This is absolute nonsense

[infinitemadness]

I have a son in Year 3 at Primary School. They are operating in year group bubbles but there are 2 classes in each year. This is the 4th time this year his year group 'bubble' has burst and we've really had enough now. 4th time this year of self-isolating for him. He plays for a football team but has had to miss so many training sessions and matches due to having to self-isolate. 4th time this year of not being able to socialise with any of his friends. 4th time this year I've had to take time off work. Each time it's been a child from the other class who's tested positive so chances are he's not even been anywhere near them anyway which is even more annoying. He's spent all afternoon crying. When does this end? It's ridiculous. I hate seeing him so upset and there's nothing I can do about it.

@Comedycook

It ends when people stop complying with rules and guidelines that overstep common sense

True but this when it comes to school, you are stuck. If they say the bubble has to isolate then there's nothing you can do. It's impossible to break the rules, they literally won't accept your child into the building

Exactly. If I could overrule I would.

@HSHorror

If you take him to football when he should be isolating they may well ban him. Plus i imagine there could be a fine as school notifying you is in place of t&t

How would they know?

@infinitemadness

I'm also tearing my hair out trying to work from home now while constantly up and down sorting him out and the mountain of homeschooling he's been given. It's bollocks.

Wouldn’t worry about the homeschooling. Bat it right back at the school. The teachers will have to do two jobs, teaching the class and teaching those isolating. There’s been enough time for heads to work the logistics of this out. At least both jobs are teaching. They are expecting you to do two jobs, one of which is teaching which you’re not even qualified for, while they get to stick with one job which they’re trained for.

We’re no longer in March 2020. Parents have to work and employers are not making concessions. Schools are not paying your rent / mortgage so

@devildeepbluesea

I think it's ludicrous. Heard on the news that over 80% of adults have now had 1 jab, around 50-60% are double jabbed (cannot vouch for complete accuracy, but I think this is what I heard).

How much vaccine coverage is needed for herd immunity?

Time we dealt with the fact that CV19 isn't going anywhere.

About 85% fully vaccinated for herd immunity with the Delta variant I believe - I read that figure just this morning and I'm trying to find the source.

About 85% fully vaccinated for herd immunity with the Delta variant I believe - I read that figure just this morning and I'm trying to find the source.

Does it stop circulating amongst children then? Or just adults. Not entirely sure what it means.

@Sunshineandflipflops

How do you stop complying though when school won't let your children in if their year has to self-isolate (secondary so no 'class' bubbles) and then send you numerous messages threatening you that if your child is seen outside their house during those 10 days, they are breaking the law?

Well obviously you can't make the school let your child in, so there's nothing to be done about that part. They're correct about the law, but that's a separate issue to whether a person decides to comply with it or not. There aren't anything like the resources to police it, especially if you choose things that aren't going to leave a record, iyswim. So eg if you go to football club, they will probably take attendance and a note of who pays subs, but if you go to the park or your friend's they won't. I assume this is what people mean when they talk about not observing isolation requirements anymore.

It's absolutely ridiculous. Your poor son, OP. I don't have school age DC but I'm so done with people on here saying restrictions aren't affecting children.

@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia can I ask what it is you have against mask exempt people? On so many threads you shoehorn in a disparaging comment about them even when the thread has nothing at all to do with masks/exemptions.

Also, if you kept DC home every time they had a cold they'd barely be in school, during the winter months especially. It's not selfish to send them in if they're not unwell, just sniffly. And giving them a bit of Calpol/cold remedy isn't 'drugging them' ffs.

@Sparticle has the school said you have to isolate despite the negative tests?
Dd has been sent home today. She had a negative lateral flow Sat and yesterday and today at the school. She has a cold but the school are refusing to have her back until she has a negative PCR test.
A girl in her class was sent home last week after a negative, then positive, then negative lateral flow test and a positive PCR test.
We can't keep sending our kids home when they're doing as they're told and testing and producing negative tests.

@Rowgtfc72 yes that’s the case. He and his six friends have all had negative PCR tests and all have to keep isolating for the full ten days.

This is the gov guidance “ If you have a negative PCR test result during your 10 day isolation period, you must continue to self-isolate as you could still become infectious and pass the infection onto others. Stay at home for the full 10 days to avoid putting others at risk.” from here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person#what-to-do-if-you-are-a-contact-of-someone-who-has-tested-positive-for-covid-19

So I’m not sure your DD’s school is correct in taking children back even after a negative PCR? :( (Btw delta variant symptoms are pretty much just cold symptoms now.)

A girl in her class was sent home last week after a negative, then positive, then negative lateral flow test and a positive PCR test.

I'm not sure I understand your point. That child clearly has covid. Are you arguing that a child with covid shouldn't be sent home?

TBH in terms of symptoms and cold and covid are pretty indistinguishable without a test in the early stages. I'm not surprised that a school won't let with cold symptoms in without a PCR when there's been a confirmed case of covid in the class in the last week.

