Not consenting to testing at school?

[Redredwine2020]

What will likely happen if we as parents refuse consent for our DC to be tested at school?

I don't expect anything will happen. They can't force students to be tested. Although, I don't understand why parents wouldn't want their children to be tested.

Why would you?

Child with additional needs (EHCP). I doubt school would even manage it but personally school can't be associated with testing or we will never get her in again.

If your child is a close contact of a positive case you will have the choice to isolate them for 10 days or have them tested daily for 7.

So no consent = isolation. That’s the only testing planned.

I'm wondering how on earth they will manage with children with additional needs? Ds is in a resource base in a mainstream school, he has enough anxiety about school without the thought of being tested.

For many they won't @HazeyJanell which sucks because it then means the rest of the class are in and they will be forced to isolate. Or at least I'm assuming that will be the case.

To be honest ds has been home this term (on advice of dr) and today we got a letter from Dr saying to stay home the first couple of weeks after Xmas, in case of a surge....at this rate I can't imagine when he's going to be able to go back in. Bloody Covid.

@Redredwine2020

What will likely happen if we as parents refuse consent for our DC to be tested at school?

Nothing.

I don't think I would consent tbh.... I'll happily take the tests and help them / perform them myself, but since when was this part of a teacher's job description?

As a teacher, I would no way want to do tests on children. Where do I stand if I hurt them/ give them a nosebleed or something?

It's not enough that we are educators, childcare, social workers, caterers, (and the list goes on.....)

This is asking too much!

@twinkletoesimnot i would be happier doing them at home too. I'm nervous it will be the end of getting her in to school if she's aware there's testing going on. Very good chance her 1-1 would be hit, kicked or bit in the process too.

@Redredwine2020

Child with additional needs (EHCP). I doubt school would even manage it but personally school can't be associated with testing or we will never get her in again.

As an SEN teacher who's raised a lot of concern over this today on another thread , I completely agree with you - the last thing you need is a negative association, and in my class we wouldn't be able to test any of our students and nor would we ever try. If it happens, if, voice your concerns with school. I honestly don't see anyone having to consent to anything and frankly your child being happy to go to school is more important than a test that is 50% inaccurate anyway.

I’m not having a teacher or volunteer doing these tests on my primary age children. Will do them at home if needed or just accept the isolation. Really think teachers should not be asked to do this, even the flu nasal spray is administered by fully trained specialist staff.

I would also be bit, hit or kicked for attempting it with my students. Whilst I don't mind aggression, as there is always a reason, I would be incredibly disappointed if the gvmt yet again ignored those children with additional needs and asked us at any point to push tests on children who would be that distressed.

What will likely happen?

Your child won't be tested. And you'll have to self isolate every time somebody tests positive.

I think Id rather we self isolated as I'm not convinced this is a good strategy.(And im vulnerable and terrified.)

So yes not likely to consent.

@OpheliasCrayon as a parent I definitely feel those concerns. We have spent 18 months working to get her not hysterical going in everyday.

My fear also is that she will be one of a few not able to tolerate it so while they seem to effectively be allowing covid to sweep through schools she will be continually isolating but the rest of her bubble won't be. She can't access remote learning at all easily so she will be at a major disadvantage in comparison. It wasn't so bad when they were all in the same boat

Some people might accept the si as a positive household member means they can't work

I think I'd let my DS make the choice tbh, I very much doubt he would want to be housebound for 10 days, he had a test last week at mass testing centre thats been open near us last week he did it himself and was unphased by the experience. I think he would prefer one minute a day being uncomfortable than 24/7 restricted indoors

@HazeyJaneII

I'm wondering how on earth they will manage with children with additional needs? Ds is in a resource base in a mainstream school, he has enough anxiety about school without the thought of being tested.

They'll just have to send the children home instead. The cynic in me thinks that's probably not thought by many LAs as un unfortunate by-product.

@DumplingsAndStew far too many schools will be thrilled!

This is going to be the way of the world for the next year or two. It’s starting in schools but soon it will be for everyone, isolate or test. Those that don’t want to test will have to isolate instead. It will be like this for entry into certain venues as well, test or no entry. We all need to get used to this idea going forwards.

Check what form of testing they are doing. I was dreading my test but when I got there it was a lateral flow test rather than a PCR. That said depending on the SEN that type may also prove tricky

I'm generally pro testing but not instead of isolation, with tests that are only 50% at picking up positives.
I think that's likely to lead to more spread in schools, not less.

So if my son is identified as a close contact of a positive case, along with others, they will all go to school and get tested daily, and if the test is negative can go to lessons.

But the tests may only pick up 50% of positives.

I think him self isolating is the safer option (we have vulnerable family members).

I’m pretty sure the tests being rolled out are lateral flow tests - not nasal swabs. We’ve just got mass testing in my council & it’s lateral flow. If you test positive on those, then you need it confirmed with a PCR test as well.

If a child refuses or shows reluctance they would not be tested.

If this happens as I think it will happen it will put children with additional needs at a significant disadvantage because many would not cope with testing at school and also many cannot be taught remotely.

Parents of children with additional needs need to be given the option of being trained to do the testing at home and sending the result into school otherwise the process is discriminatory.