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Original poster

Child’s class told to self isolate/ lone parent

133 replies

Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 08:57

I got a phone call this morning to say my sons class has to self isolate but I have 2 other children at school, they asked me if I have anyone else that can bring them (I don’t I’m a lone parent) they said they would call me later to discuss what can be arranged , has this happened to anyone else and what is the outcome??

OP posts:
LucyLocketsPocket · 19/11/2020 10:21

I would just wait and see what the school say. It sounds like you might have to keep them all off though.

sweetleftfoot · 19/11/2020 10:33

I just don't get why people make it so complicated! Your 8 year old will have to walk to school as usual but you and him/her stand well away from others and the other kids walk the last bit! What else can you do?

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 10:37

sweetleftfoot err yeh that’s not self isolating 😬

OP posts:
pinkpixie83 · 19/11/2020 10:37

I've just been through this - on the final day today.

My isolating child is 8 and my other two are 10 and 12, add in my 10 year old having ADHD and having some issues at school anyway.

I kept the 10 year old at home for the first day and a half, then I collected him late from school with the 8 year old in the car. Now he is making his own way there.

Would your 9 year old take the 6 year old? Maybe from half way so the 8 year old is only home alone for 5 minutes or so?

TheNortherner · 19/11/2020 10:38

@sweetleftfoot ...and break the law

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 10:39

Would your 9 year old take the 6 year old? Maybe from half way so the 8 year old is only home alone for 5 minutes or so?

No I wouldn’t do that, we live in London and the school is a mile away which involves crossing several busy main roads.

OP posts:
OverTheRubicon · 19/11/2020 10:42

Because that is specifically against the rules of isolating.

Op is there a neighbour who might appreciate some extra cash in return for accompanying them there in the morning and then friends could just walk them home (or vice versa, or pay for both directions or even pay another mum)? Not ideal but better than needing 2 weeks unpaid.

You also haven't mentioned the childrens' father(s) anywhere in this post. Do they do some of the care and they could share the load? Or if not could they at least help with the extra funding needed?

XmasLockdown · 19/11/2020 10:45

When ds8 was self isolating I saw several of her classmates joining school run to pick up siblings. School didn't say anything.

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 10:45

No he sees them once a fortnight and lives 2 hours away, I’ve already told him about it and he isn’t able to do it.

Neighbours are elderly.

Think they will just have to stay off really. Just wondered what they school would be suggesting as they said they will call back to discuss it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 10:46

*one day a fortnight, no over nights

OP posts:
Sailingtelltales · 19/11/2020 10:47

Just keep them all off. Simplest solution.

sweetleftfoot · 19/11/2020 10:48

I get it's breaking self isolation rules but if there is no other way I think that's the only option and common sense tells me that the 8 yo is about 0% risk in passing it on if he/she stays well away from other people which is not that difficult! TS can walk a few meter behind the other children

OverTheRubicon · 19/11/2020 10:49

Do you have class WhatsApps? I'd put the word out there. People may surprise you by volunteering, others may know someone who could help you.

Not ALL your neighbours can be elderly.

Stuck indoors for 14 days with 3 children will be miserable. As a fellow single mum of 3 with pretty absent father, I am concerned for you, and also for the chances of you sticking it out for a proper isolation if you don't find a solution. I'm sure there's a way.

WhoopsSomethingWentWrong · 19/11/2020 10:51

Loads of people at our school have been bringing the sibling on the school run and waiting outside the gates with them while the non isolating child walks in, or if too young a teacher comes and gets them.
I guess it’s either that or have all siblings off school as well.

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 10:59

Not ALL your neighbours can be elderly.

The ones I chat to are, the others I don’t know them and I’m not going to ask strangers? My two immediate neighbours are both elderly.

I don’t know why you are concerned about me I’m not the only single parent that’s had to self isolate Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 11:01

If it was me that had it I would have to self isolate and be a single parent. Like I’m the only single parent that has been through this Confused

OP posts:
WhoopsSomethingWentWrong · 19/11/2020 11:01

I don’t know why you are concerned about me I’m not the only single parent that’s had to self isolate hmm

I think the PP was being nice! I have three young children and we had to self isolate and it was bloody tough, even with DH being here. The PP was just expressing concern for your situation.

