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Original poster

Just a moan about DS school

72 replies

Twounderfive83 · 21/11/2021 16:45

DH has tested positive. DS (age 5) and I are negative.

His school has asked not to send children in when there’s a positive case in the house. So no school for 10 days for DS.

I understand the caution, he’s more likely to catch it from a member of the household and pass it round than anywhere else.

But it’s not the guidance. School have just created this policy.

OP posts:
ellesbellesxxx · 21/11/2021 16:48

Our school have said the same.
My children missed 1.5 days when I was waiting on pcr results.
It’s frustrating I totally get it but I know at my children’s school, they have struggled to staff it as there have been so many people off with covid that they are desperate to avoid any possible cases

Isawthathaggis · 21/11/2021 16:53

Our school is also making up random rules.

Now we have to get proof of the children’s negative PCR’s before they will allow them in the class. TBF to the school the teacher when down with it and it was spreading like wildfire through the class. They asked parents to organise PCR’s and some didn’t. Not surprisingly those were the children who all had symptomless Covid.

Would your school accept daily testing instead?
Are they providing adequate work for your ds?

CarrieBlue · 21/11/2021 16:54

Is the school taking local health authority advice? Are you in a particularly high rate area?

I wish that my DC’s school and the ones my DH and I work in would do the same.

Mybalconyiscracking · 21/11/2021 17:22

Er, don’t tell them?

Original poster
Twounderfive83 · 21/11/2021 18:10

I was very tempted @Mybalconyiscracking! But I just didn’t feel right about it knowing they have asked not to. I will ring them in the morning to double check this is still the policy. He’s only 5 but I will also be asking for plenty of work, to make a point!

OP posts:
LilyPond2 · 21/11/2021 18:10

Sounds a very sensible policy for the school to adopt.

Original poster
Twounderfive83 · 21/11/2021 18:11

@CarrieBlue no, it’s just something they’ve decided to ask of parents. It came out with the back to school info in September - if a member of the household tests positive, keep them off school.

OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 21/11/2021 18:15

I feel sorry for schools here... stopping exposed children coming to school is better from a health perspective, but well children not being at school is bad educationally.

Local policy here is now testing on Day 3, and if negative they can attend.

Original poster
Twounderfive83 · 21/11/2021 18:20

That sounds sensible @Aroundtheworldin80moves, some middle great. Straight isolation until DH is finished seems like overkill. DS has friends who have had to serve more than one isolation periods because of cases in the household, but didn’t catch it themselves.

OP posts:
sofakingcool · 21/11/2021 18:23

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

I feel sorry for schools here... stopping exposed children coming to school is better from a health perspective, but well children not being at school is bad educationally.

Local policy here is now testing on Day 3, and if negative they can attend.

I think that's a good idea

Our school (secondary) has children in even if there is a positive case in their household

HelenaJustina · 21/11/2021 18:24

We are being hammered with cases at the moment with double vaxxed staff dropping constantly. Outbreaks in classes typically start with our primary age children catching it from an older sibling or parent and then spreading it in the classroom. Supply agencies couldn’t provide a warm body for two days last week, let alone a decent supply teacher. I wish our Governors would let us bring in a household isolation rule…

CarrieBlue · 21/11/2021 18:25

@Twounderfive83 - sounds like a school that doesn’t need moaning about tbh, very sensible policy imo

Wellbythebloodyhell · 21/11/2021 18:28

Our school said the same they would prefer it if children are kept home if there's a positive case if possible or lateral flow test every morning before school if not possible for them to stay home. As other PP said though you are under no obligation to tell them there's a positive case within the household

MarshaBradyo · 21/11/2021 18:30

I’d LFT and send if negative

WhenSheWasBad · 21/11/2021 18:34

Thing is if the teacher gets it the school may have to keep the whole class home.

There are a few schools near me who have had to shut to whole Year groups due to staff illness. It’s a nightmare trying to get a supply teacher at the moment.

