Primary schools not notifying of cases anymore?

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I've only just found out off another parent that over the last few weeks there's been at least 4 cases of covid in my daughters class, 2 of which are teachers. Why are schools not notifying us any more when there are cases? Is this the same everywhere? Seem so stupid not to say anything!

Yes it's been the same here. My child's class had a huge outbreak just before half term and we didn't hear a peep from school. It's only because we have a class WhatsApp that anyone else knew. I think my dd was the first to test positive so I let everyone else know and it snowballed from there. The other parents were very appreciative about being told.

The majority of other positive cases in the class were asymptomatic. I'd say at least 70% of the class tested positive in the end.

Our school said they aren't included in the test and trace process any more. They are just following the DFE guidance so I understand their hands are tied really.

Our primary said we will only be notified if 5 or more cases via warn and inform letter as that's what our council suggested.
They argued more frequent communication would lose impact.

@SlurpleThePurple I understand that but it doesn't take much to send out a quick text to let everyone know there's been X number of positive cases in whichever clsss. My friend has kids in a different local school and they're still letting parents know.

I'm in a WhatsApp group for my youngests class but not my eldest, which is where the cases are. Perhaps we need one!

It's easier with secondary age pupils, as word goes round between pupils on social media even more effectively than on parent WhatsApp groups

No, schools do not do contact tracing any more (except in exceptional circumstances) and the threshold for 'step up' measures (England) is whichever is reached first of

• 5 children, pupils, students or staff, who are likely to have mixed closely, test positive for COVID-19 within a 10-day period
• 10% of children, pupils, students or staff who are likely to have mixed closely test positive for COVID-19 within a 10-day period

(lower threshold applies for special schools)

Then they need to take PHE advice (ditto if someone is hospitalised) and if extra measures are needed they'll be fairly apparent to parents

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-restrictions-in-education-and-childcare-settings/contingency-framework-education-and-childcare-settings

I see. Seems counterproductive but oh well.

Nope, same in our nursery - they're not telling anyone anymore unless a significant number (I guess five / 10% but they didn't specify) test positive at the same time.

We had a case in my son's room two weeks ago and I only found out because he was ill and I asked if anyone else had been. Thankfully it doesn't seem to have spread.

That’s the rules now. Schools just pass onto Test & Trace. They don’t need to let you know as close contacts don’t need to isolate anymore 🤷🏼‍♀️

We have a class WhatsApp group so I find out all the gossip via that I find.

However, our school has had an outbreak and we were given some information. Not exact numbers, we just knew there were a lot of cases & some staff off. The school went back into bubbles, no visitors, masks in communal areas, staggered lunches etc. This was temporary for two weeks & back to normal again now.

Our school are letting us know if it’s their class / year . Year 6 have loads of cases after their residential trip and my other daughters class had 1 case before half term .

My sons school are telling us and I am tempted to write to the HT and ask them to stop. There is no difference us knowing or not. I think there is an issue with keeping things private....it is not my business why X is off school (of course the school doesn't name anyone.....).....they don't write to tell us a child is off with diarrhea, or a child is off with tonsillitis etc etc so why tell us if one person (could be child or staff) has covid. I am more than happy they notify us at such a time there are enough cases to change the school protocols....

We're still notified for DS's (small) primary. They have two standard letters, one saying there's a case in school which goes to everyone, and one saying your child is a close contact and recommending a PCR which goes to anyone in the class of the positive case.

Odd that things seem to be dealt with differently when there might be a risk for MPs.

m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/covid-commons-mps-ordered-to-cancel-events-after-outbreak_uk_61810322e4b0ec286d314a65

@Echo40

Our primary said we will only be notified if 5 or more cases via warn and inform letter as that's what our council suggested. They argued more frequent communication would lose impact.

That's the most gaslighting reason ever.

Most people are still quite concerned about passing it on to vulnerable family members and by not telling families when there's been close contact, you're taking that ability to protect their families away.

People who aren't bothered will continue not to be bothered and not read the emails if there are too many of them.

This takes away choice from those who want to protect vulnerable family members.

[quote Tealightsandd]Odd that things seem to be dealt with differently when there might be a risk for MPs.

m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/covid-commons-mps-ordered-to-cancel-events-after-outbreak_uk_61810322e4b0ec286d314a65[/quote]
What a surprise (not)!

Almost as if there's a deliberate policy to infect the lessers.

Our primary isn’t notifying anymore either. My DD’s secondary -they all tell each other - most had zero symptoms and it went through like wild fire. I am not convinced that these kids haven’t either had prior exposure to the virus last year or are actually infectious with zero symptoms. But I think it is helpful to know who is testing positive because it can help certain people with vulnerable family members make a choice either way and it can further inform about the nature of the disease. The bad cold that went around at the same time was far worse for the kids at my DD’s secondary.

Why do you need to know?

Same here as school aren’t acting as test and trace anymore we don’t get notified. Had I been aware of cases in my daughter’s class I would have been testing her. She had it completely asymptotically, goodness knows how long she had it for before we tested.

@userg5647

Why do you need to know?

The same reason presumably why Houses of Parliament staff and MPs need to know.

Most people are still quite concerned about passing it on to vulnerable family members and by not telling families when there's been close contact, you're taking that ability to protect their families away.

Given how many children there are in an average school and there's no social distancing I'd say its fair to assume that every child is likely to possibly to be in proximity of someone who's either asymptomatic positive or a close contact of someone who has covid within the household and should take whatever precautions they feel necessary when coming into contact with vulnerable family members.

Without bubbles anymore it would be impossible for schools to keep up with who has had close contact with who given the whole school is effectively able to mix again now

Most people are still quite concerned about passing it on to vulnerable family members and by not telling families when there's been close contact, you're taking that ability to protect their families away.

Work on the basis that they have it, because the chances are someone in the school/class will have it asymptomatically.

Most people are still quite concerned about passing it on to vulnerable family members and by not telling families when there's been close contact, you're taking that ability to protect their families away.

Seeing as it's pretty rife everywhere I'd act as if there were confirmed cases, if you're that vulnerable are you going to act normally until a case is confirmed? Doubt it, you'll be careful either way.

I would like to be informed if there are confirmed cases, no other information needs to be given but to find out 2 or 3 weeks later is useless. I could have got my kids to do more lateral flows rather than only testing them if they seem a bit ill. They are young so subjecting a very resistant 5 yo to nose swabs is not something I routinely do but if I'd known there were cases I would have made sure I tested her more often. My eldest will reluctantly do them and considering that so far she's been in contact with 4 cases and I've not known I'm going to be getting her to do them at least once a week. Bit pissed off about the whole thing tbh.