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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:
EnglishRose1320 · 11/10/2021 09:22

I may have read your posts wrong so I apologise if I have, but is the difference in days between your ds' isolation and yours ending 3 school days? Also is he primary or secondary? If primary or yr7/8 I really don't think missing an extra 3 days is going to make any difference and doesn't seem worth getting stressed about.

He can work at home as much as possible and just go back in when your isolation ends.

Original poster
Merryway85 · 11/10/2021 09:28

@Kerberos

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.

Thank you.I’m glad I’m not the only one wondered about this. For the sake of a few days we’re going to just keep him the extra couple of days. Some of the responses here to a legitimate and well intentioned question have just left me amazed. I think my mumsnet experience will be a short one!
OP posts:
Original poster
Merryway85 · 11/10/2021 09:29

Thank you, this is what we have decided.

OP posts:
lifehappened · 11/10/2021 09:47

People really saying she can't go and sit in the car 😂😂😂 you can't catch anything through a closed window peeps!!

NavigatingAdolescence · 11/10/2021 09:57

@lifehappened

People really saying she can't go and sit in the car 😂😂😂 you can't catch anything through a closed window peeps!!
Read earlier posts.
FawnFrenchieMum · 11/10/2021 10:00

@lifehappened

People really saying she can't go and sit in the car 😂😂😂 you can't catch anything through a closed window peeps!!
What happens if the car breaks down and a recovery service is needed? What happens if there is a car accident and the emergency services is needed? Yes both unlikely but not impossible.
TuckMyWin · 11/10/2021 10:24

What happens if she cooks dinner tonight and accidentally sets fire to the house, and the fire brigade comes out and she gives them covid? Best not do any cooking for the duration, I reckon.

NavigatingAdolescence · 11/10/2021 10:48

@TuckMyWin

What happens if she cooks dinner tonight and accidentally sets fire to the house, and the fire brigade comes out and she gives them covid? Best not do any cooking for the duration, I reckon.
Unless there are lots of other unknown people moving through the kitchen for their own purposes then that’s not a good comparator.
Original poster
Merryway85 · 11/10/2021 10:49

Quite happy to go with no cooking either then 😂😂

OP posts:
BungleandGeorge · 11/10/2021 11:02

If you look at the official list of allowable exceptions to self isolation taking kids to school isn’t on there. www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1045/made

SMBH · 11/10/2021 11:06

The list of exceptions isn’t exhaustive (for obvious reasons) and there is an argument that it falls under fulfilling legal obligations

Warhertisuff · 11/10/2021 11:20

@NavigatingAdolescence

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.

So it's better for the OP to get someone else to take her DS to school in their car, and run the risk of getting Covid from him, than to run the extremely small risk of an accident (and if it was a minor shunt) you would be out of the car anyway... And besides, her DS will be at school at day unmasked anyway! Your risk assessment is unhinged... Surely you're not that devoid of common sense.
Warhertisuff · 11/10/2021 11:22

@Merryway85

Quite happy to go with no cooking either then 😂😂
Don't walk down any stairs either... You may fall, and need an ambulance!... But sending your son to school is, of course, fine. Some people on here would stab their own eyeballs if they thought it was in the "rules".
Silverswirl · 11/10/2021 14:46

Far more accidents happen and are likely to happen in the home than in the car- it’s a statistical fact so maybe we should all just be sitting on the sofa all day not moving?

Kaceya2230 · 11/10/2021 15:07

No you can't. This is why the new rules are crazy. If your children aren't old enough to walk to school alone, I am not sure what you can do. Speak to the school. They may be able to help. If it's crazy they can't go especially if ge has actually had it and finished isolating.

I live 1 minute drive away from my kids school and I can't see why I couldn't get in the car right in front of my house and drive round the corner and drop them off (I've not got covid, this is just a scenario). I wouldn't come into contact with anyone. I'm not going to crash and need the emergency services for a drive around the corner. But for little children dropping off wouldn't work anywAy unless school already had a drop and go thing already which my kids school does not.

DrCoconut · 11/10/2021 16:20

I asked 119 about this as I currently have covid. They said that school run is not a reason to break self isolation and I can't do it. School were trying to encourage people to drop off in the car in this situation but basically if you're caught you can be fined. DS now has an attendance code for this week's registers that won't affect his attendance stats as he's away in accordance with covid rules. I have no one else I dare put at risk collecting him as 2 of my 3 DC also have it, it's plague palace here. Also I don't feel up to getting him ready on time, doing pack up etc.

Frazzled2207 · 11/10/2021 17:09

@DrCoconut

I asked 119 about this as I currently have covid. They said that school run is not a reason to break self isolation and I can't do it. School were trying to encourage people to drop off in the car in this situation but basically if you're caught you can be fined. DS now has an attendance code for this week's registers that won't affect his attendance stats as he's away in accordance with covid rules. I have no one else I dare put at risk collecting him as 2 of my 3 DC also have it, it's plague palace here. Also I don't feel up to getting him ready on time, doing pack up etc.
I’m sure you Theoretically can be fined but by who? I have never in 18 months seen any kind of covid rules enforcement on the streets. The school will be pleased the kid is in school so fairly sure they won’t dob you in!!!
Frazzled2207 · 11/10/2021 17:10

But to be clear if you’re not well enough to take your dc that’s totally fair enough

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 11/10/2021 18:04

@lifehappened

People really saying she can't go and sit in the car 😂😂😂 you can't catch anything through a closed window peeps!!
It’s not about catching it, it’s leaving the house and breaking isolation.
Kitcat122 · 11/10/2021 19:03

I would take mine and stay in the car.

Explosivefarts · 11/10/2021 20:23

Because if they said it’s ok for people to drive kids to school . People would take the piss they would walk kids to the gate . They would chat to other parents. They would nip into get a coffee as they were out anyway. They would then think it was ok to drop off at dancing lessons , friends houses etc. Others would say well if it’s ok to drop off kids at school I can drop off so and so here etc etc etc .

Explosivefarts · 11/10/2021 20:24

@Silverswirl

Far more accidents happen and are likely to happen in the home than in the car- it’s a statistical fact so maybe we should all just be sitting on the sofa all day not moving?
Well that’s fine because then you would be at home isolating as the rules dictate. Not out and about in public .
BungleandGeorge · 11/10/2021 22:58

@SMBH

The list of exceptions isn’t exhaustive (for obvious reasons) and there is an argument that it falls under fulfilling legal obligations
Yes it is exhaustive as these are regulations ie the law rather than ‘guidelines’. to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or participating in legal proceedings, That doesn’t include taking a child to school,no, it’s not a legal obligation for the parent to personally take the child to school Hmm

Whatever the personal opinion of those on mn the law is the law, you may decide to ignore it OP

Djifunrsn · 11/10/2021 23:38

If you think about it logically, he’s having close and prolonged contact with you at home. You taking him to school and having no contact with anyone but him doesn’t change any risks for anybody. But getting a grandparent or friend to take him exposes that person on the journey, to a kid who’s coming out of a house where there is Covid. So the safest option for all is for you to take him. Seeing as he’s entitled to be in school (and Covid is running rampant in there anyway).

lawofdistraction · 12/10/2021 11:36

Yes that's the thing. There may be a legal requirement for a child to attend school, but there's no legal obligation on the parent that it must be them who personally takes them!