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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think many parents aren't aware that you are now supposed to send child to school even when household member has Covid?

115 replies

Babamamananarama · 07/09/2021 01:00

Just that really.
I've brought this up with 3 separate people this week none of whom was aware.

Under new covid rules, if one child (or a parent/household member) has Covid, the other children can be sent to school as long as they aren't symptomatic. Schools are otherwise supposed to treat as unauthorised absence.

YANBU = wow I had no idea, WTF?
YABU = yes everyone knows this

OP posts:
MaryGubbins · 07/09/2021 14:18

But if you’ve one small child at home you’re all ready off work.

If your child is old enough to look after themselves, they are old enough to isolate in their room alone. In that case I would send the other child in.

KisstheTeapot14 · 07/09/2021 14:37

I think its reckless. I'm resigned to getting Covid, and as someone already with a chronic illness I am praying it won't have any adverse effects longer term. I wouldn't like to place any bets though.

DS can't have vaccine yet as only 11 and just started secondary. I worry about him getting it and having Long Covid (my illness probably has a genetic componant).

Taxi driver (to nearest SEN unit - DS has transport) says it's not obligatory to wear a mask. Neither for the other children in the car.

@noblegiraffe - you are the voice of reason on many a Covid thread.

In practical terms are there things we can do at this point to protect ourselves/kids or is it game over/herd immunity time?

Feel angry that we have done so much to stay safe and now pretty much all caution is thrown to the winds!

maddening · 07/09/2021 14:43

I agree that if one dc in the class gets covid then the rest should not have to isolate but definitely think that when the infection is in the household then the household should isolate, unless the infected person is physically no where near the rest of the family then even I they do not get covid on the first couple of days the repeated contact just increases the chances of it happening.

holidaynearlyover · 07/09/2021 14:44

Our school has been very clear that children are sent in with positive cases in the household

TempName01 · 07/09/2021 16:16

@AnnaDyne

But all of you keeping your kids at home - presumably you don't need to work? Or you get paid to work at home?

What about those people (the vast majority of the workforce btw) who can't afford to stay at home, because they don't get paid. The isolation grant is no longer available. There is no entitlement to paid leave. to furlough or to sick pay. If a whole class gets sent home when someone is positive, or if a whole family has to stay at home when one is sick, the parent will lose income. Or lose their job. None of you are looking at the bigger picture.

My dd tested positive on Sunday. She is up and bouncy today Completely well. 2 days later. This was the same for my other children too. For the vest majority of children this is the case. Unless the financial support structure is in place there's no way many parents can afford to isolate.

I always read these threads (which I wish would stay in the covid topic, which I have hidden) and think that some people here love lockdowns.

(and yes if you have a vulnerable person in your family, you may feel and act differently, but you know, there are the needs of so many other people to consider here too).

We’ve gone from the whole class having to isolate for a covid contact to this. Where you could have siblings at home playing together, sleeping in the same room, sharing all facilities etc - then one gets covid yet the other can go into school and potentially infect most of the class plus the teacher which then leads to all those families having to lose work.
StormyTeacups · 07/09/2021 16:22

Common knowledge, and sensible in many ways.

Thirtyrock39 · 07/09/2021 16:52

@noblegiraffe

Schools will implement their outbreak plans if needed.

Do you know what the outbreak plan is? If there’s an outbreak (10% of kids in close contact within 10 days) we have to

Open a window if it’s not too cold
Consider having outside lessons
Do a one-off clean of the light switches.

That is the official DfE contingency framework.

Yes but schools will implement sensible measures themselves if numbers creep up ....dh is a deputy head and was in meetings last night and they have put bubbles back in place (not for isolation but playtimes etc) and lots of other changes
noblegiraffe · 07/09/2021 20:21

In practical terms are there things we can do at this point to protect ourselves/kids or is it game over/herd immunity time?

@KisstheTeapot14 I think it's probably game over. Infection rates in kids were really high before the summer when we had isolation/no assemblies, there's nothing now to stop them going through the roof. I think the government was relying on vaccination at secondary and even if it happens now, it'll be way too late to help.

noblegiraffe · 07/09/2021 20:21

Yes but schools will implement sensible measures themselves if numbers creep up

I wouldn't bank on this.

