argument. who's right. Covid tests

[cosmobrown]

My dd has been asked by school to have a test before returning to school in Jan.
She does not have symptoms.
Can we get a free NHS test? If so, do we have to self isolate?
We're planning on saying she has a cough, and getting a test. Is this really really wrong?

Its really really wrong of the school. Is it a UK state school?

Do you live in an area with mass testing for asymptomatic people? We have them in my area and I will be getting myself and dd a test on the day before she goes back to school (unless of course the schools don't go back as planned). We haven't been asked to do this, but it seems sensible.

No, you shouldn’t be getting an NHS test without symptoms.

If school are insisting on a test they should be running mass testing. Or paying for private tests

But yes YABU to lie about symptoms to get a regular NHS test

I thought the schools were doing the testing? That's what my DC's school has said. Every pupil will be given a testing time slot.

Well it specifically says on the test booking website not to do this...

I suggest you tell the school to make the arrangements and you'll take her along.

School should pay. My partners work are paying for theirs.

Please do not lie about symptoms. This information is important. If your DD records a positive test then she is positive without symptoms and that needs to be recorded accurately. Rather than them recording that she had symptoms when she didn’t.

Mass testing available for anyone regardless of symptoms where I live - I take it there isn’t for you?

In my area they are offering mass rapid testing for people without symptoms. Results within a couple of hours and schools are requesting that pupils retuning have one in the 5 days prior to going back to school.

We have been told to do this and select the option on the form saying you have been requested to take the test.

Although in our area anyone without symptoms can be tested from next week.

*returning

It's a private school. Our area has not received the lateral testing supplies yet. The school wants to know they are covid free from the onset.

NHS/Govt guidance on the testing website is that people with no symptoms are NOT eligible for a test (unless part of pilot or less testing scheme) and that you should NOT have a test just because you have been asked by a school or employer.

As others have said, if you are in an area that is offering mass testing for asymptomatic people then that is different, and permitted.

Have another look at the letter from the school, we were asked to do this and fill in the reason as community testing. I think it's different in different areas.

We were tested before Christmas with no symptoms, before the rules changed when we were still planning to see family and were also planning to get tested again before the schools reopen - but planning to wait for the next announcement first! This is all as per the guidelines for my area and school.

If your DD is at secondary school they are developing the testing for when they return to school. They are saying the children will need to rest themselves.
I suspect if she is secondary then she will still need to be tested on return to school by the school anyway

Mass rapid testing is available in some areas for those with no symptoms although apparently these are only picking up less that 50% of positive cases. Only symptomatic cases should be tested by other means.

If the school are insisting on you having a test before returning, then surely they are the ones facilitating that? To lie and get an NHS one is wrong but private ones cost anywhere from about £65 upwards (I had one and it cost £100) which is surely out of reach for many families, especially if they have multiple children. What a ridiculous situation! Both my kids schools are sorting out their own tests.

Ahh cross post, I still think look closely at the letter, but I wonder if its a private school maybe they expect you to foot the bill

Show the school this OP

DH's (state, tier 4) school has asked students and staff to do this too. We were discussing it last night with the same question about whether he'll need to lie to get a test, which he's uncomfortable with. I was also really surprised that they'd asked this.

The outer London local authority has written a letter to parents and emailed via schools asking all secondary to be tested before returning. Apparently there will be an option to select this when booking the test.

not clear. The outer london authority for the school dd attends.

We ask our school children to take a test (before Christmas break up) and ask them to select the option which says you've been told to take the test.
Our school also has several batches of postal tests which can be handed out to anyone who has problems getting a test sorted out.

The NHS should not be facilitating this for any schools, the school should be providing private tests and funding themselves.or asking patents to pay in a particularly in a private school