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Original poster

Not giving consent for on-site testing at school

22 replies

Summerdrifting · 11/08/2021 08:04

I am sure I have missed lots of threads because it wasn't relevant before.

I have a child starting year 7 next month. He gets very anxious doing lateral flow tests. At one point he said he would rather die than do tests every week. Whilst I do not take this literally (and I did manage to help him to put it perspective) he is telling me clearly how stressful he finds the idea.

I think I could manage his anxiety around this much better testing at home than at school. How have schools typically been responding to declined consent? Are there likely to be other children whose parents refuse consent for the start of year onsite tests?

OP posts:
RoseAndRose · 11/08/2021 08:09

After the initial 'training' 3 tests under supervision, all testing was at home last year.

So you'll probably find this is a non-issue

Or has your school specifically said they must test on site?

Schools can't exclude pupils for not testing, so don't fret about it. But give him a chance - DC grow and change so much in the first few weeks of secondary that any current anxiety will vanish. Give it a chance for that to happen

PotteringAlong · 11/08/2021 08:12

We are testing on site twice in September. Last year there were a handful of kids who didn’t have consent; we just moved those to one side when everyone else was tested (but they had to go with their tutor group to the hall because they couldn’t be left in the class by themselves).

Original poster
Summerdrifting · 11/08/2021 08:25

It's only the first tests on-site. I agree if he had to get used to it the anxiety might lesson.

He is very excited about heading to secondary school, seemed a shame to mar that with his very first time at school being for something anxiety inducing.

OP posts:
FlagsFiend · 11/08/2021 08:29

What happened at the school I work at is I took my class to the hall for their slot. I was handed a pile of named slips for the children with parental consent which I handed out. Those children went for testing, me and the rest of the class (those without consent) walked through the hall to the exit and waited outside for the children being tested to finish. We then went back to class.

So no problem if the child didn't have consent, we didn't test them. They all had to come for a walk though as we were told not to leave any unsupervised in the classroom.

About a third of my class didn't have consent so weren't tested.

RoseAndRose · 11/08/2021 08:29

It really won't be like that once he's doing it.

I think your best bet is to be really breezy and just tell him it'll be fine.

He'll likely respond to your cue

54321nought · 11/08/2021 08:31

@Summerdrifting

I am sure I have missed lots of threads because it wasn't relevant before.

I have a child starting year 7 next month. He gets very anxious doing lateral flow tests. At one point he said he would rather die than do tests every week. Whilst I do not take this literally (and I did manage to help him to put it perspective) he is telling me clearly how stressful he finds the idea.

I think I could manage his anxiety around this much better testing at home than at school. How have schools typically been responding to declined consent? Are there likely to be other children whose parents refuse consent for the start of year onsite tests?

we have responded by closing the school
NiceTwin · 11/08/2021 08:34

I was part of a school testing scheme.
Those that were terribly anxious asked to go to a separate room, rather than the hall. We facilitated this.
Some just asked to turn away when they did it.

I would speak to school and ask if they have anything in place for anxious pupils.

If consent wasn't given for in school testing, the children weren't given tests to go home with. Not sure if that is just the way the school I was in operated or if it is widespread.

Original poster
Summerdrifting · 11/08/2021 08:42

He'll likely respond to your cue I have no anxiety about tests, necessary and over quickly. Have worked throughout and have had a number of PCR and at home tests. So it's not my anxiety he is picking up on.

@54321nought is that because rates were high or school felt unsafe opening if children not tested on-site? Last year must have been a logistical nightmare. Won't be relevant for September surely as after first week testing will based on trust anyway.

I think if he won't be the only one not testing I'll consider giving him the choice of doing it at home or school. He won't like feeling different so he can weigh that up.

OP posts:
PeonyTime · 11/08/2021 10:57

I've had to withdraw consent for DS to do the school tests in September because he's just had covid, and no LFT are recommended within 90 days of having g covid. So he did the 3 in Y7, and brought the boxes home, but wont be doing them at the start of Y8.

