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Original poster

Told to isolate - can i collect children from school?

254 replies

petitdonkey · 16/03/2021 13:02

Apologies if this has been done! I’ve just received a notification to isolate for eight days (I went to the supermarket on Saturday and was at work- no other contact!) - my children are at school, perhaps a stupid question but am I allowed to drive to pick up and drop off this week?? I have just emailed work who I guess won’t be thrilled...

What a PITA!!!

OP posts:
anniegun · 16/03/2021 13:28

How hard is to read the isolation rules? Please don't attempt to justify breaking them.

FedNlanders · 16/03/2021 13:28

If you have the money then taxi but I totally understand this is not always an option. (My son is disabled and would not get in a random taxi lol)

Also, I don't know where OP lives but I am in suffolk, there is 2 buses a day between 10am and 2pm and not one of them goes within 2 miles of the school.

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 16/03/2021 13:29

@PurpleDaisies

How on earth can people still not know what self isolate means? It’s been a whole year.

Stay at home.
Do not leave your house.
This is so clear.

There is really no other way teenagers can get home from school? Really?

If I was told to self isolate my 12 yr old would be buggered. She goes to school a 45 min bus ride away and we live 5 miles from the bus stop. So I'd go and get her.
traintrain · 16/03/2021 13:31

OP you’ve gifted mumsnetters the gift of their favourite type of thread. Did you not know you must forsake all comment sense and not only stay home but stay ‘the fuck’ at home? And you must understanding that people like you are the reason we’re in this mess.

Honestly people suggesting her kids get a lift, would you want to give them a lift? Wouldn’t it be better for their mother to get them, assuming they can find the car themselves?

Just go and get your kids, stay in the car or stay away from people then stay home.

PurpleDaisies · 16/03/2021 13:32

If I was told to self isolate my 12 yr old would be buggered. She goes to school a 45 min bus ride away and we live 5 miles from the bus stop. So I'd go and get her.

You would be breaking the self isolation rules.

People love to complain about how shit the test, trace and isolate system is but they miss their own utterly selfish behaviour.

UnderHisAye · 16/03/2021 13:32

I'm absolutely not understanding the problem here. Who on earth might you infect by sitting in your own car?

OP, just go!

OverTheRainbow88 · 16/03/2021 13:33

I personally don’t see the harm if you don’t leave the car!

FedNlanders · 16/03/2021 13:33

@PurpleDaisies

If I was told to self isolate my 12 yr old would be buggered. She goes to school a 45 min bus ride away and we live 5 miles from the bus stop. So I'd go and get her.

You would be breaking the self isolation rules.

People love to complain about how shit the test, trace and isolate system is but they miss their own utterly selfish behaviour.

How would it be selfish if the child had no other option?
PurpleDaisies · 16/03/2021 13:34

Honestly people suggesting her kids get a lift, would you want to give them a lift? Wouldn’t it be better for their mother to get them, assuming they can find the car themselves?

No.
The mother should be at home isolating as a contact of someone with covid.
Being in close contact in the car puts the teens at higher risk of catching it if the op turns out to be positive as well.

The rules are clear. This isn’t going out for a second daily walk. This is someone who should be self isolating.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 16/03/2021 13:34

To be perfectly honest if it were me, and I could drop off and pick them up with no real risk of having to get out of the car for any reason, I would do that.

I know that is against the rules but it involves less risk than any of the alternatives - ie there is more covid transmission risk involved in your kids having to get on public transport (if that’s even an option) or taxi or with friends or whatever, than there is in you driving and staying in your car.

I’d take a pragmatic view that the chance of getting caught are negligible and it’s the lowest risk option available other than keeping your DC at home.

Sparklingbrook · 16/03/2021 13:36

@MrsArchchancellorRidcully when DS1 was at High School we had the same scenario. The school bus pick up was a 5 mile drive from home so I guess if it was now he wouldn't be going to school if I had to isolate.

worksleep · 16/03/2021 13:36

If you don't need to leave the car then I don't see a problem!

dotdashdashdash · 16/03/2021 13:37

When this happened to DH and I our kids just didn't go to school. because no, you are not allowed to leave the house.

Original poster
petitdonkey · 16/03/2021 13:37

I’m so sorry I posted now. It was just a knee jerk in the absence of someone irl to ask. I’m not an idiot- I understand the rules but no, there is no public transport. I have one friend that could get one child but am I then not putting her at risk of having my child at close contact in the car? I think I will have to make the decision to collect them today then keep them home fir the rest of the isolation period. I will not get out of my car or be in contact with anyone.

Again, apologies for annoying people- I have been meticulously following all of the rules so was just a bit baffled when the text came through. Thank you to those of you who understood my dilemma.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 16/03/2021 13:37

How would it be selfish if the child had no other option?

Because the op would be putting others at risk since she is a contact.

If there is genuinely no other way for the children to get to school, the children don’t go to school. Schools should be set up for providing work to pupils who are isolating.

This is obviously a difficult situation but that is not an excuse to break the self isolation rules.

Sparklingbrook · 16/03/2021 13:37

I also think the NHS app is not fit for purpose.

GintyMcGinty · 16/03/2021 13:38

OP pick up your children and stay in the car and keep the windows open for the drive home.

SleepingStandingUp · 16/03/2021 13:38

@PurpleDaisies

If I was told to self isolate my 12 yr old would be buggered. She goes to school a 45 min bus ride away and we live 5 miles from the bus stop. So I'd go and get her.

You would be breaking the self isolation rules.

People love to complain about how shit the test, trace and isolate system is but they miss their own utterly selfish behaviour.

So instead she should expect school to furnish her with bus fare and catch the bus then walk the last 5 miles of a route she probably doesn't know by herself?? Would you leave YOUR 12 to make their own way home? Presumably if her phone dies and she doesn't turn up, op is to call the Police and report her missing because she can't go out and look for her.
Original poster
petitdonkey · 16/03/2021 13:39

I am also testing twice weekly through my job but I totally understand that I still have to follow the isolation.

I only went to M&S on Saturday..... this is not just any contact..... 😂

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 16/03/2021 13:40

No @SleepingStandingUp, I would expect the children not to go to school if there was no safe way to get them there without breaking the self isolation rules.

CovidPostingName · 16/03/2021 13:40

This is precisely why I would never have the app...

SleepingStandingUp · 16/03/2021 13:41

@PurpleDaisies

How would it be selfish if the child had no other option?

Because the op would be putting others at risk since she is a contact.

If there is genuinely no other way for the children to get to school, the children don’t go to school. Schools should be set up for providing work to pupils who are isolating.

This is obviously a difficult situation but that is not an excuse to break the self isolation rules.

But her kids are AT school. They can't live there for 8 days! How do you propose she gets them home?
Pootles34 · 16/03/2021 13:42

PurpleDaisies - they are at school now!

Enidblyton1 · 16/03/2021 13:43

@CovidPostingName

This is precisely why I would never have the app...
Ditto!
Delatron · 16/03/2021 13:43

This is Mumsnet at its best. So far better that the teenagers to get on public transport or get a lift with someone else (really??). So it’s better that they get in a friend’s car in close contact with them than the Mum stepping out of the house, getting in the car, driving them. Not leaving the car. The Mum would not come in to contact with anyone else.

That’s far more risky than public transport and shared lifts? We’ve lost the ability to use any common sense.