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Original poster

Can I take my kids to school?

98 replies

Merryway85 · 10/10/2021 14:00

Does anyone know what the rules regarding taking children to school when I have covid are? Can I do this?

Long story short, son tested positive last weekend and is out of isolation on Thursday but now my husband and I have tested positive and are in isolation till the 19th.

So I know son can go back to school but can we technically take him there if we obviously don’t get out of the car etc? Thank you

OP posts:
Rummikubfan · 10/10/2021 23:03

I took mine to school when I was positive. I didn’t get out the car. Quite frankly I can’t see any risk whatsoever and sometimes you have to use a bit of common sense. In no way was I putting anyone at risk by getting in my car in my drive and getting out of my car again in my drive.

Justwingingit2005 · 10/10/2021 23:09

Same issue here...... youngest too little to walk on his own but school won't allow parents to use car park. Will ring school tomorrow and see if they will allow us to pull in car park to drop him off.

Watapalava · 10/10/2021 23:10

Of course you can

There’s actually quite a list of exceptions

You can actually go out to shop if there’s no alternative

Porcupineintherough · 10/10/2021 23:14

Yes I think that would be fine OP. Get well soon.

lawofdistraction · 10/10/2021 23:24

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1045/made

Taking a child to school is not listed as an exception to isolation.

Explosivefarts · 11/10/2021 00:22

@lawofdistraction

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1045/made

Taking a child to school is not listed as an exception to isolation.

Thanks for clarifying seems people seem to think the rules don’t apply to them as usual.
SMBH · 11/10/2021 00:31

It could well fall under “legal obligation”
Given that attendance requirements are back in place

Many schools are facilitating children being dropped off by parents in this situation, so you can be as sarky as you like about people thinking “the rules don’t apply to them”, it’s a completely reasonable question from the OP

Silverswirl · 11/10/2021 00:42

There is a legal requirement for them to be in so yes, they go.
Drop them in the car and arrange with the school for a teacher to meet them at the car.
My DD had a nasty accident at school and needed picking up and taking home. There was no one else but me to get her and I was isolating. What are you meant to do?

Silverswirl · 11/10/2021 00:43

@Explosivefarts no, the law says that children must be in school if they are negative. So it’s not as clear cut as that

Dishhh · 11/10/2021 05:29

@Watapalava

Of course you can

There’s actually quite a list of exceptions

You can actually go out to shop if there’s no alternative

Can you post the link for this?

Lulu1919 · 11/10/2021 06:29

I think it's more about if you had an accident ....you'd have to mix with other people ...was serious and needed police ambulance etc then you could spread it ...

Just taking child not getting out of car ..can't see a problem ..but it's the above that could make it one.....

Morph2lcfc · 11/10/2021 06:43

@sayhellotothelittlefella

Our Dd school said, in the first instance try to find a family member or friend to take them to school, if that is not possible then local authorities have plans in place to help get children to school. Maybe try speaking to your DC's school and see if they have any advice.
Good luck with trying to get any help from the local authority. Round here it takes 6 weeks to sort out a taxi where a child needs transport to specialist school so if it’s the same you’d be out of isolation by then.
NavigatingAdolescence · 11/10/2021 06:55

@Rummikubfan

I took mine to school when I was positive. I didn’t get out the car. Quite frankly I can’t see any risk whatsoever and sometimes you have to use a bit of common sense. In no way was I putting anyone at risk by getting in my car in my drive and getting out of my car again in my drive.
The reasonably obvious risk is that you are involved in an accident or break down which would involve contact with other people……
User5827372728 · 11/10/2021 06:59

Thanks, I wouldn’t want to ask any grandparents to take him in their car since he’s coming out of a covid house.

But it’s fine for him to come out a covid house and into school… the rules are mad!

Original poster
Merryway85 · 11/10/2021 07:27

I got a message last night about opting into the antibody testing. I can leave my house to post that test result back in the nearest priority box (7 miles away on a busy street) so there are clearly exceptions to that rule.

Grandparents have said they won’t take him.

OP posts:
Karwomannghia · 11/10/2021 07:51

I’ve been wondering the same thing- dh and I both just tested positive on LFTs and have coughs. Taking 2 of the kids with us for PCR tests today and wondering what to do if we’re positive and they’re negative.

Kerberos · 11/10/2021 07:58

I don't know why everyone has been so snarky with you OP!

I'd have the same questions in your position. I'd definitely call the school and ask what they suggest. Do you have any school run friends who'd be willing to collect your DC from your car and walk them in if the school don't have a good solution.

Hope you are feeling OK.

Warhertisuff · 11/10/2021 08:08

@BlanketPiggy

You're not meant to, I think in case you crash or something? But yeah don't know what else you can do realistically.
I don't think that's the reason... It's more that the Government would have a write a 1,000s of pages of guidelines if they wanted to tell people how to apply common sense to every little situation.

Rules are necessary, but the way some people insist on following them to the letter when to do so would be entirely impractical and completely inconsequential is quite disturbing.

Warhertisuff · 11/10/2021 08:12

It seems bonkers to me that school are wanting the kids in when both parents are positive

When are people going to realise... it's a sad fact that Kids are going to get Covid! What's the point in pretending they won't and that all these "measures" are somehow going to stop Covid. It
seems there are lots of latter day King Canutes...

Warhertisuff · 11/10/2021 08:17

@Lulu1919

I think it's more about if you had an accident ....you'd have to mix with other people ...was serious and needed police ambulance etc then you could spread it ...

Just taking child not getting out of car ..can't see a problem ..but it's the above that could make it one.....

This makes no sense at all.

1 in 60 people have Covid.... Yet someone can't take their child to school because of a 1 in a million+ chance of a serious accident.... and one where the serious injuries and death caused by such an accident are deemed to be secondary to the risk of someone possibly catching Covid at the scene?!

MajorCarolDanvers · 11/10/2021 08:19

Schools where I live allow children to walk, cycle, scoot, bus to school without parents or car drop and walk

NavigatingAdolescence · 11/10/2021 08:44

1 in 60 people have Covid.... Yet someone can't take their child to school because of a 1 in a million+ chance of a serious accident.... and one where the serious injuries and death caused by such an accident are deemed to be secondary to the risk of someone possibly catching Covid at the scene?!

Not only serious accidents though. Even a minor one - or a break down - would see you need to get out of the car and interact with others/possible whiplash etc.

Lots of the Covid rules are to protect the extended emergency services.

lawofdistraction · 11/10/2021 08:56

It's quite clear from the link I posted that attending school doesn't fall under the "legal obligation" exception. It specifically cites examples such as attending court.

This must be a very common scenario, if it was supposed to be an exception then it would be listed as one.

I know it's difficult for people but you have to be able to make alternative arrangements. Is there not one single other parent who could pick your child up on the way to school? You say it's only a 2 minute drive away so people must pass near you.

SMBH · 11/10/2021 08:59

I don’t think you can rule out school attendance.

It’s interesting that “what makes you so special as to think the rules don’t apply to you?” is trotted out in relation to covid rules, but not attendance rules. I actually do have the flexibility of mind to understand that there are valid opinions on both sides, but if you’re such a stickler for the rules, why do you only think one set is important?

TheGriffle · 11/10/2021 09:12

We had to get grandparents to take and pick up when Dh and I had covid but they agreed to help us as both dc’s had negative pcrs.

My kids wore a mask and all the car windows were open to minimise the risk.

They would have had to have stayed at home with us otherwise as we had no other option.