Parents both positive, Dc negative- School?

[ChocolateCauldron]

Both DH and I have had strong lines on Lft so have had the whole family PCR tested. (Didn't bother testing kids with lft as knew we'd have to put them through a PCR anyway). We will get the results tomorrow hopefully.

Our 3 dc are all primary aged, 8, 8, 10. As I understand it if they are negative they are supposed to go to school....my question is how?

All the people I would normally ask for help I can't put at risk (Sister has a rare immunity condition, My Dad is 73 with COPD etc)

It doesn't sit right with me sending them in, but I understand that's the rules.

I just don't see how we can get them there without breaking quarantine etc

I agree. It's not like we're testing our eyesight by driving 6 hours to Barnard Castle.

I work in a school and went to a county run attendance training session last week. They were clear that if parents/carers are both + and all avenues have been explored, the rules for isolating trump the requirement for the child to be in school.

If only we'd all attended your counties attendance training course. Since I haven't, I'm carrying on with my current plan. It's not putting anyone at risk.

Even in pre covid times the excuses for child absence to wangle a holiday at my DP school happened at times -definitely not advocating it:
“Call Monday morning child got temp and feeling unwell, Tuesday sickness and diarrhoea-buys another 48hrs from last bout, child due back Friday-still had diarrhoea Thursday extends time off over the weekend. Child returns Monday and tells all about a lovely week the previous week-children are great and normally very honest or let something slip!”
Point is whether it is right or not parents kept kids off school pre covid to avoid fines for holidays, if a covid positive household can’t get their children to school safely I’m sure people will continue to be “creative” as the guidelines/rules have been thought out properly.

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot - sorry, that wasn’t intended as a dig at anyone, more to reassure people who are genuinely unable to get their kids to school. I’ve had friends who would have been too poorly to drive. I sent my oldest and youngest to school when their brother had Covid, bo criticism of anyone intended.

Are you close enough for them to walk alone?

@wherethewildthingis just to answer you and so sorry I know this is not the point of the thread. Yes I could do that and if I could afford to take maternity leave 3 months before my baby arrives I would... but financially I can't.

Also maternity leave is to prepare for birth and care for the baby in its first year of life. Not to stay off because an employer is unwilling or unable to mitigate health and safety risks. The guidance for unvaccinated pregnant women is that home working should be considered wherever possible but it's not mandated. Some employers will do this and some will ignore as it doesn't benefit them - irrespective of H&S.

I have another pregnancy related condition that I am considering getting a sick note until 36 weeks for even though I could push on if I really wanted to. I'm getting to the point where I'll have to prioritise myself and my baby if the cases in my school continue to surge as they did last half term (multiform entry primary) which they will do if households keep sending their positive children to school. Balls to the rules they're ridiculous

Our school collect from your car in the car park in this scenario. I would ask them what they’d prefer though.
Lots of people I know other family members were negative initially then tested positive after about a week.

In my school your children would be X coded and given school work to do at home. If your 10 year old is in year 6 then they could walk to and from school themselves, but would still be X coded if they couldn't.

@helenstar99

I have another pregnancy related condition that I am considering getting a sick note until 36 weeks for even though I could push on if I really wanted to. I'm getting to the point where I'll have to prioritise myself and my baby if the cases in my school continue to surge as they did last half term (multiform entry primary) which they will do if households keep sending their positive children to school. Balls to the rules they're ridiculous

I think you should seriously consider availing yourself of this medical condition and get signed off. Your physical and medical health come first.

And the risk of catching Covid would remain high even if every parent obeyed the rules... Isolating known positive cases isn't nearly enough to stop Delta's spread, and if it hasn't passed through your school yet, it's likely only a matter of time... 75%+ children are believed to have had it already.

@helenstar99

Sorry, I see that you said that Covid's infections had already been high.... The good news is that cases now seem to be dropping in children, though they're still very high.

@helenstar99

Why don't you get the vaccine then? It's now been available since June at least if not earlier depending on your age, hundreds of thousands of pregnant women in the U.K. alone have had it with no issues and more abroad, it's far less risky than you catching covid. The bonus is that my friends newborn was in a trial and she had antibodies after birth because her mum was vaccinated at 35 weeks

Utter bonkers.

Just say the kids won't be in due to illness.

And why is it assumed that all families have access to a car? What about those who walk or use public transport to take kids to school?

@gogohm

@helenstar99 says in the 3rd line of her first comment that pregnancy isn't what's stopping her being advised not to have the vaccine.

@helenstar99 I'm sure if your doctor has advised you not to be vaccinated then they will support you in getting out of the classroom for your third trimester. Speak to them. In the meantime children are allowed to come to school if they are negative.

Speak to the school.

Our school, and others nearby, have had a big increase in cases and have said that they would prefer household contacts to remain at home with online learning.

@raspberryrippleicecream

In my County the Director of Health has asked school children with positive household contacts to stay home for 5 days, then get a PCR.

Similar advice at our school now, following a big rise in cases.

@helenstar99 She will start her maternity leave early

Thanks for everyone's input.

It really isn't well thought out. Those who are saying that most people bend the rules....we haven't! Having a couple of vulnerable people in out immediate family circle we have been scrupulously following the guidelines/laws.

I understand and agree with people who say that the children SHOULD stay home. It's a pity the government don't agree!

It's been suggested by someone who works at our school that the headteacher might send someone to collect them...apparently this has been done previously.

It's a non starter for the younger 2 to walk in. The older one, yes but the twins have ASD and one has a full time 1 to 1. (didn't add this previously as not really relevant as most 8 yo children aren't allowed to walk home alone)

As I say our school is quite sensible, so if I explain my concerns about sending them in I'm sure we'll come to an arrangement - They don't want superspreaders and kids/staff going down like dominoes either.

It's been suggested by someone who works at our school that the headteacher might send someone to collect them...apparently this has been done previously.

The head should do this herself / himself, rather than putting others at risk 🤦‍♀️

It is strange how different schools are taking different approaches to this.

Ah well it's a moot point....we are all positive DC are all fine, not a single symptom but it takes the moral dilemma out of my hands.

The rules are crazy imo
I was positive. Couldn't get my negative kids to school, thankfully though as now they're positive and they'd have been spreading it everywhere

Exactly.
Our school has now requested that children don't attend if there is a positive case at home. They are having online lessons. The same has been put in place at several nearby schools.