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Covid

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Original poster

Primary school covid rules

23 replies

Thebig3 · 08/12/2021 19:06

I have just received an email from my children's primary school to say they have had a positive lateral flow case in one of my children's year group. They are now 'very strongly recommending' that all children have a LFT every day before coming into school.

To me this seems ridiculous, even NHS staff don't test this frequently! Is this the norm? Are other primary schools suggesting this also?

OP posts:

Watchingpeppa12 · 08/12/2021 19:07

YANBU!!!

Smurf123 · 08/12/2021 19:10

Test and trace said my brother had to do a lft every morning before school for the 10 days as he was a close contact so this could be where school are coming from. Also still had to take the day 2 and day 8 pcr test too.

moostermum · 08/12/2021 19:10

My DS 8 has COVID with zero symptoms. There are 17/29 out of the class with COVID. Yes you need to lateral flow everyday and PCR

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/12/2021 19:13

We’ve been asked to do a LFT every day in my secondary for about 5 weeks now.!

bumble2012 · 08/12/2021 19:16

My dd was asked to do this and we picked up her positive on a lft a week later. Would have had no idea otherwise as she had no symptoms to start with.

Paddingtonthebear · 08/12/2021 19:18

Our school have suggested all kids take a lateral flow test twice a week since Sept. If child is identified as a close contact then they email to suggest pcr test and daily lateral flow whilst waiting for pcr result (can continue to attend school if no symptoms and negative lateral flow in meantime). My DD had had a close contact email every week for last 6 weeks, so plenty of testing here at the moment.

We have a lot of covid cases in our school and I wonder if it’s because more parents are testing compared to other schools. I know people who have never tested their kids for covid in the last 18 months

FlopsterFlops · 08/12/2021 19:21

Many schools are currently struggling with tremendously high levels of cases amongst staff and children. There are high levels of staff absences at the moment and a huge shortage of supply teachers.
Some schools are having to close classes and year groups due to the numbers of cases that are emerging.
If there are a large number of cases, schools are sometimes asking that all children get a PCR - this often shows up many more cases than previously thought. Schools are also asking people to LFT in order to prevent the continued spread.
The situation is really difficult at the moment.

Smartiepants79 · 08/12/2021 19:22

This is what is being advised by public health. Schools are desperately trying to contain out breaks.
This has happens in both the school I work at and the school my DD attends. Her entire year group where told to go home and not come back without a negative PCR test. Classes with a positive case are all being asked to test and continue to LFT.

Original poster

Thebig3 · 08/12/2021 19:23

Just to clarify in the whole school there are only a about 10 case at the moment. It's a big primary school 60 per year

OP posts:

cansu · 08/12/2021 19:24

I think it is reasonable. Many kids have covid with either no symptoms or quite mild symptoms.

Sprostongreen21 · 08/12/2021 19:24

@Thebig3

To me this seems ridiculous, even NHS staff don't test this frequently! Is this the norm? Are other primary schools suggesting this also?

Im nhs staff if I am a contact I have to pcr test and then lft test to go into work if risk assessed as ok.

Cases are really high in schools. Schools will struggle to stay open in some cases they’ve closed due to staffing reasons. Maybe just trying to keep cases lower and kids in school rather than spread it quickly through class

bizboz · 08/12/2021 19:26

My school and my DC's school recommend a PCR. For siblings they ask for a PCR and daily LFTs. As teachers, if we are a close contact we are also asked to do a PCR and daily LFTs.

Paddingtonthebear · 08/12/2021 19:27

7 positive cases in my child’s class alone at the moment

Original poster

Thebig3 · 08/12/2021 19:28

Also I understand the need to Lateral flow just seems a lot to be doing it every single day....

OP posts:

Paddingtonthebear · 08/12/2021 19:37

I wouldn’t do every day unless exposed to positive case and waiting for pcr results. We test Friday and Monday

DobbyTheHouseElk · 08/12/2021 19:38

We were told to do this in primary in October when there was an outbreak.

Skysblue · 08/12/2021 19:47

Er wtf none if the schools round here have requested that and they all have covid cases - 70+ in one school…

LFTs are great but to ask for then daily from kids is insane, particularly as some parents aren’t good at giving them in a non-painful way.

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 08/12/2021 19:48

@Thebig3

Also I understand the need to Lateral flow just seems a lot to be doing it every single day....

I was picked up as positive on an LFT. I was doing twice a day testing as my partner was positive and I was just waiting. I was also expected to be in school the whole time, so was testing often to catch it as soon as I could.

11pm, negative LFT
6am, positive LFT.

Positive LFTs for 9 days, then negative again. PCR confirmed on same day as initial positive. Twice a week isn't enough if you've been a close contact - assume ALL children are close contacts, especially if the school tell you they are.

Maybe just trying to keep cases lower and kids in school rather than spread it quickly through class

Yes, people moaning about their own child having to miss school with only a snivel, are ending up with one child having 7 missed days of school (average for isolation). Send your kid in with covid, you've got 9 children out, and 63 missed days of schooling. Oh, and two members of staff too. Cheers.

Niki14 · 08/12/2021 21:36

Almost all of my DDs class are positive at the moment and she's devastated because she was so looking forward to lots of Christmas stuff this year. A daily LFT isn't really that much of an ask, it picked my DDs infection up while she was asymptomatic as I started testing daily due to close contact at school and school recommended it a couple of days later. At 6 she is perfectly capable of doing her own LFTs under supervision and so we built it into the morning routine. And NHS staff DO test everyday if they are a close contact (or unvaccinated). As a contact of a positive case I had to do a PCR which was negative, I then had to take a LAMP test on return to work, then again on day 5 and day 8 and LFTs before every single shift. If I don't do it/don't record the results I could face disciplinary action. I'm not even in a patient facing role!

trumpisagit · 08/12/2021 21:39

Lots of people are lfting everyday even without close contacts.
It's a very sensible recommendation from the school, how things are at the moment.

HariboMaroon · 08/12/2021 21:40

Just LFTs daily? Count yourself lucky. We have been told to test my year one daily with an LFT PLUS TWO PCRs a week.

I am at the end of my tether and they can get fucked!

soapboxqueen · 08/12/2021 21:43

If school were asking then I would but ours aren't.

The school were told that they weren't supposed to be telling parents if there was a covid case but that they would anyway. Apparently test and trace and supposed to contact us if we need to do a pcr.

Otherwise the school must say if you want to do a pcr you can but not in school time and only stay off if you get a positive result, not before.

mummymummymummummum · 08/12/2021 22:04

We've had some pretty serious requests. But all through Public Health England via the school. Did the school send out a letter from Public Health, or is it just the school's advice?

Recently the entire school population (nursery upwards) were all asked to LFT on a given morning, by Public Health. The school didn't really push it, just a couple of vague reminders. Year 3+ are meant to be testing twice weekly anyway. No idea how many are complying.

It'll be linked to the number of outbreaks. Ie number of classes with over 10% positive cases (3 cases in our case)

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