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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What did your DC's school do if you couldn't get your DC to school as you are too unwell?

423 replies

UndertheCedartree · 01/01/2022 02:32

Just posting here for traffic.

If you are a single parent and have been in a situation that you were still ill to get your DC to school what did school do? I will probably be in this situation next week. This happened once prior to Covid and some of the pastoral care teachers came and picked my DD up. It happened once recently and they suggested she stay at home and do online learning. That was fine as I had twisted my ankle and couldn't put any weight on it but I could help with online learning. However this time I have Covid and will not be able to do online learning with her.

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 01/01/2022 11:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

maddening · 01/01/2022 11:43

@Northernsoullover

Totally missed the sentence at the end of the op, I did filter by the ops posts but totally missed it, I am dyslexic so although normally fine that coupled with tiredness meant I missed it, no need for the ffs, unnecessarily unpleasant really, I had only asked a question and in no way attacked the op.

Mummyoflittledragon · 01/01/2022 11:53

@MichelleScarn

Apologies as know searching previous posts is not great form. But where us their dad who previously had sole care Mon to Friday from previous threads?
Where did you see that? A quick search using op’s username with the word ‘ex’ states the kids live with her and that her ex has mh issues and was living with his mother in 2020.
mindutopia · 01/01/2022 12:02

When Dh had COVID, school asked us to please keep them at home. One dc did get COVID a few days later, so really doesn’t seem worth the risk of sending them in to me. We didn’t do any online learning (Dh too ill and I was needing to wfh and look after a toddler too who I was also asked not to send in).

Mickarooni · 01/01/2022 13:36

If it’s going to be next week, can you explore some options with other parents or taxis?

sweetbellyhigh · 01/01/2022 13:39

@MichelleScarn

Apologies as know searching previous posts is not great form. But where us their dad who previously had sole care Mon to Friday from previous threads?
Yeah that's not cool and it's also called troll hunting. If you genuinely believe the thread to be a hoax, you can report it rather than play thread detective.
Londonr · 01/01/2022 13:45

I was really ill with covid for about 2 weeks. So I could not get my children to school they put it down as compassionate leave. Never asked to do on line learning . I would not have been able to anyway.

stingofthebutterfly · 01/01/2022 13:53

A 9 year old should be fairly independent with home learning. I'm sure you won't have to sit there and go through everything with her. If you can muster up the energy to post on Mumsnet, the you can help your child with a bit of school work, surely.

Howshouldibehave · 01/01/2022 14:02

No school I have worked in would collect a child from home and bring them to school. Nobody could be spared to walk 40 minutes and we wouldn’t be allowed to take them in our car.

Ask a family member, ask a friend, call a taxi.

Dithercats · 01/01/2022 14:19

@DeepaBeesKit

In our school if there is a positive case in the household the child cannot attend school.So if 1 sibling is positive, they must all remain home!

Is your school in England? They are not allowed to do this. Report them to your local council.

We are in Wales. It's school policy. Advised by the LEA. It's sensible and has kept our school covid numbers down tbh. Most siblings will catch it once one has it surely.
Muchmorethan · 01/01/2022 14:53

My DC primary school would only help the families that had attendance issues.

Also as previously mentioned, if you're well enough to post coherently on here then you're not ill.

Mickarooni · 01/01/2022 15:05

@Muchmorethan

My DC primary school would only help the families that had attendance issues.

Also as previously mentioned, if you're well enough to post coherently on here then you're not ill.

I’ve never understood this. I’ve been treated in intensive care and HDU on multiple occasions, I could use my phone and post coherently!
Newyearnewme2022 · 01/01/2022 15:23

Every time I’ve been unwell it’s been because I’ve caught something from my son, he’s usually still recovering so school are happy for him to stay home. SEN school who like to keep bugs out of school as much as possible.

Idontgiveaf324 · 01/01/2022 15:26

Given how contagious it is and how most infections occur in the home, it’s beyond dumb not to require members of the household to isolate or at least stay away from school, where they will have prolonged contact with others. No wonder we can’t seem to control it if this is the policy.
I spent Christmas with someone who then was positive. There were 8 of us there and all of us now have Covid except for one person. It spreads like anything.

