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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is ridiculous (School & PCR)

114 replies

ffscovid · 12/12/2021 09:48

So I've woken this morning to an email from school saying that due to the current situation, they'd like every child to take a PCR test and will only be allowed back to school this week if negative.
Even if we all rushed to the test centre this morning (450+ kids in the school!), it's bordering on unlikely that the results would be back before school tomorrow, meaning most families will now have to take short-notice leave as it's a primary school so childcare will be an issue if we can't send the kids in.
We're actually away for the weekend which makes this more complicated as I need to find a test centre near to where I'm staying and probably mess up our plans for the day (or do one when we're home which would be tomorrow now as we're not due back until late, delaying our likely return to school as it will probably be Tuesday before the results would come back).
Are school even allowed to do this?

OP posts:
HestersSamplerofCarrots · 12/12/2021 16:12

@Blueeyedgirl21

Why is getting a pcr so bloody hard for some people, just go online book the nearest one (I’ve just looked and I can literally do one in a center 15 mins away by car in 15 mins so not difficult), the test takes ten mins max it’s not even like it takes up all of your day. My workplace is besieged by people off for A WEEK because they’ve ‘had to get a test’. Do people really live so far from test centers that it takes three days planning to figure out how to get there.
Because where I live the nearest test centre is a 40 minute drive away. Our car is tiny and trying to do the test on screaming primary aged child who is now terrified of the bloody things in such small, cramped circumstances balancing swab, bag etc is nigh on impossible.

Postal tests take up to 48 hours to arrive.

Shock, horror - not everyone’s circumstances are the same as yours 🙄

Awalkintime · 12/12/2021 16:14

Do you really think the head teacher sat on this idea on a Friday and instead decided to work on a Sunday just to piss parents off?

He will have been notified about more cases and had to work to report these which would've taken the school over the threshold and he sent out the information once he was informed by PHE. He hasn't told you before now because he was not informed before now. Some people can't think logically at all.

Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 12/12/2021 16:18

Well it sounds pretty serious like an emergency?
Don't do the tests and suddenly you have omicron raging around and sick people taken out for ten days isolation?

HestersSamplerofCarrots · 12/12/2021 16:20

If they’re doing it because instructed to by the local authority due to local outbreak procedures, I’d expect the letter to say that, and I’d book a PCR.

But from what you’ve said about this letter, it sounds like an individual school taking a unilateral decision and I’d want more information.

DoubleShotEspresso · 12/12/2021 16:26

Sounds sensible to me though the lack of notice is pretty ropey but I guess the news reporting has changed significantly since Friday in terms of cases rising et ... perhaps the health authority are just doing their best with the info they've received?

catgirl1976 · 12/12/2021 16:35

Your are entitled to time of for dependants for situations such as this. Your work cannot reasonably refuse or discipline you (well they can but they’d be on very shaky ground) Apply for that.

catgirl1976 · 12/12/2021 16:37

@Hercisback yes they can. The school is following advice from public health.

catgirl1976 · 12/12/2021 16:37

www.gov.uk/time-off-for-dependants

catgirl1976 · 12/12/2021 16:40

Mind you they can’t insist of seeing the negative result. But you’d have to be a pretty special kind of arsehole to pretend your child had been tested or was negative when they hadn’t / were positive

Hercisback · 12/12/2021 16:44

@catgirl1976 They absolutely can't insist on a PCR being done, and they can't insist on seeing a negative result.

I'm not saying OP should send their child in. But with daily LFTs I'd probably be sending my child in.

Hercisback · 12/12/2021 16:49

As a teacher I'd be happy for daily LFTs instead of one off PCR.

catgirl1976 · 12/12/2021 16:49

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1039583/2021206_Schools_guidance_Omicron_review_-_FINAL.pdf

Section four of the guidance states children should not attend school if other circumstances (eg an outbreak at school) require them to have a PCR test.

Hercisback · 12/12/2021 16:57

Nowhere does it say that a PCR has to be done. No one can be forced to have a PCR. Schools can't insist on evidence before letting a child back in to school either.

I would get my child a PCR, but would also LFT daily. I'd keep them off Monday but send them in Tuesday as long as LFT was negative even if PCR hadn't come back.

