To expect Head Teacher to follow up

User50228 · 2025-06-04T15:26:25+00:00

My child in Year 3 had an accident at school 2 weeks ago. It resulted in a broken ankle and she hasn't been back to school yet and unlikely for another 3 weeks. To date I have had a note from her teacher to see how she is but nothing from the Head Teacher at all except a request for hospital paperwork to allow them to inform OFSTED. AIBU to expect a quick call or note to see how she is and say its being investigated?

HeadCreature · 06/06/2025 23:14

I would generally direct the class teacher to phone the parent rather than ring myself
If you had other children in school and were around at pick up/drop off I would make a point of checking in with you in person.

Inheritancequery1 · 06/06/2025 23:00

User50228 · 04/06/2025 18:59

Thanks for the opinions! I really dont know what to expect which is why I posted.

And shes not in school based on hospital advice as the break is in an awkward place - certainly not my choice! 😂

I would still send her and ask the school to make allowances etc. there’s no need for that much time off!

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 06/06/2025 22:58

Darragon · 04/06/2025 17:28

I feel like YABU, the class teacher already spoke to you, why do you need to hear from the head as well?

Yes the head probably told the teacher to
Do it

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 06/06/2025 22:57

User50228 · 04/06/2025 16:40

It was a total accident she was climbing up on a bench so not looking to blame or cause an issue. I just think if there's a significant injury to a child in a primary school it is courtesy for the Head to check in.

Apparently broken bones are a significant injury in a school so have to be reported to OFSTED and/or the council was what the message said.

I think it would be to the council

Beautifulweeds · 06/06/2025 17:27

Agree, the teacher is the first in line for contact then reports back. It would be nice of course but not expected.

givemushypeasachance · 06/06/2025 12:04

NaggityOldWitch · 06/06/2025 09:35

Schools do have to notify Ofsted of serious injuries. This includes broken bones/fractures, unconsciousness, hypothermia/over heating, resuscitation, breathing difficulties, major joint dislocations, etc.
Riddor also has to be notified about serious injuries.
You had contact from the teacher and for me that would be enough. The head is most likely drowning in the sixty million pieces of paperwork they now have to complete because of the accident.

They don't! Ofsted doesn't regulate schools, they have a very limited scope to consider complaints about the leadership and management of schools, but otherwise they just inspect them. Ofsted are not informed every time a child at a school breaks something, they don't want to know about that.

If you can find any Ofsted handbook, inspection framework or guidance that says schools have to notify them of broken bones, I'd love to see that link.

What Ofsted does regulate is childcare - so nurseries? Sure, nurseries have to inform them of significant injuries.

NaggityOldWitch · 06/06/2025 09:35

Schools do have to notify Ofsted of serious injuries. This includes broken bones/fractures, unconsciousness, hypothermia/over heating, resuscitation, breathing difficulties, major joint dislocations, etc.
Riddor also has to be notified about serious injuries.
You had contact from the teacher and for me that would be enough. The head is most likely drowning in the sixty million pieces of paperwork they now have to complete because of the accident.

FoodieToo · 06/06/2025 09:05

ThesebeautifulthingsthatIvegot · 06/06/2025 07:46

Head teachers have barely the time to do their actual jobs. If they did every "nice person" thing going, they'd probably be letting something important slide elsewhere in the school. They have staff to delegate to, and they have done so.

Show quote history

Well in my school the head would definitely call ! We are primary and in Dublin .
I also know I would have received a call from my own kids' school if something like this happened . A break is quite serious .

WorkCleanRepeat · 06/06/2025 08:07

I'd find it overkill if the head called in this situation. In the same way I'd find it overkill if the MD called me after I'd already spoken to my line manager/HR.

Calmdownpeople · 06/06/2025 07:56

So if you broke your wrist (and sorry to hear that happened to your daughter) and your manager called to see how you were, would you really expect the MD of your company to call?

YABU based on your expectations.

ThesebeautifulthingsthatIvegot · 06/06/2025 07:52

User50228 · 04/06/2025 20:15

Interesting about local authority becoming involved if absence over 2 weeks. Not heard anything at all

Edited

You won't get it unless you fight for it. It's more commonly applied for children with emotional based school avoidance or long term health conditions.

It would be easier and probably more effective to ask the teacher to provide work.

Renabrook · 06/06/2025 07:49

I dont see why there has to be a call why would the call tell you anything you wouldn't already know and them aksing if she is ok doesn't make her better or nor

Yes nice but no I wouldn't expect it

ThesebeautifulthingsthatIvegot · 06/06/2025 07:46

FoodieToo · 04/06/2025 20:41

Absolutely , if your school has a warm and caring atmosphere . I am a teacher and I would ring and check in regularly and my principal would definitely call.