CurtainTroubles · 01/01/2022 16:00

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 01/01/2022 16:20

@Blondebakingmumma

I’d be surprised if schools had spare staff to ferry kids to and from school. It would be a big ask if they did though. Asking an adult to be enclosed in a car with a child that potentially has/will have COVID.
They have the pastoral care staff. She won't go back if still testing positive.
OP posts:
LizzieVereker · 01/01/2022 16:22

@Nogoodusername

I’m amazed that school helped you get your child to school - wouldn’t be a possibility here at all (south London). When I had Covid I had to call in mum friend favours/ ask in the class whatsapp if someone could pick up my child on their way to school
I’m sorry you were in this situation, but it does happen in many schools in South London. It is easier for big secondaries as you need a big enough pastoral staff to enable two members of staff to go and a vehicle with the right car insurance. I work for a big MAT in SE London and we are able to do this daily, and our primaries can also offer it sometimes. Children are safer at school and parents recover quicker if they are helped like this.
Thepineapplemystery · 01/01/2022 16:24

Nothing.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 01/01/2022 16:25

@icklekid

Why is the possibility it might be for a long time? As a one off school can sometimes arrange to collect children as happened before however they can’t do it regularly and if they do it for one child then they would have to have a good reason not to for another to be fair. With covid numbers could be ridiculous and they would prioritise those with safeguarding concerns. After a one off the onus would be on parent to arrange lifts with friends for example or pay for taxi which you could accompany them?
If Covid lasts for a long time like before. To be fair, I don't think anyone else knows about the pastoral support given to other families. Hopefully they may be able to help arrange lifts as I have noone to ask nor fund taxis (not that I can go in a taxi with Covid).
OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 01/01/2022 16:26

@AgentProvocateur

You should ask another parent. I’m sure they be glad to help.
I would do so if I had anyone to ask.
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Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 01/01/2022 16:28

@Londonlassy

Wow. I live in OZ and I have never heard of schools assisting with transport to school. The onus is on the parents is to make arrangements with friends, neighbours and family to get DC to school. This thread is a bit of an eye opener
Yeah, we don't all have people we can ask. I think when you do you just take it for granted.
OP posts:
UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 01/01/2022 16:31

This is a very country specific scenario. In many, many countries there is no school run - children take themselves to school on foot or school bus (when older by public transport) in most countries (right from the beginning aside from the very first day).

My children never needed to be taken to school - they walk/ed to the bus stop with neighbor children and siblings and took the school bus at primary, public bus for secondary.

Children not attending due to parental illness would indicate a need for outside help here, because it would indicate a bigger problem than logistics.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 01/01/2022 16:34

@adreamofspring

Surely another parent or a mate would help? I only have elderly relatives, who I have to care for, so understand you also might not be able to ask extended family. You can return the favour to other parents as soon as you’re well enough. We endure those awful WhatsApp class groups, put in PTA volunteering hours, and listen politely to school gate gossip for exactly moments like this! But it’s only Saturday so unless your isolating or have some underlying condition you might be fine anyway. I can’t see how this is the school’s responsibility to organise, they’ve got so much stress next week making sure 100s of kids don’t all bring covid back from their Xmas holidays. Feel better soon!
I've had Covid before so I have an idea of how the course runs. I still can't get out of bed and think I've got at least a week to go. However last time it lasted 3 months plus Long Covid. I won't even be out of isolation when school starts back. Unfortunately, I have noone to ask. I'm not saying school have to help me but I know that they are happy to and would want me to contact them and was just looking for ideas how the situation could be resolved.
OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 01/01/2022 16:35

@SmellyOldPartridgeinaPearTree - because I have Covid. I was ill with it for 15 months last time so yes, it could be a long time.

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 01/01/2022 16:37

@NoSquirrels

Why won’t you be able to help with online learning?
Because I can barely lift my head off the pillow or think straight.
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