Isolation reduced to ten days.

[SimonJT]

Are the new isolation rules causing problems for anyone else?

Under the new rules, as a close contact my sons isolation period now ends on Sunday evening rather than Tuesday evening. He hasn’t developed any symptoms. Despite this his school are refusing to accept back him/his class until the full 14 days have passed.

A few parents have sent the new isolation rules to the school, but they are being ignored. Are the school allowed to refuse the children when they are allowed to attend school?

The schools are possibly waiting to be issued with updated guidance or missed the update. Contact Department of Education to ask them to confirm to the school.

Schools have been provided with guidance from DfE, our school confirmed this late Friday afternoon. Email again and ask them to confirm in writing that that they are therefore refusing your son access to the education that he is now legally entitled to, stating that if so you will have no choice but to pursue a complaint through the school processes and additionally through LEA processes (LEAs and county councils have also been provided wirh guidance from DfE). They will cave.

Although, are you in England?

The new isolation rules don’t come into effect until Monday so it will be 10 days for those starting isolation from that point. It does look like those who have already been isolating will be able to stop by Monday if they done their 10 days by that point. However, they wouldn’t be able to stop before Monday (e.g. Sunday) because the rules won’t have changed by that point.

www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-chief-medical-officers-statement-on-the-self-isolation-period-11-december-2020

Have you a pressing child care issue?

The whole situation is a mess, the government have fucked up, we've 70k dead. Schools are one their knees and trying to stop teachers getting ill.

If the school.say two more days, I'd just go with it.

The idea of pursuing a complaint through the LA... I get pretty arsey with my school at times but come on!

Everyone has to try not to be a twat at the moment.

@BefuddledPerson

Have you a pressing child care issue?

The whole situation is a mess, the government have fucked up, we've 70k dead. Schools are one their knees and trying to stop teachers getting ill.

If the school.say two more days, I'd just go with it.

I have been unable to work due to him being in isolation, this is my third period of unpaid leave in a short time. My mortgage sadly won’t pay itself.

If he is unable to attend on Monday he misses yet another theraplay session and his next one isn’t scheduled until the third Monday of the new term.

@CovidPostingName

Although, are you in England?

Yes we, I should have said that in my original post.

[quote GingerandTilly]The new isolation rules don’t come into effect until Monday so it will be 10 days for those starting isolation from that point. It does look like those who have already been isolating will be able to stop by Monday if they done their 10 days by that point. However, they wouldn’t be able to stop before Monday (e.g. Sunday) because the rules won’t have changed by that point.

www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-chief-medical-officers-statement-on-the-self-isolation-period-11-december-2020[/quote]
Under the new rules his isolation ends at 11:59pm on Sunday, as when we pass into Monday he is no longer required to isolate.

@GingerandTilly Actually that's exactly what it says, if your ten days would have been up before Monday you can stop isolating on Monday but not before, and therefore the op's son can go back to school. If your ten days ends on Monday you can then stop isolating on Tues, and so on.

Our school are letting children back on Tuesday after their 10 days are up, they werent due to come back until the January term previously. I would press the school/local authority to admit them.

The school should observe the new rules. My DD is in the same position and we have been told she can return on Monday.

If you are not getting paid, and with the Theraplay, I would try to get movement then - good luck!

If my child was missing regular school at no loss of income, I wouldn't bother.

Yes, you should receive an updated return date from the school. He can definitely return if he's done his ten days.

Hi @SimonJT
Haven't read the updated DfE info (must do that before Monday!) but if the DfE have clearly changed their rules to include your son's position timing wise then no they can't refuse to allow him in. My child's school has a weekend CV-19 email address for these kind of situations - does your LA or trust have one if the school doesn't? I get your pain on this one! Good luck.

Mine is allowed back to school on Tuesday (14th day is monday). School will not have him back on Monday; they have sent an email saying it's in line with DfE advice, though it's seemingly not from this thread...

Hopefully you have better luck!

School I work at has announced new return from self isolation date for 2 groups of students.
Not heard anything from kids schools, but not involved in self isolating currently.
Push back with school.

I am a headteacher and in the daily update from the DfE received 4.10pm yesterday there was no mention of this. As I had seen about the reduction in isolation on the news I knew to look for it, and it was on the DfE site, but not immediately obvious. It was a disappointment, but not a surprise, that something with significant impact was released at that time and not properly communicated. This, in the week in which I was informed I would need to do track and trace up until Christmas Eve, although I did have permission to move an INSET Day to 'give my staff a well earned break ' but to please make sure I informed the parents in good time. The incompetence is breathtaking.