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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you send reception child to school today ? Illness related

193 replies

savetheday · 07/10/2024 07:03

My threshold for illness and sending my child to nursery has always been very low. So any slight issue, I tend to keep her home.

She's started school now and her brother has had a fever for a few days. She woke up today and I took her temperature at 38. I told her she may not be able to go to school today and she was distraught because she's going to miss her friends, bless her.

Anyway, she's downstairs now and the temp seems to have come down on its own at around 37.4, some times 37.7.

In my opinion, she should not go in today.

What would you do ?

As I said, my usual threshold is low but I understand that now she's at school - she'll sometimes need to go in even with a sore throat or something but I draw the line at waking up with a fever ? To me that means she's not well and coming down with something.

She says she doesn't have pain anywhere.

OP posts:
TreeCake · 07/10/2024 07:05

I'd send her in, she sounds fine now. They will contact you if there's a problem.

usernother · 07/10/2024 07:05

If she doesn't seem ill in herself and she wants to eat her breakfast I'd send her in.

bob1985 · 07/10/2024 07:05

For me fever means a day or two off depending on how they are.

More than likely infections and probably feeling a bit rotten!

Hope they're better soon !

TickingAlongNicely · 07/10/2024 07:05

Did you take her temp because she showed symptoms, or because her brother was ill?

If she showed no other symptoms, I'd discard one high reading. More likely she was over hot in bed.

Hercisback1 · 07/10/2024 07:06

Send her in.

Why is your threshold so low?

angrylizard · 07/10/2024 07:06

I'd give her calpol and send her in. I'd put it down to a dodger

I don't actually use the thermometer unless they feel hot to touch, which at 38 I'm guessing she didn't, so I probably wouldn't even know about the temp of 38!

That said, I do wfh 60 seconds away from the school so know I can easily grab her if any issues. I probably wouldn't want to be doing a big commute to work while there was any question mark over a temp.

Original poster
savetheday · 07/10/2024 07:06

TickingAlongNicely · 07/10/2024 07:05

Did you take her temp because she showed symptoms, or because her brother was ill?

If she showed no other symptoms, I'd discard one high reading. More likely she was over hot in bed.

I took it because she felt hot when she woke up. She says she feels fine. Has had her milk, as usual.

OP posts:
zeitweilig · 07/10/2024 07:07

I don't think there's reason to keep her off just yet. Why do you have such a low threshold, out of interest?

Milesandmilesandmiles · 07/10/2024 07:07

No I wouldn’t and the school wouldn’t want her in either. Her brother has had a fever and so it’s likely she has caught it, and not fair to pass to the other children. Also temperatures are always lower in the morning so it’s likely to go higher later.

NHS also says no: www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Comeoutside · 07/10/2024 07:08

No school. They'll send her home anyway, anything over 37.5 they can't be in school and as it has been higher than that in the last 12 hours it's probably going to creep up.

It's hard to know when to keep them home or not, and school seem to have a lower bar than nurseries but a temp is one of the few straight forward ones :) fingers crossed she feels well for the rest of the day!

Talipesmum · 07/10/2024 07:08

If she seems well in herself, keen to go in, I’d send her, but be on alert for the day if need be. What’s up with her brother, other than a fever?

AD1509 · 07/10/2024 07:08

Is she eating breakfast? I’m guessing a school age child doesn’t still have a bottle of milk as their morning nutrition

Original poster
savetheday · 07/10/2024 07:08

zeitweilig · 07/10/2024 07:07

I don't think there's reason to keep her off just yet. Why do you have such a low threshold, out of interest?

I don't know I just don't want her feeling horrible at school and also giving her illness to other kids. I think when they're unwell, they should stay home.

It didn't really matter as much in nursery but now it matters. They have a class trip this morning she's been dying to go on.

OP posts:
Pandasnacks · 07/10/2024 07:10

She sounds fine, send her in!

Original poster
savetheday · 07/10/2024 07:10

AD1509 · 07/10/2024 07:08

Is she eating breakfast? I’m guessing a school age child doesn’t still have a bottle of milk as their morning nutrition

She likes to have milk first and then breakfast after a bit. She's not had her breakfast yet.

OP posts:
BlueMum16 · 07/10/2024 07:10

She was probably warm from being in bed wrapped up.

It's not a temperature. She's well in herself. No other symptoms.

She needs to be in school.

You are right to keep sick kids off but she's not sick.

Moggmegg · 07/10/2024 07:11

also giving her illness to other kids

Lots of parents don't care and will send their children in before the 48 hours after sickness, with a fever, with the crunchy coughs (regular colds understandable) etc- sadly not everyone is bothered about other people.

I'd follow your gut really, if you can easily pick her up if needed and if she seems well then they'll call if she needs picking up.

Original poster
savetheday · 07/10/2024 07:11

Talipesmum · 07/10/2024 07:08

If she seems well in herself, keen to go in, I’d send her, but be on alert for the day if need be. What’s up with her brother, other than a fever?

He's had a fever on and off since Thursday. A bit of a cough, that kind of thing.

OP posts:
itwasnevermine · 07/10/2024 07:12

Did you take her temp just as she woke up? It'll be higher then because she's been wrapped up warm in bed.

Honestly I'd send her. No sign of any illness and she was warm because she had been in bed. If she needs to come home, school will ring you.

Whinge · 07/10/2024 07:12

No school. They'll send her home anyway, anything over 37.5 they can't be in school

School won't send her home just because she has a temperature over 37.5. If a child appears well in themselves, school wouldn't have any reason to check their temperature.

Original poster
savetheday · 07/10/2024 07:12

I've taken it again, it's 37.5

OP posts:
Waffle19 · 07/10/2024 07:13

I’d send her in, she doesn’t sound ill at all??

Original poster
savetheday · 07/10/2024 07:13

I just don't know if we can even be on time to get to school at this point, that's the issue. And she really needs to be on time for the trip.

OP posts:
Tbskejue · 07/10/2024 07:13

Sounds like she’s well in herself and no temp so of course send her in. The first reading sounds a blip