop of a hat. But that's just luck that she's not been ill - I'd keep her off if she was the way you describe your daughter.

Lemonademoney · 09/10/2024 21:30

To echo above there is an evil cold circulating at the moment (I’ve caught it from my kids). If she is poorly she is poorly and she needs rest and recovery. It’s not ideal to take lots of time off but better a day off now than a week off because she gets really bad.

SometimesCalmPerson · 09/10/2024 21:35

Teachers might think that if you’ve sent your child to school when you know they’re not well, then it’s because you want them to be at school. They then do their best to get your child through the day.

fashionqueen0123 · 09/10/2024 21:37

Keep her off. She’s tiny she needs rest and her mum

NuffSaidSam · 09/10/2024 21:44

If they're not feeling well, have a fever or have been sick they don't go to school.

If they have a snotty nose/cough/cold but feel ok (no vomit, no fever) then they go in.

GG1986 · 09/10/2024 21:58

Yup keep her off and let her rest at home. When my little one is off sick I make her a cosy bed on the sofa and she watches films and has naps, usually fine by the next day or day after.

ComingBackHome · 09/10/2024 22:06

I’d say keep her off too.

Many schools are pushing children to be in school no matter what because ‘attendance you know’.
I suspect it’s going to backfire a hell of a lot.
In your shoes, now, I’d be even more likely to keep her at home because I wouldn’t trust the teacher to send her back home when unwell.

What a change compare to when my dcs were in primary and I was told off for sending my dc to school (being he looked too unwell according to the teacher) after the GP had OKed him being at school!!

Isitreallythiscrap · 09/10/2024 22:22

I used to keep my dc at home when they were as you describe, it's miserable and a long day for them when they're so little and feeling poorly. Keep her home and snuggle with her in front of the TV.

Greenerbright · 09/10/2024 22:25

I would definitely keep her home, she needs to rest.

DryBiscuit · 09/10/2024 22:28

I think she may antibiotics (coughing up thick mucus)

Keep her off and try and get her a GP appointment

Icannoteven · 09/10/2024 22:30

Don’t trust the teachers. Many schools say ‘send them in if you’re unsure, we will send them home if they aren’t coping’. They don’t. They either don’t notice or just bully the child into staying 😡

itwasnevermine · 09/10/2024 22:33

I'm on day 12 of the evil cold that's going round. Still producing a lot of green snot.

Keep her home.

Zoraflora · 09/10/2024 22:41

She is feeling sick keep her at home and let her rest and recover. Why would you be judged for this?

If you send her in when she is ill she is going to pass it on to others in the class & will end up catching it again.

She is so small let her recover at home.

StressedQueen · 09/10/2024 23:08

Would definitely be keeping her home as she's so young. Honestly, I'd even let my teens stay home as a one off for this if they were feeling this poorly! The fact that she wants to go to bed early shows she needs rest and she can't get that at school

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