Confused about school and siblings

[JLbaby]

So my daughter had a high temperature when I picked her up yesterday from the childminder. I’m pretty sure it’s not Covid but before she’s allowed back to school we have to get a test - all fine. However the head teacher has said that her sister is allowed back to school?! This seems completely ridiculous and seems to go against government guidelines. I’d rather keep her off until I know for definite but has anyone heard of siblings being able to go to school when another sibling is at home?

Yes, apparently it's based on the research that children who had Covid early on, didn't pass it on to Siblings. Even though they passed on other colds and flu.

You can individually risk assess and decide depending on how affected your child's education will be, of course. But sending her in is within the guidance.

This is the advice I've heard from local schools too OP. I agree it seems strange!

Government guidelines are you isolate as a household until the negative result. I have seen no guidance to say there are different rules for children. Not sure where ponoka found the research, but regardless sending in children with a symptomatic sibling is against the guidelines.

Guidance for parents is here, relevant part under actions you can take - www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-in-the-autumn-term#helping-make-nurseries-childminders-schools-and-colleges-as-safe-as-possible

It's odd really, as obviously siblings will pass a virus between them.

COVID Symptom Study found that children had different symptoms to adults. Of those children who had a positive test:
51% did not have a fever.
62% did not have a cough.
The top two symptoms were
Fatigue 55%
Headache 53%
There is also a symptom to look out for which adults do not get: an unusual skin rash (15% of positive children in the sample had that).
covid.joinzoe.com/post/back-to-school
COVID Symptom Study wants more parents to log their children's symptoms on the daily reporting app. So do use it if you can as it helps with the research.

I don’t think that’s correct.

If someone in a household has a covid symptom, whole household self isolates until a negative test.

Is it possible they’ve misunderstood and don’t think your mother child has one of the three Covid symptoms?

It’s on the government website - although I do admit I don’t think it’s very clearly written! It’s actually concerning a school is giving that advice, I’d send them the link and consider informing firstly the school
Governors and then the LA if they don’t change their policy.

The government guidelines are if one in the house has symptoms the rest of the house isolated until the one with symptoms gets a negative test (or two weeks if it’s positive) so I don’t think she can go to school. If it were that the one with symptoms was isolating because someone else in her bubble had symptoms then siblings would carry on as normal, but not when there are symptoms in the household.

Ponoka where is this in the guidance please? I’m happy to keep her home but don’t want her getting an unauthorised absence mark if I don’t send her in as I thought everyone isolating until negative result was the guidance too.

If you're not sure, ask the school.

The first two answers on this thread are wrong.

NHS rules are whole household isolates until a negative test result.

It is far worse to give a bug to a teacher than to get an unauthorised absence at the moment!

The guidance is here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/ and it says:

When to self-isolate... you live with someone who has symptoms or tested positive

Chance - I have asked the school, that’s why I’m confused. As I said, the head teacher has said sibling can go in even though other child has a high temperature.

There is a conflict between the "rules for households" and "rules for schools".

God I wish your headteachers info was right as I'm gutted my older kids are having to miss secondary school but I'm sure they're not supposed to go in if anyone in household symptomatic

@JLbaby apologies!

I would ask for clarification from local council as this is very dangerous tbh. I just posted on another thread that if I heard this happening at my school I would report to HSE

This is a mess, to be honest it wants reporting to the bloody media. Can you make your mp aware of they are not a Tory, they might be able to find more out.

@Thirtyrock39

God I wish your headteachers info was right as I'm gutted my older kids are having to miss secondary school but I'm sure they're not supposed to go in if anyone in household symptomatic

Your school less likely to shut @Thirtyrock39 so be careful what you wish for!

My youngest had a temperature Monday so both kids have been off all week as haven’t got result yet .

Actually, having now looked at schools guidance,it says
"1) Minimise contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, do not attend school."
It is here
www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools
Under systems of controls.
I think you should keep her off and quote guidance to HT if it seems to be a problem.

The Head is incorrect. This is on the latest NHS website rules:

Quick question my son is living with a friend and his dad had to stay off work and have a test because he had been in contact with some one who has tested postive. He was in contact last Friday and had the test on Tuesday. All the kids at the house are still going to school is that allowed or should everybody stay at home till the results.

Sal

Allowed.

If person A has contact (over 15 mins )with someone positive but doesn’t have symptoms themselves then person A must isolate within the house and not socialise and eat with household members but the people person A lives with can go about their normal lives.

Quick question my son is living with a friend and his dad had to stay off work and have a test because he had been in contact with some one who has tested postive. He was in contact last Friday and had the test on Tuesday. All the kids at the house are still going to school is that allowed or should everybody stay at home till the results.

I think this is different in that only the dad had contact with the positive case not the kids? So I think yes they are allowed to, and would only have to isolate themselves if the dad then shows symptoms or has a positive test.