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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

catgirl1976 · 12/12/2021 21:53

Schools not chills obviously

DoubleShotEspresso · 13/12/2021 00:04

Our school have insisted on negative PCR's and I'm grateful that they have.

NobbyButtons · 13/12/2021 07:39

@catgirl1976

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.

Can you post a link please? I thought schools could only refuse entry to a child with symptoms.

Briony123 · 13/12/2021 07:39

@Annabelll

My children’s school did this as advised by PHE.

16 children out of 30 in my son’s class tested positive.

I am very glad they did it - it broke the cycle and now there are no cases in the school (for now!).

You mean, the children that tested positive on that day are no longer in the classroom. It absolutely does not mean there are now no cases in the school. A case (or many cases) could have been within minutes of taking the PCR test.

Hercisback · 13/12/2021 07:41

They can only refuse children with symptoms. The guidance is pretty clear on that. It's rubbish for teachers and school staff but we can't do more.

Original poster

ffscovid · 13/12/2021 07:48

Well school will be very quiet today. The email came out at 9am yesterday. Those of us who were lucky to get a test yesterday are all still waiting on results (based on the WhatsApp group discussion), others are still waiting for the test to arrive (post) or are going to a test centre today / tomorrow as that was the earliest available appointment.

OP posts:

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 13/12/2021 08:05

What area are you in OP?

Original poster

ffscovid · 13/12/2021 08:22

@HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend

What area are you in OP?

Midlands (but we did the test in Greater London as we were away for the weekend).

OP posts:

Confrontayshunme · 13/12/2021 09:31

A ton of parents at my eldest DD's school were angry when this happened (I was pretty annoyed too), but they were advised by PHE due to member of staff and 17 out of 28 in my DD's class (plus her!) Tested positive with no symptoms. Everyone isolated and tests are back down now.

NobbyButtons · 13/12/2021 09:32

I'm in the Midlands too. Since early October my children's state primary school has been asking parents to take their child for a PCR test if a classmate has tested positive, and not to return to school until they have had a negative result. This is based on LEA advice which, if followed, will mean regularly having one or two days off school whilst waiting for test results. One day, there were parents turning round at the school gates after an email was sent out at 8:30, and on another, some parents came in and collected their children from school after an email was sent out at 9:15.

AnotherOneWithNoGoodName · 13/12/2021 09:47

This happened at a school local to me that my siblings dc attend.
The message went out on Wednesday, though, to please get it done before Monday.
I didn't hear what happened overall as I didn't particularly care, but siblings dc were negative.

CornishYarg · 13/12/2021 09:58

What happens if the PCR is lost, do the children have to stay off school for days? I'm technically still waiting for my result from a PCR I took in mid October...obviously I took another one when it was clear it had been lost, but you're told to wait 72 hours before you can ring up and see what's happened. I originally took a PCR on Saturday, chased on Tuesday, retested on Wednesday and finally got a result on Thursday. Same thing happened to a friend's test too.

Whatafustercluck · 13/12/2021 10:01

Our dd's school asked (they cannot insist) that all parents did pcr tests. They had seen big increases in numbers and, quite rightly, took action to avoid having to close classes completely - which would have given parents a bigger childcare problem! It worked, due to the large amount of compliance and goodwill from parents.

ChloeCrocodile · 13/12/2021 11:08

They can only refuse children with symptoms. The guidance is pretty clear on that. It's rubbish for teachers and school staff but we can't do more.

Any advice the school get from public health authorities surely overrides the DfE guidance though? Schools obviously should not be allowed to refuse children on a whim but public health matters almost always take precedence over other government departments.

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