Sending whole year home but not close contact

[cabinetofgits]

DD has not been identified as a close contact, but the school have decided to sent the whole year group home.

Surely only close contacts have to self-isolate? That is what happens if you are an adult. Or are the rules different for under-18s - they can be forced to self-isolate by law even if not a close contact??????

Depends - how old and can they guarantee not a contact? Could it also be a staffing issue?

Maybe they've hit a trigger in number of cases for the yeargroup and their risk assessment says "over X number of cases in a yeargroup within Y days = closure of yeargroup"

They’ve done this with dc’s school.

Basically so many kids are testing +ve or coming into contact with someone who is, they’ve got too many kids self isolating. It’s easier to have the kids all learn at home for a week so the teachers aren’t doing in person and online, and kids don’t miss out on even more learning.

Plus it’s a circuit break for all kids/teachers in that year, so they should mostly manage to last till the end of term with such high numbers off at once again. And it allows more space for the rest of the school so slowing the spread.

It makes sense to me. Mine have had so many isolations they really need to get back.

6 formers - so only doing 3 subjects so only mixing with a small fraction of the whole year group.
Yet, the whole lot are imprisoned at home on the day the government will announce 'freedom' for adults.

It seems very wrong to have to self-isolate when not even a close contact.

I can't see how that is lawful.

You should get a letter from school either close contact = self isolate or not close contact but school closure = home school but can be out and about as usual. If they were only sent home today it might take the school a little while to get the letters out.

If you only do 3 subjects and have one friendship group, it is quite easy to identify close contacts.

If you are not a close contact, they can certainly close the year group, but it cannot be legal to ask someone to self-isolate who is not identified as a close contact.

I don't object to the year group closures, to be clear.

But even the national track and trace system only asks close contacts to self-isolate, not for example, the whole company or whole hospital.

6 formers - so only doing 3 subjects so only mixing with a small fraction of the whole year group

But not all students are doing the same three subjects. Your DC doing (eg) Maths, Engl Lit and Art will mix with those doing Maths (plus two other subjects), Eng Lit (plus two other subjects) and Art (plus two other subjects).

But even the national track and trace system only asks close contacts to self-isolate, not for example, the whole company or whole hospital

They don’t have to self isolate if not close contact.

Dc’s school year has closed, so they are all home schooling, but they are able to go to sports clubs, visit friends, go shopping etc as otherwise normal.

DD has not been identified as a close contact, but the school have decided to sent the whole year group home

Then she doesnt need to SI. But year group is closed so home learning.

School doesn’t decide, they are advised by PHE.

I work in a sixth form. Does she not have a sixth form centre or common room she (and the entire sixth form) uses? I see plenty of sixth formers pretty much lying all over each other while sitting in a communal areas and outside in circles etc.

We sent our entire year 12 home last week after 15 positive tests in a 2 day period because it was easier to do all the provision online rather than try to mix some in class and online lessons. And to protect the teachers who teach other year groups.

We've had to send a year group home due to lack of staff. They didn't have to isolate though, we just needed fewer students in to safely manage those that were in.

@Reallyreallyborednow

They’ve done this with dc’s school.

Basically so many kids are testing +ve or coming into contact with someone who is, they’ve got too many kids self isolating. It’s easier to have the kids all learn at home for a week so the teachers aren’t doing in person and online, and kids don’t miss out on even more learning.

Plus it’s a circuit break for all kids/teachers in that year, so they should mostly manage to last till the end of term with such high numbers off at once again. And it allows more space for the rest of the school so slowing the spread.

It makes sense to me. Mine have had so many isolations they really need to get back.

yes, our school does this and I think it is sensible

The school doesn’t make the decision. They contact PHE, who then advise on who to send home etc. PHE are taking seemingly different approaches based on factors such as community levels in an area.