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 11:04

But plenty of single parents have had to self isolate, my situation isn’t much different and I have 4 children, I have a younger one not at school. We already self isolated in the summer as dd got a letter stating she needed to shield (was sent in error) it wasn’t pleasant no but we did it, doesn’t mean I’m more likely to break it cos I’m single.

OP posts:
wonkylegs · 19/11/2020 11:07

You've looked at all the options and told the school now. They will be aware that it's going to be more difficult for some than others. It may be that they all have to stay off or it may be that the school has an avenue to help you that you don't yet know. Wait and see what they say. Second guessing isn't going to help.
Our school had parents pairing up who lived close together and were struggling with this but it's a village school so it's going to be a whole different scenario to London.

WhoopsSomethingWentWrong · 19/11/2020 11:07

@Givemeabreak88

If it was me that had it I would have to self isolate and be a single parent. Like I’m the only single parent that has been through this Confused
Just because lots of people are in that situation, doesn’t mean people can’t express empathy for you.
Comefromaway · 19/11/2020 11:12

There are lots of people who could potentially be in this situation, not just single parents. The school will probably suggest you keep the younger ones off or if they have the resources may send someone to collect them.

My kids are older now but when they were younger I would have been stuck. Dh is a teacher and leaves at 7am in the morning to get to his school. My next door neighbour is a teacher at the local high school and has her own primary child to get to school (out of the area as she chose to send her own child to school that is not a feeder for the one she works at. Our other next door is empty and has been since the death of its elderly resident and my mil has dementia. My own parents would help out in an emergency but htey both work full tie so as the OP says, couldn't commit to 2 whole weeks of the school run

I have never had the phone numbers of parents of other children at my kids schools.

garlictwist · 19/11/2020 11:18

He's 8? Can't you just leave him at home whilst you do the school run?

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 11:22

Comefromaway

Thank you! Started to feel a bit weird or something judging by the thread, yet when you see threads about school mums plenty of people say they don’t Get involved with school mums and don’t have school mum friends, I don’t have any of their numbers as the ones I say hello to mine and their children aren’t actually friends, we began chatting as they came over to see my daughter when she was new born, so now we just chat sometimes but our kids don’t play together so it’s not something that’s extended outside of school as let’s meet up with the kids etc,

my two immediate neighbours are elderly and the last house (I live on a road of 4 houses) seems to be a hmo and has people frequently changing so I don’t actually know anyone that lives there they never stay for that long. I have my mum who could pick them up if I needed it but she is disabled and can’t commit to a 2 weeks school run morning and afternoon, it would be too much for her, as a one off or now and again yes fine, not something she can do daily though as she doesn’t drive either.

OP posts:
ShivD · 19/11/2020 11:50

Do you have a class WhatsApp group? One of my DC has just started reception and early on a family needed help with drop offs (non Covid reasons) and many people were happy to help despite people not knowing each other particularly well. Could you try this?

I find it hard to ask for help but people really will want to help in this situation.

Saying that, I saw loads of isolating kids out and about with parents this morning during drop off- one was in Starbucks getting a nice hot chocolate take away. Most people really aren’t following the isolating advice with their kids!

Comefromaway · 19/11/2020 11:55

@ShivD

Do you have a class WhatsApp group? One of my DC has just started reception and early on a family needed help with drop offs (non Covid reasons) and many people were happy to help despite people not knowing each other particularly well. Could you try this?

I find it hard to ask for help but people really will want to help in this situation.

Saying that, I saw loads of isolating kids out and about with parents this morning during drop off- one was in Starbucks getting a nice hot chocolate take away. Most people really aren’t following the isolating advice with their kids!

I assume the OP would have said if there was a Whatsapp group (don;t you need someone's phone number for that anyway?)

There are many kids off in my area who are not isolating but they are off school because of teacher shortages etc (the teacher is isolating for example). My daughter's school is having a circuit break week for years 7-11 at the moment.