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Original poster

If a child has to isolate, but not parents, how will you manage childcare?

178 replies

ginforall · 30/08/2021 15:44

Something which has been playing on my mind, so interested in others opinions on this. If your child tests positive so needs to isolate for 10 days how will you manage childcare if you do not need to isolate and work expects you in? I officially get one day paid to sort out childcare, and then it would be unpaid, DH same. Usually we would ask grandparents if needed (but obviously not if DS had covid). I'm assuming one of us would have to take time off unpaid which would feel a little frustrating (both teachers so no option to wfh).

Hopefully won't be an issue but interested in how other parents are planning to manage.

OP posts:
user1487194234 · 31/08/2021 07:37

A lot of employers are on their knees and simply can't afford to pay staff who are not in work
Can't see any claim open to staff on this basis as long as all staff treated the same

Original poster
ginforall · 31/08/2021 07:40

[quote lannistunut]@ginforall

As shithead Gavin Williamson has said it's parents' job to keep cases low, don't expect any fucking recognition of reality from the government Angry[/quote]
After 18 months of hearing the government's 'schools are safe' messages I have no realistic expectations of any recognition of anything.

OP posts:
Original poster
ginforall · 31/08/2021 07:41

@madmumofteens

My son has COVID I have symptoms but negative PCR my doc has signed me off as viral infection likely COVID my employer insisting I have another PCR where do I stand they are obviously trying to get me back to work doc says it can take up to 14 days to show positive 😞
Oh no, hope your son is not feeling too poorly? How stressful for you, if your doctor has signed you off then surely work can't ask you to go in?
OP posts:
cansu · 31/08/2021 07:42

I am also a teacher and if the school does not pay me for this I hope they will not expect me to set work either! Whenever I have been off I have set work, marked and responded to emails. I recommend that you start from an expectation that they will pay you. If they don't then adopt a no pay no work approach.

madmumofteens · 31/08/2021 07:45

That's my understanding as doc has signed me off I'm raging as have been in throughout the pandemic the other 3 were off for 6 months now when I need to be off they don't give a damn

Imnothereforthedrama · 31/08/2021 07:49

I can’t see it being any more disruptive than the last year , dc has had to isolate 4 times due to bubbles. It’s unlikely he will get Covid 4 times this school year .

Looneytune253 · 31/08/2021 07:50

Remember with the new rules this will likely (if at all) only happen once. Your child will only need to actually isolate if they themself are positive. Anything else and they're not isolating now so if their school is closed they could go to granny/regular childcare/to school with you etc. If your child has a positive result then I'm pretty sure your school would be happy for you to not attend. I know as a parent I wouldn't be too happy if a household member of a positive case was teaching my child. Yes I know it's within the rules but the likelihood is that you are asymptomatic and spreading it.

MaryGubbins · 31/08/2021 07:50

Exactly in that situation now. I’m working from home. Husband looking like will go back in (workplace changed their guidance this week so he can go in). Up until last week workplace said no household contacts could be on site so thought that would be saving grace. I’ve kept my other child off school as it feels irresponsible to send them in. Let’s hope child 2 doesn’t get covid on day 9 and spin this out for another 10 days.

MiddleParking · 31/08/2021 07:51

Personally, I would send my DD to my double-jabbed parents (in their sixties/seventies). They wouldn’t hear of me doing anything else.

tigger1001 · 31/08/2021 07:53

@madmumofteens

My son has COVID I have symptoms but negative PCR my doc has signed me off as viral infection likely COVID my employer insisting I have another PCR where do I stand they are obviously trying to get me back to work doc says it can take up to 14 days to show positive 😞
Surely in this case the fact the doctor has signed you off work makes the pcr irrelevant.

I get employers want staff in. But if you are ill then you are ill and you have a doctors line to confirm that.

Looneytune253 · 31/08/2021 07:53

@MiddleParking

Personally, I would send my DD to my double-jabbed parents (in their sixties/seventies). They wouldn’t hear of me doing anything else.
You wouldn't be able to if your child was covid positive as they wouldn't be able to leave the house. Your parents could come to you obv but I wouldn't recommend it personally.
BluebellsGreenbells · 31/08/2021 07:54

as a parent I wouldn't be too happy if a household member of a positive case was teaching my child

You won’t be told, so you’ll have no idea of the teacher or one of 30 children has covid at home.

That’s the issue.

You’ll soon know when people are off work!

Current LFT will find these cases and people will be off, you won’t have a choice. It’ll get to a point where parents refuse to test and send the kids in anyway, because they can’t afford the time off work.

Who tests a child that looks well?

bonbonours · 31/08/2021 07:54

@Akire

If a household has it you still need isolate track and trace will tell you that. Living with someone is different from close contact you may have seen at work for half an hour and then have the double jabbed exemption.

Rules are confusing as A- don’t need isolate if a contact but B- household must isolate. Family in situation and have been reading guidance.

