Primary School Policy

[Hoolahoophop]

Just wondering what policies are like around covid at other schools.

Ours have been quite strict I think compared t9 other local schools. No parents on premises since first lock down, (unless volunteering) virtual parents evening. Kids still (mostly) kept in class bubbles. Collect kids from the gate not the class door.
We had a letter home today. One of the kids has tested postive in DS class the school asked us all to go get PCR tests for the kids. Last year whole bubble was sent home for 10 days or until negative test was shown to school. Caused outrage.

This year one parent called the office as she dosent agree with testing kids. Office said it's up to the parent to decide what they way nt to do so half the class are not going to bother. Seems pointless the school sending out the letter.

I wondered if this was the same in other schools.

We can't insist on tests. Never could. Can only advise - that's all government guidelines. And at no point have schools been allowed to ask for evidence of a test result - so I'm quite sure lots have probably never bothered with the testing even before the guidelines changed.

We have children in school where everyone else in the household is covid positive but they've so far apparently tested negative. They are officially allowed in to school so we have to accept them in, with or without a test result being shown.

We authorise all absences linked to covid, including if parents, siblings etc have covid but child at our school is negative - but several stil send them in.

Our school have been really chill. Running completely normally this term. I think bring a small village school has helped in that regard, there’s around 200 kids in the whole school. One form entry.

No bubbles
Whole school assemblies
Lunch & playtime as normal
After school club & after school activities running
Parents allowed in
Parents in to support reading groups every day
Visitors allowed in, we’ve had authors & the local water company in our class this term but some stuff like this is still remote.
Fully open playground in the morning & home time to go wait in.. no staggered starts or anything.

We’ve had no cancelled Christmas activities. They did a whole school trip to the panto last week. We went to watch the nativity today, they put on two performances for the KS1 performance to lower numbers & we had to wear masks. The Christmas fayre is on this weekend, still full steam ahead at the mo. I’m on the PTA 🙈

We did have a huge outbreak before half term. It wiped about 1/3 of the school out. We went back into bubbles & other restrictions for two weeks. Back to normal after half term. All the staff were thankfully fine, all back after 10 days.

Oh & they do insist on a negative PCR before coming into school if a child had been a close contact of a positive person.

she dosent agree with testing kids

But no doubt wants to send them in to school. Would she be happy with a child who has been a close contact popping around her house? Sitting on her lap? Coughing in her face?

We've got one parent who 'doesn't believe in testing' (but is religious, so believes in a non existent god). Her child has been a close contact, we would have them back with a negative PCR.. but noooo, going to keep said child off for 10 days to isolate instead. And is demanding that we drop round a paper pack of work. People are dicks.

My kids are in bubbles and teachers all still wearing face masks. Kids aren't tested but we test at home. The head says if a child is positive in one class he is happy if we want to take the children out.