Will you Christmas isolate if your child is sent home?

[DBML]

I was just wondering...

If your child is sent home from school to self-isolate in the last week before Christmas, will you stick to the isolate period even if it interrupts your festive plans?

I am a teacher and so I’m never required to isolate no matter which year groups we send home. Therefore, I’ll be ok to mix with family and friends over the Christmas period.

My year 11 son is halfway through his 3rd isolation period right now and the last time, he was back in school just a few days before being sent home again.

He’s spent months cooped up in the house, unable to see his grandparents or cousins and only socialising via online games.

He goes back to school next week and I’m hellbent on him having a Christmas to look forward to, more so because he’s so excited (and he hasn’t been this excited since he was about 9) So, I am not sure I would stick to any self isolation period. I work at the same school as my son attends atm, so if I don’t have to isolate it seems ludicrous that he should.

My parents are young and fit, but I do have grandparents in their 80s who are also insisting on being involved this Christmas. They are depressed, fed up of not seeing anyone and damned if they are not joining in the festivities. They will not be told no. So I’m leaning towards keeping my son off anyway, though as a teacher I’m despairing at how much school he’s missed compared to other year 11s nationally.

How are others going to manage the sensitive issue of year groups/ classes being sent home in the last week?

[quote DBML]@EmbarrassingMama

I have decided to keep my son off, so no chance he’ll have to SI over the festive period (earlier in thread).

I will not be required or advised to SI.

So, should my family and I just be penalised because of my job? And take it upon ourselves to SI?

Or am I ok to go?[/quote]
Don’t be ridiculous of course you wouldn’t be ‘penalised because of your job’. It’s a pandemic, some jobs carry higher risk than others, some people are higher risk than others. We all have to make decisions based on our risks and exposure and who we are going to see. I’m on mat leave so not out at work yet I still won’t be seeing my grandparents as they are in their 80s and I couldn’t live with myself if I was the one to bring them covid, especially when they are so close to getting the vaccine. If I were a school teacher I definitely wouldn’t see older family members.

Yes I would. So I'm pulling my son out of school 10 days early on the 11th. For this exact reason.

Absolutely yes.

We are currently debating whether or not we will actually see my parents this Christmas as my dad has been shielding since March and I would feel awful if my DC (one at school, one working in a nursery) passed anything on to them.

I really wish all schools were finishing on 11th December to solve this problem. SAGE are advising people to isolate for two weeks before meeting but this is impossible when children are at school until the 18th or later. The isolation issue doesn't affect us as we've already decided not to see my ecv mum as it feels too risky. If schools were finishing earlier we would isolate and go to stay with her at Christmas.

How is this even a question? Of course we would isolate if DC were asked to.

In Scotland the test and protect team work with the school to identify close contacts and the school phone them and advise them to collect their child from school and / or self isolate.

Then they get an email from the health authority through the school email.

It’s not the decision of the head teacher or the senior management team.

Yes. I have made plans for just about every contingency if one of my DC has to isolate and everyone involved has accepted this. The risk is too great.

-DC will not being going to their Dads Xmas Eve (due home Christmas Day night) if they have to isolate as their Dad lives with vunerable parents. They will go when isolation is complete.
-Mum travelling to us on 27th may/may not go ahead depending if/when isolation is up.
-Christmas shopping is all done and I'll have more than enough food in and won't set foot in a supermarket for two weeks before xmas day.

We are barely mixing over Christmas anyway. I'll only see DP (he lives alone and I am a single parent) and the DC will be with their Dads household for some of it.

@DBML

There’s such a lot of pressure. Mum has gone nuts as usual and ordered a feast for everyone. My grandparents live with my parents anyway. To just ‘cancel’ would be such a waste a time and money.

You're a teacher, therefore you know the risks more than most, but you would actually cut short your DC isolating as per the guidelines to pull crackers with his grandparents "because it would be a waste of time and money?" 😳

Yes, regardless of the season. It’s there for a reason and wanting to see family isn’t a good enough reason to not isolate and risk others.

We don’t finish work in time to have 14 days clear before Christmas so won’t be seeing anyone. Haven’t in months as I wouldn’t want the guilt of passing something on or the risk to our family when many are following the rules.

No we won’t, we’re not seeing anyone until Boxing Day, so even if they were send home on 18th they’d likely be on day 9/10 of isolation. The grandparents we’re seeing are 55 with no health issues so it’s a risk I’d take.

We will isolate. Not quite sure how you've persuaded yourself you don't need to.

You're a teacher, therefore you know the risks more than most, but you would actually cut short your DC isolating as per the guidelines to pull crackers with his grandparents "because it would be a waste of time and money?" 😳

This. You are in a job where you are more likely to pick it up. And you have a child who is likely to pick it up AND be asymptomatic

@Longwhiskers14

I think you’ve misunderstood.
I said that I would withdraw my son from school a week early so that he has 2 weeks at home before we mix with family.

My ds will finish his isolation on 11th and I am tempted to keep him off with a tummy bug for the last 4 days. This is because he’d only been back at school 3 days after his first lot of isolation when his bubble closed again.
I think if Boris truly wants to save Christmas, all schools should be online learning for the final week.

@S00LA

I haven’t seen my grandparents since March. My parents I’ve seen about twice. I miss them all incredibly and I am looking forward to the Christmas break desperately.

I would dearly love the government to say ‘blended learning’ for the last week of term as that would allow me to voluntarily self isolate for two weeks prior to seeing my loved ones. I feel resentful that I cannot even take unpaid leave for the week (I would happily do that) and I have to prioritise other people’s children over my own family who are in their late 80’s and may not even make it through until the end of this pandemic.

And people say ‘you’re a teacher, you’re at higher risk, it’s tough luck but you have to make this sacrifice’. I feel bitter.

I would quit teaching today if I could, just to be able to see my family.

@Decemberblues1

SAGE are advising people to isolate for two weeks before meeting

That’s totally fake news. People are being asked to limit their contacts in the period before meeting. Self-isolation is for people who have tested positive or been in close contact with a positive case.

Yes of course we will because it would be incredibly selfish to put anyone else at risk just because we don't fancy hanging about at home and had better plans.

If you are told to self isolate you need to self isolate.

Yes, but we’re having Christmas alone though so it won’t have a massive impact

@StarryFire apologies if I misremembered that. We wouldn't risk seeing my mum a few days after school finishes anyway. There have been cases at school and she's very vulnerable. It would feel very reckless.

Absolutely we’ll isolate. I currently have Covid and no way would I risk spreading it to anyone. I’m mid 30’s and it’s knocked me for six.

@S00LA

You're a teacher, therefore you know the risks more than most, but you would actually cut short your DC isolating as per the guidelines to pull crackers with his grandparents "because it would be a waste of time and money?" 😳

This. You are in a job where you are more likely to pick it up. And you have a child who is likely to pick it up AND be asymptomatic

Don't be silly, teachers are at no higher risk than other occupations, the government has told me this so it must be right.

Yep, I was planning a low key Christmas anyway and it would be the most convenient time to isolate for us because I get Christmas off work - I can't work from home so would have to take 2 weeks off any other time of year.