Hello
My son is 7 years old and suffers from a rare medical condition and has global developmental delay/hypoglycaemic brain damage; sight and mobility issues. Yesterday he went swimming at his school pool for the first time. He is in Year 2. I told the school in great detail what this would mean in terms of his medical condition - that he would need his emergency pack for blood sugars with him - and that he must follow a protocol. Also I told them that normally he is absolutely petrified of swimming pools. In the past he has never wanted to go anywhere near them, therefore it was his first time ever of getting in or even near a swimming pool. However, he was enthusiastic to give it a try with his friends so I gave my permission. I was told he would be in a small group of 4 and that there would be a swimming teacher and life guard. In addition there would be parent helpers in the pool. I also decided to go along to watch and be there just incase.
When I got there the lifeguard was seated at one end of the pool and my son was seated at the edge of the pool at the completely opposite end. His one to one told the lifeguard to be aware of my son, but he didn't seem in anyway bothered. My son was actually in a group of ten children all good swimmers and there was no parents in the pool to help. The teacher then went to the first child in the line (my son was second) and really loudly shouted instructions on how to lower themselves in the pool - the correct way of getting in. My son didn't understand and panicked that he was doing it wrong. As a result he jumped in, slipped and went under the water, he swallowed a lot of water and was distraught. The teacher just moved on and left him - panicking in the water. I immediately ran over and held him above the water and pulled him out. This all happened within seconds of this lesson starting. I then found that they didn't have his emergency pack and he had started to shake violently.
After I was sure he was ok medically, I took him home. Today he is extremely sick with vomiting, I guess after consuming so much water. I am furious about it all. I phoned the head teacher who just tried to dismiss it and tried to thank me for my feedback!! As the lifeguard/teacher were from outside agencies she said sometimes the communication is not great!!
This is a mainstream school and next year he goes into Year 3 - after this I am determined that he should not go swimming there at all. As it is I am waiting for the emergency GP to call and guess we will need him on a glucose drip .
Sorry for such a long, rambling post but my real question is if I refuse for him to have lessons at school next year (Year 3) when it becomes compulsory and part of the curriculum - what will happen??
Thank you
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.
SN children
Does my son have to do swimming as part of the National Curriculum??
9 replies
sarahlucy · 11/06/2011 15:36
OP posts:
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.