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Original poster

Should I send DS to school, sister positive, he has a cold.

57 replies

maudmadrigal · 13/12/2021 07:36

Really not sure what to do.

DS is Y8. Has had 8 days off school this term with tonsillitis. Recent school report was disappointing (the two things possibly aren't unrelated). He has a cold - snotty and sneezy but not really ill.

DD2 got a positive LFT result last night. No symptoms. Booked in for PCR today.

Do I send DS in? My understanding of letter of law is that I do, and I don't really want him missing more school, or an unauthorised absence. DH (who works in NHS and does.our local omicron modelling, so isn't unaware of situation) says he should go. DS is worried about it and doesn't think he should.

OP posts:
Immunetypegoblin · 13/12/2021 07:38

Even if your DS doesn't have it, he stands a good chance of being sent home anyway if he has cold symptoms tbh. Maybe a pragmatic approach will work with your DH?

CakesOfVersailles · 13/12/2021 07:40

I wouldn't send him

Sealsandseagulls · 13/12/2021 07:42

I’m fairly laid back but I think the rules have changed now to say close contacts have to isolate, or am I wrong? Apologies if I am.

Donatella · 13/12/2021 07:42

I'd kep him off today and get him a PCR when you take DD (household contacts are supposed to get one anyway so it makes sense to do it all in one go), then send him in only if it is negative. I'd also get him to lateral flow each day before school

Vallmo47 · 13/12/2021 07:42

Please contact the school and say exactly what you have in your post, OP. Give them the final say. I wouldn’t send my kid in under these circumstances but if you explain to school office they will feel involved in making the call and therefore it won’t impact him negatively for his attendance.
As for what he’s missing - there’s not a lot going on the last few days before Christmas holidays so if he’s able he can do some reading/spellings/homework from home. That is my honest opinion.

Whinge · 13/12/2021 07:43

I would keep him home until you get her PCR results.

MousesBack · 13/12/2021 07:44

No he shouldn't go in until he's had a PCR to confirm that the cold is "just" a cold.

JustSinginInTheRain · 13/12/2021 07:44

No. Get pcr test first.

mugglenutmeg · 13/12/2021 07:46

I'd keep him home and get a PCR.

Contact the school and ask teachers to email him work etc.

Sparkle275 · 13/12/2021 07:46

If your DS didn't have a cold I would say send as per covid rules even with the positive case but the cold could be the start of covid. I would get a PCR for everyone in the house and go off that.

dollywoodlooksgood · 13/12/2021 07:49

No, get a PCR test first and wait for the results. Might not be a cold.

RoseAndRose · 13/12/2021 07:51

there’s not a lot going on the last few days before Christmas holidays so if he’s able he can do some reading/spellings/homework from home

He's Y8 (ie 12/13yo) so the timetable is likely to be continuing right up to the end of term. A bit of reading/spellings is more primary school activity. But homework/revision is always good.

Schools should be prepared to switch to off-site learning. So I think enquiringly if the school office whether they want him on at all is a good one. And in the same call you could ask how he can access off-site provision

RedskyThisNight · 13/12/2021 07:57

@Vallmo47

Please contact the school and say exactly what you have in your post, OP. Give them the final say. I wouldn’t send my kid in under these circumstances but if you explain to school office they will feel involved in making the call and therefore it won’t impact him negatively for his attendance. As for what he’s missing - there’s not a lot going on the last few days before Christmas holidays so if he’s able he can do some reading/spellings/homework from home. That is my honest opinion.
I wouldn't send my child in under your circumstances either.

But it's not a given there is nothing going on in the last week of term. DC's school work up to the last day (in Year 10,they were working on GCSE coursework the week before Christmas). More so this year with "catching up" to do, I would think.

MamanSparkles · 13/12/2021 08:00

Are you really thinking of sending your son to school when:

  • he is a close household contact of someone with covid
  • he has what we, and the scientists, all know are symptoms of covid (even if the government haven't caught up)
  • he hasn't had a PCR
Just before Christmas?? From a CEV teacher who is still seriously at risk despite vaccines, please don't do this.
Jelly0naplate · 13/12/2021 08:02

I'd keep him off and get a PCR for him - say he's symptomatic as well.

The rules depend on where you live. If you're in Scotland, and poss Wales, you'd all have to isolate until neg PCR received but in England you don't.
As of tomorrow it's daily lateral flows for positive houses in England.
Does he have work he can get on with at home?

Coldenough · 13/12/2021 08:04

I would keep him at home.

Jayaywhynot · 13/12/2021 08:08

I've literally just been texting a friend who's got covid and hers started with the symptoms of a cold, I didn't know that it could start like that 🙄
I wouldn't send your DC into school

AlexaIWillNeverSayDucking · 13/12/2021 08:20

Keep him home and get him tested, as he has symptoms. Your DD has it, this is not being over cautious.

You will be ruining a lot of Christmas plans if you spread it round now.

VerbenaGirl · 13/12/2021 08:23

DDs best friend was sent home from school on Friday because her sister had a positive LFT (since confirmed with PCR).

DoubleShotEspresso · 13/12/2021 08:24

Keep him home and get a PCR

PurpleDaisies · 13/12/2021 08:26

Positive sister and cold symptoms is covid until proven otherwise.

Keep him off and get a pcr test.

MalbecandToast · 13/12/2021 08:27

Close contacts of positive cases are advised to get a PCR and take a LFT for 7 days following this. Book him one at the same time as your daughters.

Panacotta · 13/12/2021 08:28

Keep him home & test him.

PurpleDaisies · 13/12/2021 08:31

inews.co.uk/news/covid-christmas-guidance-isolate-if-you-have-cold-like-symptoms-christmas-parties-leading-expert-says-1337022/amp

Mr Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, said the UK should “get more people to isolate at least for a few days with cold-like symptoms”.
“At the moment, we’re estimating that somewhere between one and three and one in four colds are actually due to Covid,” he told Times Radio.

LowlyTheWorm · 13/12/2021 08:32

I thought the rules had changed back to people having to isolate when anyone in the house had covid?