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay nope. I wouldn't have let her back after the positive lateral flow.
I'm just not understanding how a negative PCR test means you still have to isolate for the full 10 days. We did 3 and a half weeks isolation when both me and dd had covid.

The girl who tested positive sits over the other side of the classroom and has been off since last Thursday. Noone else has been sent home other than dd.

Our dinner lady had it and some kids are starting to test positive, and are symptomatic. The schools are trying, at the moment they've not shut the entire school. I have a medical procedure booked soon and I'm hoping my DC doesn't become positive because I don't want to wait any longer (I will be tested and then have to isolate for days, and then tested again before surgery). School is the only reason why I'd be positive. It's all a balance and I doubt it's as easy as 'lets stop the kids from isolating'.

@TheVampiresWife The rampant ableism from that poster and some others has been going on for well over a year. Calling it out got me suspended from MN for a week last September.

The whole situation is ridiculous and undemocratic. In normal times, any new laws would be heavily scrutinised and the effects on all in society considered especially children. At the moment, we have a one rule for those at the top (politicians, footballers) - basically bending the “rules”/making allowances for themselves and other “rules” for children etc. - no concern for them on so many levels. Many arbitrary decisions etc

Academics will write about this for many, many years. It is shocking what has happened in this country in the last 5 years. Both the handling of Brexit and Covid are despicable.
I hope your DS has an ok time and I really feel for him. We have been “lucky” and out of my 4 children and only 2 had to isolate once so far, other than the lockdowns of course. It is the fact that some children have missed out so much that is just not ok at all.

Sorry OP but whilst I agree it’s horrible for DC I’m very surprised at the encouragement on this thread to send your DC to football or even a theme park (!).

IF your DC was to develop symptoms and test positive, then how would you feel knowing that you’ve effectively then forced others like his team mates to isolate because they’ve been in contact with your son who is supposed to be isolating ?

As a parent, I would be furious if I was forced to isolate my family because you brought your child to practice knowing he was supposed to be isolating. And we would isolate because we morally feel it’s the right thing to do whether we agree or not.

For context , one DC in my son’s class developed symptoms ; it spread through the majority of the class but only one developed symptoms . The others tested positive but no symptoms . We had to ALL isolate as DS was positive and cancelled our many plans . It was awful but it had to be done .

@Ostara212

OP If you don't have T&T on your back, I'd ignore it. The child who tested positive is clearly not a close contact.

Doesn't work like that.

Test and trace delegated / abdicated all responsibilities for contacts in school to schools.

Schools are doing their normal job of educating AND the full job of test and trace for any cases and contacts amongst their pupils.

It ends (or actually doesn't even start) if you play football for a national team apparently

It's worth looking at the data thread to look at just how extraordinarily fast Covid is rising amongst 5-9 and 10-14 year olds in comparison with the previous wave.

Schools don't have any social distancing, and don't have any mask wearing in class - so groups of 30+ spend hours together in close contact in enclosed spaces. The only thing that can be done to prevent covid ripping through the entire establishment (remembering that only staff over 50 will be anywhere near fully vaccinated) is to isolate contacts.

LFTs are useless. They miss at least half, and almost certainly more, of actual positive cases.

Thankfully no LFT in primary for students

Secondary not sure how many using them but we’re finished anyway

Leftphalange
We were the same, all tested negative and still had to self isolate for 10 days. I had to take 10 days of my work unpaid. I was so pissed off. I can’t afford it. I’m only on the minimum wage so a week is a lot of money. It didn’t help that the positive case was just back from a week in Blackpool on holiday.

@MarshaBradyo

Thankfully no LFT in primary for students

Secondary not sure how many using them but we’re finished anyway

What I was referring to was those who want LFTs instead of isolating - which just isn't possible with a test that misses at least half of the positive cases and a much more transmissable variant.

it's really interesting that pupils isolating as contacts in schools locally are now all being asked to take PCRs as soon as possible, to try to limit the spread via family contacts etc.

It is a total farce and unfair and damaging to do many kids.

@TooManyPlatesInMotion

It is a total farce and unfair and damaging to do many kids.

The alternative is to spend money making schools safer - with no sopcial distancing and no masks in schools, and especially in schools / rooms with little or no ventilation, isolation is the only even vaguely effective barrier to infections running right through schools. As only the oldest teachers (50+, in some areas a little higher) are fully vaccinated at present - and the same for the family / other membere with whom school pupils live - unless schools are able to become safer, there isn't really another option.

@MarshaBradyo

I want to write to MP but they’re Labour. Not sure they’re more help than hindrance these days. Cons probably just dismiss

I wrote to mine earlier in the week asking him to request that we at least have a few scenarios shared of how they might wind down this damaging isolation policy. What is they are working towards... enough vaccinated? The trial into daily tests? Vaccination of children? If it's low cases god help our kids next year.

We need to get a conversation going. I was pleased to see The Guardian reporting the situation tonight... a quarter of a million pupils isolating last week.

My MP is a Tory but he's generally good at replying and is less of a Johnson lover than he used to be.