Threat of Social services and solicitor from school

[nitsandwormsdodger]

School has threatened us with SS and school solicitor
Back ground: Just had to take a few days off work unpaid due to covid at DD Nursery ( he is fine) , older DD sent home from school yesterday due to temp 37.5 ( taken on the wrist remotely )and cough. We took temp with good quality thermometer under Tonge and it was 36 we have taken temp repeatedly and it has stayed 36 for two days and night. There is a chest cough and snotty nose but cough is a couple of times today

School rang and said she can't come back till negative covid test , we told school we can't get a test as she does not have symptoms ie no temp and it's not a continuous dry cough

Lastly and not insignificantly I can't do another 10 days at home as this would amount to loss of a month wages, we have had a whole year of scary finances pre covid and I'm interviewing for my job this month ,

Yes we must all follow guidelines and isolate I'm a rule follower and socially responsible, can't get test, DD is now well but tad snotty still no temp , have done two weeks isolation with robustly healthy son if I take her to school without negative test they will "embarrass us at work by calling social services" ( we work in jobs that can't be done from home and are safeguarding sensitive) and they threatened to release their solicitor on us

Other than suck it up and isolate Any helpful advice please

She had a temperature so you can book a test on that basis. It's the quickest way to manage it. If the test is clear, you can all go back to work and school. If she has Covid, then she shouldn't be at school and you should be isolating anyway.

Why not just get the test?

School are following protocol to try to keep everyone safe.

She had a temperature and a cough - you can obviously book a test. It sounds a bit like you're creating a problem. If you'd booked the test immediately then you would probably have received the results by tomorrow and could send her back. Are you expecting the school to just take your word that it's not Covid (I assume you're not a doctor?) and risk a symptomatic child infecting others?

Yes - get a test -although I'm not sure what SS or the school solicitor will do.

She had a temp, so you can get a test. They're wording things a bit harshly but are trying to follow the guidelines to keep their pupils safe, which is what you need to do too

Guidance is a cough, it doesn't specify chesty, dry or otherwise. Remember that it can present differently in children. It most likely is a cold, but under the guidance she should get a test.

They’re just following the rules. A test within 5 days or 14 days isolation I believe. They’d risk getting in trouble if they let your dd back without a negative test. As unfortunate as it is your choices are get a test ASAP or continue to isolate. I feel for you though, it’s hard.

Just tick the box saying they have symptoms and get a test.

To the pp saying get a test, good luck with that! It's a nightmare to get one at the moment!

You don't specify how old your child but taking temperature orally with children isn't very reliable as they tend not to hold the thermometer in the mouth properly.

Why would you not just get a test?

Sorry should have made it clearer
We CANT get a test, even if we lied/exaggerated symptoms which I'd be happy to do we can't get in anywhere

Just get the test, it doesn't specify dry cough anywhere.

Just get a test done, your personal circumstances are irrelevant as the rules need to be followed to keep others safe. The school are protecting others as they absolutely should be doing.

Dd held thermometer securely under tongue and it's a good quality thermometer so reliable

But a temp of 37.5 doesn't meet the government guidelines for a temperature requiring testing. So email school, ask them to confirm I sorting they wish you to lie on a government form in order to get a test. They'll u- turn quicker than Boris!

In writing.

Bloody phone keypad.

Also ask them to confirm in writing that they said they would call social services, as stated in their phone call of X time on X date. Essentially create a written transcript of that call and ask them to confirm it in writing.

Can't get in anywhere
Can't take two weeks off every time one of them gets snotty
School needs better quality thermometer
Of course we are isolating till negative test received but that could be a month

The testing sites near us allocate a certain amount of tests per day for walk ins. Could you just go early & see if you can get one? We had to do that when DS had a cough & I couldn't book one online.
School are only trying to protect everyone else.
It's bloody hard with work I agree... But what else can you do? They have to follow the guidelines.

It may not say what type of cough but it does state

• a high temp
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot, for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours

which it doesn't sound like she has either of. Trouble is, it's a bit of a box-ticking exercise to 'prove' she doesn't have it. I don't see what the threat of SS or a solicitor will do

She had a cough and a temperature so that requires a test.

I have some sympathy that tests are difficult to get in places, however the test has to be done within 5 days and if it isn't then it's 14 day isolation.
Had you not spent time trying to avoid getting tested then this situation would probably be resolved.

Just keep trying to get a test. 8am and 8pm are new uploads. If you’d tried when she was first sent home it would be sorted by now.

Doesn’t have to be a dry cough any more - it’s just “continuous” which is met by having 3 episodes in 24 hours - pretty much any cough will meet this criterion!

She has a temperature at one point at least. They’re following the rules.

Can you book some alternative childcare if you are convinced these above criteria are not met (but sounds like they are in which case don’t expose another person”?

There is guidance for getting a test when it seems to be sold out - constantly refreshing the screen and also trying at 8pm, 10pm and 8am in particular.

Did she have a cough or not?

If you can’t get a test any other way then maybe ask the school if they have any available.