Can a primary school make children do lft age 4

[FoamBurst]

My neices school has said all dcs from reception age have to do a lft every day before school. Which seems extreme for young children. My sister can't find the guidance for this online. Does anyone know if there is a guidance on this.?

I thought the guidance was not
To keep testing under 5s?

No it's an advisory, not sure where guidance is DFE somewhere but as outbreaks grow schools are asking to stop the spread continuing so it's a good idea.

Many, if not most, primary schools are currently doing this. Because they're all riddled with covid (obviously not the schools fault).

No chance I'd be testing a child that age every day. Neither school my DCs attend have suggested this.

Many, if not most, primary schools are currently doing this. Because they're all riddled with covid (obviously not the schools fault).

I don't think that's true at all.

Not sure but my son's nursery asked me to do the same and he was only two. I refused and kept him home. They sent a message out a week later saying they no longer required daily LFTs so presuming a few complained. My 2 year old hated having pcr done every time he had a cough or temp. No way I was doing that every day.

They can ask / recommend / whatever but not insist. It's a sensible measure when cases are high and often recommended by local Public Health depts but they can't insist on it, or demand to see results.

Does the email really say they 'have to?' I bet it doesn't....

@Opihr

They can ask / recommend / whatever but not insist. It's a sensible measure when cases are high and often recommended by local Public Health depts but they can't insist on it, or demand to see results.

Does the email really say they 'have to?' I bet it doesn't....

It is recommended more on the fact that public officials have stakes in manufacturing companies, than any scientific basis.

The actual instructions that come with the tests specifically say they are designed to be administered by trained medical professionals and only then with onset of symptoms.

minhalexander.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/instructions-for-use-innova-sars-cov-2-antigen-test-ifu.pdf

I'd be asking what happens when I refuse tbh. DS could have gone in when I had covid if I tested him every day so he stayed home. Thankfully school understood. I tested him the day before he returned and I tested him when they sent him hoke with a cough. But given every time requires pinning him to the floor whilst he screams, I wouldn't be doing it daily

@MiniatureHotdog

Many, if not most, primary schools are currently doing this. Because they're all riddled with covid (obviously not the schools fault).

I don't think that's true at all.

It is round here. I think once they get above a certain number of cases they have to log it with the local authority or PHE, and then the advice they've been given is to request parents do daily LFD tests.

Our school has been full of Omicron (and I know of others too) last couple of weeks. Only class they haven't asked to test daily is reception. But it seems the younger a child is the more likely they are to be asymptomatic. And now the symptoms are often the same as common cold symptoms they tend to get overlooked anyway.

Just do it whilst asleep that's what we recommend in my special needs school, no need to pin to ground etc

@Picklesandbeans

Just do it whilst asleep that's what we recommend in my special needs school, no need to pin to ground etc

I was going to say the same after the first time pinning DS 4 down. I decided to do the tests when he's asleep which has worked well for us we are able to test him without the upset.

I can't see any of my children not waking up if I tested them properly while asleep, and if they did it could be dangerous - if they moved their head suddenly with a swab in at the required depth, surely?

@SleepingStandingUp

I'd be asking what happens when I refuse tbh. DS could have gone in when I had covid if I tested him every day so he stayed home. Thankfully school understood. I tested him the day before he returned and I tested him when they sent him hoke with a cough. But given every time requires pinning him to the floor whilst he screams, I wouldn't be doing it daily

Are you sure you’re doing it right? At the beginning you used to have to stick the swab halfway to your brain but these days the tests work fine with very minimal discomfort. Although i appreciate that if your child is already spooked it’s hard to change their mind.

@BewareTheBeardedDragon

I can't see any of my children not waking up if I tested them properly while asleep, and if they did it could be dangerous - if they moved their head suddenly with a swab in at the required depth, surely?

It really doesn’t need to be that deep at all.

Swab only needs to go just inside the nostril - most kids probably get further up there when they're picking their nose.

My kids all produced positive results that way, even when they were asymptomatic.

The guidelines currently are children under 5 don't need testing daily. Although I was asked to test DD2 who is 3 by school nursery last week as they have a few cases across nursery staff and children.

In Scotland, even if a child under 5 is a household contact of a positive case there is no requirement for them to isolate or do daily tests, unless they display symptoms.

It doesn't make much sense since my DD was positive for 5 days before my son was, both under 5 and both asymptomatic. According to official guidance I was never required to test either of them and both could have carried on at nursery etc.

I honestly don’t see the big deal with it. I’d rather test my kids than have them a) ill b) off school for a week or c) taught by random unknown staff and subs because teachers are off.

If your child won’t do it, or won’t do when asleep, then tell the school but it shouldn’t stop them from trying to manage numbers at least.

Just don't do it. I don't LFT my 8 year old. They can recommend but not force.

@altmember

Swab only needs to go just inside the nostril - most kids probably get further up there when they're picking their nose.

My kids all produced positive results that way, even when they were asymptomatic.

Ok, that's interesting. The booklet says it should go right to the back but it's good to know if that's not correct and will make my life easier if we need to test again. Thanks.

I imagine it would be incredibly traumatic of they made it compulsory! Hard enough to get mine to do a lft once or twice!!!

@Picklesandbeans

Just do it whilst asleep that's what we recommend in my special needs school, no need to pin to ground etc

F me. The madness

It's not compulsory, but advisory if there's an outbreak in the school. My kids school day from age 5, obviously many children in reception will be 4! It's entirely up to her. It's a good way to pick up causes and reduce an outbreak but they can't make you test!

Sometimes rewards work here as my two hate it. Using 2 adults is good too, just so one can distract whilst the other carries out the swab! Sometimes Dp has to hold down DS's hands so he he doesn't knock the swab out of my hand or his nose. It's over so quickly too!

My kids tested positive with swabs that were only a couple seconds long and didn't even go that far up the nose!

The advice from our school specifically says 5 and overs to lft every day. I've still been testing my 4yo though as we've got covid in the house.