To tell parents not to send their sick kids to activities?

[caffelattetogo]

We had a Brownies and Rainbows event (so all volunteer-run) and a kid was dropped off by her mum, looking tearful. Asked if she was ok, mum said yes but a bit tired. 10 minutes later lid throws up all over hall and asks to go home.

We rang her mum, no answer. Turns out she's been sent home from school already that day with a sickness bug.

Finally tracked her mum and dad down to the pub, and they huffily collected her.

Apparently they didn't know that children who aren't well enough for school aren't well enough for Rainbows/Brownies and were quite put out to be told. Dad said there was no need for us to keep ringing as they would have come when they'd finished their drinks!

*kid

You're directing this at the wrong people. Decent parents already know not to send sick kids to activities or school. Those who do won't take any notice of you telling them otherwise.

They said school no longer has a 48 hour rule and if they feel well enough they can go in - is that true nowadays?

Unfortunately some schools are doing this against all health advice.

Of course it's not true.

Very unlikely unless it's a really bad school. Most follow the NHS guidelines.

Really? I've worked in hundreds of primary schools and even those in the strictest of academy chains still follow the 48 hour rule.

Yes, i work alongside schools within an LA. It's only really started over the past 6-9 months.

It's gone a bit insane!

My kids (secondary) school doesn't have a 48 hour rule. I keep my DC off for 48 hours regardless. That's how bugs spread.

A few years ago a mum took her DC to a sports club where my DC goes. Then hung around in the bar area with a really grouchy toddler. Said toddler then threw up all over the communal toys. Mum said he had been off all day. So wtf are you bringing them to a club? They could have easily waited outside, or dropped older kid, gone home and come back to collect.

Our school had switched to an it depends rule. If they just barfed once and seem fine they can come in next day. More than once or if still feeling sick and it’s 48 hours.

I do think it’s common sense tbf. my dc had stomach issues. (Excess acid production, medicated now but took ages to get to bottom of so would cough until was a little sick, a couple of mouthfuls of stomach acid type sick rather than full blown vomiting) he wasn’t infectious so was pointless keeping him off. Although we did have to before rule was changed

NO school or advice would support this.

Sick bugs are not immunity building. Like a bad cold.

They spread like fire.

I would actually ask them to leave for that. A child sick spontaneously, we have all been there. Sent home from school? Piss off

These parents are selfish bastards.

Dropping an ill child off at an activity so you can have a night off while your ill & tired child infects other children & parents is f@cking selfish.

It's a 24 hour rule in our school now. These parents are clearly ridiculous but when schools are encouraging you to send in sick kids it does set a tone ...

This possibly explains why my son (13) picked up a sickness bug this year for the first time.since he was about 4.

This was a Division event so she's not one of my Rainbows. I will speak to her leader about it, because the parents' tone was not pleasant. Shame for the little girl to be dragged out when she was unwell.

That's really shit. Expected this to be one of those precious threads where people moan about kids with runny noses leaving the house which basically means 90% of people would stay home from September to April.

But sick bugs are a totally different kettle of fish. So unfair to risk passing it to others not to mention horrible for the child to be unwell to the point of throwing up while her parents sit in the pub! Twats.

Our secondary academy chain doesn’t have the 48 hour, they insist you bring them back as soon as they are well enough. I once called in to say DS had been sick over night so wouldn’t be in, they asked me to bring him in at lunch if he was up to it.

Same.
I've recently kept my DS off for over a week with a horrible D and V bug. School emailed to ask where he was,c despite me already reporting he wouldnt be in for next 2 days

Poor child! Should have been home in bed.

I can well believe schools have changed the rules, as they seem to have lost the plot when it comes to policing attendance.

That's what my children's schools are saying too

Pisses me off as I am immune suppressed

You say no school would report, but round here all the schools have stopped the 48 hour rule

Poor kid. Very inconsiderate parents.

This does my head in too, it's so selfish. I am a teacher and I boy (5) in my class once threw up multiple times in class so go sent home. He appeared the next day at school. Here's the cracker, his parents are a GP and pharmacist! Apparently they had never heard of the 49 hours rule when we phoned them to come for him! 🤦🏼‍♀️

@madamweb I see people saying that after I posted. That's absolutely crazy. I wonder what basis they have to ignore basic NHS advice.

This has little or nothing to do with NHS advice or School policies. It has everything to do with these parents wanting to offload their child so that they could go to the pub.

Like many people on MN I am fed up of hearing about lazy parenting. These people don't deserve to have children, clearly don't want the responsibility but are probably happy to receive the benefits.

I don't know what the solution is as governments don't like to intrude into family life. But we are going to have another generation of kids growing up who don't know what proper parenting looks like.

Rant over! 🙄