Do you have questions about the return to school or regular COVID-19 testing? Ask GP Dr Amir Khan and principal Gerard Garvey

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With schools now open to all children, we know that many parents are feeling relieved to have their children back to school. However, you might still be feeling a bit unsure about the transition, what new and existing protective measures are being implemented (including regular rapid testing), or how teachers are helping children catch up following time away from the classroom. So, this week GP Dr Amir Khan and principal Gerard Garvey will be here on Mumsnet answering any questions you have about children's return to school.

Find out more about the experts below:

Dr Amir Khan is an NHS Doctor, GP, and best-selling author. Dr Amir is a frequent face on ‘Good Morning Britain’ and ‘Lorraine’ and will be able to offer his expert medical advice on any questions that you have as all children return to schools.

Gerard Garvey is the principal at Newcastle Sixth Form College. Gerard has first-hand experience of ensuring that schools are ready to welcome students back with additional COVID-19 measures so parents and pupils can feel at ease about face-to-face learning.

Here’s what Dr Amir Khan says: “It’s great to be seeing all children heading back to schools. Being in the classroom is so important, and children and young people continue to be at relatively low risk from COVID-19. It’s great to see new and existing measures in place at schools, to help protect both students and staff. New measures such as increased use of face coverings for all educational staff as well as secondary and college pupils and regular rapid COVID-19 testing are now available for secondary school and college pupils, education staff, and families and bubbles of all children.

Rapid lateral flow tests are essential in the fight against Covid-19. If you, your family or bubble test positive at home, then you should all self-isolate and the person who has tested positive should also take a confirmatory PCR test and follow latest government guidance. All these measures are there to ensure your child is safe at school because ultimately, it really is the best place for children to be, not just for their education but for their mental wellbeing and development too.”

Here’s what Gerard Garvey, says: “It’s been challenging for a lot of children, teachers and parents, particularly over the last few months, so it’s great our doors are open to all children once more, to see their smiling faces! The new and existing measures in place, will take the risk of Covid-19 down even further than it has been before. All students are our priority, and we want to reassure parents that we are keeping your children as safe as possible at school. Please ask us any questions you may have.”

From more information on testing for education staff, parents and support bubbles of nursery, school and college students, and what to do if you receive a positive result, to the rules on face coverings and what protective measures schools have put in place to welcome children back, Dr Amir and Gerard Garvey will be answering your questions throughout the week.

Please note that Dr Amir will not be able to respond to questions asking for specific or personal medical advice. If you are worried about a personal health issue, please contact your GP.

As a thanks for their time, all who leave a question on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list) supplied by Mumsnet. The prize draw will be carried out on 23rd March.

Thanks,

MNHQ

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Hello, schools being back might mean an increase in common colds ect, should I keep kids off if they have a blocked nose for example, as I know of people who experienced this as a symptom of covid?

What on-line training are staff given , so I can have assurance that the tests are done correctly - nothing worse than a false negative or positive on a family - do you think the training is being put into place effectively.

People seem to be getting the cold and flu symptoms confused with coronavirus - especially as schools have re opened. This is becoming an issue when lockdown eases each time the children get blamed; what measure can parent take to ensure their childrens bodies are happy healthy and have some immunity for the clashing of - its the virus when in fact its flu season

My children take a dose of multi vitamins including vit c and elderberry syrup with a tsp of honey - they have luckily had no common cold or the back to school bug anything else you reccomend? As I really don't want the Schools to close and their routine to be shut down again - as its important for their Mental health as well as mine.

Thank you for any advice you may give

Somone in my house is shielding, should I send the kids to school?

I’ve heard a lot about getting false positives and having to isolate for 10 days. Do u feel like the kids should be tested again just in case?

