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Original poster

Child with covid - how long off school?

24 replies

SleepyJim · 16/09/2023 14:01

I know what the guidelines say about children (don't need to test them, can still attend school if well enough etc) but I wanted to ask for those who have had children who have tested positive recently and they were off school, how long were they off for?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 16/09/2023 15:22

If they have an actual positive test result then its advised for children to stay off for 3 days I think. Have you asked school what their policy is?

jannier · 16/09/2023 15:57

This is official guidance if you've tested.

Child with covid - how long off school?
Original poster
SleepyJim · 17/09/2023 08:26

So school want them in unless they have a high temperature. Thanks for posting the (IMO insane) guidance of being off for 3 days.

I wondered in reality what people had actually done in terms of time off school?

When my other DS had covid previously he continued to test positive for over 10 days. We all know that the current guidance is so lax because the government want people to take as little time off work as possible and is not based on good public health.

I have a real problem with sending my child who is coughing and spluttering and still testing positive into school, but I know the official guidance won’t support me.

OP posts:
itispersonal · 17/09/2023 08:41

We have covid. Daughter started being ill on Friday 8th September and has had all of this week off and she may not be back tomorrow! It has completely wiped her out! She's not eating much, no energy, an awful cough and still burning up on and off

Theimpossiblegirl · 17/09/2023 09:10

If they're ill, they're ill.
If they seem well they go in.
Same for teachers and other school staff. Seems a bit silly but that's how it works now.

welshweasel · 17/09/2023 09:19

I'd send mine in when they were well enough, same as with any other viral illness. For this reason, I wouldn't test them, I don't see the point. Even in peak Covid we didn't test young children in wales so have been following this advice for years.

I work in the NHS and we are expected to come to work so long as we don't have a fever and we feel well enough.

Iammetoday · 17/09/2023 09:20

I would keep your child off until completely better. Completely different for adults as sick leave is taken into account etc, I'm a teacher abd being asked not to test as covid does its rounds but only stay home if unfit fir work, if sire throat, cough cold we are to come to work- wear a mask if we want but have to cone to work. A colleague took a week off- the bitching by slt was horrible.

StillWantingADog · 17/09/2023 09:22

I would keep off until temperature is ok. My kids have had covid several times between them and were only “off colour” for 2-3 days max

SorryWorry · 17/09/2023 09:26

I work in a school and we have just been told this week that if we test positive we are to stay off for five days and come back in on the sixth day. I'm assuming the guidance is the same for the children. We have also this week gone back to online meetings rather than in person. It feel like we've gone back a year or so!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 17/09/2023 09:29

SleepyJim · 17/09/2023 08:26

So school want them in unless they have a high temperature. Thanks for posting the (IMO insane) guidance of being off for 3 days.

I wondered in reality what people had actually done in terms of time off school?

When my other DS had covid previously he continued to test positive for over 10 days. We all know that the current guidance is so lax because the government want people to take as little time off work as possible and is not based on good public health.

I have a real problem with sending my child who is coughing and spluttering and still testing positive into school, but I know the official guidance won’t support me.

So tell school your child has a high temperature? Your child is coughing and spluttering and clearly not well, keep them at home.

Original poster
SleepyJim · 17/09/2023 09:37

Thanks for the thoughts. I would like to keep him off - partly because I’m not sure how much he will learn when not feeling well and coughing all the time, and partly because of my own guilt of sending him in whilst likely infectious and being the source of someone else’s infection. I am an utter stickler for the rules and I know the current rules are to send in but the previous ones when we’re actually trying to reduce the spread of infection made a lot more sense to me (I work for the NHS in public health!)

However DS also lives with his dad part of the week and his dad disagrees with me.

so interesting how schools are doing different things - advice not to test in one, go in even if positive in another, and stay off for 5 days in a third.

No wonder people don’t know what to do for the best!

