Cases at school but no burst bubble

[NandosPeriometer]

My kids are at a secondary school 240 kids per bubble total 1600 kids plus staff

There's been 2 cases of pupils getting a positive test (different years not siblings) but only a few kids being sent home each time rather than the whole bubble bursting.

My kids and I were wondering if this is because symptoms started Monday first lesson or form time hence being able to identify a few at risk students? They thought that positive case meant everyone in the bubble self isolating or have we misunderstood?

In our area, one case in a year means that the school will only send home the pupils who had close contact. If there is more one than one case, the local authority are involved and the bubble may burst.

48 hours before symptoms is considered infectious so if symptoms on a Monday and they never came to school, no-one at school needs to isolate.

So yes if they came in on the Monday, with symptoms then only those seated near them during that time needs to be sent home.

My son (14) is on his 2nd self isolation.

One infected child x 3 options classes has resulted in around half the year out.

Today we found out another case has resulted in most of the rest being sent home.

More than 3 weeks missed already. Not ideal in year 10 when home learning has been mixed success.

With the schools I work with, this can vary. Eight kids sent back in one case, whole year groups in others, classes in others. Nightmare.

One case, -bout 28 kids sent home. We check close contact using electronic seating plans.

Thanks. I got a letter about the second case yesterday evening (Tuesday) so the Monday timing would make sense

One of my kids are y10 and he needs to be at school. Homeschooling was patchy and I have no clue if he submitted work and completed it as best he could.

Do you rely on the child with a positive test to say who they sat with at break and lunch as well as who they walk to and from school with?

We have double-figure student cases in school, so obviously some are in the same yeargroup as each other. According to PHE they are community acquired so no bubbles required to close, just isolating close contacts which does mean we have lots of students missing but so far not even entire classes are off.

@NandosPeriometer

Thanks. I got a letter about the second case yesterday evening (Tuesday) so the Monday timing would make sense

One of my kids are y10 and he needs to be at school. Homeschooling was patchy and I have no clue if he submitted work and completed it as best he could.

Do you rely on the child with a positive test to say who they sat with at break and lunch as well as who they walk to and from school with?

Yes we do.

My eldest's school is majority boarding so slightly different structure. Each year group in a house is a bubble I think, and some activities such as meals are kept within those groups. Otherwise they are distancing somewhat in class, and absolutely distancing between year groups.

A case the other week in upper 6th led to close contacts being sent home - the year group in the boarding house plus others, I presume those with contact in classes or games. This week there has been another case in the year from a different house, and advice is being sought from PHE. I think if the two cases had been closer together in time they would have sent the whole year home straight away but because there's been a longer gap it's not automatic. They're off for half-term on Friday anyway (thank goodness; and we'll be going for minimum social contact for 2 weeks to make sure she can sit university admissions tests after the break!).

My DD is currently covid positive and she had to report who she sat next to and opposite for each lesson and who she spent break and lunch with. They were then told to isolate. There are only two cases in her year (9) but years 10 and 11 have more cases so are all remote learning. I don't know what the magic number is.

2 cases in my ds secondary school (weeks apart and different years) only close contacts were sent home. It hasn't spread further within the year groups so to me it seemed like the best approach