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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School want to see covid result

131 replies

Poolhater · 30/11/2021 06:33

I’m just after a bit of perspective as not sure that I’m just being a bit blaze about it!

I’ve kids at three different schools. Neither of the senior schools want to see (PCR) covid result if the kids have to have a test but the primary school always asks.

To put this into context, the primary school has also said kids with cold symptoms must be tested and receive negative results before return to School. Whereas neither of the senior schools have said that - they only want covid tests if displaying the covid symptoms as set out by NHS (cough, high temp, change in smell/taste).

My sister, (a teacher at a different primary) also has children in the same primary school as my kids. She thinks that they are wrong to ask for us to email in the test results (to be clear, they aren’t asking for us to email in “Little Miss Poolhater has tested negative” but actually want us to forward on the test result that we receive). She thinks this breaches confidentiality. I’m of the view, if it keeps the cogs turning, I will do it.

So who is being unreasonable here, me - I will happily send it in, or my sister - why should they have it and not just take our word for it?

I should add, I think my sister is frustrated by their requirement to keep kids off with cold symptoms (who are otherwise well) but their refusal to provide any work for those same kids on day one of that absence.

OP posts:
WidowTwonky · 30/11/2021 07:20

The Gov website still asks for the three main Covid symptoms- temp, cough, smell/taste. So should school ask for this for a cold?
(I’m fully aware a cold is a common symptom but not recognised as such officially)

Bingbong21 · 30/11/2021 07:23

@RaisinFlapjack no they can't. I wouldn't be sending any other than the child in question and even then I'd be a bit miffed at being assumed to be lying!

TurquoiseDress · 30/11/2021 07:23

I've got no issue whatsoever sharing the PCR result with school and also with nursery even though they don't explicitly ask for it

It does seem like a good way to ensure parents are actually getting PCR tests done as opposed to just telling the school a negative result and not actually doing it...yes this happens!

CristinaYangismySpiritAnimal · 30/11/2021 07:23

Schools aren’t allowed to ask you for proof. They’re going against all the guidance by asking you for it.

Peace43 · 30/11/2021 07:24

My primary requests Covid results.

Sirzy · 30/11/2021 07:24

The few times I have had to pcr Ds I have just emailed the results straight to his school. It has never crossed my mind to do anything else. It’s hard top secret classified information!!

ADayintheOffice · 30/11/2021 07:27

Primary Schools have to report to the DfE everyday about COVID attendance/absence and have done since March 2020.

We cannot inform the LA/staff/parents of cases in school until we have received the results. We cannot arrange FSM vouchers (for eligible families) without seeing the results.

We have also had parents try to send their children back in before the isolation is over. We need to see the 'release' date.

Parents have tried to send in LFT results instead of PCRs.

jacks11 · 30/11/2021 07:27

It’s not just schools people lie to. They lie to hospital staff and the GP’s surgery- though they seem to forget we will usually know about a positive test because GP’s automatically get notified and thus we in secondary care can check. It is more time consuming to find out if they have had a negative/ bothered to have one at all, but we can. I am surprised at the number of people who have a cough who “know” it’s just a cold and not covid. Sometimes it is obvious, but often it really isn’t.

There are also a lot of patients who have symptoms who tell us they’ve had a “negative test” but who have only done a lateral flow. I had thought it was clear by now that lateral flows are screening, PCR if you have symptoms/ been a close contact of a confirmed case. But the number of indignant patients I’ve spoken to has made me wonder if it’s genuinely not clear to the public. Either that or they are trying to avoid a PCR as they think it might be positive and don’t want to isolate/worried about the implications of it. Maybe a bit of both.

So I can understand schools asking for evidence- if people will try to mislead hospital or GP staff, they will surely do it with schools too. Or if it is genuinely a case of misunderstanding lateral flow vs PCR at least that way the school can correct the error.

cookiemonster2468 · 30/11/2021 07:28

Whilst I think it's fair enough to ask to see the actual test, there are so many ways people who don't want to be honest can get around it. Using an old test/ someone else's/ faking it by using water etc etc.

