School have put my child at increased risk and I am livid. Head will call tomorrow morning. Any advice on what to say?

[Hmpher]

My son has been picked to help at reception today. This involves sending messages and collecting children for pick up.

As a part of this, he has been sent around the school to collect children who have a family member who has begun to display symptoms, so that they can go home to self isolate for fourteen days. So he has been in contact with every child in school now in self isolation.

I called school and three people tried to fob me off. They told me that they have no confirmed cases (when they haven’t been tested so cannot definitively say one way or another). They told me that they are adhering to guidelines and any of these symptoms could also be a common cold. I’m not a hysterical parent and am fully aware of that, but they are also the symptoms of a current global pandemic. They told me he hasn’t been in contact with children who are displaying symptoms at school because they are placed into isolation. I’ve since found out that he was sent to collect a child who had a continuous cough which was reported to staff but the child herself didn’t want to leave so had to be collected by him when her parent came. He was also told to collect the belongings of a girl who came to reception complaining of feeling unwell, had her temperature taken and was running a fever. She went to collect her things and staff told her not to and sent my son instead. At no point was he reminded of hand washing so he didn’t wash his hands at all. The other girl doing collections with him was displaying symptoms from the morning and told staff three times before she was collected. Upon hearing her coughing, she was told to drink water and see how she felt because she was having fun and felt ok.

Staff told me that he could have come into contact with those children anyway, during lessons and in corridors. I was aware of that when I sent him to school. I didn’t expect them to engineer a situation in which he was guaranteed to come into contact with every potential case.

I feel this a huge oversight and no thought has been given to the safety of my son. It is entirely inappropriate for a child to be sent to do this. Absolutely no common sense or basic infection control at all. I was quite offended when a staff member told me that children don’t tend to succumb to the illness or aren’t badly affected. She is not a scientist or a doctor. It is not ok for them to decide increase the risk of exposure for my child because he’ll probably be fine.

I am expecting the head to try to fob me off tomorrow and I get quite nervous during confrontation so would like to be prepared. I trusted the school to keep my son safe as they have reassured us they will to the best of their ability, whilst accepting that there will be a risk. They have now increased that risk. How would you deal with this?

I'm quite shocked, what a weird thing for the school to do.

To get them out of classes while they wait for someone to collect them, presumably. If they have a family member with symptoms they shoudn t be in school.

He certainly thought the whole thing was fun, I’m sure all kids think it’s fun to get out of lessons for a day! He wasn’t forced to do it, he put his hand up for the children to be chosen from. But he doesn’t understand the risks and shouldn’t have been given the option in the first place imo. I don’t think it would have been acceptable if it was any of the other children who raised their hands instead of my son. He said that they mentioned it was usually year 8s but for some reason it was different today.

I don’t know why they didn’t take the other girl seriously either. I imagine she was playing it down and didn’t feel that ill so didn’t want to spoil her day of getting to be on reception by having to go home. I imagine the staff didn’t think she seemed very ill and perhaps thought it was a bit ott to isolate and send home since she seemed ok. It’s not the time to downplay it though. They need to follow guidelines.

I’m wondering what to do if the head doesn’t apologise. The people I spoke to today were trying to justify it and dismiss my concerns. I don’t want to be kicking up a fuss, demanding meetings and contacting governors while all of this is going on around us. It doesn’t feel right to take it further now but I feel a bit like I’m not doing enough to protect my son if I just leave it. I don’t feel that comfortable leaving him in their care in future. It makes me wonder how they manage other situations. Perhaps it is a one off because of the current situation. I just don’t know.

Hopefully the head will apologise and it is just a one off. Things are especially difficult at the moment, more so than usual. Mistakes happen, but they do need reported so they aren't repeated or ignored.

As far as I understand it, the children were being collected because a family member has just started to display symptoms so they all now need to self isolate. Some of them had siblings who had become unwell at a different school, or a parent has begun showing symptoms at home or work. The parents themselves were the ones who alerted the school.

Other children became unwell whilst at my son’s school. In that case, the child is supposed to be put into isolation and then collected by a parent. However, my son spent all morning with one of the collected children, escorted another who didn’t want to leave school and handled the belongings of another. The latter children were displaying symptoms at the time he was in contact with them (or their belongings).