I’ve had to help homeschool my two primary aged kids over lockdown. So I know what a soul sucking experience it is (I genuinely hated every minute of it). But I can see why the school is doing this. They are trying to keep their staff healthy (and in school teaching).

It sucks for you. But you have to accept that if his dads got Covid your son is quite likely to catch it from him.

ancientgran · 21/11/2021 18:37

@Twounderfive83

DH has tested positive. DS (age 5) and I are negative.

His school has asked not to send children in when there’s a positive case in the house. So no school for 10 days for DS.

I understand the caution, he’s more likely to catch it from a member of the household and pass it round than anywhere else.

But it’s not the guidance. School have just created this policy.

Is it 10 days, I thought the rule used to be isolate for ten day but that would have a weekend in there or even 2, plus it is from the onset of symptoms so your husband probably didn't get a positive the day his symptoms started. Maybe 5 or 6 days off?

If they are actually saying two full weeks off after your DH got the positive I think that is OTT.

coeliacsucks · 21/11/2021 18:40

I actually agree with this policy after this past week.

A parent of a child in dds class was positive and continued to send their child to school, the child also developed the infections now all but 7 of the class are now off with positive pcr tests.

I'm astounded they'll allow children in with positive people in the house, it's madness and I'm not particularly bothered about Covid anymore.

Original poster
Twounderfive83 · 21/11/2021 18:41

If it’s the full isolation period for DH it’s 7 school days. I’m going to call in the morning to clarify exactly what they ask us to do.

I could’ve not told them, but it just feels morally wrong - as a PP has said what if the teacher caught it, and I would then wonder was it because I sent DS in against their guidance. So I would rather stick to the rules as they ask - but it’s still a massive pain! And frustrating as DS might end up catching it another time, so obviously he would be off then. Or I could catch it another time, same again.

OP posts:
coeliacsucks · 21/11/2021 18:41

Also all the children including mine were LTF negative but PCR positive without symptoms

MarshaBradyo · 21/11/2021 18:43

@Twounderfive83

If it’s the full isolation period for DH it’s 7 school days. I’m going to call in the morning to clarify exactly what they ask us to do.

I could’ve not told them, but it just feels morally wrong - as a PP has said what if the teacher caught it, and I would then wonder was it because I sent DS in against their guidance. So I would rather stick to the rules as they ask - but it’s still a massive pain! And frustrating as DS might end up catching it another time, so obviously he would be off then. Or I could catch it another time, same again.

If we had followed it Ds would have had 10 extra days isolation for no reason.

I think it’s crazy to keep healthy dc off school when we have tests and Covid will get in class sooner or later due to asymptomatic spread

MissCruellaDeVil · 21/11/2021 18:45

The school is going against the guidance, I'd just send him in.

ReceptionTA · 21/11/2021 18:52

You feel it's morally wrong not to tell school/not keep your DS at home, but at the same time you're not happy?

I caught Covid at work, as have all the other staff who have had it. None of us seem to actually have lives anymore. The school hasn't asked that parents who test positive don't send their DC in, but they do ask the child has a PCR. Most parents aren't testing because 5 year olds are fed up of being treated and now cry too much. Most of the parents of the class I work with have tested positive this term. Their Dc have come into school with just a sniffle. And staff one by one have caught Covid. The school had to send two classes home last week because so many DC in each class were positive. Personally I think it's too late, and if we really didn't want it to spread we would have asked for children of positive parents to stay home. On the plus side there will be heard immunity. On the negative side there is now a whole school staff suffering from Covid "brain fog" who can't remember whether it's Music or PE they're teaching this afternoon.

I'm not sure if you agree with your schools policy or not. They will have work prepared to hand out at a moments notice, so please ask for it. You won't be making a point, you'll just be collecting the work they have to have on standby for isolating DC.

FenceSplinters · 21/11/2021 18:56

Could there be vulnerable staff that they are protecting?

shouldistop · 21/11/2021 19:40

Taking aside whether it's a sensible policy or not, is this not actually illegal exclusion?

debbs77 · 21/11/2021 19:50

Good for them! Some common sense at last