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

[Witchcraftandhokum]

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.

As a third of all people who have Covid don't know they have it, saying you will only test if a child has symptoms is not really helpful. If a child does it themselves it is not distressing. It is worse if another person does it to you. It only needs to be stick up the nose, not down throat which is the unpleasant one making retching. I would have thought once a week would be enough.

I feel for the teachers since unless SEN or a particular past trauma why on earth would a parent be a dick about this. Some parents are actually quite dim or precious.

@Snowwaiting

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.

Snap.

The children at his school are great. Shame some parents are not.

Unless their is an issue (asd, etc.) why wouldn’t you consent. It’s not fun but also not painful. It’s a total non-issue (unless you are on the poor sods in schools trying to make it happen).

@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.

In what way is it dehumanising? I've discussed this with a teacher friend of mine and she said it took her a couple of times to get used to it but now it's fine. Why would I not want to know if my child had covid and might infect other people?

Has your device autocorrected a different word or am I totally missing something?

Mine will be taking part , they have no reasons not to and good way for us to know if they have it as we will also be at work etc so then we could all isolate and keep others safe if a test were to come back positive

I think unless your children have additional needs, the test is not really a big deal!

Dehumanising? What utter wanky rot.

If anything it's enormously human to do something that inconveniences yourself for the greater good and to protect others in society. It's what makes us better than animals who practice survival of the fittest.

Sending the children back before Easter us utter madness.

The lateral flow tests are notoriously poor.

I want no part of any of it.

I want the option to continue homeschooling until the numbers are better.

One of my children has additional needs and found a symptomatic test really upsetting, but I've showed him lateral flow tests on YouTube to prepare him. You can also do just nose if they can't handle throat, and the fact he will be doing it on himself at home (for most of the tests) helps him to feel in control. He has also been raised not to be a selfish dick and to understand why it's important to do, so he'll try his best.

Unfortunately I think there's going to be a strong correlation with covid deniers/rule breakers and test refusers, which is a dangerous combo.

@zoemum2006

Sending the children back before Easter us utter madness.

The lateral flow tests are notoriously poor.

I want no part of any of it.

I want the option to continue homeschooling until the numbers are better.

But yes, ultimately this is totally true. However, since they have to go back (on penalty of fines) then testing is really important.

I am so far past caring what you sanctimonious lot think. I think lining up children, to stick swabs up their noses is a dehumanising process.

But hey, got to keep those case numbers up. Add to this the new symptoms (fatigue? headache? FFS) and we’ll be back up shits creek before we know it.

@Incogweeto

One of my children has additional needs and found a symptomatic test really upsetting, but I've showed him lateral flow tests on YouTube to prepare him. You can also do just nose if they can't handle throat, and the fact he will be doing it on himself at home (for most of the tests) helps him to feel in control. He has also been raised not to be a selfish dick and to understand why it's important to do, so he'll try his best.

Unfortunately I think there's going to be a strong correlation with covid deniers/rule breakers and test refusers, which is a dangerous combo.

True

Dehumanising

zoemum2006 in theory I absolutely agree that home schooling should be an option, possibly until the end of this academic year. Schools are going to be forced to crack down on poor attendance when some parents are extremely anxious about sending their children back, it's setting everyone up for failure. However in practice teachers wouldn't be able to teach in classrooms and provide remote learning at the same time.

@zoemum2006

Sending the children back before Easter us utter madness.

The lateral flow tests are notoriously poor.

I want no part of any of it.

I want the option to continue homeschooling until the numbers are better.

You can homeschool, anyone can, covid hasn't changed that.

Carry on if you want to, there's plenty of information on what you need to do.

Why do you feel for the teachers? If not vulnerable then Covid is not a big threat to them. If they are they should have had a vaccine or be staying at home. As a teacher, I feel for the students junping through all these hoops. I think they have done enough.

@TinaYouFatLard

I am so far past caring what you sanctimonious lot think. I think lining up children, to stick swabs up their noses is a dehumanising process.

But hey, got to keep those case numbers up. Add to this the new symptoms (fatigue? headache? FFS) and we’ll be back up shits creek before we know it.

Looks like you’re right, @Incogweeto.

I want the option to continue homeschooling until the numbers are better.

You have (and will always have) the option of homeschooling. You can withdraw your child.

TinaYouFatLard Would you also agree that it's dehumanising for teachers not to be afforded the same safety measure available to the rest of the population?

I gave DS the option as he is autistic and has a EHCP. He said he was happy to have the tests so we will be testing. I haven't really given DD1 the same option, just told her that she will get tested.

I'm nervous about them though I must admit (especially since I don't really know why), but totally understand why they are important. I'm sure once they have had the first couple of tests I won't think any more of it.

‘Dehumanising’ What utter bollocks!

My 2 DC are keen to get back to school and happy to have the tests to assist this process.

Our school have very clearly stated that the children will return as planned whether we consent or not. I will consent, but my Y8 daughter is free to consent for herself or not as she chooses. She's been in all term as it is anyway

How many people will say no simply because they can't afford to isolate themselves and are in such dire financial state that they would rather not know of a positive result and have to make that selfish decision.
The £500 is only for a few and IMO one of the biggest errors the government have made, causing many not to want to test.

@TinaYouFatLard

I am so far past caring what you sanctimonious lot think. I think lining up children, to stick swabs up their noses is a dehumanising process.

But hey, got to keep those case numbers up. Add to this the new symptoms (fatigue? headache? FFS) and we’ll be back up shits creek before we know it.

Clearly your bar for dehumanising then is extremely low, heaven forbid something actually bad might happen to your little snowflakes

It might be easier to take you seriously if you actually knew what you're talking about, since when have fatigue and headache been new symptoms?