Is the Head giving parents who want the week off to avoid covid a get out of jail free card?

girlmom21 · 12/12/2021 17:01

@Skittles98

Also results from PCR tests at a test centre usually come back by 7:00am the next day.
This massively varies by region
WonderfulYou · 12/12/2021 17:14

Do you really think the head teacher sat on this idea on a Friday and instead decided to work on a Sunday just to piss parents off?

GrinGrin

It’s either people take tests and isolate if negative or the schools will be forced to close - I know which one I’d prefer.

NobbyButtons · 12/12/2021 17:15

A lot of schools seem to be asking parents to keep their children off school until they've had a negative PCR result after someone they've been in contact with has tested positive. Some counties have issued their own recommendations that contradict the Government's official guidance. Where I live, the LEA "strongly recommends" that if a child tests positive, the other 30+ children in that class should stay off school until they've had a negative PCR test result. However, it's not enforceable or a legal requirement and schools can only refuse entry to a child who has symptoms. Children are not required to isolate if they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for covid (unless it is the Omicron variant).

daisyjgrey · 12/12/2021 17:16

@Blueeyedgirl21

Why is getting a pcr so bloody hard for some people, just go online book the nearest one (I’ve just looked and I can literally do one in a center 15 mins away by car in 15 mins so not difficult), the test takes ten mins max it’s not even like it takes up all of your day. My workplace is besieged by people off for A WEEK because they’ve ‘had to get a test’. Do people really live so far from test centers that it takes three days planning to figure out how to get there.

My closest one is 45 mins drive away and the next available appt is Tuesday morning. We don't all live in places with easy access to everything...

WonderfulYou · 12/12/2021 18:29

If its a state school they can't refuse your child in the morning regardless.

I’m not sure what the rules of a PCR are now with the new variant but state schools can absolutely refuse to have a child in, especially if it’s to do with any kind of illness.
They’ll refuse you if you go to school less than 48 hours after you’ve vomited or if you’ve tested positive for COVID.

Blondeshavemorefun · 12/12/2021 18:31

I’ve found the best thing is to apply for postage one so you have one when need it

Then post in postbox. They seem to be coming back within 24hrd

Dh posted at 2 yesterday and results beg by 1pm

Friend went to site fri at 10 and still waiting

CottonSock · 12/12/2021 18:36

Our school did this at the start of the school year. Myself and others asked what the policy was - it seemed to change daily! Some kids were missing school every week waiting for results. The school are now following government guidelines (welsh) thankfully and some normality restored.. testing recommended and kids not being excluded unless testing positive or strong symptoms. Under 5s don't need to test here.

Original poster
ffscovid · 12/12/2021 18:38

@Blondeshavemorefun

I’ve found the best thing is to apply for postage one so you have one when need it

Then post in postbox. They seem to be coming back within 24hrd

Dh posted at 2 yesterday and results beg by 1pm

Friend went to site fri at 10 and still waiting

Ah now that's a good idea. I assumed that postal ones had to be processed within a certain amount of time from when the kit is put together. I didn't realise you could keep one ' just in case'.
OP posts:
Hercisback · 12/12/2021 18:40

Can we stop with the false information that schools can refuse students without a negative PCR, they can't. They might try, they may strongly word letters, but results are medical information and don't have to be shared.

Schools could spot symptoms on a child, and strongly recommend PCR.

I think the 48 hour thing isn't enshrined in a law anywhere either. I mean most reasonable parents would take their child home, but if you did leave them at school not really sure what they would do.

WonderfulYou · 12/12/2021 20:23

Can we stop with the false information that schools can refuse students without a negative PCR, they can't. They might try, they may strongly word letters, but results are medical information and don't have to be shared.

I’m not sure what area the school is you work in but many schools I know will refuse a child to come in. Obviously there is only so much they can do (eg refuse entry on the bus) and there is no law against it. But most parents aren’t so negligent that they would send in an ill, infectious child in (although some definitely are).

Blondeshavemorefun · 12/12/2021 21:04

@ffscovid when you apply fora postal one it says you cAn add 3 others to order you have to name them so I name me dh And dd

So have one in lieu if that makes sense

catgirl1976 · 12/12/2021 21:53

I’ve checked the DfE,s guidance for chills and it states that in exceptional circumstances a school may decide to refuse to allow a child to attend if in its reasonable judgement it is necessary to protect others within the setting from Covid-19. So it’s not “misinformation” it’s in the DfE guidance. Albeit it is not a decision a school would take lightly and they would need to consider things carefully. But yes they can refuse to allow a child to attend if they deem the risk sufficient.