What will schools do when kids get the inevitable temperatures over winter?

[toastmeahotcrossbun]

Won't they be having to close down every 5 minutes? So many will get temperatures over autumn/winter as they always do. Or will the schools just rely on people getting kids tested ASAP and then close for 2 weeks if someone tests positive? I'm struggling to see how it will work in practice

Only a positive test result triggers any further action as far as I’m aware. No school is going to be shutting down just because a child has a temperature. In fact I’m sure it was it would take 2 positive tests for a school to close, as it’s 2 or more cases that is classed as an outbreak.

If a child has a temperature, they don’t come in and they get a covid test. It won’t close the school.

I can see this has only just clicked with some parents.

If you child feels ill during the day and has any Covid symptoms, including temp, they will be sent home.

I did try pointing out when Boris announced his brilliant idea that it was a shambles that would cause more stress for working parents. But people were too busy celebrating.

But what about all the other kids in that class marceline if one tests positive - won't they and the teacher at least have to isolate for 2 weeks?

And schools won’t close. But if there is a suspected case then a bubble will be sent home until tests come back.

I wonder how understanding employers will be now that they’ve been told to get everyone back in work.

What a mess.

Any temp or cough and child sent home. School will have limited supply of tests so could do one or tell parents to arrange one. Child off for 14 days OR until negative test result. If positive I think the whole school bubble sent home, not the whole school.

Also my experience suggests that lots of parents do send kids in with temperatures - sometimes unknowingly of course but not always. Would the school make them stay off and prove they've had the test do you think?

Why would they isolate for 2 weeks when they could also get tested?

Oh I see Frazzled - makes sense for the school to have tests but who is going to administer it? Not fair on teachers to risk this.

The guidance is woolly. If there are two positive cases within a (fictional) bubble within 14 days, then the school seeks further guidance from their local ‘Health protection team‘.

I expect they’ll say it’s all fine and to just keep washing our hands!

It's going to be a mess that's what.

I'm sure I saw that the schools were going to be provided with supplies of COVID tests for the families to use. So kid has cough or temperature (or presumably loss of smell, etc). Gets immediately isolated in school awaiting parents (who must collect "immediately"). Only allowed to return to school on production of a negative test result. I understand that the school may shut down if two members of the school community have a positive test. I think the bubble needs to isolate if a positive test within the bubble. It's going to be pretty disruptive and I hope schools really make an effort with hygiene measures, ventilation and social distancing as much as is possible, in order to minimise the amount of school lost. We'd be lucky to get away with 6 temperatures for my three kids over the winter, which means several days of the family isolating while we await test results.

@toastmeahotcrossbun

Also my experience suggests that lots of parents do send kids in with temperatures - sometimes unknowingly of course but not always. Would the school make them stay off and prove they've had the test do you think?

Schools aren’t allowed to ask for proof of the test before letting the child return, no.

Our school is creating a bubble of the entire year group...350 kids! I expect my child to be off school more than he is in school with a bubble that size.

Don't you have to isolate staplemaple for 2 wks now under test track & trace in case it doesn't show up in tests yet? Tbh I'm totally confused as the rules seem to change all the time. I think government needs to be crystal clear about what's going to be happening with schools about this.

If you child feels ill during the day and has any Covid symptoms, including temp, they will be sent home.

And how long before certain children discover that coughing in lessons gives them a day off.

@letseatgrandma "schools aren't allowed to ask for proof of the test". I understood that they were required to before readmitting the child.

School won't be able to do the test (invasive) but can provide it to parents.

You go back either with a negative result or after seven days off. It is the rest of the household who must do 14 days. (Iirc)

I don't want to have the tests all the time, it's going to be absolutely grim.

People have been really naive about how 'normal' this term will be.

@toastmeahotcrossbun

Agreed! I think parents will stop sending sick kids in eventually when they are getting turned around at the door and sent home. It will be disruptive enough to get the message through.

All of the above is why I think masks are the way forward in secondary at least. We won’t know if there is a case until someone presents symptoms and by then a whole bubble could be infected.

The main reason for bubbles IMHO is to reduce the number of people who have to self isolate rather than reduce the spread. So if the classes in primary are kept as bubbles then that is only 35 or so people but if it is the whole school it would be a couple of hundred (or more!) In my ds school one of the TAs had symptoms so needed a test. The children and teacher stayed at home that day then when the test came back negative they all went back to school.

@BelleSausage

I can see this has only just clicked with some parents.

If you child feels ill during the day and has any Covid symptoms, including temp, they will be sent home.

I did try pointing out when Boris announced his brilliant idea that it was a shambles that would cause more stress for working parents. But people were too busy celebrating.

What is your alternative plan?

[quote frazzledquaver]@letseatgrandma "schools aren't allowed to ask for proof of the test". I understood that they were required to before readmitting the child.[/quote]
The guidance:-

I’m struggling to see how it will work in practice

Join the club!

At my school a pupil with a temperature would be expected to stay/go home and get a test.

A positive test would mean the pupil’s “class or teaching group” had to self-isolate for 2 weeks. What this actually means is a bit of a mystery, given that pupils are taught in many different groups.

Both my children have asthma and I've been told they can't be in school if they're coughing.

I understand the logic, but it doesn't really seem fair and will be a nightmare needing to pick them up/ keep them off when DH and I are at work.

@Witchend

If you child feels ill during the day and has any Covid symptoms, including temp, they will be sent home.

And how long before certain children discover that coughing in lessons gives them a day off.

I would have most certainly done this age 14 cough cough oh sorry miss, I'll get my things...