AUBU to disagree with Headteacher?

[Popcicle123]

My dd (secondary school age) has just tested positive for covid, no symptoms. My ds is at a small rural prep school, he is testing negative as are my DH and I. My sons headteacher has send out an email saying children can not attend school if anyone in their household test positive. Now as these are not the guidelines in England, can she do this?

My husband and I both work for the NHS, our departments are both under pressure from staff sickness/isolating, one of us will have to stay off if I keep my son off school, then if he does catch it from his sister he could end up being off 2 weeks. My husband and I have both had covid previously and are triple vaccinated so no need for us to isolate as long as we keep testing negative

AIBU to tell her her rule is unacceptable?

Sorry for the typos

Our school is asking people to adhere to this because we currently have a very high number of cases and staffing levels are close to being dangerously low. Some parents haven't been happy, but if things get any worse we will have to partially close and they won't be happy with that either. You have every right to contact the Head expressing your displeasure with the rule, and you could probably try to insist on sending your DC in anyway. But please keep in mind the Head is probably just trying their best to keep everyone safe and keep the school open.

I guess it's her school to run safely or as she sees as safely and with it being a private school she probably can do this I think you can discuss it with the school but what else you expecting? Who usually takes care of your children when you are working can they not care for them both.

You can disagree but a few principals are doing this to try and protect staffing levels

I think they are both at school, MrsJayy!

I don’t think YABU to be honest OP and I’m not sure but I think the HT may be breaking the rules there. I’m not sure they can refuse only request - but that’s for state school.

I think as PP are saying it's to protect staffing levels. It's a sensible enough rule so I'm not sure I'd bother creating an issue out of it, even though it's annoying.

Well, realistically how would the head know someone in the house tested positive? They can request you do this, they can't enforce it

I was meaning when they finish school I'm assuming the parents don't just work school hours In the NHS.

I think yabu yes, as the head is trying to protect the staff, to keep school open.

I can understand why you are frustrated but I would imagine it’s to try to protect staffing levels. I’m a secondary teacher and last week I think we were two staff members away from having to send a year group home to be able to run the school safely.

Mrsjavvy The children both go to after school clubs when we are working

Fair point about keeping the school open and I do understand that. She is being overly paranoid though and has cancelled every school trip, sporting and social event up until Easter so I think this extra rule has just annoyed me

For the record. If my children are sick of course I take time off work to look after them.

The school also have very few covid cases and have only had 1 teacher off recently

@Popcicle123

The school also have very few covid cases and have only had 1 teacher off recently

Maybe this is because they are taking a sensible approach about keeping close contacts away?

She has to follow the government rules, whether she agrees or not. She can’t enforce her own pseudo scientific arrangements because she chooses to! I’d be very unhappy if I was a fee paying parent. Part of me sees why she’s doing it, but as the country moves away from restrictions, you can’t have anyone who chooses to enforcing their own ‘rules’ as and when it suits them (whether for good or ill).

If they are secondary school age, are they not told enough to be home alone?

I do think this is a common rule although, it is a request rather than can be enforced. My DD's school cancelled trips/parents coming into school from after October half term. This term they have also cancelled choir. The music and dance festivals they would have been attending have been postponed/cancelled too.

My daughter who has covid is secondary school age and can be left home alone. My son who doesn't have covid is primary school age and cannot be left home alone

@sillysmiles

If they are secondary school age, are they not told enough to be home alone?

The younger one is primary age.

The school won't know your daughter has covid unless you tell them. I'd send your son in under these circumstances, he needs an education.

Thank you for all the replies. I'll have a think on what to do. It's just so frustrating knowing my colleagues are struggling when I'm sitting at home twiddling my thumbs

I work in early years and even although the government are saying children can come in our nursery are advising that children stay home if there is a positive case in the house.

We had to close a room last week as we had 7 staff off with covid!

In your position I just wouldn't tell her and just keep testing your son. It's not in breach of government rules.

Another thought. What are the ages of your children, how responsible are they and is your daughter properly "ill" with covid or just a bit off colour? If my daughter was, say, 15-16 and son 10-11 and both sensible I might be inclined to leave them together.

YABU.

Personally I don’t think the HT should be doing this because it’s not right to keep healthy children away from school, but if this is what has been decided as being in the best interests of that school, then you have to go along with it.

You want to prioritise your colleagues, the headteacher wants to prioritise hers. Neither of you are wrong, but it’s you that has to back down here unfortunately.

Ita a difficult one. You could just as easily be posting on here asking about how to cope if your son's school closed because too many staff were off sick. The head has to make decisions which are difficult either way.

Would they compromise by you sending him.in with a negative LFT taken every morning?