How do I facilitate DC1 going to school when DC2 has been told to self isolate?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Had the dreaded call today. Dc2 bubble has burst and the year group (Y1) are now on a 14 day isolation. DC1 can still go to school.

Would it be unreasonable to leave DC2 in the car while I drop DC1? I can park close to the gate and all drop offs are at the gate now.

I presume I can't walk them?

Can someone else take DC1?

DC2 is not meant to be leaving the house, and you should put as much space between the isolating person and the rest if the household as possible. That's not likely to be completely achievable with small DC, but avoiding things lie the confines of the car is sensible

I don't have anyone else who could.

If they go to the same school I would speak with the school and ask their advice, they may be able to help facilitate this by you parking in school car park etc and DC1 being met by a member if staff for example.

We’ve been told to speak to school in this situation.

My y1 child is self isolating too, she is staying in the car on her own while I drop her siblings in to school, most of the other parents I know are doing the same. Small siblings aren't going to be able to isolate from each other - my girls share a room and usually end up sharing a bed as they fall asleep playing, so I figure the car is pretty much the same as being in the house together. If one of them had symptoms it would be different, we would have to shift around who sleeps where etc.

I only have one at primary so if he has to isolate it won’t be an issue.

If I have to isolate because I’m a contact, but I have no symptoms, I’m going to drop him off outside the school but not get out of the car myself. He’s old enough for this (obviously a 4yo wouldn’t be).

I’m not playing silly buggers about it, the point of the guidance is to not have any contacts and if I don’t leave the car I won’t have any contacts. I can’t get into the “can’t do right for doing wrong” stupidity of having to choose between a fine for non attendance versus a fine for breaking isolation.

If any of us has symptoms then we’d all be isolating as a household so the problem doesn’t arise.

I plan to keep all siblings home

If it happens to us with oldest's bubble I'd probably leave the 8yo home whilst I run the 5yo in (I'll take the baby, be max 15 minutes and he is a sensible child). If the 5yo has to SI, I'd be screwed.

@Lockdownfatigue

I plan to keep all siblings home

Having just had to SI (x5 people for 14 days) due to not getting a test in time for the one child who had a cough, I'll be doing everything in my power to keep them in school.

Our school informed us they’d spoke to the LEA about this issue and the LEA had said it’s okay to bring isolating siblings if there was no other option, but try and go by car if possible and keep well away from other people.

This is what I am dreading.

I think speak to the school. I was wondering if it was possible to send other kid in though reception.

Or i would see if 1 DC could go to breakfast club.

My eldest could wait in the car, but I wouldn't be happy leaving my youngest.

I wouldn't leave any DC at home so they will have to leave the house for school drop off / pick up only. And i won't socially distance then when at home.

I'd keep them both home, if only for their own well being. I can only imagine at that age they'd feel worried about having to isolate and this would be worse if they were the only one having to do it. I really can't understand a school saying it was okay to bring them on the school run - would be completely against the spirit of the whole thing.

I'm not keeping dc1 off. They've had so much time off already and there is going to come a time when DC1s class have to self isolate so that just adds to the time away from education

I work from home so cannot simply home educate them. We will get by for the short periods needed, but I am not able to properly educate two children (one of whom is perfectly fine to attend school) whilst working.

I can pass dc1 over to staff at the gate. If I get there in good time I can park at the gate too. Close enough.

Is there a breakfast club? You could just drop off at the gates depending on the setup.

Is there another parent that could take DS1 in?
Could you take him in a bit later?

Tbh the best thing would be to ring the school,ask for advice and see what they are comfortable with and willing to accommodate, then hopefully find some sort of compromise.

We are in the same situation except they've also closed the wrap around care. DH will try and help where he can and we are getting together with some other families in the same situation to help each other out ie I will take when my DH is about to stay home with isolating child. It's. Bit different though as we are all able to walk so no car sharing.

Ps it totally sucks doesn't it. I could cry for my DCs who have missed so much already and now face not just missing more school but also all their activities and the opportunity to so much as rude their bike. The positive case isn't even in their year group.

I could also cry for myself. I'm so busy at work. I just don't know how I'm going to cope with going back to home educating and working with no school and no after school club.

This might be an unpopular opinion but do we really need to tell the school what’s going on, if we are dropping from the car (and not at any point getting out of the car ourselves or with isolating child). Obviously with the caveat that the child still going to school is old enough to get themselves from car to playground safely.

I’m not sure I would be keen to proactively inform the school of my intentions/procedure. If the child required in school is present, and the child isolating is nowhere to be seen, surely our responsibility to the school ends there?

I think it's pretty naive to assume siblings can be kept apart and that all families have someone else to do school runs.

My year 2 is currently isolating, while trying to take other 2 children to school. I have had to leave her in the car and try to park as close as I can. Take a book or tablet to play and lock the door.

Don't ask on here! Just take them in the car.