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AIBU?

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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:
littlepeas · 04/01/2021 11:16

We are supposed to catch and fight off minor illnesses - that’s how our immune systems develop. Especially in children. Are we really entering a mindset where it is not acceptable to be unwell, ever? How ridiculous.

Can understand why it’s annoying to catch a cold at the moment, as you would potentially need to test (although official guidelines is still 3 main symptoms only as far as I’m aware - it certainly was when I needed a test just before Christmas).

AnneOfQueenSables · 04/01/2021 11:17

tbh our school's position, from the beginning, has been that parents should err on the side of caution with any colds or coughs. As PPs have pointed out, it's the aftermath of sending in a DC with a cold. Then the other DCs catch it. Then everyone has to isolate and test. To be blunt, an entire class of DCs and parents can be affected and inconvenienced compared to one. It's the embodiment of collective responsibility. The problem is (as seen on this thread) some posters and parents don't seem to believe in collective responsibility ... even during a pandemic. It's partly why we're in this mess.

Starry4120 · 04/01/2021 11:17

Ridiculous in my opinion. If said child had a very heavy cold and was obviously ill then I’d understand but if symptoms are mild they should go to school.

DS always gets a hacking cough at the tail end of a cold . Therefore has been tested for covid twice (both negative) and I’ve sent him back if he’s better. By this point his cold symptoms have mainly gone, sometimes the cough can linger for weeks for him.

He had a cold before Christmas then a cough. Tested negative but his cough lasted all Christmas. Nothing extreme just coughing a little at night and first thing and when he was running around. Sure he has mild asthma sometimes.

satnighttakeaway · 04/01/2021 11:19

@emilyfrost

A negative test is irrelevant; she still needs to self isolate. Your sister is BVU.
If that's the case why do we need a testing system, everyone with cold symptoms stay home for 10 days, instant saving on millions of tests and speeding up the system for all the other symptoms.

Never mind that the country will grind to a halt

22Giraffes · 04/01/2021 11:20

@emilyfrost

A negative test is irrelevant; she still needs to self isolate. Your sister is BVU.
What are you talking about?!
wildraisins · 04/01/2021 11:20

Problem is the tests are not 100% accurate, so really, anyone who has symptoms should be at home.

Even if it's just a cold, if she passes that around, it can weaken the immune system and make people more susceptible to both catching Covid and being more badly affected by it.

Extra caution at the moment is very sensible.

gooseygooseywanderingfree · 04/01/2021 11:21

@emilyfrost

A negative test is irrelevant; she still needs to self isolate. Your sister is BVU.
And you don't know the guidelines. Cold symptoms + negative test = no isolation needed.

The school is BU. If a child has a bad cold and is clearly feeling grotty and unwell, they should be at home until they feel better, regardless of covid. A child with a cold who's otherwise ok, should absolutely be in school.

Inastatus · 04/01/2021 11:22

@Gobbeldegook

regardless of the pandemic you shouldn't send kids to school when they are snotty and phleghmy and coughing. For one how can they learn in that state and for two your just gonna spread it around. Pure ignorance.
Your talking your username! Are you seriously suggesting that kids shouldn’t ever go to school with a mild cold? In that case schools would be half empty this time of the year.

And people saying a negative test is irrelevant and you should still self-isolate! WTF!

Inastatus · 04/01/2021 11:23

Sorry, that should have been ‘you’re’

ProfessorSillyStuff · 04/01/2021 11:23

@Inniu

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.

This.
OverTheRainbow88 · 04/01/2021 11:25

With 2 negatives tests the child should be allowed into school, otherwise what’s the point in testing?

Imagine if all teachers with a cough stay home for 10 days once they’ve had a negative test?

Butchyrestingface · 04/01/2021 11:27

I'm asthmatic, spend every winter coughing, colds etc. If I were a child now, I'd never bloody be able to attend school at all.

School is unreasonable.

AnneOfQueenSables · 04/01/2021 11:29

If you have a negative test when you start to show symptoms, you're supposed to still self-isolate because there is a window when tests are more and less effective. You can have symptoms, test negative, stay home, test again and be positive.
The fact is schools should be aware of the guidance and working closely with the NHS so it doesn't really matter if posters on MN don't understand it. Schools are quite clear on which pupils can be in and which will be sent home.

Streamingbannersofdawn · 04/01/2021 11:30

Your sister has acted absolutely correctly. She noticed symptoms and got a test. Its negative so the school should accept the child back in. That's the point of the test.

She could contact the LA.

ProfessorSillyStuff · 04/01/2021 11:31

@Gobbeldegook

regardless of the pandemic you shouldn't send kids to school when they are snotty and phleghmy and coughing. For one how can they learn in that state and for two your just gonna spread it around. Pure ignorance.
I actually agree with this fully and if employers were made to give proper parental leave for these situations you'd probably all agree too. Having colds all winter as it was winter 2018 and 2019 was ridiculous. My kids couldn't learn a thing at home or at school, or even grow, with how the colds affect their appetite and sleep. I think it's child abuse to drag a sick child to school in freezing cold, wind and rain so they can be exposed to even more bugs before they have fully recovered.
DrCoconut · 04/01/2021 11:33

I have a persistent cough. I have tested negative twice. My GP has advised me that in his opinion I am safe to continue as usual (within the covid rules) as two tests with a few days between them suggests I don't have it. Now under investigation to see why I'm coughing. My point being that two tests should be enough if my GP is correct.

Norwayreally · 04/01/2021 11:33

She has tested negative twice, why should she still miss out on school? Really don’t understand this at all. My DS has asthma and allergies so he coughs a lot during winter which the school are aware of. He has been tested three times since he returned to school in September but all were negative and I knew it wasn’t covid anyway, he always coughs during winter. Should he miss out on months of school because he has allergies? Hmm. Ridiculous.

Norwayreally · 04/01/2021 11:35

Oh and kids constantly get colds during autumn/winter so also ridiculous to say they should be kept off school every time. They’d miss out on weeks of vital education for a cold. You have to accept that your child will get sick sometimes, it’s totally normal.

DrCoconut · 04/01/2021 11:35

The issue of going in with a cold is a separate one. Interestingly the pre covid opinion seemed to be that a cold is not a reason for a day off and people should soldier on and stop being a wimp. Now you need a fortnight off if you sneeze.

BuggerBognor · 04/01/2021 11:35

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Bringonspring · 04/01/2021 11:36

Sister, no one wants a cold at the moment

LoveMyKidsAndCats · 04/01/2021 11:36

Your sister is unreasonably she should keep her snotty, phlegmy, sick child home.

Comtesse · 04/01/2021 11:37

School is completely unreasonable.

IndecentFeminist · 04/01/2021 11:38

Surely school can't stop them? If it isn't covid, they're allowed in school.

But OP I noticed how you quite quickly you switched to commenting that you agreed with initial posters that your sister was "ranting" and not seeing other opinions...are you normally that easily swayed?

Meredithgrey1 · 04/01/2021 11:39

@emilyfrost

A negative test is irrelevant; she still needs to self isolate. Your sister is BVU.
That isn’t true. Maybe the school is right to not wanting something spreading that could cause further isolations but a negative test is not irrelevant and does mean that you can stop isolating (unless you are isolating as a result of contact with a positive case).