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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To shout DfE is saying keep your kid with covid symptoms home and test

52 replies

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 25/02/2022 16:36

DfE states;

Children and young people with COVID-19 should not attend their education setting while they are infectious. They should take an LFD test from 5 days after their symptoms started (or the day their test was taken if they did not have symptoms) followed by another one the next day. If both these tests results are negative, they should return to their educational setting if they normally attend one, as long as they feel well enough to do so and do not have a temperature. They should follow the guidance for their educational setting.

This means keep your kids with covid and symptoms at home until negative.

Luckily the school I work in have already sent this to parents as has my kids school

OP posts:
Drywhitefruitycidergin · 25/02/2022 17:34

We've had same instructions sent out this evening. Seems sensible, my workplace have sent something similar although will post a test to you via HR.
Explained it like chicken pox so don't return while infectious. School reserve right to decide if child can stay in school if symptomatic but please don't bring them in.

hangrylady · 25/02/2022 17:35

@OnceuponaRainbow18

It’s only Feb, there will be tests until April at least, our school suggested we start trying to source some now for april and beyond
Oh goody. More panic buying.
Fortyminutes · 25/02/2022 17:36

@gamerchick

I have no problem doing that as long as the school provide the tests. I ain't paying for them.

The thing is mainly children show no or very mild symptoms

I'm sick of reading this shit. Needs to be squished out Hmm Nobody knows how kids will react, I haven't met a kid who has sailed though it with few or no symptoms. I was quite scared the state of mine. Stop it.

Obviously no one knows how anyone will respond and I’m sorry yours had a rough time but both of mine had little more than a snivel for a couple of days. They would definitely have been in school in 2019. And I know plenty who were completely asymptomatic and wouldn’t have known without a test
curlymom · 25/02/2022 17:44

I’m a teacher due back next week so hope for some guidance. I’m struggling with a cough as I have lung problems and expectation to work is causing me stress

HotWaterAndLemon · 25/02/2022 17:44

our school suggested we start trying to source some now for april and beyond
They are not supposed to be encouraging stockpiling.

Our school have already issued this guidance. Doesn’t feel like something to be celebrated. It’s time to get back to normal.

curlymom · 25/02/2022 17:45

Sorry I forgot to add I have covid

7YOChangeToContact · 25/02/2022 17:45

Once I run out of tests and have to pay for them I am not testing DD.

I will keep her off school if she's too unwell to be there but I can;t afford to be spending £4 a time to test.

She was really ill with covid, and ended up in hospital so I know how serious it can be, but I don't get paid if not working - 0 hours contract - so I have to assume she doesn't have it until she's really ill again.

Abraxan · 25/02/2022 17:46

It looks like LFTs are currently selling for about £4 each now that free ones aren't freely available.

They are still freely available via the government website. I've had no issue ordering a box yesterday.

AndAsIfByMagic · 25/02/2022 17:46

[quote Mumofsend]@AndAsIfByMagic most parents know the right thing is for children to be in school unless too unwell not to be. Slight colds and coughs doesn't come under that category.

Most parents haven't got the luxury of funds for tests nor lots of unpaid time of. Most children can't cope with much more time stuck at home when well enough to be in school.

Most parents are sensible and not jumping at the calls of the hysterical.[/quote]
Who said anything about slight colds and coughs? My words were "too unwell". If the child seems to unwell to be in class it will be sent home. That's how it always has been in schools since long before Covid.

It isn't hysterical to think ill children should be at home being cared for, not suffering in school and infecting others.

Abraxan · 25/02/2022 17:48

The thing is mainly children show no or very mild symptoms.

Almost every child who tested positive at my infant school had symptoms. We've had an awful lot test positive in the past term. Tummy upset, cough, headache, general cold like symptoms.

My experience is that children DO show symptoms.

Wizzbangfizz · 25/02/2022 17:48

@gamerchick my DD didn't display a single symptom there was absolutely nothing wrong with her and she was only tested because I was positive. Most kids I know have been the same.

Abraxan · 25/02/2022 17:49

Nope! Site isn't allowing lot of people to order. The government is already making it hard to get them for free in a lot of areas.

This hasn't been my experience. On the day of the announcement I couldn't order, but I, and family, have had no issues whatsoever ordering LFTs since the day after.

Original poster
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 25/02/2022 17:51

Every kid at my sons nursery who tested positive had symptoms as were sent home to do a pcr

OP posts:
DePfeffoff · 25/02/2022 17:52

I've just ordered free tests without any difficulty.

DemBonesDemBones · 25/02/2022 17:52

4 kids, minus disposable income after yet another energy price hike email today. We just can't do it.

BogRollBOGOF · 25/02/2022 17:53

If my children are well enough to be in school, they will be in school. We get told that time in school is important, and we've got nearly 7 months of wasted educational time to make up.
I wasn't distressing my children and wasting plastic and public funds to test every little sniff or minor ailment anyway. When they had me as a household contact, it was fully across the Christmas holidays anyway.

pinkcattydude · 25/02/2022 17:57

Currently isolating with DS we both have covid felt awful for first few days but now just tired with the cough. School have said they ideally would want us to wait until 2 days of negative (after day 5) before returning. we have tests so no problem. But I am day 6 still positive and been back at work from day 3. So do I send DS on Monday even if he’s positive as he’ll be well enough to return. It’s hard knowing we have it.

AndAsIfByMagic · 25/02/2022 17:57

@BogRollBOGOF

If my children are well enough to be in school, they will be in school. We get told that time in school is important, and we've got nearly 7 months of wasted educational time to make up. I wasn't distressing my children and wasting plastic and public funds to test every little sniff or minor ailment anyway. When they had me as a household contact, it was fully across the Christmas holidays anyway.
Again, if they are well enough it won't be an issue. If they aren't then they will have to go home.
Bakewelltart987 · 25/02/2022 18:00

Yes but the law says children must be in school.

Original poster
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 25/02/2022 18:01

@Bakewelltart987

Not if they are unwell or contagious

OP posts:
Bakewelltart987 · 25/02/2022 18:01

@Flowersandbread

If my children are too poorly to be in school I'll keep them home but I'm not testing them anymore

This if my child is ill she will stay off if she is well she will go in just as before covid.

MarshaBradyo · 25/02/2022 18:05

@gamerchick

I have no problem doing that as long as the school provide the tests. I ain't paying for them.

The thing is mainly children show no or very mild symptoms

I'm sick of reading this shit. Needs to be squished out Hmm Nobody knows how kids will react, I haven't met a kid who has sailed though it with few or no symptoms. I was quite scared the state of mine. Stop it.

It can be mixed but there are dc who have very few symptoms or none

Ds has had a couple of bouts of illness and negative PCRs during this time but when he got a positive he was symptom free

MarshaBradyo · 25/02/2022 18:08

Re what we’ll do it’s going to be stay home if unwell as pp

flumposie · 25/02/2022 18:13

If I have covid, regardless of whether I am ill or not, I will not be going in to school to teach. I'm not alone in saying this. Utter madness.

WonderfulYou · 25/02/2022 18:18

I’m confused - I thought people didn’t have to stay off now.

So they’re going to stay off for 5 days and then go back to school whether they test positive or not?

Covid symptoms can be tiredness, sore throat, brain fog, headache, nausea, sore muscles etc so it would be impossible to keep kids off every time we get one of these.

If my child is poorly I don’t take them in but if it’s tiredness or a bit of a headache I’d usually still drop them in.