Primary school children - LFT

[LittleDonkeyKong]

Our school has request lft for 7 days as cases in all year groups. Guidance as of 7/1/22 on Gov website states there is no need for primary school children to test. Thoughts?

I did it when advised for my DDs class. She tested positive on LFT on day 5 of the testing. Wouldn't have picked it up otherwise as she was asymptomatic at the time. DD(6) can do the whole test herself and DS(3) does the swab and 4 drops. No need for chasing children and tears if they do their own!

They wont do them themselves!

@FinallySomeNormality

Had an email from DS primary today saying a couple of cases in his class and advising parents to commence 7 days LFT on their kids to try and contain the outbreak.

I would happily do this on DS as I'm keen to do anything to try and keep kids in school and teachers safe etc. ...BUT the issue I have is that we've run out of LFT and the few times I tried online to order more today hasn't worked out (I know you have to try regularly throughout the day as more get released, but I've been at work on calls most the day so it hasn't been possible). DS also bloody HATES the tests....he's 5 and has done several in his life and each time he gets more nervous and it takes up to an hour to actually get it done! If we manage to get hold of more LFT I will give it a bloody good go though.

DH and I agreed we would do daily LFT too (you know, if we get any) - in the event we simply can't wrestle DS to actually do them each day. Hopefully that might help somewhat.

Parents have been sharing theirs out when people run out at our primary. Maybe they can help you out?

Why start the thread when you’re clearing not going to test? Pointless

I struggle to test 8yo DS. I can do his throat but he will not let me swab his nose. Not helpful when the new LFTs are nose swab only!

Ignore it, don't do it, unless they display symptoms.

I wouldn't do it on my 4 year old. He is young for his age and reception has been a massive adjustment as it is. He finds the tests very distressing so I wont do them on him now, only a PCR if he has symptoms. If that makes me selfish so be it.

My 8 year old has better understanding of the whole thing and sits still for tests so if I could get hold of tests then I would do them on him if he was happy to do so.

We had lots of screaming last year. No problems since we started asking them to stick their tongue out while swabbing… at first I told them to try and lick the opposite wall/my wrist/elbow/Daddy’s face (husband sitting opposite) or anything similar. The resultant giggling helped, as did being distracted and concentrating on something else. And when their tongue is out, their nose isn’t all screwed up, so it’s more comfortable in general. Singing wibble wibble wibble wibble helped too.., but I think that might just be us!! (Kids are year 2&4)

Given they only have to do 10 turns in each nostril why are your children sick? I the guidance you quoted is not the close contact guidance which is what your school is applying. By testing asymptomatic children are identified and the spread stops. Are you so selfish that you don't wait the spread to stop?

@OnceuponaRainbow18

Why start the thread when you’re clearing not going to test? Pointless

Tbh this - what else can people say really? You could speak to the school but I doubt they’ll enforce testing for those ages although I suppose they might enforce isolation from school otherwise?

Are they asking for confirmation of results? If not they’re probably expecting a percentage of parents/pupils not to do it.

I have a child In. Year 5 and 10. We all test Sunday and Wednesday evening. At the start I'm sure my youngest wasn't doing it properly but now just gets it done herself. She is the only one of the three of us to test positive.

Just seems the right thing to do. As we spend a lot of time with my parents.

They’re being asked to do it as close contacts, nothing to do with primary kids not being required to test asymptomatically. I would do as many as you can; getting my daughter to do her own worked a treat (and she got herself a positive lateral flow and PCR so must have the right technique 😆).

@Lalalablahblahblah

She doesn't have special needs! Can a CHILD not be so scared of something that they cry so much they start heaving?? As a toddler she would be physically sick if she cried heavily!
Honestly wish I'd not started this post now that my child is being attacked. I can deal with people calling me selfish or stupid but not that!

@LittleDonkeyKong

Last time I tried there was literally WW3. Hysterics and almost throwing up! (The kids not me!)

Don’t do it

Not required as part of routine twice weekly testing no. But as advised by public health as part of an outbreak yes they can advise this. Better than closing entire year groups.

You think I didn't try????? I tried for over half an hour when previously trying to get her to do a LFT!!!!
I'm not commenting now. I'm disgusted that my child has been so harshly judged!

So you don’t give a stuff because of Boris. If you don’t care about the actual families your child may infect, then at least try to do it to keep your own child in education. If it spreads enough, classes will be closed as there will be no staff to teach.

@LittleDonkeyKong

You think I didn't try????? I tried for over half an hour when previously trying to get her to do a LFT!!!! I'm not commenting now. I'm disgusted that my child has been so harshly judged!

tbf I think maybe people are judging you rather than your child. It's a bit much for a 10/11 year old to be wailing for half an hour till they're sick over what is really, really not that big a deal.

My DD was seriously ill as a young child and had a lot of invasive tests and procedures. It was so stressful but I had to step up as her mother and help the medical staff get those procedures done but also keep her calm. I do, honestly, appreciate how difficult it is (and how gut wrenching it can be when they're upset over something like this) but honestly, it's a little cotton bud swiped round the nose a few times. Not a bloody lumbar puncture.

School has requested it in our area as there is an out break in school so they are close contacts.

The example you gave is for routine testing. Primary don't need to do this.
If they are known close contacts of a positive case (perhaps there's a case in the classroom), then they should test daily for 7 days as this is the advice for all children over 5.

I’m not even sure why you’re posting op? What were you expecting?

I’m a selfish parent and don’t give a monkeys about anyone else?

You’ll be the first to complain long and loud of your kids get seriously ill from Covid because another child refused to test.