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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

keep kids off school 2 days to avoid noro?

92 replies

Arrowfanatic · 18/12/2016 17:07

School breaks up on Tuesday for 2 of my 3 kids (1 has already broken up). Noro is doing the rounds in the school and multiple children have come down sick this weekend, the parents FB page is lit up with cases.

I don't want my kids to catch it, but the idea of essentially pulling a sickie makes me feel naughty especially as my son is already on a sickness warning as he had 2 days off sick (vomiting ) in September, incidentally these were his first days off as his first year he had 100 % attendance.

I just really really don't want to spend Xmas clearing up vomit. We are a big family in a small house and if 1 catches it it'll spread through like wild fire and my husband really can't get sick as his work this time of year is vital and insanely busy.

WWYD? Lots of parents on the page say they won't be sending their kids in. Chances are they won't catch it, but if they do? Argh!!!!!!!!

OP posts:
JustCallMeKate · 18/12/2016 17:43

I wouldn't keep them off especially if your son is already on an attendance warning. How are you going to explain his absence?

insan1tyscartching · 18/12/2016 17:44

I'd be tempted to call them in sick tbh. If you cite sickness bug it wouldn't be suspicious (don't post on FB). I doubt they will be missing much, dd watched three different dvds on Friday.
The warning will be because the first absence happened in in September so four sessions out of for example twenty possible sessions is a huge hit on percentages because the dc haven't been back at school for long. Another two days now wouldn't be so significant.

StarsHollow123 · 18/12/2016 17:44

I think the attitude of schools to sickness/absence is partly why these things spread so quickly. They won't learn anything over the next two days anyway (in fact all the schools near me have already broken up for xmas).

I'd keep them off.

Original poster
Arrowfanatic · 18/12/2016 17:44

ThroughThickAndThin I agree, it does seem weird and I know I'm letting out the crazy. My eldest is almost 8 and I have never kept her off like this before, but for some reason I have absolute fear this year of them coming down sick. We've been so lucky in my house, I can count of 1 hand the total number of times my kids have had vomiting. Why I'm so panicked this year I have no idea. I'm not normally that type of mum, I've sent my kids in before when this have done the rounds but the scale of it this year is so much worse than previous years.

OP posts:
KERALA1 · 18/12/2016 17:48

I would be tempted to keep them off. If they catch it now that's your Christmas ruined. I heard if 20% off they have to shut school

miserablesod · 18/12/2016 17:48

I've kept all mine at home before and told the school why. Don't give a shit. I'm emetophobic and had my fair share of 10 puking kids due to noro and its not something i'm in a hurry to repeat. Honestly what will they be doing on the last teo days, plays, parties, xmas activities and not much else. Hardly missing vital teaching time.

Emeraude · 18/12/2016 17:51

They will be doing absolutely nothing of any use, but children ALWAYS tell when they have been off for unauthorised circumstances, no matter what their parents have told the school.

Original poster
Arrowfanatic · 18/12/2016 17:54

I know my son has "Xmas movie day" tomorrow and has to go in his pyjamas so definitely no learning.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 18/12/2016 17:57

This sounds more about your anxiety rather than what's best for your kids.
What would you tell school? Would you lie and say they were actually ill?
FWIW one of mine caught a sickness bug. Over quickly and no one else caught it.

PleaseNoMoreMinecraft · 18/12/2016 17:57

I'd send them in. It only lasts a couple of days anyway, and then they've got an immune response for a couple of years.

If they caught it now, it would be over by Christmas, and if they didn't they'd have had a fun time in the last few days at school with their friends.

Make sure they know they have to wash their hands properly before and after eating and keep their fingernails short.

Ankleswingers · 18/12/2016 17:57

The problem lies with the irresponsible parents that send them in whilst still unwell and or contagious.

I think it's disgraceful parenting. Different if the child has a medical condition but not abiding by the 48 hour rule when they've blatantly had a sick bug is just awful.

My DC has had a lot more than 2 days off due to re occurring infections. My child's health comes first before School attendance.

I know your DC aren't actually unwell currently but they potentially could be, given that it's rife in the School/ class, so they could end up being ill for Christmas.

