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Covid

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Original poster

Schools communication with parents about covid cases despite spike in cases

96 replies

Cet73 · 06/10/2021 13:14

So my dd in secondary school and we have no notifications about anything related to the number of covid cases within the school. Now I know others have commented on this and that schools no longer responsible for track & trace BUT I am aware of a lot of cases via peers of dd and mums, who doing the track & tracing PLUS really shocked today as in our area in Hampshire, according to the ZOE app, cases are up 600 from last week and the spike is extremely sharp from last week - possibly the highest number this year.

I wondered if many your kids schools, as cases have risen a lot, are communicating with parents about it and if any schools re introducing mitigations like face coverings.

I appreciate that covid not as serious in children and that life needs to return to normal, however my dd (year 10) just returned to school today after a week off with a non-covid cold/fluey bug (PCR and several LFTs negative) and both my children have other health problems (not CEV) but health issues which mean they often have to take time off school. I wish at least we could be better informed by the school and personally, I would welcome the return of face coverings whilst the cases are so high (although appreciate many don't agree with this).

The vaccination is being rolled out at dd school next week, but I am sure many, through out the UK, won't be able to have it if they are unwell with another cold type bug or with covid (how many weeks after do you need to wait for vaccine after getting covid??)

OP posts:

Mybalconyiscracking · 07/10/2021 06:39

What possible purpose would the information serve?
We are living with this now, this is normal life (quite rightly).
Schools aren’t required to post the numbers of cases of flu or common cold are they?

Clutterbugsmum · 07/10/2021 06:50

We have had a letter telling us about an increase of cases in my DD year group and asking us to get PCR tests if they are showing any symptoms, sore throat, loss of taste and 'normal' Covid ones.

The trouble is there are many other flu/colds around at the moment.

My DD (YR9) friends group 7 out of 12/13 friends have tested positive and my dd started on Sunday with a sore throat and then Monday lost her sense of taste and despite her doing 3 LF tests which were negative, we took her for a PCR test to be on the safe side and it was negative.

HarebrightCedarmoon · 07/10/2021 06:51

What the fuck is happening with 12-15 vaccines anyway? Like most things, Johnson just announces things and the dumb, lazy traditional media thinks they have happened. Supposed to have started in September, not a whiff of them here.

Clutterbugsmum · 07/10/2021 06:52

Oh and we haven't been contacted at all by Track and trace even though they have been in close contact in school and out of school.

xksismybestletter · 07/10/2021 06:54

Freedom of information act has an exemption for personal information relating to someone else. You wouldn't expect someone to publish your own medical history. Probably schools would release numbers of cases a a specific timeframe, but they shouldn't tell you who the kid is unless they have a sound public health reason to do so

Clutterbugsmum · 07/10/2021 06:57

@HarebrightCedarmoon

Hopefully my DD and DS will have theirs today.

The trouble is the school immunisations teams were set up to do the flu vaccines so they have had to rearrange everything to get going on the Covid vaccines.

Verbena87 · 07/10/2021 06:59

We have had permission to reintroduce masks from PHE but it’s just a generic ‘lots of cases’ letter that’s gone out. About 1 in 3 kids are off. So over 200. I think parents should know really.

BluebellsGreenbells · 07/10/2021 06:59

Teachers have been told by track and trace that children don’t count
9/40 staff currently off with covid - no supply or supply already booked by other schools.

Not sure school can stay fully open next week with the numbers.

Sprostongreen21 · 07/10/2021 07:05

A fair few in greater Manchester have reinstated masks, and some other small measures like requesting testing assemblies cancelled, parents informed of several cases in one class: as it’s ripped through. The local council and public health involved too.

Very varied on what schools are telling parents though.

Lougle · 07/10/2021 07:05

We're in Hampshire. School of 1300. We got a generic 'we don't inform you of Covid now but there will be cases from time to time' letter yesterday, which coincides with several of DD3's friends being off with Covid over the last few days, so there seems to be an outbreak in at least y8 and y10, but likely other year groups I haven't heard about.

We're just keeping up the lateral flows. It's all you can do.

WrongKindOfFace · 07/10/2021 07:29

No updates at all here.

NobbyButtons · 07/10/2021 10:44

Our school is the opposite! Every time there is a case at school, all parents in that year group are informed (it's a single-form entry primary). Although there is no legal requirement to isolate, the LEA advises that if there is a positive case in the class, the other children should not attend school until they have had a negative PCR test. Earlier this week people were turning around at the school gates and taking their children back home after an email about a positive case was sent out at 8:30am. Yesterday there were about seven Year 6 children at school, out of about 32. It's getting ridiculous.

borntobequiet · 07/10/2021 10:47

@Mybalconyiscracking

What possible purpose would the information serve? We are living with this now, this is normal life (quite rightly). Schools aren’t required to post the numbers of cases of flu or common cold are they?

