High school in September

[catchyjem]

I know I should just ask the school this but I'm a bit nervous. My son is due to go into year 7 in September. The school have sent a form to fill in giving permission for him to have lateral flow tests at school. They say to fill it in even if you are not giving permission. I wouldn't mind him having the tests but I know he doesn't want to and finds it extremely distressing. We have had to do a few PCR tests at home and that was a terrible ordeal for him. I have also had an email saying year 7's are to attend school the Friday before term starts in order to be tested. So my question is, can we just say no? Is the testing a condition of going to school now? The government guidelines I found seem to suggest that children should not be excluded for this but what is actually happening in practice? I am generally very much a rule follower, so I am really out of my comfort zone on this one. But now my son is 11 I really don't think I should force this.

I'd first find out which type they are using. My school have a cheek swab, it's much less invasive and just as ineffectiveas the lfts once the parents were aware all kids were happy to have it (although they do still have the choice to refuse each time)

But equally you can just refuse, it is your choice.

You can say no. Please fill in the form so school know you have said no, rather than having to chase to see if you forgot! He will start as normal with everyone else. Most school are still encouraging twice a week and he may well decide he wants to but that is absolutely your and his choice.

Ok thanks that's reassuring. I didn't know about a cheek swab, I think he'd be ok with that, I'll have to find out.

Yes of course you can say no . I said yes but my ds hates it so refuses and no one says anything

Even if you said yes it would be pretty easy for him to refuse when the time came - students self-swab whilst being given instructions, staff at school aren't medically trained so aren't going to be swabbing him. The member of staff supervises the swab and then runs the test. A student could simply refuse to do the swab and no one would force him.