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Original poster

How do we gets get our kids to school

24 replies

lemontingle · 27/01/2022 08:56

Both dc have just had covid and are now negative on LFTs and after day 6 so they are back at school. But now me and DP have both tested positive.

Are we allowed to drive them to school? We don't get out the car normally, the kids just get out and go in.

Is this allowed? What do you do?

OP posts:
MalbecandToast · 27/01/2022 08:58

Yeah just drive up and let them get out. Explain to school and let them know where you will be parked at 3 and they will send the kids our to you Smile

SomewhereOnlyIKnow · 27/01/2022 09:00

No, you shouldn’t be going out.

ChoiceMummy · 27/01/2022 09:26

Not allowed.
Ask someone else or speak to the school.

treeflowercat · 27/01/2022 09:41

Of course it's ok to drive them. Who will
you infect behind the wheel of a car?

Some posters love following rules to the letter though, even if clearly pointless. They get a kick out of feeling puritanically virtuous I think!

aliloandabanana · 27/01/2022 09:42

Who would know?!

cafedesreves · 27/01/2022 09:43

Can't see there's any risk at all here!

SomewhereOnlyIKnow · 27/01/2022 10:03

If you get in a car crash you then have to deal with the other driver while you are infected.
If you need the emergency services you’re putting them at risk.
Stat at home means just that.

cafedesreves · 27/01/2022 10:26

@SomewhereOnlyIKnow

If you get in a car crash you then have to deal with the other driver while you are infected. If you need the emergency services you’re putting them at risk. Stat at home means just that.
That could also happen going to get a PCR test. The risk to kids of missing another week of education is higher.
Remmy123 · 27/01/2022 10:31

Just drive them - kids need to get to school!!

Original poster
lemontingle · 27/01/2022 10:52

@SomewhereOnlyIKnow

If you get in a car crash you then have to deal with the other driver while you are infected. If you need the emergency services you’re putting them at risk. Stat at home means just that.
I never thought of this. But my kids have missed so much school in the last year and they have been off all last week. It's so difficult
OP posts:
Abraxan · 27/01/2022 10:54

A few of our parents have brought them in by car and had another parent walk them into the playground. Infants so can't go in alone. Others have had friends bring them in instead.

Equally several have just kept their children off. We authorise the absence and provide home learning activities. We actually prefer it in many ways as almost every child still sent in has subsequently tested positive.

steppemum · 27/01/2022 10:57

well, according to the rules you should not leave the house.

But as many things in life, there has to be some compromise.

My friend is a single mum with no help and a 6 year old and lives in the same street as the school. She tested positive yesterday and phoned the school. School walked her dd home and is picking up/dropping off today and tomorrow.
I am absolutely sure that is above and beyond their remit.

So, given that your kids are old enough to walk in and out themselves, I would drive and drop off.

steppemum · 27/01/2022 10:58

@Abraxan

A few of our parents have brought them in by car and had another parent walk them into the playground. Infants so can't go in alone. Others have had friends bring them in instead.

Equally several have just kept their children off. We authorise the absence and provide home learning activities. We actually prefer it in many ways as almost every child still sent in has subsequently tested positive.

I see your point, but OPs kids have just had it and gave it to the parents
Narutocrazyfox · 27/01/2022 11:01

Just drive them - there's absolutely no reason they should miss school.

Abraxan · 27/01/2022 11:07

Steppemum

True. Missed that bit as skin read.
So yes, going to school if they can but parents must not be out and about. I'd have no issues in this situation with a parent driving but staying inside car. Just carry masks etc incase of emergency.

There are several reasons why you can leave isolation and the same 'risk' levels apply re accidents etc. you just have to mask up and earn anyone coming near you that you are covid positive. I have left the house to drive myself twice this week - one for pcr, one for hospital appointment.

The likelihood of being in such an accident to render you in a state of not being able to communicate , in a school run, will be minimal.

treeflowercat · 27/01/2022 13:18

@SomewhereOnlyIKnow

If you get in a car crash you then have to deal with the other driver while you are infected. If you need the emergency services you’re putting them at risk. Stat at home means just that.
This is batshit risk assessment, it really is. It's insane.

Scenario 1:
Doing school run without Covid and risk of accident requiring emergency services.

Risk Assessment:
Risk or serious injury to me and my children is extremely low, so low in fact I don't give it a second thought.

Scenario 2
Doing school run with Covid and risk of accident requiring emergency services.

Risk Assessment:
I'm fine with the risk of serious injury to me and my children, but the risk that I might possibly give someone Covid, an infection that half the country (literally!) have had and is mild for most, is a far more serious than my child having a serious injury requiring paramedics... so serious in fact that I now won't drive!

treeflowercat · 27/01/2022 13:23

The likelihood of being in such an accident to render you in a state of not being able to communicate , in a school run, will be minimal.

Indeed, so there's a 1-in-million chance of this happening..... and yet the possibility of passing Covid is deemed by some to be the issue to be concerned about here, not the serious injury to you and your family... "my child my have broken their back in the crash, but who cares about that and when I might possibly pass on Covid!"

ANameChangeAgain · 27/01/2022 13:28

If there's a tiny risk of an accident on the way, and even smaller risk of that accident rendering you to need medical treatment, and even smaller chance of the person coming into contact with you not being vaccinated. Just drive to school, it'll be fine.

altmember · 27/01/2022 13:28

Legally, you can't leave your home to take them. That's the letter of the rules. Practically, as long as it's only a short drive then just get on with it.

Abraxan · 27/01/2022 14:40

@altmember

Legally, you can't leave your home to take them. That's the letter of the rules. Practically, as long as it's only a short drive then just get on with it.
It's not quite that simple as one of the reasons you can leave is to fulfil a legal obligation.

Some have argued that a child on roll for a school, is legally obliged to attend unless they are ill themselves.

I have no idea if that could ever stand up to scrutiny. I doubt it has been tested officially.

Some schools refuse to mark child absence, due to parents/caters being positive, as authorised. We do authorise it but I've heard lots don't. Not all parents have childcare they can call in to do school runs for them.

Blueroses99 · 27/01/2022 14:48

Same situation here. I was planning to ask classmates parents if they wouldn’t mind taking DD in as I know some of them pass us on the way to school - however she is still testing positive on day 7 so it’s a moot point as she can’t stop isolating. I expect I’ll be able to take her in on Monday myself.

treeflowercat · 27/01/2022 14:50

Not all parents have childcare they can call in to do school runs for them.

Although not an issue in the OP's case, surely getting someone else to drop children into school involves a far higher risk than driving them in, if the children haven't yet had it (but are quite possibly incubating it), but for some, rules are to be obeyed, period.

whatkatydid2013 · 27/01/2022 15:08

We've had a friend take them in. Risk of a serious accident is obviously small but we were actually feeling a bit rotten so probably wasn't very sensible to drive.

If someone else can help out that's probably optimal but if not then as long as you feel ok to drive I would do that rather than have them miss school

Original poster
lemontingle · 27/01/2022 15:09

Thank you all. I drove them to school!
It's only 5 mins away and decided that as they are now allowed back they shouldn't miss any more school.
The past 2 years have been awful for them

OP posts:
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