It's not so much about whether they 'should' or not , it's about being a nice human being .

Head teachers have barely the time to do their actual jobs. If they did every "nice person" thing going, they'd probably be letting something important slide elsewhere in the school. They have staff to delegate to, and they have done so.

GlitteryRainbow · 06/06/2025 06:57

givemushypeasachance · 04/06/2025 16:32

How did the accident happen? Children can break ankles from literally tripping over their feet, so there isn't inherently a "cause" that's the school's responsibility. If it was something where it may have been another child or adult's fault then that's different.

Sidenote but schools don't have to tell Ofsted about injuries/accidents so that sounds a bit strange if the head said that.

They have to inform the local authority if it happened on school premises. I’ve injured myself twice. Once when a gate flew back in my face and cut my forehead. The other time when I slipped on the ice. Both times I filled in an online form with the school secretary.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 05/06/2025 13:53

I'd ask for the accident report and the report to HSE (under RIDDOR).
I'd phone if I was Head.

Duckduck2 · 05/06/2025 13:27

Teaacup · 05/06/2025 11:39

I’m surprised! Loads of children break bones and still go to school.

Show quote history

Think it depends on the break etc. 2 years ago mine was off school for 6 weeks after an accident which required surgery then crutches after. Hospital advised and even wrote a letter stating no school for 6 weeks.

Hankunamatata · 05/06/2025 13:27

There may be reasons why the school isn't allowed to contact you. Have you been in touch with the school to let them know how she is?

Todaywasbetter · 05/06/2025 13:22

1SillySossij · 05/06/2025 12:18

Would you really consider it too dangerous for an 8 year old to be allowed to climb onto a bench? I would also imagine it didn't take a minute or so' to get up on to an 18" platform, more like less than a second

Edited

Show quote history

accidently duplicated post didnt work its now worse sorry

Todaywasbetter · 05/06/2025 13:22

1SillySossij · 05/06/2025 12:18

Would you really consider it too dangerous for an 8 year old to be allowed to climb onto a bench? I would also imagine it didn't take a minute or so' to get up on to an 18" platform, more like less than a second

Edited

Show quote history

maybe not dangerous but prob against rules in that benches are for sitting on etc not standing on but no big deal i suppose

1SillySossij · 05/06/2025 12:18

Todaywasbetter · 04/06/2025 20:38

you say it was an accident but there is an issue of supervision ratio in the playground. There would have been a minute or so when she was climbing up when an intervention would have helped. if someone had such an accident I always got the class to make a card etc

Would you really consider it too dangerous for an 8 year old to be allowed to climb onto a bench? I would also imagine it didn't take a minute or so' to get up on to an 18" platform, more like less than a second

1SillySossij · 05/06/2025 11:46

She shouldn't be off school for 6 weeks! You need to follow up on that. The accident will have been reported to RIDDOR and if there is anything to investigate it will be up to them. But kids break bones all the time. I run a kids club with 150 members and at any given time there are 2 or 3 kids with a broken bone

Teaacup · 05/06/2025 11:39

User50228 · 05/06/2025 08:45

Hospital guidance! Not my choice believe me!

Show quote history

I’m surprised! Loads of children break bones and still go to school.

Original poster

User50228 · 05/06/2025 08:45

Teaacup · 05/06/2025 07:37

Why isn’t she back at school if she broke her ankle 2 weeks ago? She can go back with crutches and 8 years old is more than old enough. Maybe the school is waiting for her to come back before asking her directly.

Hospital guidance! Not my choice believe me!

OP posts:

Teaacup · 05/06/2025 07:37

Why isn’t she back at school if she broke her ankle 2 weeks ago? She can go back with crutches and 8 years old is more than old enough. Maybe the school is waiting for her to come back before asking her directly.

CosyLemur · 04/06/2025 21:25

paddlinglikecrazy · 04/06/2025 18:23

My friends son was hit by a car on the way home from school, he fractured his shoulder. The head called my friend a couple of times to check on him. This is also a large high school head teacher, my friend and her son really appreciated the calls.
From the responses here it’s not the norm though. Hope she’s on the mend soon.

I think it's more normal at high school for the head teacher to contact the family, because generally that will be the most constant staff member in the pupils school journey. With different teachers in every subject and often different year leads every year. Whereas at primary school the kids have the same teacher all day every day, and have very little contact with the head teacher.