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?

@WingingItSince1973

My DD ordered a test for my 5 year old GS Sunday night. Was delivered Monday eve and test sent off Tuesday. Still waiting for results. School want a negative test too. Hes alot better now although he's been really rough this week. We also managed to get sent 2 tests to ours. We all drive but no appointments locally. I hope you managed to get sorted. Xxx

I've heard similar from my friends round, some sent tests off a week or so ago and still haven't heard anything back.

Will your DD need negative test result to come back to school after 14 days of isolation?

@greenlynx

Will your DD need negative test result to come back to school after 14 days of isolation?

Yes school have said no negative result they'll send her home if I don't collect she'll be kept in isolation with a member of staff in PPE until either me or my ExH (her father) pick her up

It must be very frustrating for you, their approach is so strange and illogical. I would complain to local authority citing guidance.

So if you do a test and it's positive you then have to keep doing tests until you get a negative?

Bonkers. Utterly bonkers.

OP Apologies I have just skimmed the thread so apologies. Are you in England.? What follows applies to England, I’m not sure about other countries. All schools in England have been sent home test kits for them to offer if children cannot access a test. BUT if she has had symptoms though, she must isolate for 10 days and you for 14. I’ll link to the guidance here ON test kits www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-home-test-kits-for-schools-and-fe-providers/coronavirus-covid-19-home-test-kits-for-schools-and-fe-providers . And guidance on test results is here www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools in section 9. Wording is as follows - “ Schools should not request evidence of negative test results or other medical evidence before admitting children or welcoming them back after a period of self-isolation.“. So if after 10 days of isolation she has no symptoms they must allow her back, Your LA H&S Team and Local Outbrreak Control Team will also be following these rules, the school cannot ask for the resukt before allowing back. I would be interested to know the LA if in England ( I hope it’s not mine as it’s not the advice I’m giving schools!) Hope this helps x

I'm going to ring 119 and find out if there's anything they can recommend. We're on day 9 from start of symptoms now so there's no way she can get a test.

@BabriePezSweets apologies for all the typos - I hope you got the gist

@Paperthin

OP Apologies I have just skimmed the thread so apologies. Are you in England.? What follows applies to England, I’m not sure about other countries. All schools in England have been sent home test kits for them to offer if children cannot access a test. BUT if she has had symptoms though, she must isolate for 10 days and you for 14. I’ll link to the guidance here ON test kits www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-home-test-kits-for-schools-and-fe-providers/coronavirus-covid-19-home-test-kits-for-schools-and-fe-providers . And guidance on test results is here www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools in section 9. Wording is as follows - “ Schools should not request evidence of negative test results or other medical evidence before admitting children or welcoming them back after a period of self-isolation.“. So if after 10 days of isolation she has no symptoms they must allow her back, Your LA H&S Team and Local Outbrreak Control Team will also be following these rules, the school cannot ask for the resukt before allowing back. I would be interested to know the LA if in England ( I hope it’s not mine as it’s not the advice I’m giving schools!) Hope this helps x

Yes we're England, I've been told the negative result before re-entry to school is an LA policy and not a school policy when I checked the covid policies of other nearby schools that I could find on websites they had similar rules about re-entry to school after time off with covid symtpoms

@BabriePezSweets mmmm understood, they are not following the guidance at all. If they insist that all Dc need tests there going to be a massive issue with lots of children missing school unnecessarily. The only thing is, to ask for one of the tests they have in school ( they do have them) in writing, using the words in the document above, if they refuse, then ask them what they expect you to do? If she has isolated for 10 days, and she will have by then, you have followed all govt guidance. I would be contacting PHE and Local Outbreak Team to ask their advice it does not seem right to me..... —dying to know the LA—🙄

Definitely keep on at the school. Our school gives three options for returning. Provide the negative test result and child can come back straight away. If no proof shown you can come back after 14 days isolation, if you get a positive result you can come back after 10 days isolation if feeling well. As a parent and a teacher this makes sense to me. Pre covid many parents would send their children back to school still ill and spreading illnesses (sickness bug prime example), so I understand why schools are doing this. OP your school/LA seem to have taken it to extreme.

So I've found another couple of parents having the same issues with testing and returning to school just from our school. I am asking round my friends with children at other schools, the plan is we're going to go the LA as a group to challenge the policy particularly at primary level where lots of colds are common.

That’s great op.
If there was an unlimited number of tests available the policy might be acceptable but as it is children will either be deprived of education for an indefinite period for no health benefit whatsoever to anyone or parents will have to lie about symptoms thus taking away a test from someone who needs one. Neither of these things is acceptable.

Yes and also by asking children to have tests unnecessarily they are taking tests away from people who actually do need them. It’s irresponsible. I would definitely go to the LA.

This is absolutely shocking. Let us know how you get on op!