48 hour rule

[BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou]

PLEASE follow the 48 hour rule and don’t send your children to school within 48 hours of them vomiting.

DH and I have Tickets for Book of Mormon tonight... been looking forward to it for ages.

However, this morning a child vomited on my feet. He had vomited at home but his Mum still sent him in. When I called her she was quite cross as she was in a coffee shop with her sister and wanted us to “just send him back to class until I’m finished”. While I was trying to explain that he wasn’t “absolutely fine” he threw up again...avoiding the bag he’d been given and getting another staff member instead. Despite copious handwashing and wearing gloves while I cleaned up his vomit, I’ve been throwing up now since 3 o’clock so will be missing the show (DH is taking a friend so tickets not wasted) and I won’t be in work tomorrow to help with the World Book Day trip to the library. It’s possible that the trip won’t go ahead if another member of staff can’t be freed up.

There really are reasons for us asking you not to send your children into school when they’ve been sick, PLEASE don’t do it.

Has OP said she won't be?

Oh I apologise, I read it as she's been into school but now I see it's been in touch. Sorry OP

Surely you should also observe the 48 hour rule OP?

Sat at home bored out of my tiny mind!

I totally agree. However in my childrens school the teachers also do this....because the school can't get cover!! So the teacher comes in after a day, still feeling rough, and spreading the germs to the class.

To be fair though debbs77, the teacher is probably not spreading too many germs as she/he will be much more adept at personal hygiene than the children. I will probably go in tomorrow myself. I can avoid contact with children (I’m non teaching), I haven’t thrown up in over 24 hours (last school I was at only had a 24 hour rule) so over 36 by tomorrow morning, I can ensure I wash my hands etc. My own family haven’t caught anything from me and I share a bed with one of them!

Head teacher is happy for me to go in so long as I feel 100% which I do now.

Can you avoid contact with the other staff?

Schools sadly have to prove that they are trying to manage attendance. Ofsted and the LEA expect it. It's a tick box exercise that proves they contact parents, it doesn't mean they are going to do anything else. They just get grief for it.

Can you avoid contact with the other staff?

Yes! With stomach bugs it is only physical contact or contact with or close proximity to vomit that causes the problem. I am not vomiting (since yesterday evening), have had no diarrhoea, am an adult who can wash my hands and I’m not in the habit of snogging my colleagues. School nursing team have confirmed that an adult can return to work 24 hours after no symptoms.

Schools sadly have to prove that they are trying to manage attendance. Ofsted and the LEA expect it. It's a tick box exercise that proves they contact parents, it doesn't mean they are going to do anything else. They just get grief for it.

^absolutely this...

karmi DD2 is on laxatives for chronic constipation and when we're adjusting doses like we have to do periodically she can get the runs slightly. I checked with school, explained it to them, and they're fine with the 48 hours not being stuck to then when I know the reason and it's not illness related - but school know me well enough to know I'm one who doesn't send in ill kids because I don't want to give the teachers the lurgy!

I don't send mine in if they're ill or obviously brewing something - DD1 is quite useful as when she's getting ill the endless talking stops which is a brilliant indication system!

I'd be most upset if you turned up and gave me a bug for the weekend

For each parent who sends their child to school when they are not well enough to be there, there are about three who keep their children at home when there is really no need. But that’s a whole different thread........

Some children vomit when overexcited at a party or such. It's almost always a phase. They are the only kids who can come to school the next day, provided they aren't sick again and have a decent night.