KisstheTeapot14 · 08/09/2021 08:58

@noblegiraffe this is my gut feeling too.

Contemplating asking taxi driver to wear mask for the school run (45 mins x 2) as he comes into contact with lots of folk unmasked in the rest of the day (I think he may resist) but a big part of me thinks is there even a point? All Yr 7's in the hall together yesterday.

I am afraid. Health wise already breathless walking up stairs/to work today, god knows what will happen if (or rather when) I get Covid. Despite being doubled vacc'd I really am scared.

We have done so much to try to protect one another and now I sort of feel its been in vain.

noblegiraffe · 08/09/2021 15:17

Yes I think your taxi driver will come into close contact with far fewer people than a Y7, and it will be mainly vaccinated adults. It does feel rather like well what’s the point.

I’m sorry that it’s causing you worry, it’s a pretty shit situation.

noblegiraffe · 08/09/2021 16:32

dh is a deputy head and was in meetings last night and they have put bubbles back in place

And will now be, according to Nick Gibb, Schools Minister, be receiving a stern phonecall asking why he's ignoring DfE guidance.

itsgettingwierd · 08/09/2021 16:34

Lots of people are aware but if parents are isolating sometimes they can't take their children. And sometimes they would prefer to isolate as a family as many feel household close contacts is a risk too far.

NursieBernard · 08/09/2021 16:38

YABU

I won't be sending DS if anyone in the household has Covid. I think it's really irresponsible of the Government to allow this.

Internetio · 08/09/2021 16:46

We have one positive. Primary school literally threw my younger 2 at me when I rang them to say they were close contacts. They aren’t expecting them back until after an isolation period, they have been given times for live lessons etc and the headteacher confirmed it would be classed as a covid absence. I can’t actually get them to school until I’ve had a clear PCR as I’ve been told to isolate until my result comes through.

ThereWillBeFood · 08/09/2021 16:51

@Wheresmybiscuit3

They obviously want us all to catch it ASAP because these rules are ridiculous. That’s the only plausible explanation I can think of.
Agree 100%
scully29 · 08/09/2021 16:53

Its ridiculous and theres no way Id send mine in if we had it, Id obviously rather have an unauthorised absence than be the cause for spreading it the vulnerable staff, children or their family members.

Rosesareyellow · 08/09/2021 17:02

Our school is not treating it as unauthorised. Because the fact that a child who has a sibling with Covid is encouraged to go to school, very likely spread it to lots of other children and teachers (everyone I personally know who has had Covid was vaccinated) and thereby shut the whole down is fucking bonkers.

GameSetMatch · 08/09/2021 17:22

My nephew is currently at nursery and my SIL at work in a hospital even though my brother, their lodger and the lodgers GF have COVID. My nephew may even have COVID but they won’t have him tested, it’s ridiculous!

Payproblems · 08/09/2021 17:24

It's utterly crazy.

My dd has tested positive.

We all know covid is infectious before you show symptoms but they only want us off when we show symptoms.

Tomorrow I'm going to be in close contact with about 40 people in various groups...

Payproblems · 08/09/2021 17:26

Internio...

Who asked you to isolate?

I've Neen told to go into work, pcr test but dd positive.

So I can go into work, and then get the confirmation... I'm positive???

BlameItOnTheBlackStar · 08/09/2021 17:31

I'm aware, but I'm not doing it. It's fucking unevidenced nonsense.

Internetio · 08/09/2021 17:34

@Payproblems
Test Trace and Protect (we’re in Wales) and the isolation was confirmed by the chap
At the testing centre who insisted- he went as far as to list things we couldn’t do on the way home from the test centre (stop for milk, McDonald’s drive through etc etc etc) so we’re at home until the results come in.

Payproblems · 08/09/2021 17:37

Ok, in England I've been told it's fine to work.

I'm feel sorry for myself co workers

MaryGubbins · 08/09/2021 17:53

I think I posted way at the start saying I was keeping my other child off school and we tried as much as possible to work from home with daily lateral flows. Well 8 days later we all have it, only I have symptoms and only my lateral flow shows anything. It’s going to be a bugger isolating for best part of 3 weeks but I’m glad we did.

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