Half of ds's school is off with a sickness bug. I really don't want to send him this week.

[Catchthewind]

I'm trying to think of ways I can get out of it.

That's dreadful isn't it? I don't deal with sickness very well, already had ds2 throwing up last week from a bug at preschool.

I could so do without the same with ds1, just before Christmas/over Christmas.

Yet I cannot think of a single ethical reason not to send him in. Today he had to wee in his pants because the only toilet was closed, due to someone having been sick in it.

Help.

I don't think it would be right at all to keep him off school.

Yes I know it is wrong. I just wish I could.

But you can't. And he might not get it. And if he does it won't last long and it won't ruin your Christmas.

you can't keep him home just because other children are ill.

There are guidelines that stipulate that a school should close if a certain number of children are ill, so if the school is still open then it's unlikely to be as bad as all that. And reality is that this sickness/flu-like bug is doing the rounds everywhere, so your ds has probably already been exposed.

It might though...say he is ill at the weekend, then I catch it from him, it could go on till Christmas quite easily.

It'll also ruin the week before, so we won't have any shopping in or anything.

I know I am overthinking this. But it's so hateful. It seems to decimate the school every single winter, no wonder if they only have one loo!

How old are they before they stop catching this blooming bug? Does it get less of a problem as they grow up?

I think it depends how old your dc is. If dc is not 5 yet, you can clearly keep him off school if you wish, otherwise not really. Plus agree with other posters, it will be going round everywhere so your dc can equally pick it up in shopping centres, playgrounds, etc. It is a real pain I agree and I do think that general poor hygiene (and poor cleaning standards) might be playing a role as well, I don't remember us having so many bugs in the past.

Thankyou,

no, he is in juniors. I just hope they have cleaned the toilets properly!

Little kids and hand washing is a disaster isn't it. I don't remember being sick more than once or twice in primary school.

We all used to go to the toilet together at one time, with dinner ladies standing over us making sure we washed our hands.

These days nobody stands there, they all just do their own thing.

I can understand your worries. DD had a tummy bug last Chrostmas day and it did put a slight dampner on the day for her as she wasn't feeling well, couldn't eat her dinner, etc. But it was still a lovely quiet day instead.

However, it is a tough one. It is really not ideal to keep him off just in case. He may not get it.

BUT - you last paragraph concerns me. He ended up wetting himself and there is only one toilet? This would be something I would be wanting addressing anyway.

Thankyou for understanding.

Yes, there is one set of loos for the whole school, apart from reception who have their own, and yr 6 do as well apparently. I found out last night there are three cubicles in there. But the whole room was closed off.

He told me later that he had actually managed to get upstairs to the Yr6 ones, but it was too late by then. His friend used the reception loos when no one was looking! So it isn't as bad as I had thought.

Is that 3 loos for years 1,2,3,4 and 5?

That doesn't sound right - unless it's a very tiny school.

It has about 200 pupils. I think. So about 150 in those five years.

still sounds like too few toilets. My DS school has a set of toilets per year. Theres 2 classes per year, so about 30 boys and 30 girls. Theres then 3 girls toilets, 2boys and a urinal per toilet room. Thats about 1 shared by 10 pupils.

Working on your claculations theres about 1 per 25 pupils at your DS school.

I understand how you feel about the bug, I have it atm but hard to avoid.

Ah Ok. It now transpires these are just the boys' loos.

There are three boys ones downstairs, probably three girls then as well. So that's 6.

Then upstairs there is one further cubicle and two urinals, apparently, for the boys,and another girls' loo but he doesn't know what's in there.

I suspect they are bending the law a little by having disproportionate numbers of kids per loo, but still the statutory number of loos in total.

I have told ds to use the upstairs loos this week.

By law they must have one loo per twenty children over 5 years.

Jhst checked legislation which says for children over 5yo there should be 1 toilet for every 20 pupils.

x posts!!

Thanks

I know exactly what you mean op, DD's 1 and 2 have both been off for the last 14 days with flu, have been very ill and lost lots of weight.

DD1 appears a lot better and is desperate to go back, but now there is a sickness bug doing the rounds at their school. I am not rushing to send them back.

DD's a re 7 and 5 years.

Well it is only another four days.

I think you should probably go with the home option. I certainly would.

I can empathise with you, i have a sick phobia and the thought of sending them in when you know there is a bug is awful... topped off by christmas round the corner!!

TBH I would be tempted!

I have the bug, I'm sending DS to school to keep him away from me!!!

I feel for you op, i have a sick phobia and i often think of keeping the dd's home when bugs are doing the rounds, this week i'm like mumber, dd2 has just got over the bug and now i have it so dd1 is going to school so she doesn't catch it from us. If he doesn't mind staying home then i would keep him home, phone the school and tell them he is ill and wont be in for the rest of the week.