Bit pissed off with ds's school

[thelastgoldeneagle]

Ds tested positive for Covid on Saturday. I reported the LFT to school and booked a PCR. That was positive. Emailed ds's form teacher to tell her, and rang the school to tell them.

And nothing. None of ds's close contacts have been informed, school hasn't contacted me to ask how ds is, firm teacher hasn't replied to my email.

AIBU to think this is rude and concerning? Ds caught bloody Covid from school - we hadn't been told about any cases at all - and now it looks like his close contacts aren't being told either. Bonkers.

@MisgenderedSwan

There was a positive case in dd's class last week - school sent an email the same day detailing exactly what the procedure was - very clear and accurate. They have been in touch with the positive child to ask how they are, check they know how to access class work if they feel up to it and the teacher emails daily little notes to check in. I couldn't be more impressed with them.

What a fabulous school and teacher there. It’s nice to hear that that is appreciated and discussed amongst parents (I assume that’s how you know)

I could imagine, if in Primary and with just one child off, this would be a little easier for one class teacher to deal with, as opposed to Secondary like the OP, with potentially many more children and young people and staff either positive or waiting on tests.

Today, I had another colleague in my dept get symptoms and is waiting on a PCR so I had to effectively do the jobs of 2 teachers today and I tried my best. Contacting personally the members of my form and hers currently off, as well as checking in with the multiple pupils in my subject lessons also being off was impossible today. Making sure I had uploaded the lesson work on Teams for 10 classes (inc my colleague who was off) was just about all I could manage! must get off Mumsnet and upload those urgent UCAS references needed for Oxbridge etc!

I try to answer emails but will send them fairly late in the evening, although my lovely school tells us to switch off! Unfortunately, it is just too manic during the day - we have about 1/3 of the children off sick today so have to provide online live lessons for those who feel well enough to join and that means we need to upload all the resources. This is in addition to teaching the children in class who have either just had Covid or are waiting to catch it. We are expected to provide cover for absent colleagues and there’s a lot of them (cos Covid!) at the moment. I agree it seems rude but the situation at the moment is like a disaster movie in many schools.

The policy to let Covid rip in schools is doing very well in my area. And yes, we have plenty of children in school where they are the only member of the family not to have Covid…until the next test shows they do have Covid and they have infected even more people. More parents are now ignoring government guidance and keeping children at home if other family members have Covid though. We do let parents know how many Covid cases there are in each year group which has probably been a bit of a shocker for many people.

Think you’re being slightly harsh @thelastgoldeneagle. I’m just about to start answering emails now after doing inventions at 8am teaching all day. Running a club. Picking my own children up from childcare. Tea bath and bed for them. Now I’m going to answer the 38 emails in my inbox that need a reply. Give them a bit of time.

Hope your DS is ok

As a teacher I don't have time for a pee most days, let alone to contact members of my class off with Covid!

@ChloeDecker it is a fabulous school. I missed where the op said secondary so I apologise. It is a 3 form entry primary with a large number off across the year, they just really seem to have their operation well oiled and ready to deploy! Most of the parents are very appreciative. Reading others' experiences on Mumsnet makes me even more appreciative!

Teacher friend has 12 out of 30 kids off with it he’s terrified that it’ll turn serious for one of them all the while trying to keep teaching those that are in and trying to not catch it himself it’s madness

@Hercisback

That's the rules.

What else do you want? He's off ill.

Personally I want my sons teacher to come round and mop his brow and top up his drink.

@Whatelsecouldibecalled - see my post on Mon 20-Sep-21 22:41:52!

Ds's form tutor emailed on Tuesday asking how ds was and reminding him to pick up work on Google Classroom. All fine.

I see I was being U to expect the school to get in touch, because govt rules for how schools should respond to Covid have been changed. i was going by how they have reacted over the past year. But I don't think it's U to expect a reply to an email.

Ds's form teacher is lovely and has always responded to my emails/she has emailed me in the past when she needs to.

@TheGrumpyGoat

But just sitting together in school wouldn’t make them a ‘close contact’ according to the new rules.

I didn't know this, isn't it 15 minutes indoor contact anymore?

Thanks

@Dotheythinkourkidsarestupid no, I think they’re only interested in close contact such as sleepovers etc now.
Our head is still identifying close contacts herself (anyone who sits within 1.5 meters of the child) and informing the parents separately but can see that this would be unworkable in secondary.

Crikey - the schools (x3) my dc go to are still VERY much involved - all 3 of my dc pinged this week and PCR tests requested before they can return to school in 2/3 cases - 3rd school is daily lft! Not sure if this is because independent schools or whether it’s our county - they claim to have spoken to public health England and the local cc for advice!