To be annoyed at kid’s new school hounding me when they’re ill

[MytosisIs]

We recently moved and so DC are attending a new school. First day was supposed to be Monday.

On Sunday they tested positive for COVID. I had it earlier in the week and really suffered.
I tested them as they were coughing, had a high fever and even D&V.

I rang on Monday morning to say they’d be missing the first day. They said they don’t recommended children are tested but said “You’ve done it now though”. I said well I still very much test for COVID because whilst none of us are vulnerable, other people may be and it’s them I’m protecting.

anyway it’s now Thursday and as requested I rang every day and updated them. But really it’s just ‘they’re still I’ll and have COVID’.

They’ve run me back every single day to discuss ’an update on the kids’. I just repeat myself from what I leave on the voicemail.

Yesterday I was on a train (I’m now negative and have been for some time) and they heard the announcement and asked where I was. When I said was on a train they asked if I’d left my kids on their own!! I said “no they’re 6 and 9!” And they asked who was watching them - their dad!!!

Today I emailed to say I have back to back meetings so can’t call but the kids remain to be ill (DH was on a plane at this point). Again they called me, which I missed. So I found a window to call them back and they again were strange and said “They have been ill for so so long now” (5 days!) asking when it started etc.

Im starting to get pissed off. I’m thinking of pulling them out and enrolling them in another school which we were also offered and according to the receptionist still have places.

AIBU to be annoyed at their persistence? Would they rather I sent sick COVID-infected kids into school? In their old school they were great and just said “We will see them when they’re better, keep us updated”.

Kids she’s keeping off because HORROR covid. It’s nonsense.

They had D&V and high temperatures. They were sick. Again, it’s right there in her posts.

Wow! What sort of special Covid is this??
OP had it, even Grandma had it but still managed an Easter holiday with it. Not just holiday in that time frame but also managed to recover AND get back to work. Granny is so well, she's even able to look after the kids.
Just the poor children. Out of it and just can't recover... A special Covid indeed!

OP and the lot are on holiday I bet.

Why would I lie about them being ill?

You might not but a lot of people do. Have you any idea how bad some kids attendance is?

’Tested positive for Covid’ is every truant’s dream.

Which I saw. And I don’t believe they did for 5 days.

Which doesn’t add up. If she’s that hysterical about covid why is she letting her mum in?

Bottom line here OP. I have a 2 year old. When he goes to school, I would rather the school send someone to my house on a daily basis, and make as many phone calls as they damn well please, and ask as many questions as they see fit, if it means another child does not die from neglect and/or abuse. At least 1 child a week is killed by the parents where abuse was either a factor or was the direct cause of said death, and that’s just the UK. In the US it is about 1800 a year. In 2021 50,000 children in England were the subject of a child protection plan.

I actually had Covid for the second time just before Easter. I am fully vaccinated and at no particular risk but I was much more ill this time round.

I was in bed for 3 days and it was a good few more before I was well enough to be able to do much or even think about going out.

My apologies @Walkaround it wasn't meant to sound patronising. I was just posting so that people realised advice about testing didn't make the advice mandatory. I shouldn't have tagged you specifically, sorry.

Scientifically speaking, an 80% success rate is considered very good. You're perfectly entitled to think it is not good enough, just as others are to think it is. At the end of the day I guess I just think decisions on children's health are best taken by their parents. If a school needs to run checks, which are often perfectly reasonable, then polite enquiries are much more likely to yield results than aggressive questioning.

your kids are Sick you kept them off. I don’t Evan ring I just email the school I don’t answer the phone when they ring. The information is in the email. Let them safe guard away. The truth is the children that need to be safe guarded by school never our.

Read up on what’s on the covid test and then rethink about testing your children.
Ethylene Oxide is not a thing I would be giving my children. Maybe their other school had sent over information you are not aware about.

Ethylene Oxide is in common and widespread use around the world as a steriliser for medical equipment and devices, and has been for decades. After the (very brief) process of sterilisation, the ethylene oxide is removed before the device is packaged. After this process is complete it is safer to use than common-or-garden household bleach.

If you want to discuss ill-informed Facebook theories, perhaps you'd like to start your own thread?

Exactly this

Often because the parents are great liars and good at covering up which is why protocols are constantly changed and there is a case review after each event.

I think you’re taking this too personally. They’re not judging you, they don’t know you, but they do know that there are cases where parents lie about their kids being ill; they only way to pick up those cases is to maintain a level of suspicion and not always take what parents tell you at face value. Of course it’s annoying when you are a good parent, but it’s good that the school take their job seriously.

That attitude will get you nowhere... I totally agreed with your thinking until this post 😵‍💫

Nothing differently. U did the right thing but stol being annoyed at them checking up. Be glad and let it go. the more worked up u get the more people will think you've something to hide. Let. It. Go. They are doing their job ! Once the kids have been innschool and seen all ok, next time they won't check up as much

Yeah I totally get that but I don’t understand how making loads of phone calls will help?… surly they except what the parent is saying or they think there is a safe guard issue and take it further just don’t really c how phone calls would make a difference. If they think there is problem some1 needs to make a home visit?

My dc school have said they have to attend even with covid unless very unwell.

I have children in school and I tell them all of that vomiting and fever. They tell me I hope he gets better soon. They don't demand that I test him. When a child vomits they have to remain at home for 48 hours before they can go back to school.

They did make a home visit after a few days - would have been silly to immediately, but once it was clear the children would be off the entire week, it made sense to want to check they were actually living where they said they were before the weekend came along, given the lack of knowledge about the family circumstances and the defensive parental reaction (even if it was defensive because the school’s questioning came across as judgemental and disbelieving).

My kids never make home visits…. They just hound you with pointless call. It doesn’t sound like that school want to make a home visits. All I am saying is how r the phone calls helpful? How does it safeguard the kids? If the school r not going to follow up with a home visits I just think there pointless.

The children are symptomatic. They are showing signs of being ill.
You don't send a child in when they have D&V, fever, etc.
Yes, they have covid. It, more importantly, they are actually sick so shouldn't be in school regardless of what the virus they have is called.
As someone who is immunosuppressed and works in a school I am pleased to hear the OP isn't sending her ill children into school. It makes a change tbh.

No school can force you to send in your children if they are ill, even if they are only a bit unwell rather than very unwell.
As a parent you get to make that decision for your own children.

RTFT it has already been explained how phone call help.