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Original poster

Coughing in class

26 replies

SadFace1983 · 16/06/2021 23:04

I'm a TA and my anxiety is high at the moment because two children in my primary aged class started coughing throughout the day on Monday. There are now 4 of them with a cough. The senior leadership team maintain there's a 'cough and cold' going round and won't do anything about it.
When covid was peaking before vaccinations, children who were even slightly ill were sent home. This is no longer the case.
What would you do in my position? Is it none of my business? Should I refuse to go into work as I don't want to get the cough? Am I over reacting?
For the record, this class had covid circulation last November.

OP posts:
IdoIdoIdoOoh · 16/06/2021 23:10

The headteacher can't know for sure that it is a cough or cold and their attitude towards it is shocking.
Our school is the other way and being completely over the top - we've been asked to keep them off and get tested for any illness or out of sorts feelings at all (hardly any covid in our area at the moment).

I would not be happy going into a classroom with children who potentially have covid and I would take this higher than the head.

Lazierdays · 16/06/2021 23:14

The children need to be tested as per government rules.
They shouldn’t be in school after developing a new, continuous cough and should be isolated at home until the results of the test.
I’m shocked at your schools attitude.

Original poster
SadFace1983 · 16/06/2021 23:20

I haven't taken it to the head... I've spoken to the assist head, the bursar and the head of my year group.

OP posts:
BoredOfThisShit · 16/06/2021 23:26

The Delta variant has different covid symptoms. A cold/ runny nose and headache being afew

Original poster
SadFace1983 · 16/06/2021 23:29

The first child that started coughing has a very runny nose. I just don't know what to do. Why am I always the one wanting to follow the rules and why am I being made to feel like I'm overreacting?

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 16/06/2021 23:58

Have you told anyone senior that the delta variant symptoms can be similar to cold symptoms. I wouldn't be relying on the fact that it appears to be a cold.

Iggi999 · 17/06/2021 00:01

I'm amazed none of the four parents have thought to keep them off.
I would put something in writing to the head. And escalate beyond if necessary.
If you or the teacher picks up the cough you will be off getting tested and where will the class go then?

Thegreymethod · 17/06/2021 00:06

It's not up to the headteacher to diagnose the children! The first child's parents should have been called after the first day of coughing and either told to test or isolate. Schools where I am are seeing bubbles close every day, our school has sent at least one bubble (some more than one) from each year group home each day this week.... today alone they've closed 3 bubbles.

chipsandgin · 17/06/2021 00:17

How the fuck any parent can have the brass neck to send a child to school with a cough right now is beyond me! To be honest I didn’t really have that high an opinion of the ones who sent their kids in with norovirus/swine flu/ordinary flu etc in the before times but this isn’t the past, we’re trying to climb out of a global pandemic with a variant that manifests as a cold in kids. If the past year has taught us anything it is quite how much stupid is out there.

Is there not a school policy OP - both our schools have made it very clear that if any child develops a new cough/temp etc then they should not attend school until the receive a negative COVID test and at the very least the parents should be doing lateral flow tests twice a week --and are selfish cunts if they aren’t!--

disappointed101 · 17/06/2021 03:12

I stand in solidarity with you, I feel the same as I work in a class where so many of them have started coughing. We have sent home a few but I feel like I’m a nuisance for highlighting the coughers. The parents don’t give a shit and we are not allowed to comment on social media. So many parents still think it is okay to use lateral flow rather than a pcr and there are still parents who don’t know what action to take for coughing kids. Beggars belief. I think a letter should be sent for each closed bubble highlighting the impact on staffing. Soon we won’t have the staffing to keep the school open.

Fitforforty · 17/06/2021 04:51

Speak to the head and if no joy then speak to your union and PHE.

helpmebeanadult · 17/06/2021 05:38

Of course kids shouldn't be sent in with a cough - it hopefully isn't covid, but need to test to make sure. It's a PITA, but it's necessary. However, check with school office that parents haven't already had the kids tested as sometimes this info is not passed on for some reason.

Original poster
SadFace1983 · 17/06/2021 06:24

Thanks everyone. I've emailed the head to express my concern and have asked for a meeting or phone call before I start work today as my anxiety is very high.

