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Original poster

Is anyone planning on refusing to allow their children to have the lateral flow tests.

863 replies

Witchcraftandhokum · 24/02/2021 13:57

I'm really not looking to start a bunfight. Just tying to better understand the reasons if you are not planning on allowing your child to be tested.

OP posts:
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cuddlymunchkin · 24/02/2021 13:58

Refuse the test and homeschool instead.

Going to school = consent to testing, the testing is to keep all children safe.

Thepilotlightsgoneout · 24/02/2021 14:04

I think the only reason I wouldn’t is if DD found it excessively distressing but we won’t know that until the first one is done. I don’t have an ideological reason to refuse.

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 24/02/2021 14:07

My ds is autistic and did not cope at all with the one test he had to have at the end of last year. There is no way he could cope with that on a regular basis. I don't know what that means practically but it would be dangerous for him and those around him to try to force him (not to mention impossible since he's bigger than me). Sad

Chocolateandamaretto · 24/02/2021 14:08

You do not need to consent to testing for your child to return to school, just FYI, despite what a op said.

Original poster
Witchcraftandhokum · 24/02/2021 14:13

The school I do work in have sent consent forms, which have come from the DfE to parents. There have been questions as to whether children can refuse tests and still attend.

OP posts:
greenlynx · 24/02/2021 14:18

My DD had additional needs and finds any medical procedures very distressing. In case of symptoms she will do PCR but no way she will do tests on regular basis. Blood test is big enough problem in our house.
However her dad and I are at home and very careful with shopping ( wiping/ washing everything) as she’s in higher risk group. We are more worried about her bringing something from school. I also don’t mind homeschooling her until the end of the term.

greenlynx · 24/02/2021 14:19

Testing is not compulsory but strongly encouraged. It’s how DfE put it.

loulouljh · 24/02/2021 14:19

Testing is optional. You do not have to consent to it.

FiveNightsAtMummys · 24/02/2021 14:21

At our school its consent but if they don't want to do it on the day or can't then they won't be forced to.

thirdfiddle · 24/02/2021 14:23

Happy for him to have surveillance testing if he is willing.
If exposed to known cases in his bubble I want him isolating at home - not sure if that is part of the current plan or not.

Pissedoff1234 · 24/02/2021 14:24

I don't mind the kids having a test at all. Anything to make it safer. My concern is that the schools will no longer send home close contacts to isolate as IMO this makes it less safe which I know was the plan in January. If it's as well as isolating close contacts then it's a great idea.

Sparklehead · 24/02/2021 14:27

I would have no problem with lateral flow testing my Y7 DD, but, we all came down with Covid in January. Prior to this I was doing 2x weekly lateral flow tests for work (hospital), and have been told that I should no longer test, as I could continue to be positive for up to 90 days after contracting Covid.

I emailed the school about this and they said that if DD’s lateral flow test came back positive, then she’d have to self-isolate for the requisite time, so, for this reason, I won’t test her. I’m sure they’ll be many other DC’s in this situation.

Whatisthisfuckery · 24/02/2021 14:29

I won’t be giving consent to test my child, and as far as I’m concerned I don’t owe anybody any justification for my decision.

Redcrayons · 24/02/2021 14:30

No problems for mine to have it. I’ve told them they should get it done, but it’s up to them.

My minor concern is that they aren’t very reliable but will be used as a green light to do what they like. I have some friends who were all tested before Christmas and then had huge family party because they were all clear.

linea76 · 24/02/2021 14:31

My DD will be getting tested, why wouldn’t she?

saracorona · 24/02/2021 14:32

One of my grandsons' also has Autism. He is extremely keen to return to school and is very happy with the tests being done in school. He is scared of sickness so actually is very co operative with vaccinations. He is currently stressing over missing his HPV (I think) but they are attending the school in the next few weeks.
He is in a special school and will be tested twice in the first week and once a week after that.

skeggycaggy · 24/02/2021 14:34

I’ve just signed the consent form, although our school explicitly says children can still attend school if they refuse testing. My reasons are really just to take part in a public health measure aimed at getting schools open while keeping people safe. Obviously my child would rather not have a test if possible - and there are limits to what I will tolerate as a public health measure for the good of the general population - but this doesn’t feel like the hill to die on for us. I know some of her teachers are anxious about returning, I guess it feels like ‘doing her bit’.

TinaYouFatLard · 24/02/2021 14:36

My children cannot and I do not consent to any regular, invasive and dehumanising procedures to be carried out on my perfectly healthy children.

If they show any sign at all of illness, then I would test.

Vallmo47 · 24/02/2021 14:36

People have genuine reasons for not consenting to tests. I completely understand that.

If your child was genuinely terrified, would you make them do it?
My child has given up enough for this pandemic already.
If that means he has to continue home schooling, we are both fine with that. It’s not his choice to go back.

linea76 · 24/02/2021 14:38

@TinaYouFatLard

My children cannot and I do not consent to any regular, invasive and dehumanising procedures to be carried out on my perfectly healthy children.

If they show any sign at all of illness, then I would test.

One in three cases are asymptomatic.

The lateral flow test is nowhere near dehumanising, what a silly comment to make.

Anna12345678910 · 24/02/2021 14:38

Nope - that wouldn't be fair on teachers or others who have contact with them.

My 11 year old does them no problem.

Whyarewehardofthinking · 24/02/2021 14:39

At last count yesterday we had consent for 63% of students. It doesn't fill me with hope to be honest, and once the tests go home we are quite sure we will have more not doing them or ignoring a positive and sending them in (going off the issues with have with symptomatic students being sent in day in, day out, or those with a confirmed positive still coming in.

Anna12345678910 · 24/02/2021 14:40

@TinaYouFatLard

My children cannot and I do not consent to any regular, invasive and dehumanising procedures to be carried out on my perfectly healthy children.

If they show any sign at all of illness, then I would test.

Keep them home then.

Seriously, take a look at your language use for what is a pretty simple test that my 11 year old manages to do each week with no issue at all.

CoffeeRunner · 24/02/2021 14:40

@TinaYouFatLard

My children cannot and I do not consent to any regular, invasive and dehumanising procedures to be carried out on my perfectly healthy children.

If they show any sign at all of illness, then I would test.

The whole point of lateral flow testing is to pick up asymptomatic cases as these would otherwise go undetected & transmit to other people.

You should not use a lateral flow test if you have symptoms. You should book a test in the normal way.

Snowwaiting · 24/02/2021 14:40

My sons been self administering the tests since January . I fully expected him to make an issue about it . He hasn’t at all - he’s yr7 ... children sometimes surprise us.