OP posts:
allthehops · 17/09/2023 09:38

I have a real problem with sending my child who is coughing and spluttering and still testing positive into school, but I know the official guidance won’t support me.

Tbh I've never sent a child into school who's coughing and spluttering, covid or not.

Original poster
SleepyJim · 17/09/2023 09:43

allthehops · 17/09/2023 09:38

I have a real problem with sending my child who is coughing and spluttering and still testing positive into school, but I know the official guidance won’t support me.

Tbh I've never sent a child into school who's coughing and spluttering, covid or not.

Very true!

I’ve already had his tutor email me (and he has an excellent attendance record so it’s not like he has a pattern of absence from school) so I feel like if I said “oh he’s still coughing and not feeling well” it wouldn’t be enough.

OP posts:
sanityisamyth · 17/09/2023 09:51

DS has covid. He was sick after school on Friday in front of his teacher. Got him home and did a covid test (turned out he was in contact with someone positive on Monday) which instantly turned positive. Let school know and they said 3 days from positive, so allowed back on Tuesday if he's well enough. He was back to normal last night so should be fine for school. Just hoping he will be ok for Scouts on Monday!

Original poster
SleepyJim · 17/09/2023 20:14

sanityisamyth · 17/09/2023 09:51

DS has covid. He was sick after school on Friday in front of his teacher. Got him home and did a covid test (turned out he was in contact with someone positive on Monday) which instantly turned positive. Let school know and they said 3 days from positive, so allowed back on Tuesday if he's well enough. He was back to normal last night so should be fine for school. Just hoping he will be ok for Scouts on Monday!

Hope he is better soon!

OP posts:
sanityisamyth · 17/09/2023 23:17

@SleepyJim thanks :) he bounced back to his normal self yesterday morning so it's very frustrating he can't go to school until Tuesday, but thems the rules!

Original poster
SleepyJim · 18/09/2023 07:12

sanityisamyth · 17/09/2023 23:17

@SleepyJim thanks :) he bounced back to his normal self yesterday morning so it's very frustrating he can't go to school until Tuesday, but thems the rules!

Is he still testing positive? I tested my son yesterday, who has now been off for 4 days, and still a blazing positive.

I am really struggling with the thought of sending a child with a positive test back into school.

OP posts:
sleepyscientist · 18/09/2023 07:24

How is he in himself? If he's still too unwell he stays off like any viral illness. I can see the governments point that missing time at school when well isn't the best for them as it's so common now they will get it every year.

Original poster
SleepyJim · 18/09/2023 07:33

He is tired and still coughing a bit. His first lesson is PE - would you let a child with active covid do PE when we know you are meant to take it easy on return to activities?

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/09/2023 07:35

SleepyJim · 18/09/2023 07:33

He is tired and still coughing a bit. His first lesson is PE - would you let a child with active covid do PE when we know you are meant to take it easy on return to activities?

No I wouldn't, just keep him off, why the angst? He is unwell and has a cough.

Original poster
SleepyJim · 18/09/2023 07:37

The angst is that it’s one of the days he is with his dad, therefore his dad would have to take the day off to keep him home. His dad thinks he should be at school

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/09/2023 07:37

SleepyJim · 18/09/2023 07:37

The angst is that it’s one of the days he is with his dad, therefore his dad would have to take the day off to keep him home. His dad thinks he should be at school

Go in but with a note for PE?

VisionsOfSplendour · 18/09/2023 07:38

This is hypothetical only as I wouldn't be testing for covid but I wouldn't even know what the school guidelines are, Id use the same criteria as with any type of illness to decide whether my child was well enough for school

Id ring in every day the same as any other illness, imo you are overthinking this

A child is well enough or not well enough, its straight forward isn't it?

Runnersandtoms · 18/09/2023 07:41

I think the official guidance is a minimum for a positive test but if a child (or an adult for that matter) is actually feeling unwell then of course it's reasonable to stay at home.

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