Is there a way to test without swabbing the nose or throat? My daughter has developed an aversion to anything near her nose since she had to have a covid test, she won't even let me blow it (she's 6). Also is there anything extra I can do to help keep my children safe? They are both at primary school, but my eldest is going up to grammar school in September and I'm concerned for him, going from a school with only 180 pupils to one with over 1000. Thank you

What sort of measures are going to be taken to ensure children don't fall behind ? Will there be extra help for those children who need it? What sort of help will there be and when? Will it be during school hours or are the rumours of extra lessons in the holidays true?

Both my kids' schools encourage parents to allow their children to take the lateral flow tests, but if they refuse, the children just come in as normal. Doesn't this undermine all the efforts being made by the school to make a secure environment for all? Also, what is the incentive for low income parents to self-isolate if they fear they could lose vital pay or even their job? Thank you very much for all you do!

I am stunned by the news from school that if my child has a negative PCR test further to a positive home LFT they will be required to isolate regardless. Given my NHS consultant husband does twice weekly home LFTs and would be expected to return to work as soon as a negative PCR test is received why can't the same be for schools? With a child about to sit the replacement assessments for A levels any further time out of school would be extremely detrimental (and on a number of levels). It does not make me want to engage ...

What are the possibilities of false positive with these tests? Do they catch the asymptomatic people ?

At our school only the row in front and behind in a classroom get sent home of someone tests positive- does that really work?

I’m worried about my child suffering from anxiety, and not sure how to manage this correctly - she’s worried about going to school, worried about leaving me at home, worried that she might catch the virus, or that we’ll catch the virus - the list goes on - how do I deal with this positively?

As a mum who works in a care home and seeing what COVID-19 can do I’m happy for my son to be tested I spoke with my son over him getting tested he was happy about it my concern is it getting done correctly. In my work place people have had training to be able to test staff and we are getting tested at least twice weekly.

Do you expect children to be offered the vaccine at any point in the future?

After lockdown , my previously confident 4 year old finds very hard meeting other people . She was so emotionally overwhelmed that weeper throughout school . She has become very shy ? She loved her nursery before . I’m very worried about this impact on mental health at this age ?

How long will testing go on for? What are the benefits for doing the tests?

Would bringing back free school milk help the children build up their immune systems?

My 6 year sold son is thrilled to be back at school but he is also an anxious child and he has started to increasingly worry about catching Covid at school. He is asking constant questions about Covid now, and who is likely to get very sick and/or die from it, and will he or us, his parents, possibly die from it too.

We are trying to do our best to give him age-appropriate facts and reassure him but it doesn’t seem to be getting through. Do you have any ideas to help him understand and cope please?

My eldest son attends a specialist school and with profound medical and complex special needs and being pre-verbal he can't vocalise his opinions. The tests are not a legal requirement, or mandatory, and whilst my other two children in mainstream are taking the tests regularly and giving their consent, he can't. In the interest of fighting this virus, and his vulnerability, however, we would like to do regular tests on him at home, how possible is it to obtain these quick tests to perform on him and where would we get them from? Please advise. Thanks

How reliable are the results from these lateral flow tests?, I'm worried that if my son receives a positive test and he has to self-isolate again that his already fragile mental health will be much worse.

Will these LONG lockdowns have an affect on our immune systems natural ability to fight viruses?

Also WHO has stated asymptomatic spread is NOT a thing, so why are we treating healthy people & Children like theyre ill?

I was wondering if schools if schools are still offering remote learning, and free school meal vouchers in the event my children have to take time off school?

How reliable are the lateral flow tests? Do they pick up a symptomatic cases?

Is there any point in the LFT considering nearly a third of the pupils at my child's school are refusing to take it ? Will it bring a false security?

How are close contacts decided? DS had to self isolate due to a positive case in his class, but it was only his table of 4 children who had to isolate. There have been a further 6 cases in the same class over a 3 week period. Each time it is just that table sent home to isolate. The whole class play together outside at break and lunch times so it seems it will be a continuous cycle of isolations until everyone in the class has finally had it.