Would you send child to school with slight temperature?

[HorrorFan81]

8yo woke up this morning with headache, tummy ache and low grade fever (37.8). One parent thinks they should stay home with a temperature even if it's low. Other parent thinks they should go in and see how they get on.
Their current attendance is 96% so dipping below the school target of 97% if that makes a difference.
Child loves school and is usually happy to go in. Really didn't want to go today.

What would happen in your house?

I’d see how they were in themselves, mine has had a cold all week but it’s mild, just runny nose, they’ll say they don’t feel good enough for school but 5 mins later be running round the house or out on the trampoline… if they don’t have any energy and aren’t eating I wouldn’t send them in but otherwise I would.

Your child is clearly unwell why would you send them to school not only is it awful for the child but you are then risking spreading whatever it is to the other children in school.

I wouldn't send in and I would do a covid test too (if the child tolerates them) and if positive for covid I won't send back until negative (whatever the school have to say about it, it's partly their fault anyway because they probably caught it there! If there were mitigations in place to reduce spread of infections in schools this wouldn't be such an issue).
I think this attendance pressure to send sick children into school is ridiculous. It's not fair on the child and it's not fair on the other children and staff who they might pass their illness onto :-(
Hope your little one is feeling better soon

Had many similar mornings over the years. Have given calpol, sent them in to see how they got on, messaged Teacher to give a heads up. They've always been fine and running around the house later on as normal.

I'd have sent in to school without hesitation.

Dose them up and send them in!

They would be going in.

Covid test? Is it 2020? Who is doing Covid tests?

Either of those three then I might send them in depending on my child ie how often they get a little headache or belly ache. All three, I'd keep them home. Hopefully a days rest will sort them out.

Send them in. It’s barely a temp.

People who are in contact with others who may get complications (and are eligible for treatment) if they get covid. One example (of many) is people with Down's Syndrome.

I work in a school and 37.8 is the point at which we would send the student home.

The parent that wants the kid to stay at home needs to organise childcare.

kids can be unwell one minute and right as rain the next.

my rule was if you are off sick then you won’t be well enough to play computer games etc

if kids are bouncing around by lunchtime then send them into school.

school will call if kid is really poorly. Just let the teacher know.

probably gonna get roasted but I was a teacher and happy to keep an eye. Kids need exposure to illnesses as this is why they keep getting sick with minor stuff

Nope. My child’s health will always trump the schools attendance targets.

The thing is that 97% are not covid testing any more so it’s a drop in the ocean.

I wouldn't send them in, I’d put well-being first and let them rest. Also avoid spreading the germs to others in class.

You asked who is doing a covid test and I answered. I will continue to do so even if others think it's pointless. I've made my informed decision.

If your child usually loves school, and today doesn’t want to go in. I’d listen to that.

The slight temperature on its own wouldn’t cause me to necessarily keep them off as long as they felt ok so I’d give calpol and send them in (although would possibly be expecting a call from from school later if they started to feel worse!).
However the fact they also have a headache and tummy ache and don’t usually complain in order to stay off school, would probably lead me to keep them off.
I absolutely hate that juggling act of whether to keep them off or not. You have to make such an on the spot decision and you just know that if you keep a child off with only a slight temperature and a bit ‘hangy’ sure as fate they’ll be either bouncing around happy and hyper by 10am and you’ll have either phoned in sick yourself or wasted a days annual leave!

As a teacher, when children are sent to school to 'see how you feel', they then spend all day feeling as if they need to go home.......

Shot of Calpol and off they go! They'll ring if they're poorly! My take is you can't be off work every time you feel a bit off colour, so it's a lesson they learn now x

Definitely with a temperature they would be staying home. Temperature, diarrhoea or sickness are golden rules to stay home and school would send home with a temperature anyway. But my rule is no screen time till the time they'd be normally get home from school and so if they still want to stay home and stay in bed, seems pretty genuine.

I’ve never sent any of my children in with temperature. Their immune system is clearly fighting something and they need to rest. I know when I’ve had a temperature, I’ve usually felt rough and certainly not myself so why would I send a small child in with a temperature?? It’s not like they’re going to miss an A level exam, for goodness sake, in which case I’d fill them with paracetamol and ibuprofen and send them in! They’re only tiny people..

Fair enough

Those of us with compromised immune systems (formerly shielding).