OP posts:
ARealHoliday · 17/06/2021 06:28

Fuck me that’s awful, I’m sorry. Of course it might be a cough and a cold but everyone know they need to test. I would phone up your local health board or someone to let them know this is the case and nothing is being done. You don’t have anxiety over the top, it is reactions to the situation.

Of course the kids need to be off until tested and they might be back in tomorrow but this is to keep schools open for everyone

tonystarksrighthand · 17/06/2021 06:37

Hayfever is rife at the moment, my kids are snotty, eyes like golf balls, sneezing and coughing constantly. It's doing my head in and probably doing the teachers head in.

But it's Hayfever.

Other things can make you cough. Not just Covid.

Calm down. HTH

Cookiecrisps · 17/06/2021 06:40

@SadFace1983 I feel for you as the head teacher’s attitude towards covid is influencing the school’s actions. My head teacher is very anti mask and this has reflected in the school’s actions where I work and it’s not right.

What does the class teacher say about the coughing? Could you report it to a governor? I agree with you that because it’s a new continuous cough then it needs investigating with a PCR or the children complete an isolation period in lieu of a PCR. Can you wear a mask in class?

LivinLaVidaLoki · 17/06/2021 06:41

@tonystarksrighthand

Hayfever is rife at the moment, my kids are snotty, eyes like golf balls, sneezing and coughing constantly. It's doing my head in and probably doing the teachers head in.

But it's Hayfever.

Other things can make you cough. Not just Covid.

Calm down. HTH

I was about to post something similar. Pollen is horrendous at the moment.
Iggi999 · 17/06/2021 06:42

What an idiotic comment. There absolutely are other things that can make people cough. But unless you are mystic Meg, there is only one way to find out what it is. Which thankfully is free, quick and readily available.

YarnOver · 17/06/2021 07:45

If you won't go into class because of a cough you're literally never going to work again. I work with coughing kids and always have done.

ifonly4 · 17/06/2021 07:48

It might be worth looking where you stand with Health & Safety and the school's Health policy. If you're still not happy, I wonder what the school governors think?

I work in a school, you tend to know the children who get hayfever - you can see it in their faces, they tell you, their parents let you know/ask if you can be kept away from school field at lunchtimes.

Watsername · 17/06/2021 07:54

Do you have the power to send them home? I am also a TA and have sent several children home who have been coughing. Just like I would send home a child who had been sick. I just tell the office to call the parents.

Northernsoullover · 17/06/2021 07:56

Get in touch with your local environmental health team. They can ask for the school risk assessment.

Stevenage689 · 17/06/2021 08:01

@tonystarksrighthand

Hayfever is rife at the moment, my kids are snotty, eyes like golf balls, sneezing and coughing constantly. It's doing my head in and probably doing the teachers head in.

But it's Hayfever.

Other things can make you cough. Not just Covid.

Calm down. HTH

Hayfevr isn't catching and doesn't go round a class.

I have hay fever and a cough. Two children in my class have asthmatic coughs this time of year.

But what OP describes doesn't sound likely to be allergy related. No need to be so rudely patronising and dismissive.

Fitforforty · 17/06/2021 08:29

@tonystarksrighthand

Hayfever is rife at the moment, my kids are snotty, eyes like golf balls, sneezing and coughing constantly. It's doing my head in and probably doing the teachers head in.

But it's Hayfever.

Other things can make you cough. Not just Covid.

Calm down. HTH

How do you know it’s not coronavirus? Have you done PCR test on those children?
Cornettoninja · 17/06/2021 10:36

God I hope dd’s school isn’t like this.

My dd has been slightly under the weather for a few days but not enough to justify a PCR (me and her dad are fine and doing LFT’s x3 weekly) so taking the complete picture into account decided to carry on as normal. She came home yesterday and had a couple of coughing fits which continued through the night so she’s just had a PCR test this morning.

If she’d had a couple of coughing fits at school I’d want to know about it and be called to fetch her for testing. I’m obviously not with her all day so how can I judge whether she’s been coughing enough to spark concern for a test otherwise?