Child’s class told to self isolate/ lone parent

[Givemeabreak88]

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??

Is there a mutual aid group for your street? Most areas seem to have one and people are willing to do shopping etc for people who are isolating. I'm sure this sort of favour would extend to doing the school run for you, on the basis that you're likely willing to help others out in similar ways in the future. I'm in London too but there's a lot of community spirit at school and in general.

I wouldn’t allow strangers to collect my children.

No class WhatsApp that I’m aware of; never been mentioned, I’ve search Facebook In the past and can’t find any school Facebook groups either.

I think I’m just going to have to keep them off.

@Givemeabreak88

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.

TBH it is you that is fixating on the single parent thing. Why would that make it harder than families who work? Do you think both parents are available for the school run every day?

Your responses are pretty unpleasant, I cannot for the life of me figure out why you posted. People are just trying to help. Your responses have made it clear though why you don't have friends to help.

The school self isolating is really stressful. We are going through the same now.

I wouldn’t leave an eight year old alone either so can see your point of view. The school should have an online learning package in place for a fortnight for those children who can’t come due to self isolation and it should be available for all years. After all, if you or one of your children had a temperature then the whole house would have to self isolate and not just one of you.

@Givemeabreak88 Hope you are ok. In my school, we have a lot of single parents in this situation and the siblings absence has been authorised.

Just to clarify for the hard of understanding, you should not be leaving your 8-year-old home alone or taking them with you on the school run. Even if there were other school run parents who could help it's a big ask to have them come to your potentially infected house and pick up a potentially infected child even if it is legally allowed.

Hope you hear back from the school soon.

PrivateD00r

I responded directly to someone who said she is concerned about me as a SINGLE parent, so I don’t know how that is me fixating on being a single parent. I’m sure loads of people wouldn’t have someone else to do the school run single or not but I’ve made it clear that I’m a single parent before I get loads of “why can’t dad do it” I posted asking if anyone had been in this situation and what was the outcome suggested by the school, I didn’t ask for ways I could still get them to school.

MrsWombat and TheStripes

Thank you, honesty it’s like a parallel universe on here sometimes. I only asked if others had been in this situation and what the school did to resolve it so I could be prepared for when they call back.

Maybe the school will provide a taxi? That would be the best solution. I can't really think else you can do tbh. Impossible situation.

i'll be interested to hear schools solution to this

i suspect they will give work for them and get them all to stay home

I would just keep the other child/ children off schhol too

I hope the school is able to offer a solution. The only scenario I can see otherwise is that your other children stay home also and the school provides work for them too.

@OverTheRubicon

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.

Well you are very fortunate to have a class WhatsApp and help, literally in all my kids schooling life, we have never had a WhatsApp group, and believe it or not, quite a few parents are isolated and literally have no one

@PrivateD00r how rude are you?

@Givemeabreak88

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.

Did you miss the bit where I mentioned that I'm another single mum of 3? Of course it's doable but it's hard on everyone, is disastrous if you also have to work and really not ideal when two of the other children could be getting out. I do think that as single parents we're more at risk of ending up breaking isolation rules because it's so much harder to follow them when you're alone and especially when you appear so extremely isolated.

@PrivateD00r

being a single parent is relevant.....as if there were 2 parents op could then SHARE the load.....share the thinking about it as well as maybe adjusting working hours to accommodate

employers are generally being a bit more flexible and considerate to covid related restrictions right now!!

why on earth were you so rude?

I’m glad others think PrivateD00r Was rude, I’m not sure why people are so argumentative on here. Being a single parent does make it more difficult as there not another parent to help!

I’m not isolated, I have people, I don’t have people that can commit to 2 weeks doing the school run pick up and bring home, That’s a BIG ask when people have their own lives and work etc , I don’t think that’s unusual tbh!
It’s 2 weeks not one day.

At my dcs school a lot of parents have been in this boat after they’ve sent two classes home.
School have been completely understanding of this.

@GalaxyCookieCrumble Well you are very fortunate to have a class WhatsApp and help, literally in all my kids schooling life, we have never had a WhatsApp group, and believe it or not, quite a few parents are isolated and literally have no one

It's absolutely the norm for most state primaries to have class WhatsApps, certainly for the younger of her DCs. And no, I'm not lucky to have some support around, I've worked bloody to hard to ensure it for my DC's sake.

I'm alone with 3 DCs, one with SEN, work full time and have my family are overseas, so I've been sure to be a great neighbour and even though I haven't had time to make school gate friends, on the few days I get to drop off I've always tried to be friendly and made sure I was good at reciprocating playdates and helping with PTFA schemes where I could (if you watched Motherland and saw the scene where the single mum is looking after everyone's kids so they owe her a playdate for later, I've definitely been close to that!). I don't have close friends locally, I've sadly not had the opportunity or time, but I have met some lovely people and I feel much safer in these kind of suggestions for trying to build a community for my kids, and for others around us. My street has been amazing through lockdown, even though we don't like in an area with a tradition of being close-knit.

But on MN it feels like a badge of honour to be completely isolated and alone. Sometimes that is sadly very hard for people to change, especially when there are health issues involved, but actually most of us can take steps to build a support network.

@Givemeabreak88 see what the school come back with. Don’t stress yourself
I will be in exactly the same situation as you if one had to isolate. I don’t talk to any of my neighbours and don’t have family on hand to help.
I also would not hand over my child to complete strangers no matter what anyone said.

If your other 2 have to stay home then so be it.

I don’t think class WhatsApp groups are the norm, I’ve asked a couple of people and none of their kids schools have class WhatsApp groups? Sounds Kind of annoying! Maybe it’s more common in small village primary schools? There’s 30 kids in my kids class, I wouldn’t want to be in a class WhatsApp with everyone from the school and my phone constantly pinging about unnecessary stuff, I’ve only ever heard class WhatsApp groups on MN .

Loveable1

Thank you, glad it’s not just me. People on MN love to make people feel weird or strange!

As a single adult do you have a support bubble ? If so can they do the school run or come to yours to watch the 8 year old twice a day so you can do school run?

Sounds tricky. My y7 is home for two weeks but fortunately old enough to be left for an hour or two doing online school work if we need to go out

At my kids school we were told that if the isolating child couldn't isolate from the rest of the family then 1 parent and all siblings must isolate too.

You need to put all the situation in writing to the school and ask them what they want you to do. This is only way to protect your position, OP. I hope they have several email addresses?

Similar situation with a friend of mine- she is staying at home with her isolating dc and I am doing the school run with her child (who is same bubble as my dc). We live close so it’s not a big deal. School were not keen on the idea but when asked what they suggested they agreed it was probably best option.