No that's not true. My daughter and I are currently positive. The rest of the family who are a) under 18 or b) double jabbed have been told by test and trace they don't have to isolate but are advised to test. My two younger kids have gone to school today. We are LFT testing every day but there's no requirement to do so.
Jessicabrassica · 31/08/2021 07:59

Here at the moment. 12yo tested positive on routine lft after a festival. She's asymptomatic. Dh will be returning to school. I work for the NHS and our policy is that I am not allowed onto work premises whilst a household member is isolating. If I was ward staff I'd have 2 weeks unpaid leave but since I'm based in the community and have a phone and a laptop them I'm working from home. To be fair, I could have left her for a couple of hours for a visit if I'd needed to.
When ds had to isolate dh and I shared it. He could still do some work on teams but on the days he had to be I moved my clinics and did phone triage from home.

fromyorktocork · 31/08/2021 08:07

To a PP (can't remember which one, sorry), although a PCR is recommended (not compulsory) if a household member tests positive, you don't need to isolate while waiting for the result.

Akire · 31/08/2021 08:09

I was quoted policy for Wales because that’s where I was. OP didn’t say where she was. Not everyone lives in England

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 31/08/2021 08:12

We have a 7yo, on the 2nd day back at school last week one of her classmates tested positive. This child was at school both days with symptoms, school sent them home half way through the second day as they were clearly ill.

We've done PCRs and 2 LFTs and if DD gets it we will have to isolate with her as the chances of DH and I getting it would be high. Will just have to figure out with work how to play it. I've been saving annual leave for this kind of thing as has DH and we've been saving our holiday money this year so we have a float if we need to take unpaid leave.

Both me and DH are double vaxxed but in April and May and based on current thinking that means the cover is waning now.

tigger1001 · 31/08/2021 08:13

@Jessicabrassica

Here at the moment. 12yo tested positive on routine lft after a festival. She's asymptomatic. Dh will be returning to school. I work for the NHS and our policy is that I am not allowed onto work premises whilst a household member is isolating. If I was ward staff I'd have 2 weeks unpaid leave but since I'm based in the community and have a phone and a laptop them I'm working from home. To be fair, I could have left her for a couple of hours for a visit if I'd needed to. When ds had to isolate dh and I shared it. He could still do some work on teams but on the days he had to be I moved my clinics and did phone triage from home.
Is that correct - if ward based it's 2 weeks unpaid leave? If that's correct I think that's awful. It will just lead to people not testing as who can afford that?
ButteringMyArse · 31/08/2021 08:26

Is that correct - if ward based it's 2 weeks unpaid leave? If that's correct I think that's awful. It will just lead to people not testing as who can afford that?

Correct.

tigger1001 · 31/08/2021 08:28

@ButteringMyArse

Is that correct - if ward based it's 2 weeks unpaid leave? If that's correct I think that's awful. It will just lead to people not testing as who can afford that?

Correct.

That's just so wrong. How can people afford it.

If the government want people to isolate then they need to support them.

If I faced 2 weeks unpaid leave if anyone in my house tested positive then I doubt we would test as that's just not affordable.

BitterTits · 31/08/2021 08:35

@ButteringMyArse

Is that correct - if ward based it's 2 weeks unpaid leave? If that's correct I think that's awful. It will just lead to people not testing as who can afford that?

Correct.

Another example of the people who've carried society through the pandemic being treated like absolute shit. I'm so sick of it.
rainydogday · 31/08/2021 08:44

I was worried about this too. NhS worker. Our trust has said we mustn't come to work if a household member is positive. My plan would have been to have systems myself, await a test. Then if negative I would just sign off with a 'cold'! Bugger if I would take 10 days off unpaid with everything that has happened in the last two years Blush

rainydogday · 31/08/2021 08:48

@Jessicabrassica

Here at the moment. 12yo tested positive on routine lft after a festival. She's asymptomatic. Dh will be returning to school. I work for the NHS and our policy is that I am not allowed onto work premises whilst a household member is isolating. If I was ward staff I'd have 2 weeks unpaid leave but since I'm based in the community and have a phone and a laptop them I'm working from home. To be fair, I could have left her for a couple of hours for a visit if I'd needed to. When ds had to isolate dh and I shared it. He could still do some work on teams but on the days he had to be I moved my clinics and did phone triage from home.
God this is so dodgy. So many double jabbed friends have caught covid recently off their teens. Some tested negative on pcr but still had systems so re-did the test and was positive. I just couldn't bare it if I took it too my place of work (maternity) where 99% of the preg women haven't or won't have their vaccine Sad
ButteringMyArse · 31/08/2021 08:48

@rainydogday

I was worried about this too. NhS worker. Our trust has said we mustn't come to work if a household member is positive. My plan would have been to have systems myself, await a test. Then if negative I would just sign off with a 'cold'! Bugger if I would take 10 days off unpaid with everything that has happened in the last two years Blush
And why would you, really? I fucking wouldn't! Anyone who thinks this would be a reasonable expectation of you is a mixture of stupid and selfish.

In my household, we should be able to manage childcare following a positive ok... but that's with wfh.

MiddleParking · 31/08/2021 08:51

@Looneytune253 bless you. I can assure you I would be able to!