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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this class should be closed?

668 replies

Jenster03 · 18/10/2021 23:11

I'm a part time primary teacher and in the space of two weeks, 14 children have tested positive out of 30 in my class.
We've had 2 or 3 return in that time, but more and more are testing positive. Now my teaching assistant has it.
AIBU to think we should be sending the class home and remote learning? How would you feel if you were a parent of a child in my class?
Oh, and I'm pretty anxious about my level of exposure too!

OP posts:
Angiemumof5 · 21/10/2021 10:26

Thing is a lot of people are getting false positives from lateral flow tests even my doctor has said not to do these because they are not reliable enough so there's a lot of people out there isolating when they might not even have it.

toomuchlaundry · 21/10/2021 10:29

@Angiemumof5 I assume they then get a PCR test. I thought false positives were quite rare. There has been an issue in the SW with faulty PCR testing, so showing negative when should be positive which hasn’t helped

Awalkintime · 21/10/2021 10:34

gingercatsparky
But in sending them home they can continue their education with home learning. If they keep them in and the staff get it, they get sent home as there is no supervision and then no online learning as the staff will be sick.

Surely moving to remote education allows that education to continue and is better than all the class having no education for however long the teacher is ill for.

Or do you think it is better to keep a class in and then let them all have 10 days + with no input at all?

worriedatthemoment · 21/10/2021 10:35

@gingercatsparky yes I agree I think
Lockdown is a last resort as is closing schools , if everyone done some other measures this could help
I know many that have stopped the LFT and we had a caSe in my sons team a few weeks ago and all advised to go for a pcr only some did , same with a friend her child had covid she informed some close contacts and advised pcr as per track and trace and they said its ok we will just do a lft .
New guidelines people aren't so clear
My ds currently has covid and we are isolating as best as possible despite not technically having too , luckily im off work this week and dh is wfh due to something else so that helps
My friend is a teacher and when her child had covid she had to go in daily
I know people not testing when they have a cough as 'oh its not covid I just have a cold' and their probably right but have a test to be sure and avoid people for a day or two.
We still wear a mask , its just feels like if everyone could do a little bit extra we could avoid another lockdown .
If we can all just do what we can as the goverment has put all the onus on us now ,by making things guidelines and not actual rules, which is clever of them and they can then say well we advised this and that , you haven't listened .!!

Awalkintime · 21/10/2021 10:35

@Angiemumof5

Thing is a lot of people are getting false positives from lateral flow tests even my doctor has said not to do these because they are not reliable enough so there's a lot of people out there isolating when they might not even have it.
People don't do 10 days off with a LF they have to do a PCR.
worriedatthemoment · 21/10/2021 10:37

@Angiemumof5 if you have a positive lateral flow you get a pcr and my understanding is that false positives are more unusual
There was issue in south west where pcr were wrong, but I would be suprised a dr said don't bother with LFT , bit irresponsible especially as some workplaces insist on them

worriedatthemoment · 21/10/2021 10:39

@gingercatsparky my understanding with the boosters is that they are given 6 months after so many teachers won't fit that criteria yet

worriedatthemoment · 21/10/2021 10:43

@Awalkintime but then parents have to be home if they are young ? Many kids would have to stay in regardless as keyworker childrens
We all know school isn't a bqbysitting service but at the same time when we work we take school into account , even teachers . Many teachers couldn't work if their kids were sent home
I agree in a class when 15 kids get it , maybe it makes sense to have a least a few days stay at home until everyone at least has a pcr ( although it can take days to show )

IWishIHadNotDoneIt · 21/10/2021 10:50

For all those saying, it's here to stay, keep schools open. A friend of mine has just died from sepsis caused by Covid. She was fit, healthy, double jabbed and a TA in a class where over half caught Covid in a 2 week period including her. She had been in ICU with Covid but had just been moved to a ward with a view to going home. She was 33 years old.

Awalkintime · 21/10/2021 10:55

[quote worriedatthemoment]@Awalkintime but then parents have to be home if they are young ? Many kids would have to stay in regardless as keyworker childrens
We all know school isn't a bqbysitting service but at the same time when we work we take school into account , even teachers . Many teachers couldn't work if their kids were sent home
I agree in a class when 15 kids get it , maybe it makes sense to have a least a few days stay at home until everyone at least has a pcr ( although it can take days to show )
[/quote]
But they would have to be home anyway if the teacher gets it or if their child gets it and they have to stay home themselves.

We can bury our heads in the sand but right now every child in my school has to stay home without any education because we carried on regardless.

beentoldcomputersaysno · 21/10/2021 11:07

@IWishIHadNotDoneIt

For all those saying, it's here to stay, keep schools open. A friend of mine has just died from sepsis caused by Covid. She was fit, healthy, double jabbed and a TA in a class where over half caught Covid in a 2 week period including her. She had been in ICU with Covid but had just been moved to a ward with a view to going home. She was 33 years old.
So sorry. That's awful.
worriedatthemoment · 21/10/2021 11:10

@Awalkintime which is why I said maybe a few days and everyone goes for a pcr test when a couple of positives in a class as even that may help a little
But if its send home for 10
Days every case thats a lot of time you could be home
Again i agree if there is a lot of cases in a class then best switching to home learning a bit or if near a half term bringing forward a day or two

worriedatthemoment · 21/10/2021 11:14

@IWishIHadNotDoneIt so sorry to hear about your friend
Thats the trouble with this virus , you just never know how it will affect you
And many of us may not know if we have an underlying condition etc as well which could make us more vulnerable
Numbers are very high and something does need to be done to get them back down but unfortunately it isn't going away but we could certainly get cases a lot lower

Awalkintime · 21/10/2021 11:21

[quote worriedatthemoment]@Awalkintime which is why I said maybe a few days and everyone goes for a pcr test when a couple of positives in a class as even that may help a little
But if its send home for 10
Days every case thats a lot of time you could be home
Again i agree if there is a lot of cases in a class then best switching to home learning a bit or if near a half term bringing forward a day or two[/quote]
I didn't say for every case but for a wide spread across the school keeping people in only makes it worse.