He wont be the only one - ate they even testing everyone together? Both my school and DSs school are having a staggered start, and everyone is to pop into school twice before classes start. Classmates wont even know who has/hasn't been.
I think it's just 2 in school tests. I'm not sure if twice weekly home testing is still going to be recommended.

54321nought · 11/08/2021 12:45

@Summerdrifting

He'll likely respond to your cue I have no anxiety about tests, necessary and over quickly. Have worked throughout and have had a number of PCR and at home tests. So it's not my anxiety he is picking up on.

@54321nought is that because rates were high or school felt unsafe opening if children not tested on-site? Last year must have been a logistical nightmare. Won't be relevant for September surely as after first week testing will based on trust anyway.

I think if he won't be the only one not testing I'll consider giving him the choice of doing it at home or school. He won't like feeling different so he can weigh that up.

It was because not enough children were testing, and the rates exploded.
Kerberos · 11/08/2021 12:49

I also have an anxious new year 7 and we have done at home tests. He's in control of the swab kit and doesn't like it but knows it's necessary.

In our case we just all had covid so he can't test for September.

Practise at home, let him be in control but also ensure he understands it's necessary and why.

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 11/08/2021 12:50

It was because not enough children were testing, and the rates exploded.

It's mad. This is a cotton bud up the nose, that's all. What would these kids do if they had to go to have an actual medical procedure invading somewhere they haven't put their fingers hundreds of times.

Original poster
Summerdrifting · 11/08/2021 13:14

He has had medical procedures, has a long term health condition, generally a fairly stoic approach. Admittedly not with this though.
Doesn't take much imagination or empathy to understand why a child or anyone might have ended up with disproportionate anxiety about a test related to the pandemic, starting a new school etc.

OP posts:
puppeteer · 11/08/2021 13:57

Also don’t forget that if DS tests positive, then it’s home for isolation.

Which is fine if you’re set up for it, or concerned about it.

But TBH if my kids looked quite ill, I’d not send them in anyway.

If it’s just a sniff or a cough that turns out to be covid but doesn’t affect them at all. Well, I’d be put out to have to take them out.

At some point, we will have to get over this testing obsession. Best to quit early in my opinion.

Peteycat · 11/08/2021 14:37

It's not mad at all. This is all new to the kids, leave them alone. If they don't like it, they don't like it and it's not the law.

How cold hearted to say that. How do you know they weren't ventilated as a baby and dislike things up noses etc.

Sleeptillnoon · 11/08/2021 14:39

I can only speak for our school but OP I would not worry at all about making him do a test at school. Ours have to go in and test the day before they start back. If you don't consent to do a test you just don't turn up for the test, nobody knows. There will be plenty of kids not testing, especially now the LFTs are available at home (in fact we're considering not consenting to in-school tests for this very reason).

We are in a new phase of the pandemic, the virus is unfortunately endemic and we will all likely be exposed to it multiple times in our lifetimes. Losing a week's teaching for an entire school (pretty much what's happening in our school in order to accommodate the in-school tests) to carry out a test that can be done at home is not sustainable.

Peteycat · 11/08/2021 14:40

Summerdrifting I'm so sorry people are so rude and judging. I'm sorry your child has had medical procedures. Clearly those saying this tripe have never been in your shoes. I hope your child has a great start to High School.

Peteycat · 11/08/2021 14:41

Well put Sleep till noon.

newnortherner111 · 11/08/2021 14:51

I think that it would not be good if he avoided the first difficult thing at secondary school, please encourage him to take the test. Practice at home seems a sensible suggestion.

puppeteer · 11/08/2021 16:21

Worth practicing bullying and even the odd fight at home too then by that logic!

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 11/08/2021 16:30

I actually thought it was useful for DD to be shown how to do the tests at school last year. She understood how to do it better than DH and I. My DS starts this year and has started doing tests with the rest of us but I’m still sending him to school to do the first one as he will build confidence he’s doing it right.

Original poster
Summerdrifting · 11/08/2021 16:30

Thanks for the replies. I feel a bit more sure about managing it.

I'm all for building resilience, alongside support and sensitivity. I do think it's important to take young peoples feelings seriously.

OP posts:
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