My two eldest children now cannot got to school till 2021!

[WTFCovid]

So my two eldest children have been sent home till the new year now because my eldest has a cough. The school actually suggested we all self isolate! BUT they (coughing child!) had two negative tests. When I told the primary school about this they actually laughed and said why?!?? They had negative tests! Name changed as this is quite outing if You know me

I'd be asking the head why if the test was negative. People cough, have fevers etc for lots of reasons. Do they have a published school policy? You don't want your kids missing out on any more schooling.

I’d be takin it up with the head

In our school we had a child with a cough tested negative, went back to school. 3 days later sibling got symptoms and tested positive. The first child was re tested and came back positive and had been back in school. I've heard of a few cases like this. School is probably just bringing careful.

This is madness. People interpreting the rules for themselves. Your child has tested negative and hasn't been exposed to anyone with covid. They should be in school.

Tbh it is only a week, schools are on their knees, and they are privy to the truth about both the spread in school and the local area.

I would just go with it if I could manage the child care angle.

Why two tests - were they lateral flow? I get the sense many are realising they don't work that well...

Some schools do have the policy that if still unwell not to come in until better, COVID or not COVID. But that shouldn’t impact the other sibling.

Have they had many cases in the school?

Well, unless lateral flow test (only available in limited areas), then it would probably have taken you about a week to have had two successive tests with results.

So not much longer SI to go, and quite a lot of people would think you lucky not to have your DC in school in a week when a new test would mean isolation extending over Christmas itself and most of the school holidays (even if yo're staying home, it would be a bit grim to be inside for the whole holiday)

But if you need your DC to be in school next week, show the school,the prof of the negative tests. You don't have to, but it should be persuasive evidence.

Our eldest coughed last week, got a test same day, results same evening, school happy to take back even with a positive cases off in his class he was just outside the 2m isolating zone.

Talk to the school.

From another point of view - even if it’s not covid, if your child goes into school he will pass his cough on to other children. They will then develop a cough just before Christmas, cue panic and rush for testing which might not be available/people having to self isolate over Xmas and not see family etc so for that reason I would keep them off purely so I don’t put other families through the stress at this time of year.

I'm just going to keep them off. The school has a high number of cases and a few year groups have shut. At least this way I should avoid self isolating over Christmas. They also have a full online timetable, so will not miss out. Thank you everyone for your replies.

It's a week off. You've just made it sound more exciting. Having a kid with a cough is hardly outing.

"The school actually suggested we all self isolate! BUT they (coughing child!) had two negative tests."

Whether the school let them in or not, none of you need to self isolate so you can ignore that.