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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:
Comefromaway · 19/11/2020 13:57

I've heard a lot about Class Whatsapps on mumsnet, never met anyone in real life with one.

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 13:58

Going a step further I have never even heard of class WhatsApp groups till I joined Mumsnet, so just because it happens at your child’s school doesn’t mean that’s the case everywhere and you really can’t speak for most primary schools unless you have been to all of them. I’m sure that’s a MN thing that doesn’t really happen in real life!

My mum is my support bubble but I wouldn’t feel comfortable asking her to look after my son as I don’t want to put her at risk.

OP posts:
PrivateD00r · 19/11/2020 13:59

@Givemeabreak88

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.

Ok, so you mentioned being a 'single parent' in every single post you put up, then when someone expressed sympathy to that, you were really rude to them. So I point out it is YOU who keeps mentioning it, agree with you it isn't relevant and you still get annoyed Confused Flip me. I simply pointed out that you have been quite difficult on this thread and maybe that is why you don't have a support network around you. But still you aren't happy......

It is impossible to see what you want from this thread. You seem to want to know what to expect the school to do to help you get your dc to school, personally I think that is your responsibility, not the schools. Someone suggested the school should pay for a taxi, I would love to know where people expect schools to get the money from to be sending taxis all round the place every day Shock

Anyway, I won't be suggesting anything else as it is clear you don't want any suggestions.

PrivateD00r · 19/11/2020 14:00

@Givemeabreak88

Going a step further I have never even heard of class WhatsApp groups till I joined Mumsnet, so just because it happens at your child’s school doesn’t mean that’s the case everywhere and you really can’t speak for most primary schools unless you have been to all of them. I’m sure that’s a MN thing that doesn’t really happen in real life!

My mum is my support bubble but I wouldn’t feel comfortable asking her to look after my son as I don’t want to put her at risk.

Whats app groups are a mn thing that don't happen in real life? So we are all lying? Wowsers.
Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 14:00

I've heard a lot about Class Whatsapps on mumsnet, never met anyone in real life with one.

Exactly! One of those only on MN things, I don’t know anyone whose school has a class WhatsApp

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 19/11/2020 14:00

Why not ask your mum to help with school run for no -isolating children?

Comefromaway · 19/11/2020 14:01

A colleague at work has one for his son's football team.

I think they are a bit of a middle class type thing.

Comefromaway · 19/11/2020 14:03

@Frazzled2207

Why not ask your mum to help with school run for no -isolating children?
The OP already said way back that her mum is disabled.
Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 14:03

My mums unable to commit to the school run, she could pick them up as a one off but she can’t do it for 2 weeks, she’s disabled so it would be too much for her I’ve already spoken to her.

OP posts:
WhoopsSomethingWentWrong · 19/11/2020 14:14

Whats app groups are a mn thing that don't happen in real life? So we are all lying? Wowsers

I love the idea that the people writing on MN aren’t people in RL Grin. We’re just cyber people floating around in a MN cloud.
We have class WhatsApp groups. I have it muted as otherwise there are too many notifications, but it’s useful for stuff like reminders about non uniform days and if your child has lost their spellings sheet!

OverTheRubicon · 19/11/2020 14:19

@Givemeabreak88

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 .
We've been at 3 different primary schools through moves and all have had WhatsApp groups, all 3-4 form entry primaries with 30 kids per class. It's not pinging all day, it's really helpful whether for reminders about fancy dress days to sorting out how to submit remote learning, to sharing the link to Amazon Smile so that Christmas purchases can contribute to PTFA funds to problems exactly like this. It's managed by whoever is class rep. One of my DC's is a bit chattier than others, I just mute it. For those who don't have it, it's really worth setting up, especially if you are isolated. Working full time I'm never around to chat for long with other parents, having a group spreads the job of remembering things and helping each other out.

OP I fully appreciate that you must be really stressed right now, but most posters are trying to help, and getting angry and shooting down everyone else isn't necessarily useful for you. Hope you can sort out a solution.

WhoopsSomethingWentWrong · 19/11/2020 14:21

Class WhatsApp groups are also useful for if you can’t leave the house for any reason and need a favour getting your DC to school and back. Saved my bacon a few times in the past.
Rest assured I am a person in real life, I just happen to be typing on MN.

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 14:27

I am sure they are useful but as I’ve said I haven’t actually heard of them outside of MN, I’ve heard of class Facebook groups which I did look for in the past as I thought that could be useful to get information from but I couldn’t find anything at all, (just a group for adults who had attended the school as children)

OP posts:
longestlurkerever · 19/11/2020 14:40

I'm in London. Most primaries have 30 kids per class. I do have a class WhatsApp group and an email list too. It is useful both for distributing messages and for "shout outs" for favours, which normally generate a favourable response. As a previous poster said, building a support network/community does take a bit of effort but it does reap dividends in situations like the one you find yourself in. That's obviously not that helpful an observation now but you're clearly looking at this whole situation from the perspective that you have to be self reliant at all times and that's hard on you. And you keep saying this is because you are in London but my experience of London is its full of people in the same boat and generally good at this stuff.

