DD2 has a cough. How do I get DD1 to school?

[allthesharks]

DD2 has woken up with a constant cough. Based on the new guidelines I have to keep her at home for 7 days. Logistically I don't know how to do this. I don't work on a Friday so keeping her home isn't a problem, but her older sister is well and should be at school. I don't have any one else who can take her in to school so my only options are to take DD2 with me to drop off and pick up or to keep DD1 off too. As children, if they do get coronavirus, they're likely to be fine, but I don't know the health conditions of the other children or the parents/grandparents who will be at the school gate. Realistically, I do think DD2 just has a cough and cold.

Logistically, what am I supposed to do?

It would not be ridiculous to keep her off! You need to isolate your DD2 so if that involves Dd1 missing school today that's what you need to do. The restrictions are going to get harder than this, but we need to follow them.

I raised this on a seperate thread yesterday. I just cannot understand why the government has not given absolutely explicit advice on what to do within a household where it is not possible for one member to self isolate (e.g. pretty much every household with children).

For those saying that it isn't a big deal because the child is only 6, I completely agree - but hundreds of families will be facing this decision where the 'well' child is taking their GCSEs this summer. What decision should they make? I think it is irresponsible and actually quite unfair to leave to to parents to interpret the guidelines in these cases.

If she has symptoms shouldn't dp not go to school too by the way

@bigchris According to the government advice, DP is fine to go to work, but that might not be the case in the next couple of weeks. The Head at his school is not at all understanding about absence, with staff or pupils.

If you usually walk you could just collar a parent on your route and ask them to take your child in if you know the parent.

Or you arrange to have your child go through the school office but you don't go in yourself with your 3 year old. You stay outside and the 3 year old has a scarf wrapped round her face covering her nose and mouth.

I have met parents at my car before. We had to drive (50 minute walk) so I would wait at my car which was a few streets away from school, I like to walk, and then a parent would pull up in their car, I would take their child from them and walk them into school.

Also you need to think about collection. But if all this seems like too much then just keep her off. Seriously, one day will not impact her future career.

Keep her home, your DP is being ridiculous.

I know how it feels when your partner puts pressure on, over the years my DH has often said "send her to school, she's fine", when I've felt DD should stay home. He is very much one of those people who goes to work no matter what. He was brought up to always put work first, pull yourself together type thing. But you do what you think is right, keep her home, she's only 6, she has a cough and an inhaler! Keeping her home is the right thing to do, trust your instincts here and don't be made to feel stupid by your DP.

Keep them both home

The official advice says the person self isolating doesn’t go outside unless into your garden. If you can’t get DD1 to school without DD2 then she will need to stay at home.

You also need to keep DD1 away from DD2.

Whole family goes into isolation. Them's the rules!

Schools are going to shut extremely quickly if teachers with a small coughing child stay home when that isn’t even the advice.

Luna no it's not - not yet anyway

Keep them both off please!

Even if it's not Corona, your child will have a weaker immune system and corona is out there.

Keeping DD1 and DD2 apart seems like a more difficult task than trying to get DD1 in to school. They share a bedroom. They shared a bath last night (before the cough started). DD2 is currently saying she wants to give DD1 a cuddle!

The rule we all need to live by right now is stay away from other people if you might have coronavirus. One of your dds has something that definitely might be cv and you know the other one almost certainly is carrying whatever it is too. Therefore you keep them off. It's actually very simple, and what employers might think or not doesn't come into it.

People like family who think it's not necessary just haven't adjusted to the new normal yet. They're still judging actions against what would have seemed normal vs over the top before coronavirus got here.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection#use-of-shared-spaces-if-you-live-with-others

Just follow the guidelines as best you can. Er on the side of caution.
And hope that if it is corona, that your children will benefit in the future from any possible immunity that having it young may confer.

Keeping them apart at home seems pointless though, and unnecessary if you're keeping them both off.

I would phone the school and see what they suggest - go in late or keep her off.

I'd probably keep her off though.

If you can’t keep them separated, then self isolate her too.

I am sure the rules will change soon again as things get worse. I would err on the side of caution

Speak to the school and let them decide if they want your dd in. If they say to keep her at home then you can do so without anyone saying you did the wrong thing. If they would rather she went in then take her later and someone can come take her off you.

I have a 2yr old who I’m keeping off nursery for the first time today because he’s not himself. He doesn’t have a cough or a temperature, but he’s unusually clingy and didn’t sleep well last night.
I will put him in the buggy and drop DD off at school as usual. There’s no other way for me to get her in and I won’t keep her off school because her brother isn’t 100%.
I understand your situation is slightly different as your little one does have a cough, but you are right in that there’s no current instruction to keep your older one at home if she’s showing no symptoms.

I'd call school too and see if a teacher can meet you at the car.

But DD2 can’t go outside, surely that is the most important rule you need to follow. Not wrapping a scarf round her face and taking her on the school run.

Most people complained about our Government not doing enough compared with other countries, let’s at least try and abide with the one thing they have brought in so far.

Employers and schools will have to get used to people being off, it is only going to get worse.

You must keep your DD off, as you say they share a room and often kiss and cuddle one another, and yes if one has it the other will too. Dont be the reason your childs school becomes infected

You won't be popular if your dd2 coughs at the school gate when you are dropping dd1 off, especially if people go on to catch it, , even if it wasn't from her/you, they may think it is!