Your call but I personally wouldn't send them in.

Tinkerbubbletrouble · 18/12/2016 17:59

I've had noro virus when I was on holiday in Mexico. It ruined my holiday. I would keep them off. It's honestly awful!

yeOldeTrout · 18/12/2016 18:08

meh, one yr we had noro in the house for Xmas. It wasn't the end of the world. It's only Christmas. Why is Christmas on such an alter, anyway? It's not a once-in-lifetime event.

I think you're being daft, OP. But they don't get much done in school at this point in term, so not important.

GodReastieMerryGentlemen · 18/12/2016 18:08

I have kept dd off school for the last 2 days of term before the summer holidays. There was an outbreak of a vomiting bug and it transpired the school loo's hadn't had any soap for children to wash hands with (for some months) which helped enable the outbreak. We had our one and only holiday of the year straight after dd broke up and I didn't want to risk our holiday being ruined by a vomiting bug. I was completely honest to the school for my reasons for keeping her home. They weren't exactly happy about it but nothing happened as a result. Dd was pleased to start her holidays early and I did lots of work at home with her on those two days so she did more work at home than she would have done in school. I have emeotophobia though which does rather warp my view of these things.

wifeyhun · 18/12/2016 18:13

Keep them off. They won't be doing much work. Most kids are off now anyway.

NovemberInDailyFailLand · 18/12/2016 18:16

Sickness 'warning'? How ridiculous.

P1nkP0ppy · 18/12/2016 18:17

It's just as likely they could pick it up when anywhere else so are you confining them to the house for the foreseeable future too?
If they haven't caught it so far I would be surprised if they get it in the next 48 hours.

Haudyerwheesht · 18/12/2016 18:20

I'm most shocked at a warning for 2 days off Shock ds has had no such warning or in fact any correspondence from school at all and has had 5 weeks off since August Angry. He's 9 so not a dissimilar age.

Flumplet · 18/12/2016 18:20

Nah fuck it. I'd keep mine off. D&V would put a serious dampener on xmas celebrations. Just phone them in sick and enjoy an early start. It's not that unlikely that they'd get it to be fair - id say they stand a pretty good chance indeed.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 18/12/2016 18:33

Your son is on a warming because he's had one bout of sickness since September? Jeez my son has had loads more off due to picking everything and anything up and the HT hadn't even batted an eyelid!

I'd be tempted to keep them off as well OP if I'm totally honest. I'm wondering if you go to my DCs old school because my facebook feed is also lit up this weekend with children AND Parents coming down with it. Sad but then I have two DCs who kick up merry hell not being allowed to go to school when they are ill never mind a 'just in case' scenario! Smile You're the Mum OP. You choose what you think is best. Xmas Smile

AndShesGone · 18/12/2016 18:34

Anyone saying they wouldn't send them is essentially saying they want the school to be shut now?

They'd be happy with everyone packing up a week early even though vast majority of parents need to be at work and childcare would be a massive ball ache now.

Yes?

kaputt · 18/12/2016 18:51

I'd keep mine off. Noro among kids is pretty much impossible to prevent, you'd just be crossing your fingers they don't pick it up.

I wouldn't always do it, but the pre-christmas 'not much going on' thing would swing it for me.

HaveNoSocks · 18/12/2016 18:54

My only reservation would be that it would be a shame for them to miss out on the christmas festivities at school, it's not like they'll miss out educationally.

I know this isn't the point but why on earth is DS on a "sickness warning" after vomiting and having 2 days off? Maybe it's the school's attitude which is encouraging lots of parents to send in sick kids to spread more bugs around.

Original poster
Arrowfanatic · 18/12/2016 18:59

HaveNoSocks the school told me it's not them that decides the cut off but the local authority because I called them up pretty mad that we did as we should regarding the sickness (even though it was just one random vomit) and I got this letter.

OP posts:
pudcat · 18/12/2016 19:03

His attendance % will have gone up now. 4 sessions off at the beginning of September would give a low % as less days that could have attended. Noe it will be more like 97% - 4 out of 120 or so sessions.

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