DD had symptoms now over it, can’t get a test, school won’t allow her back

[BabriePezSweets]

Basically the above. DD is 6, year 2.

Started with symptoms last week, slight temperature (38.1) and a croaky throat. Tried to book a test but the nearest testing centre is over 1.5 hours drive from me, I can drive but due to a medical condition I can only drive for an hour in a day (this is usually not a problem as in an emergency I can take one of my parents with me and for planned journeys I can share the driving)

Neither of my parents will take DD to the test centre for/with me as they will then have to Self-Isolate as per their own works rules for contact with someone with suspected symptoms.

DD is absolutely fine in herself, now sounds as if she’s had a cold. Bit sniffly and looks exhausted but was over it in a week. She’s bouncing about and is eager to go back to school.

In normal times I’d send her to school as she is now but school are saying she can’t return without them seeing proof she’s had a negative test. I’ve offered to keep her off until the end of my self-isolation period (single parent) but they’ve said “No test not entry permitted to school”.

Is there anything I can do? Or do I have to now keep DD off until the rules change?

Can you get a home testing kit? Can you afford a private test (not ideal - often cost over £100, but maybe better than two weeks off work)?

could you get a self test kit?

90min drive to be tested is scandalous

Thats insane. Nhs says she can isolate for 10 days and then be OK to return to normal life. Could you do that?

You can get a free test sent to your home. You then post it back and get the results a day or few later

Post test seems the obvious solution?

@wishcaptainbarnaclewasmyboss

Can you get a home testing kit? Can you afford a private test (not ideal - often cost over £100, but maybe better than two weeks off work)?

The website isn't giving me the option for a home testing kit, it just says "Testing available at the following site:" and then the address which is 1.5 hours away.

Unfortunately a £100 is a huge amount of money to me and there's no-one who can lend it to me.

It's not just two weeks off work, school are saying without a negative test DD cannot return even once symptom free.

And you cant do a test if 5 days have passed

Show them the government's rules. It's either negative test (go back straight away) or isolate for 10 days from start of symptoms and then go back.

I'm fairly sure they can't actually demand that. It's also illogical. Do talk to the school again and ask them if she can return after the two weeks.

DfE guidance explicitly states that schools cannot ask for proof of a negative test OP.

If you can't resolve this with a postal test and she's well then you can challenge the school.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-long-to-self-isolate/ this says 10 if you have symptoms and haven't been tested

I think you would need to go back on the website and select the option that says 'I don't have a car' to be offered the postal test.

Did you call 119 to get a test kit? It’s on the gov website to call if you’re having trouble with the internet.

You have my sympathy. We're in the same boat. No home test kits offered on the gov website (as not enough to go round) and we were offered a choice of 3 test centres - closest was a 2.5hr drive and the 3rd option was in Glasgow (we're in South Devon!). Given that you're not meant to leave the car when driving to / from test centre this wasn't workable. Who can sit in a car for 5+ hrs (return trip plus 30 mins - and hour at the test site.. plus extra time to allow for bad traffic).
99% sure DC just has a cold as very sniffly but as they had a high temp on day 1, we have to self isolate unless we can get a negative test result.

You dont need a negative test result as long as you isolate for 10 days

No matter which way I try the website it either says either unavailable or go to the centre 1.5 hours away no home testing kit offered.

I'm in Ireland, so not sure if it's the same in the UK, but here if you can't make it to a test centre, a paramedic will be sent to your home to do the test.

if you are nearly at 5 days past symptoms starting then a home test will not be offered

@dementedpixie

if you are nearly at 5 days past symptoms starting then a home test will not be offered

Makes sense thank you, looks like i need to keep putting pressure on the school

That’s awful - can you phone the school and tell them there is no way you can get her tested? Are they aware the test centre is too far away for you to drive to?

@Dontcarewhatmyusernameis

That’s awful - can you phone the school and tell them there is no way you can get her tested? Are they aware the test centre is too far away for you to drive to?

I can't drive for more than an hour without going into too much detail it causes me to have a severe migraine so I'd be unsafe to drive back from the test centre.

You need to just tell school she’ll be back when your isolation period finishes - link them to the guidance and ask them to clarify why their rules contradict the NICE and government guidelines.

Call 119 for advice as per the website. It's free and they are lovely

@BabriePezSweets yeah that’s what I mean - can you tell the school what you’re telling us so they understand it’s impossible for you?

I presume they mean cant return within the self isolation period unless you have a negative result (which they arent allowed to ask for stupidly) not that she can never return. To be honest, the school cant really say come in during the self isolation period can they?

You do have my sympathy. I am finding it confusing. The whole 'if you have a temerature its a symptom of covid so isolate or test' but then 'if you have a cold you dont need to as its a cold' is a mixed message. I rarely get a cold without a high temperature.