OverTheRubicon · 19/11/2020 14:41

@Givemeabreak88

I am sure they are useful but as I’ve said I haven’t actually heard of them outside of MN, I’ve heard of class Facebook groups which I did look for in the past as I thought that could be useful to get information from but I couldn’t find anything at all, (just a group for adults who had attended the school as children)
Do you have any contacts at all in the class who may know whether one exists? Maybe a FB contact even if you don't have phone numbers.
MadeForThis · 19/11/2020 14:42

The school will be prepared for this situation. Just wait until they ring and advise you what to do.

longestlurkerever · 19/11/2020 14:42

And it didn't just spring into being. Someone took the initiative to set it up by suggesting it to a few other parents at the welcome event and others spread the word by mentioning to people they met and asking if they wanted to be added etc. One parent put a sign on the classroom door etc.

NanooCov · 19/11/2020 14:45

I haven't had this situation thankfully and hopefully the school can come up with a helpful solution, or at least confirm all of the kids are to stay home and they will set work.

Just a suggestion - and no idea how feasible this is as your mum might live some distance from you - could your mum come to you and look after the isolating child for the duration of the school run 2 x a day? She wouldn't necessarily have to even come in to the same room so she wouldn't be at risk of catching anything - could just perhaps wait in hall and your isolating child stays in their room or the living room? Both could mask up for the time she's there. She's at least then on hand for emergencies and your child isn't alone for the half hour duration of the school run? Appreciate it's not ideal and still means your mum would have to travel to you twice a day but might be workable?

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 14:45

Oh ok there is nothing like that at my kids school, I didn’t go to a welcome event? Mine started school in year one and half way through reception as we moved areas so that would be why. No I don’t have anyone from school on fb.

OP posts:
SequinsandStiIettos · 19/11/2020 14:56

How dangerous is the route? How capable is the 9 year old? Mine could accompany my youngest to school if she absolutely had to. Not ideal but possible. In Germany, many children walk to school themselves from the age of six. I feel for you, I do. My 9 year old stayed home alone isolating when I dropped off the youngest. This was probably 20 minutes in total. They would walk to school alone if the youngest was isolating.
Do you have a childminder in the next street or near to you who would do paid pick up and drop off for 10 days? Maybe they could collect en route with their wards and you then pay for the walking crocodile? Worth checking just in case.

Original poster
Givemeabreak88 · 19/11/2020 15:09

Just had a call from the school, they are happy for me to keep them off so problem solved.

OP posts:
RaggieDolls · 19/11/2020 15:10

Our primary school have asked that where are isolating their siblings are brought to school by car. They are dropped off five minutes after everyone else and picked up five minutes early.

I've been in this situation twice now but I've been able to work it out with other school mum friends by taking it in turn to walk siblings when a partner has been working from home to look after older ones. Lots of single parents have driven them though.

I personally wouldn't keep the siblings home if I could avoid it. We are already on our second lot of isolation so there is no telling how much school they will miss if they stay home when they don't need to.

fuckrightoff · 19/11/2020 15:32

I didn't think isolated kids were meant to leave the house? Test and trace told me this after I wrongly assumed I could click and collect a food shop with my DC staying in the car.

selflove · 19/11/2020 15:43

I'm also a single parent of a 2, 4 & 6yr old, and at some point all their bubbles have burst.

I drive though so it's easier - I would drive to school/nursery, leave the isolating child in the car, run into school/nursery with non isolating children. I took them out in the car to collect click and collect food shops too. If a child is isolating, you're not allowed a support bubble during that time and they aren't allowed to their other parents house etc, so you really have no support at all, which leaves you having to choose the "least worst" option. It's easy for those to judge who aren't in the same situation.

fuckrightoff · 19/11/2020 15:55

@selflove

I'm also a single parent of a 2, 4 & 6yr old, and at some point all their bubbles have burst.

I drive though so it's easier - I would drive to school/nursery, leave the isolating child in the car, run into school/nursery with non isolating children. I took them out in the car to collect click and collect food shops too. If a child is isolating, you're not allowed a support bubble during that time and they aren't allowed to their other parents house etc, so you really have no support at all, which leaves you having to choose the "least worst" option. It's easy for those to judge who aren't in the same situation.

Yet test and trace told me the exact opposite, I wasn't supposed to take DD at all yet she could go to her dads (he is the positive case hence her isolation) to enable me to go to work as he was isolating anyway. This was Tuesday I was told this as well. So confusing all the different rules
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