Sibling with covid

superstar84 · 2021-10-30T17:34:24+00:00

Just wanted opinions of school staff really DS has covid and is in isolation, as I really expected to send DD into school? It seems crazy! I wasn't sure if it's one of those guidelines that is flexible and whether she can stay at home and stop the spread without getting into any absence issues?

Djifunrsn · 30/10/2021 18:35

Yep, I was ordered to send ds in when dd had Covid

frazzledquaver · 30/10/2021 19:48

Not school staff, but personally in this situation I would want to keep the sibling at home for the protection of others. You are supposed to send them in though, however, ridiculous this might sound, so I would probably say that they've "got a bit of a headache" and you want to see how it develops, or something like that. I hope your child with covid is doing ok and that the rest of you stay well.

Howshouldibehave · 30/10/2021 19:55

I am school staff and think it’s a really bonkers and stupid policy. The school has no choice though-the dfe have spent extra money on hiring attendance officers to investigate low attendance.

The dfe giving schools money for staffing and resources is just too much to ask though…

Original poster

superstar84 · 30/10/2021 21:00

It does seem crazy to me but if they say she has to go in then I don't feel I should keep her at home

It's so awkward though as if her friends realise that her brother has covid they won't want to play with her etc which is understandable

I wasn't sure if school had an absence code to use for siblings

OP posts:

Howshouldibehave · 30/10/2021 21:08

I wasn't sure if school had an absence code to use for siblings

No, we don’t, because the government don’t want household members of positive covid cases to stay off school.

PeachesPumpkin · 30/10/2021 21:12

I think the school would secretly prefer the sibling to stay home to protect staff. However the government have said schools are safe and COVID doesn’t happen in schools. Government have therefore declared siblings must go in and schools have to follow that.

PlugUgly1980 · 30/10/2021 21:12

The headteacher of our primary school is going against the grain and isn't happy to accept children from a household where there is a positive case. I think she's pretty sensible, although goes against Gov advice.

Howshouldibehave · 30/10/2021 21:12

@PlugUgly1980

The headteacher of our primary school is going against the grain and isn't happy to accept children from a household where there is a positive case. I think she's pretty sensible, although goes against Gov advice.

Very sensible.

PeachesPumpkin · 30/10/2021 21:13

HelenaJustina · 30/10/2021 21:22

School staff here (with attendance as part of my role). Guidance states ‘School attendance is mandatory for all pupils of compulsory school age and it is a priority to ensure that as many children as possible regularly attend school’
There is no code to use if a parent chooses to keep a sibling off in an infected household. I’m currently SI as tested positive this week along with 1DC. The other 3DC can toddle merrily off to their schools (though the secondary age ones should be testing twice weekly)

Lots and lots of our parents are completely disregarding the advice around lateral flow tests which states that ‘There is no need for primary age pupils (those in year 6 and below) to test.’ and are testing primary pupils regularly, my primary age children are doing them daily while we have positive cases in the house.

Prior to half term we had a situation where both parents were positive, they said that as they had to continue to care for their primary and preschool age children, they were all going to SI. We used our discretion and coded this using an X as the guidance defines this as ‘code X (not attending in circumstances related to coronavirus)’.

Speak to your school, they may be grateful that you are able to keep her at home. Or they may not set online learning for her if you are choosing to keep her at home when technically she should be in school.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 30/10/2021 21:25

The rules have just changed in Wales to say that if someone in the household has symptoms or a positive test everyone over the age of 5 needs to get a test and self isolate. If the result is negative they can stop isolating.

We have def had parents choosing to keep children off if a sibling or parent has covid and we as a school are not chasing to penalised them as the HT thinks it very sensible.

Original poster

superstar84 · 30/10/2021 21:51

I'll ring the school on Monday and see what they say

Tricky as we've been on half term so might be a rush in the morning if they say to bring her in

I'd prefer to keep her at home, I can't see how she won't end up catching as we're not keeping them apart as they are both young

We've got the windows open and I'm cleaning more than usual but trying not to make ds feel uncomfortable and germy!