I think given the circumstances it was a silly initiative to keep running, but I'm also not entirely convinced that he was put at risk any more by that than being in a school with a few hundred other children (where I'd be willing to bet some family members were symptomatic but sent them in).

Masks are a red herring and I'd read a doctor online saying that they're not actually helpful for most people and are often a risk factors because people not used to masks will play with it, adjust it, itch it etc and that all increases hand to face touching.

In your situation I'd speak to the head when they call back, say given the situation you're uncomfortable with your child being part of reception duty and leave it there.

Personally, I'm increasingly of the view that if people are concerned about exposure then apply the same guidance to children as adults and limit places with large groups of people, that would include school.

ask them what qualifications they have in medicine. I have once it brought them to an abrupt halt

Probably because they realised they were dealing with That Parent.

Of course, when a child has an anaphylactic reaction to something they took off a friend, those parents are happy enough then that somebody with First Aid Training assesses, recognises the symptoms and administers the medication. Or when, God forbid, one needs a defib/CPR, rather than saying, 'well, I'm not a doctor, so I'm just going to sit here and watch them die horribly whilst waiting for an ambulance'. Or one breaks a bone, smacks the back of their head on the playground tarmac, starts choking on a wotsit or any of the multitude of ways children find to damage themselves.

Student reception is something done in secondary schools around the country. It teaches responsibility, confidence and other soft skills. The fact that your son
A) Volunteered
B) Is 12
Means YABU here. Please don't add to school stress by being That Parent.

You think a twelve year old putting his hand up absolves the school of responsibility? They shouldn’t have suggested it in the first place. I’m pretty sure they said “who wants to school reception today” and didn’t specifically mention that it would involve transporting children displaying symptoms and children about to be isolated. I can’t believe anybody thinks that a twelve year old is mature and well informed enough to make these decisions and the school shouldn’t be held responsible. Schools don’t get to offer stupid things to children and use “well he wanted to” as an excuse. They are they adults and they are in control. Kids shouldn’t be allowed to make choices that place themselves at risk.

No idea what the medical stuff is about. Somebody trained to give emergency first aid is not an expert on coronavirus and isn’t qualified to tell me that what they did is fine because children don’t tend to succumb and get milder symptoms. Even people studying and treating it don’t know enough to speak with certainty. You’re confusing two seperate things. For starters, one is in the child’s best interests and the other one exposes them to harm unnecessarily.

I agree you seem to be over reacting on this one.

I'm pretty chilled out about the ongoing situation, no worries about my kids being at school etc but I have to say that I agree with you op. It's one thing to send your child in knowing they could interact with a carrier but another thing for them to be actively interacting with all the high risk pupils on instruction from the school. This was not a job that should of been outsourced to a pupil of any age.
The receptionist is correct in that covid 19 shouldn't have a great impact on your son but I send my kids to school knowing that myself and DH are low risk if we caught the virus of DC. The receptionist doesn't know whether there's a high risk individual in your household therefore she shouldn't be downplaying the effect of your DS catching it.
I'd actually suggest that children are removed from this reception help for the time being.

You’re not over reacting at all. How many of the critics here are volunteering to escort possible Covid 19 sufferers around? With zero PPE? Yeah - thought not…

I’d be fuming however in my experience any complaint to a school is a complete and total waste of time.
They have complaints policies coming out of their ears but will never find any complaint in your favour, and will never uphold anything.
And don’t bother going to LA because they’ll fob you off and tell you to go back to the school.

This ‘roll over and take it’ attitude stinks.

1. Letter to Head now with detailed complaint.
2. Letter to Head of Governors now asking for reply after matter discussed at next governors’ meeting.
3. Take it from there.

From when I was a governor I can tell you that it would have been discussed to find the facts and instruction would have been given for future risk assessment to be carried out, so pursue it for a written HoG reply.

Somebody trained to give emergency first aid is not an expert on coronavirus and isn’t qualified to tell me that what they did is fine because children don’t tend to succumb and get milder symptoms.
They are repeating the government advice and what schools are told is the reason for them to still be open.

I think having students helpers on reception is stupid given the circumstances, but I do think you're overreacting acting like your child was at any greater risk than mingling in school with hundreds of others.

There'll be some parents who wait until the end of the school day to collect their child and then self isolate from the following day so those children will be in school and nobody would know.

