Single parent with no way to get my son to school

[wobblywinelover]

I've had a PCR test today and awaiting results... BUT if it comes back positive i'm not sure what i'm going to do about getting my son to school if his PCR comes back negative (he currently has no symptoms). I'm triple jabbed and he had his first vaccine a couple of weeks ago. I normally have to drive him 15 minutes to school, there's no way he can get there on his own unless I send him in a taxi (which are few and far between in the area I live in). No one else to take him. He's in year 10 and i'm concerned about him missing yet more school work. What have other people done in this situation? I know worst case scenario i'm going to have to keep him off but this is not ideal obviously. Thanks.

@petitdonkey
No I live in a village.
My oldest child cycles to school approx 15 min drive, or a 30 min cycle (for him, I couldn't cycle it that fast).
He doesn't cycle on any dual carriageways because he chooses a safe route.
There are often better and safer routes for cycling than the way you would drive.
Lots of people are far too welded to their cars to consider it.

I'm finding it very difficult to comprehend how many posters are advocating that a teenager takes the risk of cycling on a busy 60 mph road in dusky light (assuming that is why the OP states that cycling is not an option) rather than the OP takes the minute chance of spreading a virus that the vast majority of people in this country has antibodies for.

Carry

Totally agree - Covid has honestly made people insane!

@carrythecan

I'm finding it very difficult to comprehend how many posters are advocating that a teenager takes the risk of cycling on a busy 60 mph road in dusky light (assuming that is why the OP states that cycling is not an option) rather than the OP takes the minute chance of spreading a virus that the vast majority of people in this country has antibodies for.

I find it difficult to comprehend why posters can't take my word for it that it is not safe for him to cycle to school and keep asking me repeatedly about it! I'm not going to go into great depths to explain this one!

Anyway, I STILL haven't had my results back after 29 hours, so i'm still in limbo. If it comes back positive my initial thoughts are to keep him off school tomorrow and Friday so he can isolate with me and get his PCR test done, then I will ring the school on friday to discuss what is going to happen on the monday.

Thanks for all the replies please keep your fingers crossed for me, i've already had covid once, I don't want it again!

If you contact the school they may well offer transport for your son especially if your sons school has a pastoral manager or a FLO.

Our LEA/County Council have said to ignore the DofE advice, & that if anyone in your household is positive for Covid, then all children are to stay home & not attend any childcare or school setting.
Might be worth checking with the school?

@AngelsWithSilverWings

I tested positive last week and I will not risk breaking the law to drive the DC to school.

DS school is a 15 min car drive away but can cycle and it takes him 25 mins. DD can take a train easily thankfully. Her previous school had no public transport links to it so if she was still there she would be at home as she is useless and unsafe on a bike sadly.

If you have a bike he can use safely then that's the only option really. If not he has to stay at home.

What's the greater risk to you:

1. Your son getting knocked off his bike on the way to school (very small risk but he's your son)

2. You possibly passing on Covid having had an accident whilst driving that needed emergency treatment

OP
Just in case you didn't know - your child doesn't need to isolate which waiting on pcr if asymptomatic. He doesnt actually have to have a PCR by law

APurple - they cannot force this though. Government have made it clear that schools and LEAs cant make their own rules up and stop kids attending, Its a disgrace and creating more inequality

@Watapalava

OP Just in case you didn't know - your child doesn't need to isolate which waiting on pcr if asymptomatic. He doesnt actually have to have a PCR by law

Oh okay thanks for that, I didn't know. It doesn't seem clear from the website.

@APurpleSquirrel

Our LEA/County Council have said to ignore the DofE advice, & that if anyone in your household is positive for Covid, then all children are to stay home & not attend any childcare or school setting. Might be worth checking with the school?

I will certainly check with the school yes thanks, even out of courtesy, they need to know the situation. Hopefully they will be able to advise further... IF I ever get my results back .. still waiting!

@indecisivewoman81

If you contact the school they may well offer transport for your son especially if your sons school has a pastoral manager or a FLO.

Thats certainly worth asking! Thankyou I will

Update, just found out i'm negative phew! But it's still something which could happen in the future so still don't regret posting the thread, thanks everybody

Where we are there are public and school buses - but it depends on if they are going to the closest school. The rules changed recently and no transport is provided if you have chosen a school further away even if you have good reason. Getting children to school in some areas can be hard work and/or expensive. Many parents here drive their children if public transport doesn’t work. Cycling isn’t an option as the roads are too dangerous and secondary schools all over 10miles away.

With this situation I think it would depend how poorly I was. My children have had COVID so would have a degree of immunity. I would probably speak with the school. It’s hard when they are in important years at school.

I'm sorry why can't you drive him, do you need to hold his hand to the front doors or something.
🙄
Well done for observing the rules, op.

Year 10 and needs to be taken to school does he have sen?
How rude! My son also needs to be taken to school (we live rurally).

If you live somewhere where you are dependent on cars, don't you already have a plan for if you are too ill to drive/the car breaks down? Surely this isn't the first time you haven't been able to drive.

@DaisyWaldron - I have loads of plans for that. We also don’t only have one car. Car breakdowns are not the same as asking a friend to get your child and potentially expose them to covid in a small space… similarly too ill to drive, I have friends that would collect my children. It just seems wrong to ask when they themselves could get infected.