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Original poster

School case - refusing to isolated child!

170 replies

Pixilulu · 24/10/2020 16:41

A friend received an email from school saying her child had to self isolate for 14 days as a close contact from school has tested positive.

She is refusing to self isolate the child - saying you only need to when you have symptoms.

She has been in contact with the rest of the class parents and they are also not isolating their children!!! Some already gone on holiday, already been to swimming lessons etc.

This is crazy!!!

OP posts:
Ashard20 · 24/10/2020 23:41

It is the law - schools can only enforce self-isolation after they have contacted Public Health England. We have to go through a lengthy phone conversation with them and then they send us the required letters via email, that we then have to print and distribute to parents, by law.
By law, we have to report every positive case, staff or pupil, to Public Health England.
We don't close bubbles on a whim. It is on the PHE's say so. The letter states categorically that you must stay at home. It also gives a date on which you may return.

Dustballs · 24/10/2020 23:48

The letter doesn't say it's the law.

What you posted from the gov website said no such thing either @Ashard20

I wouldn't worry at all @Hickorydickoryspock - you're looking after your son's physical and mental well being and putting nobody else at risk.

It frightens me that teachers like @Ashard20 seem to be so power hungry. Other teachers on here sound as if they hate kids and it's all about protecting their staff ... well yes, but kids have needs too - clearly. And parents should be looking after their kids' well being. It's dreadful that they should be made to feel ashamed of that.

What is this country coming to?

bombaychef · 24/10/2020 23:48

This is why measures aren't working

AnnaSW1 · 24/10/2020 23:49

It is absolutely not the law. Both Govt andNHS guidance states you only MUST self isolate if contacted and told to by track and trace.

MadameBlobby · 24/10/2020 23:52

Not good but given only 20% of people who are supposed to isolate do hardly surprising.

AnnaSW1 · 24/10/2020 23:52

@Ashard20. Your post shows it's only the law if told to isolate by track and trace (not a school!)

MadameBlobby · 24/10/2020 23:57

When an MP can travel the length and breadth of this country having received a positive test and not face police action I don’t blame other people for not being arsed.

MadameBlobby · 24/10/2020 23:59

Because our prime minister is a grade A twat and the majority of the people who have to suffer under him are not

Well he’s only the PM because he was democratically elected. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Torvean32 · 25/10/2020 00:59

@MadameBlobby

When an MP can travel the length and breadth of this country having received a positive test and not face police action I don’t blame other people for not being arsed.
That's childish logic.

Until there's a vaccine we need to do what we can to prevent the spread.
I don't know how ppl can be so selfish when they have potentially been exposed .

KindKylie · 25/10/2020 06:52

I've just read this!

If it reduces to seven days then we would barely have been informed at that point!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54678809

Saggyoldsofa · 25/10/2020 06:59

Regs provide that if you are informed of requirement to SI by anyone employed for the purposes of the health service, by the Secretary of State, or by a local authority, then the requirement to isolate is set out in law.

Sockwomble · 25/10/2020 07:05

"It’s fourteen days, not forever. They can go into the garden as well as the house. With technology, toys, crafts, tv etc it’s not a total hardship for the majority."

We haven't had to try to do it yet but it would be a great hardship for ds and if I think it is leading to distress I will be taking him out. You are allowed to leave with reasonable excuse and his particular needs would constitute reasonable excuse.

NellePorter · 25/10/2020 07:20

We've had the same, eldest DD's form isolating but a couple of them took tests at the start (no symptoms), were negative so have been out and about, on holiday etc. Angry

MadameBlobby · 25/10/2020 07:23

I’m not saying I condone it @Torvean32 but I can see why other people think why are they bothering when people who’s wages we pay clearly don’t give a damn and get away with it.