Any top tips as to what I should say to lead the conversation?

OP posts:

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 30/10/2021 22:00

DC2 was off school with COVID before half-term. We got the PCR results back while DC1 was at school. Called DC1's school, expecting at least to collect her and keep her at home while awaiting her PCR and results, but they wanted her to remain in school.

Obviously we did book a PCR for after school, which was negative, fortunately.

Howshouldibehave · 30/10/2021 22:05

Any top tips as to what I should say to lead the conversation?

‘I wanted to let you know that DS has covid and is isolating. What should I do with regard to DD?’

I would keep her off Monday and say you’re getting a PCR.

QueenofLouisiana · 30/10/2021 22:07

May depend where you are. We are in an enhanced response area so have different restrictions in school. Here siblings need to be kept at hone until they have a PCR test, 3 days after the first sibling’s positive test. (Hope that makes sense!)

Trying to reduce the numbers in schools here as some schools have hundreds of positive cases.

Bobholll · 01/11/2021 13:33

I sent mine in to school & nursery when I had covid.

I PCR tested them when I tested positive and then lateral flowed them daily. They had no symptoms & a further PCR test a bit later on was also negative. We didn’t isolate from each other at all. Neither of my DD’s or husband caught it 🤷🏼‍♀️

It would have been a week of school missed for no reason & a weeks unauthorised absence. So I’m glad I sent them in!

Fudgeball123 · 01/11/2021 13:47

the R number is 1 (ish) so that means 1 person will pass it, on average, to one person. So chances are you will not all get it (but you could be unlucky). If you are cautious I would keep the other children off for a day or 2 and away from the one with COVID and test them daily and see whether they develop symptoms. If you get to day 3 or 4 and nothing then I would send them in (but keep up the daily testing).

LivingLALA · 18/11/2021 00:07

@Bobholll

I sent mine in to school & nursery when I had covid.

I PCR tested them when I tested positive and then lateral flowed them daily. They had no symptoms & a further PCR test a bit later on was also negative. We didn’t isolate from each other at all. Neither of my DD’s or husband caught it 🤷🏼‍♀️

It would have been a week of school missed for no reason & a weeks unauthorised absence. So I’m glad I sent them in!

This seems like you’re gambling with all the other children in the schools and their families’ health and safety, tbh.

On any of those days, your children could have become positive after coming home from school. Or the LFT’s could have been faulty or you didn’t test them properly to pick up enough viral material. Yet you decided to take the gamble anyway. Plus if you are testing them…how are you not exposing them to your airborne virus?

GOOD GRIEF! Why would you even post your message here and make yourself look like someone who values their own conveniences and cares not for other families in your own school community??

Unbelievable.

I hope others looking for answers will take your tale as a caution of what NOT to do to protect their schools and their children’s classmates around them.

Takeachance18 · 18/11/2021 17:55

Would you send your child to school if a sibling had chicken pox, flu, norovirus, most would, if child asymptomatic and it is the same for covid.

There are wider harms, imagine children who school is their escape from home - so much more harm has happened to the young over the past 2 years.

HauntedPencil · 18/11/2021 17:59

@Bobholll

I sent mine in to school & nursery when I had covid.

I PCR tested them when I tested positive and then lateral flowed them daily. They had no symptoms & a further PCR test a bit later on was also negative. We didn’t isolate from each other at all. Neither of my DD’s or husband caught it 🤷🏼‍♀️

It would have been a week of school missed for no reason & a weeks unauthorised absence. So I’m glad I sent them in!

Then you've exactly followed the track and trace guidelines and I have no idea why anyone would be giving you vitriol over that.

Parker231 · 18/11/2021 18:00

A friend has four children in primary. Three are off school with Covid. They have kept the fourth child off school to avoid the risk that they could pass on Covid to others at school as it likely the last child will end up getting Covid.