So really you might as well just ask for confirmation because those who are going to be honest will be, and those who aren't, won't.

Catfog · 30/11/2021 07:28

The only information the school might not have already would be the child's nhs number, but not sure of anything deviant they could do with that particularly. Surely the only people who have a real issue with this are those who aren't actually getting tests?

Original poster
Poolhater · 30/11/2021 07:28

@Sirzy

The few times I have had to pcr Ds I have just emailed the results straight to his school. It has never crossed my mind to do anything else. It’s hard top secret classified information!!
This is what I do. I just forward it on.
OP posts:
TurquoiseDress · 30/11/2021 07:29

I really don't see the issue with having to provide proof

Where we live (SE London) there are quite a few Covid test centres within a short drive or bus ride

No excuses really if your child is unwell

Also, not sure people realise but all the PCR results go back to your GP & are in your medical notes...an acquaintance fell out with her GP surgery after insisting child had had PCR with fever/cough but hadn't even done a lateral flow!

hesbeen2021 · 30/11/2021 07:29

the primary school has also said kids with cold symptoms must be tested and receive negative results before return to School
This is beyond ridiculous
A cold is not one of the symptoms listed.
I'm also in agreement with your sister

claymodels · 30/11/2021 07:29

What confidentiality breach does your sister think happens if you forward a PCR result? School know all of the information on it, they just need visual proof.

cookiemonster2468 · 30/11/2021 07:30

Unless you're talking about PCR's - in that case I think it's absolutely fine that the school should see it. They are managing a building which hundreds of people enter and leave each day. Of course they have to know.

milkysmum · 30/11/2021 07:30

Both my DCs primary and secondary schools have started asking for PCR results recently. I'm absolutely fine with this.
The primary is currently requesting all children are tested if they have any cold symptoms/ fatigue as they currently have a significant amount of children and staff off with covid so are trying to pick up cases earlier ( nobody seems to be displaying 3 main symptoms that are testing positive ).
Primary is also now asking for 2 LFT tests a week like high school during the run up to Christmas.

ShakespearesSisters · 30/11/2021 07:30

I emailed a screenshot of the text (as that arrived 1st) with a yippie as the title when it came back as negative after having to stay at home as a close contact (our LEA insist on that)

Whinge · 30/11/2021 07:31

Using an old test/ someone else's/ faking it by using water etc etc.

Surely using water would result in a void test? I'm sure if people are determined to lie they will, but asking for the results helps act as a deterrent for many others.

Whinge · 30/11/2021 07:33

@cookiemonster2468

Unless you're talking about PCR's - in that case I think it's absolutely fine that the school should see it. They are managing a building which hundreds of people enter and leave each day. Of course they have to know.
I thought the OP made it clear they were talking about PCR results.

Neither of the senior schools want to see (PCR) covid result if the kids have to have a test but the primary school always asks.

shouldistop · 30/11/2021 07:33

The test results don't have any information on them that the school don't already have about the child so it really wouldn't bother me to send them in. My ds school doesn't ask though.

WidowTwonky · 30/11/2021 07:35

Our school have made clear - no need to stay off or PCR for a cold. Thank goodness

Cattitudes · 30/11/2021 07:36

From the original guidelines they were not able to make you show a negative PCR. I do tend to forward on the test resuits because I don't mind doing it. I might be less inclined if the school are just making up their own rules about who needs to have a test.

SophieHatterPendragon · 30/11/2021 07:38

I don’t really see the issue with passing on the result? The only information on it they won’t have is the child’s NHS number so you can just redact that part.

My ds primary ask for proof of a negative result and I’ve sent it. We’re not advised to test for cold symptoms (snotty / runny nose) but if an cough is present then we’re asked to test. I don’t really have a problem with that either

Whataday21 · 30/11/2021 07:40

I worked in a school throughout covid and we were not legally allowed to see covid result emails or tests.

rwalker · 30/11/2021 07:43

1000% it's because parents lie I'd support anything the school are doing to keep your kids safe irrespective if it's in the rules or not .

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