Bollss · 25/10/2020 07:26

@Ashard20

It is the law - schools can only enforce self-isolation after they have contacted Public Health England. We have to go through a lengthy phone conversation with them and then they send us the required letters via email, that we then have to print and distribute to parents, by law. By law, we have to report every positive case, staff or pupil, to Public Health England. We don't close bubbles on a whim. It is on the PHE's say so. The letter states categorically that you must stay at home. It also gives a date on which you may return.
Hmm I never got a letter from public health England! I got a text from school telling me to isolate my child for 14 days
helpfulperson · 25/10/2020 07:43

Those in schools are being told to self isolate by public health track and trace. The school are just acting as a conduit for the information. We have been told if parents refuse to self isolate to report back to them and they will deal with. We are scotland though so it may be different.

nutellatoast · 25/10/2020 07:43

Im fed up with so many people blaming the government for the continued increase in cases and deaths - this right here is why the virus is still spreading rapidly. So many people are being selfish and not self isolating when required to, they are breaking and bending rules. The reason we have had so many cases and deaths is because huge amounts of British people are selfish and have no social responsibility.

Someone up thread said lockdown didn't work because of the current increases in cases - actually it is because so many people did not or are not following guidance. If we ALL followed the guidance then cases wouldn't be rising at the rates they are. But is easier to blame Boris.

Mumtumwobble · 25/10/2020 07:58

Sadly some people just don’t care. Dh is a primary teacher and tested positive for Covid on Monday. This means his whole class is supposed to isolate for 14 days. The class were taught at home this week, but next week is half-term so no lessons. It’s obviously disappointing to have to cancel plans (we’ve had to), but that is the right thing to do. However, one family have decided to travel to Somerset on holiday. School have told them they’re not supposed to, but they’ve gone anyway. Plus we’re in a tier 3 area so another reason why they should stay at home. We’re never going to get this under control if people continue to think the rules don’t apply to them.

stressbucket1 · 25/10/2020 08:02

@KindKylie thats very interesting. Surely isolate for 7 days then test would be a better system than isolating for 14 days if it means more people comply. They do need to get much faster informing people though.
Even in your situation your child wasn't informed for 6 days he could have been tested day 7 and if negative stop isolation.

Cookiecrisps · 25/10/2020 08:03

@Dustballs

We are in a very deprived area with almost 100% families with English as a second language.

There we go @GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy

And you’re a teacher! You’ve said it yourself. Do you have no empathy for these ‘deprived’ kids shut in tiny spaces?

Do you have no empathy for the school staff who are protected only by a bit of hand washing? We know that adults tend to be more ill than children. If you make school staff ill then the school will shut.

The PP case of 11 staff ill with COVID and still families refusing to isolate properly is shocking.

LadyPenelope68 · 25/10/2020 08:09

As a teacher I would say, please, please contact the School and let them know. They might get a shock when they try to send them back on the first day of term. Advise school of who they are so they can’t put other children and adults in school at risk. School can refuse them admission if they’ve not self isolated.

LadyPenelope68 · 25/10/2020 08:12

@GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy
This is exactly the same as is happening in my school. The community are not following the rules in the most blatant fashion and as a result we have 11 members of staff with Covid. They won't test their children or follow any guidelines/instructions. Every day I'm turning isolating children away from the yard who have come with parents to collect siblings. Or going out to the park opposite to send home "isolating" children.
We are in a very deprived area with almost 100% families with English as a second language. I am beyond angry that my dedicated, caring staff are in work every day like sitting ducks waiting to get ill and the best Public Health can offer us is translated guidance.
This is what is happening in the School I teach in ☹️

Bollss · 25/10/2020 08:13

@LadyPenelope68

As a teacher I would say, please, please contact the School and let them know. They might get a shock when they try to send them back on the first day of term. Advise school of who they are so they can’t put other children and adults in school at risk. School can refuse them admission if they’ve not self isolated.
How does that help anyone? Don't let them back in school when they're no longer contagious anyway?

Or is it just a punishment thing? I don't think that's the right course of action personally.

LadyPenelope68 · 25/10/2020 08:15

@Dustballs
Do yourself a favour, do a bit of research about it spreading in schools before you start uttering total rubbish.

LadyPenelope68 · 25/10/2020 08:16

@TrustTheGeneGenie
Because if they’ve just had one week half-term, then they should still be isolating the first week they’d come back.