What do I tell the school? - DC with symptoms

[letsjog]

We have 2 DCs one in year one and one pre school age so at home ATM.
On Saturday DC2 has had a high temperature and a cough, today very mild temp but still coughing every now and then, v runny nose, so tired he fell asleep on the sofa watching a bit of TV around lunchtime - he never naps - and woke up very groggy and upset.

DC1 no temp but runny nose and occasional coughing and a bit irritable.

Me since this morning - runny nose, very very slight loss of taste, blocked sinuses, feeling generally unwell and a mild cough (maybe 4-5 episodes today).

Im pretty sure it's just a cold, the school have said it's going around ATM with everyone being back but we decided in the current circumstances to get tested just to stay on the safe side since we all have a symptom or two on the list so I'm taking DCs and myself tomorrow mid morning.

It might sound silly but what do I tell the school tomorrow to not waffle on (as I tend to) and not raise any alarm? I'd hate to cause a commotion and raise concern over potentially nothing.
Do I tell them we are getting tested? Or should I just say dc1 is? It's a very close knit, tiny school so I know there is likely to be gossip (I know I know) and just don't want being talked about.

Obviously I will keep DC off school until results come back.

Sorry if I'm overthinking this but I could really just do with a little bit of advice on how to word it all.

Just tell them what symptoms they have and you are taking them to be tested, the school won’t be surprised or cross with you.

Well tomorrow I will call school and tell them dc has been tested and awaiting result. There is nothing more I can do or say as that is the exact position we are in???

Hi, the kids have coughs and temperatures so we're booking tests and will keep them home until we get the results.

They’ll be expecting this to happen in lots of households.

Just tell them you’ve got children with symptoms and you’re awaiting test results.

It might sound silly but what do I tell the school tomorrow

We are being tested this morning for Covid. We are self isolating. I will call when we have result.

You're overthinking it. They're off because they're unwell.

I'm sure it's just a cold but we have symptoms on the list so we're getting tested. Let you know when we have the all clear. End of. No Biggie.

OP you have to report this to the School as they are compiling statistics which are sent to ONS (I think) but def sent somewhere.

Say you all have cold symptoms including a cough so are staying until tests resukts are returned. That’s it!

I work in a small school similar to yours, already had several in this position that all turned out to be non COVID related. Just explain that you all have symptoms and are being tested. Pretty sure you won't be only ones!

Tell the school the children have symptoms and you are all getting tested.

There's different codes used for absences relating to suspected Covid, confirmed Covid, self isolation because family member has Covid and then there's the usual absence code for other sicknesses.

The school cannot tell any parents that you are SI/being tested, they may tell other staff members but it is confidential.

Why don’t you do what some parents of a kid at my DCs’ friends’ school did - send the kid into school anyway (on the bus and without a mask) and tell him not to tell anyone? The test came back positive and now a whole load of people have to self-isolate, a lot of kids have anxiety and the poor patient zero kid is not exactly very popular.

I’m suggesting at all that you would do this OP. Just tell the school the truth.

Just call and tell the office. They'll tell you to stay at home until you have a test and they have a special absence code for it. We're getting them every single day, it's probably just a cold but you have to assume it isn't until you know for sure it isn't. (I'm school office).

Just say you have cold symptoms, but are being tested as a precaution.

I don’t think it will cause alarm as it’s probably way more common than you think, they’ve probably had lots of calls like that at school already. My DD already had at least 6 kids off with high temp in the first week and all have needed Covid tests before being able to return. Just notify them they had symptom of a temperature and you are awaiting Covid results. It will be a non issue. Good luck hopefully just a cold, so much of it going around.

Sorry to hear your DC aren’t well - isn’t it a huge pain to have all this to worry about for what could just be a cold. We have a test arranged for DC tomorrow - I emailed school this evening to say she would be having the test as she’s got symptoms (for her it’s a cough) and we’d be in touch when the results come back. Hopefully it will be negative and it won’t take too long, she’s really enjoying being back at school!

School my children attend say that they must be informed if student get tested.
I had my daughter tested few weeks ago before back to school, I told everyone ( I felt best to break down stigma) my husband disagreed said don't tell wait see result. Amazing when tell people most have story about their child being tested too.
Way it going to be for next few months
Hope all well

My DC is 3 days back at school and has come down with runny nose, sore throat, headache, slight temperature. I've told the school this and that we're trying to get a test (ha ha) and will keep them informed. I think the school would much prefer parents are honest and responsible, which you're being. It helps them to be prepared.

The cold is a virus, if it is being spread around this would suggest the precautions may not prevent viral spread.

Thanks everyone.

I called this morning and let them know we are being tested today, they thanked me for taking precaution to keep everyone safe.
I did say it's most likely just a cold but we want to make sure just in case and they did say they have quite a few off at the moment with it and people trying to get tests and so on.

They asked how I managed to get a test so quick as they've had quite a lot of people struggling to get anything anytime soon.
We wanted to go to a drive through centre but nothing was available within a reasonable distance so I opted for a walk through one and they had one available within 10 miles of us but did have to try the system about 3 times before anything came up.

Update - it went really bad.

I had to do them all myself and both DCs cried, gagged and thrashed once the cotton swab touched them. I didn't have a great time doing to to myself TBH.

I'm now worried they will come back inconclusive and don't know where to go from there,