Look at the threads on here where adults are choosing to go out and about on social things when they're showing symptoms, look at how many threads there are where posters say they ignore sickness rules and send their children in 12 hours after vomiting as long as they look ok. It is highly, highly likely there's lots of children in school that have a little cough, or their parents have probably got a cold but they've sent their in even though the whole household should be isolated.

If someone doesn't want their child to be potentially coming into contact with people who may/may not have symptoms then they need to keep their children off (which many parents are doing and I totally see why as being in school doesn't match social distancing advice).

Swimlyn I agree in principle.

But then I'd also guess there's lots of people not sending their children in. Quite a few of my colleagues are off work because they're not happy sending their children to a mass gathering where the virus can spread.
Currently the government is doing its best to avoid any responsibility, eg advising people to avoid cafes/theatres etc but without it being a forced directive, those businesses can't claim on insurance. They're advising everyone to socially distance and avoid large groups, but then keep schools open. People are having to decide on the risks themselves and act accordingly.

Unfortunately I think sending children to school at the moment is accepting they are going to come into contact with others who are symptomless but live with others who do.

I’m wondering what to do if the head doesn’t apologise

I’d be fuming however in my experience any complaint to a school is a complete and total waste of time.
They have complaints policies coming out of their ears but will never find any complaint in your favour, and will never uphold anything.
And don’t bother going to LA because they’ll fob you off and tell you to go back to the school

I have explained all of that in a previous post - and linked to the complaints procedure. This is in place to help you as parents resolve issues - but let's all ignore the rules and keep on moaning on here - that isn't going to resolve the issue with the school.

What a frustrating thread - you ask for advice, it is shared and then not followed. There is a DfE helpline in the link given previously.

I will also repeat - this may be an academy - this government doesnt want LA control of schools - so no point going to your LA - this is what the majority voted for!

Even if it is an LA school - we have nearly 400 schools in my LA - can you imagine how many children that is? How would we ever deal with complaints on that scale - and know the details for every family and child.
THE COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES ARE YOUR FRIEND -that is why they are in place....follow them.

I’m not sure why you’re repeating that. I am following the complaints procedure. It should be attempted to be resolved by a staff member initially, head teacher if serious enough. Then, if I am unhappy, I move onto the next step. I don’t know why you expect me to have followed your advice already, I haven’t even spoken to the head yet. And it is not an academy. I don’t know whether you’re trying to give me specific advice or general advice to others on school complaints procedures...?

I meant what to say to her since I’m not very good at these situations. I know what I need to do as next step in complaints procedure. Just not sure how to deal with the phone call in that case. But I’m sure it’ll be fine, I’ll just tell her I’m unhappy and would like a complaints form.

OP
You're doing the right thing by talking to the head first. Then after speaking to the head decide what to do next.

Going straight to formal complaints or skipping levels often leads to the response "have you spoken to the appropriate member of staff, if not please do that first" NB

The school shouldn’t be open in the first place.

^^ very helpful.

I’d be very upset, especially after reading the latest study that shows perhaps children can be more severely affected than previously thought...

Sorry, that’s mainly for infants and 2-5 year olds.

What I want them to do is reassure me that they are capable of making sensible decisions which prioritise the safety of their pupils
They can't reassure you because they aren't capable of making sensible decisions.
I'd keep your DS home. I'd write to the HT explaining their 'reception' scheme is deliberately putting DCs in contact with high risk DCs and their belongings which is contrary to current medical advice about social distancing and self-isolation and contrary to government protocols for managing suspected coronavirus cases in schools. Tell them you want the reception scheme halted in the current climate as they obviously have no up to date risk assessment for the scheme in the context of the current pandemic.

Op they can't reassure you and their policy to continue this pupil escorts is dangerous.

Who are crystal-clear on transmission. Everyone's goal is too stop transmission. That's it.
No one should be mixing anywhere where humanly possible.

My dc are out of school..
One school, even acting very responsibly couldn't guarantee dd safety and the other schools have not done anything at all to keep dc safe, eg staggering lunch time or start time or stopping assemblies.

I'd probably tell local paper too.

To what end? Schools are beyond stressed, everyone is trying to hold it together for the kids, and you think a sad face daily mail shaming spread is appropriate?