Ours haven't switched to home learning, they are getting none. Just 0 input until staff are better and given last time staff were off 3 weeks with it then we'll see how long they are out of education for. Hopefully it is minimal but it could be a few weeks.

The teachers will come back with nothing planned either having been ill so they'll have no decent lessons on their return for a few days either until the teachers plan something.

worriedatthemoment · 21/10/2021 11:36

@Awalkintime I agree for wise cases yes , I mean we shut schools when large outbreaks of norovirus to have deep clean and try and break the chain so should be same for covid

worriedatthemoment · 21/10/2021 11:37

High cases in school not wise

CosmicHeat · 21/10/2021 11:49

Sorry to hear that, any loss is terrible. Though are they certain it wasn't a side effect of the jab. I'm hearing more and more stories of the double vaxxed having a worse time with all sorts and not just covid.

borntobequiet · 21/10/2021 12:55

[quote Badunkadunk]@boomwhacker if teachers have had AZ there is no booster jab and if the government wasn’t trying to push vaccines onto healthy 12-15 yos at next to no risk they might be a bit further forward with boosting the vulnerable groups with Pfizer. Whatever made them think they could pull off year-on-year mass vaccination is a mystery to me.[/quote]
I’m a teacher (though recently retired) and I had my booster three weeks ago - original vaccine was AZ and booster was Pfizer. This is perfectly normal.

CallmeHendricks · 21/10/2021 13:08

@Angiemumof5

Thing is a lot of people are getting false positives from lateral flow tests even my doctor has said not to do these because they are not reliable enough so there's a lot of people out there isolating when they might not even have it.
It's not false positives that are the issue with LFTs, but false negatives, which are far more common.

I think some are also getting confused about mixing jabs. It has been recommended that both first and second jabs are the same provider but it's fine to have the booster as a different one.

toomuchlaundry · 21/10/2021 13:10

@Badunkadunk you are talking rubbish about no boosters for people who had AZ vaccines. They will have Pfizer boosters. Thought you said you get your information from reliable sources.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 21/10/2021 13:14

@julieca

Anyway going to leave you to it. IME you can't really discuss things with people who just want life to be totally normal for their families and don't care about the impact that has on other people including losing earnings, not being able to visit and help elderly families, and some dying.
Yep - there’s no arguing with selfish
boomwhacker · 21/10/2021 13:23

@Badunkadunk I'm delighted thar teachers are safe from Covid. I'm 49 and, if I'm honest, a bit overweight. In normal society I'm probably considered at a bit of risk (certainly enough to get my vaccines earlier than some). It's great to hear that my teaching certificate will protect me from the worst of the symptoms. Maybe we should be pursuing teacher training rather than booster vaccines- since that's the best way to ensure protection. In a world where rates amongst secondary school kids are the highest in any age bracket, and I spend much of my time in the middle of crowds of them, I am delighted that I am at far less risk than if I go in a shop, or on a bus or any of the other places where masks are encouraged. I shall wave my QTS certificate in the air and go forth with confidence.

Stilsmiling · 21/10/2021 13:24

You are right to be annoyed. While closing the class might mean kids have to go home to learn remotely for 3-4 days it means that if they are infectious with no symptoms then they are one person in their household spreading it. With several children in one classroom potentially spreading it then the risk of infectious increases greatly and the number of kids taking it home increases too.

We all know it’s difficult for parents to take time off and also difficult for parents who have other kids, partners, parents who are clinically vulnerable. It’s a difficult situation to be in. The guidance from Government is prioritising keeping kids in school and parents at work, it’s not reflective of what the health needs are or NHS needs.

caspersmagicaljourney · 21/10/2021 13:27

@IWishIHadNotDoneIt

For all those saying, it's here to stay, keep schools open. A friend of mine has just died from sepsis caused by Covid. She was fit, healthy, double jabbed and a TA in a class where over half caught Covid in a 2 week period including her. She had been in ICU with Covid but had just been moved to a ward with a view to going home. She was 33 years old.
I'm so sorry to hear that 💐 It concerns me that double jabbed people are getting this virus and also shows how potentially dangerous the virus is for some school staff.
Plumbuddle · 21/10/2021 13:40

@IWishIHadNotDoneIt

For all those saying, it's here to stay, keep schools open. A friend of mine has just died from sepsis caused by Covid. She was fit, healthy, double jabbed and a TA in a class where over half caught Covid in a 2 week period including her. She had been in ICU with Covid but had just been moved to a ward with a view to going home. She was 33 years old.
I'm so sorry, #IWishIHadNotDoneIt. These are such awful times.