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Original poster

Parents of primary aged children - are you doing regular LFT’s?

109 replies

Shibees · 17/03/2021 10:36

I’m a little unsure on what we are supposed to be doing as parents of a primary aged child.

School sent a letter regarding return to school with the usual info on drop off times, mask wearing etc and just a short sentence at the bottom saying that we are able to order LFT’s online.

No guidance or information on whether we have to do these. Other mums at the school are not doing them so I just wondered if others are?

OP posts:
nomorespaghetti · 17/03/2021 10:38

No... I’ve got a child in reception. Some of my friends are, some are not. It’s not mandatory

Eccle80 · 17/03/2021 10:39

You don’t have to do it, but it is suggested parents might like to twice a week as a way of trying to limit spread. I have picked some up and done one so far (as I thought there was no point until they had been back a few days as they are my only likely source of infection!)

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 17/03/2021 10:41

I'm doing them but I work out the home in a customer facing role. Some parents are, some aren't. The school aren't supposed to push them just gently nudge you in the direction of them.

SavingsQuestions · 17/03/2021 10:43

Yep. Most of my circle of friends are. Can't really see why you wouldn't.

Easy to pick up free packs from a jumber of locations . Ours was a leisure centre car park and got given 7 tests each. Easy.

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 17/03/2021 10:43

Nope

JustDavesWife · 17/03/2021 10:43

No. My 12 year old is but not my 7 year old, I'll do it if she has symptoms but not every week.

ElfAndSafetyInspector · 17/03/2021 10:46

Yes. I'm a key worker (and have to work outside the home) in a hotspot area, it would be deeply antisocial not to test regularly.

covetingthepreciousthings · 17/03/2021 10:49

Yes we are, both myself and DH are doing twice weekly LFT, felt like the right thing to do.

I think quite a few other parents in the class are doing them too.

RealisticSketch · 17/03/2021 10:49

It's optional. I live in a rural place, have barely any contact with anyone outside the home and children are in tiny village school so I am not doing as I think it is overkill in my situation.

mindutopia · 17/03/2021 10:51

No, our school has instructed us that if we want to do them, we have to go to a test centre and do a LFT test on the spot. Our nearest test centre is at least 30 minutes away. The ones that are open after work hours are an hour away. Dh and I can't spare 2 hours each time to go and do that, and still manage to work and do the school runs. Neither of us go anywhere - we both work from home or dh from his business premises completely alone with no contact with anyone else, as we have this whole time. We have shopping delivered. We literally don't go anywhere. I would gladly do them if school made them available somewhere locally where we could collect them.

SonnetForSpring · 17/03/2021 11:07

Yes, twice a week. I feel it is everyone's responsibility to work together to keep schools open. Otherwise, simply, there will be another lock down.

Calpolforever · 17/03/2021 11:26

Yes I am. I think it is selfish not to, unless there's a reason you really can't. It is easy & free to order a box of lfts tests online if you aren't close to a test centre to pick them up. www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

mrsknottschicken · 17/03/2021 11:32

We had a chat about this on the class WhatsApp. Most people aren't bothering but we are - feels like the right thing to do. Didn't do it in the first week but will start this week.

mrsknottschicken · 17/03/2021 11:33

And I agree it's a little selfish not to - but most people were saying things like "we don't have to" and "it's only for secondary schools".

Sirzy · 17/03/2021 11:35

Yes I’m doing two a week. If it helps keep schools open then it’s well worth it.

Ds is year 6 so he isn’t doing them regularly but we did do one last night when he spiked a temp.

palacegirl77 · 17/03/2021 11:37

Neither of mine are doing them. Until the over 70s have to do them to go to garden centre my children arent.

SunInTheSkyYouKnowHowIFeel · 17/03/2021 11:39

Yes, but don't hear much from the other parents if they are doing them too.

You can order online for home delivery for anyone who is unable to go to test centre to collect

Todaytomorrowyesterday · 17/03/2021 11:40

We are doing it & my 17 year old. I don’t think my 11 year would even entertain the idea of being tested so she isn’t. Feels like we doing our bit to keep people safe.
It’s easy to order the test.

Gunpowder · 17/03/2021 11:42

I’m put off because of that comment from a minister that you have to isolate even if a positive on the LFT is followed by a negative on the PCR. I would be upset if the children have to miss more school for a false positive.

We are all on the Zoe app which asks us to do a PCR test for the merest sniffle these days. I have more faith in that TBH.

StandWithYou · 17/03/2021 11:47

I am testing, I have one at secondary school and two at primary and I work in a school office twice at week.

The guidance is that if a LFT is positive when taken at home it is followed up by a PCR test. If that test is negative the children can return to school. There was some confusion initially about what happened if the LFT was positive at school.

dreamingbohemian · 17/03/2021 11:49

No because 1) it seems like the tests aren't that accurate in the first place, and 2) it's actually not that easy to get the tests.

There are no local pickup places near me

We can't order them online. It says not to if you work at a university, but my university isn't offering tests to those of us working at home. You also shouldn't if you can get tested through work but DH's work is only offering tests to employees.

Like a PP I don't have hours a week available to go to the testing site half an hour away.

SleepingStandingUp · 17/03/2021 11:50

Npbab

Original poster
Shibees · 17/03/2021 12:07

@mrsknottschicken

And I agree it's a little selfish not to - but most people were saying things like "we don't have to" and "it's only for secondary schools".
I think this is the problem....it hasn’t been a clear message regarding primary children & their families so there’s a lot of confusion & even “this doesn’t apply to me” attitude. Hence my post really.

I know it can’t be made mandatory but surely the schools should be regularly & actively encouraging & informing families that this ought to be taking place? Just my opinion really.

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 17/03/2021 12:11

I'll admit I wasn't clear of it was intended for primaries, school sent a similar note but on council website it only says secondary schools etc so I don't think it's fair to blame selfish lazy parents.

However yes, I got some posted out as we are currently isolating due to a poorly lunchtime supervisor (I'll collect in future) and I've taken my first one today (negative) but I have a vulnerable child (previously shielding) so I have a vested interest.

BlowDryRat · 17/03/2021 12:12

Yes, I order packs to have at home rather than going to a test site though.