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Original poster

School turning child away due to mild cold even with negative test?

161 replies

Justneedadvice636465 · 04/01/2021 10:20

My sister has 2 dc and one has a cough. It's clearly a cold she has a runny nose and just sounds snotty and phlegmy. She of course got her tested and it was negative twice three days apart (her partner works for a testing site and she is also a keyworker) she informed the school that she has a mild cold snotty nose and a little cough if she's running around a lot etc she told them she has tested negative the last one being just yesterday and the one before Thurs when she first got symptoms but the school have said that she can't attend school for the 10 day isolation period which means she also cannot work. She feels the school are being unreasonable as she has tested negative so doesn't understand why she can't go in as prior to this a mild cold wouldn't stop them going school?

Who is being unreasonable?

OP posts:
contrmary · 04/01/2021 10:24

Your sister is unreasonable, she shouldn't try to send the child in until the symptoms have cleared up.

Original poster
Justneedadvice636465 · 04/01/2021 10:27

@contrmary

Your sister is unreasonable, she shouldn't try to send the child in until the symptoms have cleared up.
Personally I agree that she should be kept home because even though it isn't covid it's still a cold and you don't want to cause others to get sick anyway
OP posts:
Original poster
Justneedadvice636465 · 04/01/2021 10:28

She's just ranting so much and not understanding any other pov's

OP posts:
Crowsandshivers · 04/01/2021 10:28

Your sister. No-one wants a cold on top of everything else at the moment.

ForTheLoveOfCatFood · 04/01/2021 10:28

Have the whole family for negative COVID tests? Not clear
But if everyone else has to follow the 10days I would think they can’t make exceptions for one family just because they can more easily get a test

MrsMiaWallis · 04/01/2021 10:28

I think the school is being unreasonable.

Inniu · 04/01/2021 10:30

So she sends her child to school, child gives cold to other children, 10 other children now need to stay at home for a week while they have 2 tests as does the teacher.

That’s why she needs to keep her child home.

dementedpixie · 04/01/2021 10:30

School is unreasonable as there is a negative test

MrsMiaWallis · 04/01/2021 10:31

But her child doesn't have Covid. Of course she should be welcomed back to school.

littlepeas · 04/01/2021 10:32

School is unreasonable. Kids get colds in winter.

Twickerhun · 04/01/2021 10:33

I think it’s ducking difficult all round. Schools have to be really careful and even handed and are battling many issues but also the parents have a negative test and so understandably want the kids in school. It’s one of their occasions where it’s just crap all round

littlepeas · 04/01/2021 10:34

I'm so glad to see some other responses saying the school is unreasonable - I couldn't believe what I was seeing in the first few responses! The world has gone mad. It's a COLD. We need to be exposed to some germs - it's how our immune systems get stronger.

Dee1975 · 04/01/2021 10:34

The school are. The child has a cold with 2 negative Covid tests. So it’s clearly a cold. Since when could children not go to school with a cold? My DC would be off half the year if that was the case!

Coldilox · 04/01/2021 10:34

If the child isn’t isolating due to someone else in the house having it, and doesn’t have it herself, then she should be allowed into school.

Mumofsend · 04/01/2021 10:36

School are.

DishSoap · 04/01/2021 10:36

Not unreasonable to keep the child out of schools at the moment. A negative test isn't a guarantee unfortunately, and when there's a fast-spreading variant on the rise the last thing pupils and teachers need is a weakened immune system, even if that is due to the common cold.

itsgettingweird · 04/01/2021 10:36

I think the issue will be passing the cold with cough to other children and that setting off isolation and testing on masse.

StacySoloman · 04/01/2021 10:37

It might not be covid, but the teacher and rest of the children don’t want to catch the cough and end up having to take time off and get tested.

MandosHatHair · 04/01/2021 10:37

School are being unreasonable. Being that strict will mean that some parents will either try and keep symptoms under wraps or not bother to get thier kids tested if they have to isolate anyway so cases will be missed.

Sounds like they are trying to close the school by stealth, especially if teachers are subject to the same policy.

Foobydoo · 04/01/2021 10:37

Last term our school was rewarding attendance and actively encouraging parents to send children in with colds. There were lots in with coughs as parents said it wasn't covid.
This is how we have got into such a mess. Other countries had smaller classes, blended learning and strict keep them home if unwell policies. Plus a longer list of symptoms and acknowledgement that children often present differently to adults.
That said two negative covid tests should be more than enough to allow the childback to school.

Ladylimpet · 04/01/2021 10:37

I know she's had tests to say she's negative, but for everyone's info, I wouldn't pass off anything as 'clearly' a cold. I've had covid and I got typical cold like symptoms (as did my colleagues). Still do have a runny nose etc.
So can't dismiss covid. Although I see you have in this case!
I've heard about schools doing this type of thing. I think they're just being careful. If kids started coughing left right and centre, there'd be more people off who need to self isolate etc.

Brighterthansunflowers · 04/01/2021 10:38

She should be able to send her back to school as it’s just a cold.

I can see why the school are being over cautious as well. And the argument that if she goes in and infects others, they will all need to isolate and be tested, which would mean more families affected.

It’s a shit situation all round really!

Tillsforthrills · 04/01/2021 10:39

Common sense is don’t spread it to other families who will then need to get tested and cause further disruption.

Cough = stay home.

TorringtonDean · 04/01/2021 10:39

School shouldn’t be open in the first place!

Petitmum · 04/01/2021 10:41

If the child passes that cough and cold on to their teacher and classmates then think of how many people may need to isolate/be tested for displaying possible covid symptoms. Under normal circumstances, I would say that school should accept the child ...........but these are not normal times!!!!