Drawing an equivalence between coronavirus and flu/cold is ridiculous. For one thing, coronavirus is a notifiable disease. There are many other reasons why it is different.

Bobholll · 07/10/2021 11:34

No updates here & that’s fine with me. If we get covid, we’ll deal with it.

What difference would it make? If there was a spike in cases in your kids school, would you stop sending them & get fined? Cos I wouldn’t. Their missed education comes first.

Abraxan · 07/10/2021 11:36

We no longer tell parents unless the number of cases within school or within a class/bubble gets to a certain level - about 10% if I remember rightly. That's only after advise from the LA.

We are no longer expected to report cases to parents behind this level being reached.

COVIDtesting · 07/10/2021 11:44

My school currently has over 10% of students off having tested positive for covid. Which is a higher number off school at one time than we had when close contacts being told to isolate. The only mitigation measures we have been told to do by public health is a letter to parents advising that close contacts should get a PCR (nothing we can do to check if this is being done) and that we shouldn't have assemblies. There are also a few staff off with covid, including one previously shielding teacher. Fingers crossed the vaccine proves effective for him, despite his weakened immune system.

At least those students and staff who have covid now are unlikely to get it again this academic year so it will be their only period of isolation. Unlike last year when one student in my class had only been in for 2 out of the first 6 weeks of term as she had been a close contact 3 times!

Horst · 07/10/2021 11:49

Our whole city has just moved up a level with measures.
No parents allowed into schools unless absolutely needed. All visitors to wear masks. All parent teachers meetings move back to online, all school events even for the children cancelled.

Essexmum321 · 07/10/2021 12:43

We are still getting notifications of cases in school and close contacts, I’m shocked they are still allowing siblings of those who have tested positive in.

ScatteredMama82 · 07/10/2021 12:47

Yep, we're in Shropshire and have had communications from both primary and secondary schools.

DS2s school has said that PCR tests are required for more symptoms now, not just the standard 3. Also, if there is a positive case in the household they must stay away until they have a negative PCR even if no symptoms.

DS1s school has reintroduced face coverings indoors and cancelled their planned open day.

Original poster

Cet73 · 07/10/2021 13:25

@xksismybestletter

I didn't mean at all that we should be told who has covid - just a rough update on covid numbers/mitigations etc, as its obvious cases rising.

I would NEVER ask for personal details.Who would?

OP posts:

Original poster

Cet73 · 07/10/2021 13:36

@Lougle

We're just keeping up the lateral flows. It's all you can do.

That sounds similar to us.....no news all term but today an email outlining the current covid guidelines and mitigations and that they are regularly reviewing the situation. Also I surprised that actually said that if your child has a non covid illness to keep them home....

OP posts:

MarshaBradyo · 07/10/2021 13:40

Notifications stopped here which I’m fine with

AlpineSue · 07/10/2021 13:45

The only mitigation you have suggested is face masks. There is no evidence at all that those work well in schools. Scotland has had face masks in schools for well over a year, our cases have been far higher than most of England. I am afraid they are just not all that effective in a school setting.

Original poster

Cet73 · 07/10/2021 13:50

I understand it's a difficult on , pros/cons of knowing. Overall during past 18months we haven't had much updates from school, maybe at the beginning and actually only really heard of cases if dd happened to mention (summer term at one point just so happened in conversation with dd she said it was quiet in school as whole year group isolating (240 in yr ) or from mums.
I think it's a bit of an individual preference for families based upon what situation they in and as my dd has other health problems that don't make her more vulnerable to covid but means she does miss school days quite regularly, and she has only just returned to school after several days off for another cold / fluey bug, so in conjunction with seeing such a steep rise in cases in our area, made me wonder what the situation is in school and I am sure they don't need individual parents emailing making enquiries . The other thing is we told individual kids can wear face covering if they want but my dd won't if she one of very few but because of her overall health meaning she misses school often, now, (please don't shout me down as I know wearing face coverings is FAR from ideal ) but now that cases in our area so high I would like to know as a parent that they are ware of rising cases and that they are reviewing the situation.

OP posts:

firef1y · 07/10/2021 13:50

@Cet73

Thanks for your replies. This the what seems like a sudden spike in cases in our area....anyone else noticed such a spike in their area?

We had a similar spike in my area, the drop off was just as quick though.

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