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The school didn’t inform me my son broke his finger during pe!!

63 replies

user1469528032 · 22/10/2022 21:06

I’m wondering what others thoughts are on this. Basically my son hurt his finger during a pe lesson at secondary school. He told the pe teacher who sent him to the office, the lady told him it was swollen and looked like it was probably broken, but just to go back to lessons for the rest of the day (the accident happened during second period) and just to let me know when he got home. Am I wrong in thinking If she thought it was broken a phone call to me would be appropriate? When a couple of hours had passed and it was really swollen and painful he asked his teacher if he could ring me to let me know, the teacher said yes and sent him to the office where he rung me. I told him I wanted to pick him up and get him an x-ray. He relayed this to the lady in the office, who then told him off for ringing me but said she needed to get authorisation for him to leave. In the end I had to ring her and tell her I was coming to get him as I didn’t think leaving him all day with no treatment was ok, she was not happy!
Am I being unreasonable to say I expect a phone call if a broken bone is suspected? I am genuinely interested to hear your thought, thanks.

OP posts:
User0ne · 22/10/2022 21:29

Of course that's totally unreasonable. It's neglect to not seek medical advice for a child in your care who needs it (or to notify the parent so that they can do so).

If they say "it's only a broken finger" then I suggest asking them how they classified bones into groups which do/don't need medical attention if suspected broken.

OdkinsBodkins · 22/10/2022 21:27

The way this woman has behaved is very strange and no I would not be happy. I'd make a complaint on this scenario.

Scarydinosaurs · 22/10/2022 21:24

And it was broken?

I think it is odd - especially given how hard it is to write with a broken finger!

PopcornChewingGum · 22/10/2022 21:18

Of course YANBU. Who on earth thinks it's ok to leave a child in pain for no reason ? I very much doubt he was concentrating on the lessons he was forced to sit through.

It always amazes me how people expect children to accept / endure things that would never be tolerated for adults. Imagine if leaving a workplace to attend to, or get pain relief for, a broken finger was against the disciplinary code.

Craftybodger · 22/10/2022 21:18

YANBU. Any suspected real needs immediate notification unless your child can contact you ASAP.

itsgettingweird · 22/10/2022 21:16

I think it's odd they didn't call and see if they could at least give ibuprofen and/ or paracetamol.

It's not the broken finger so much but the lack of any pastoral care for a young child who they clearly thought was in significant pain if they suspected he'd broken his finger.

Haybo26 · 22/10/2022 21:11

I broke my finger in secondary. My Mum was called straight away.

GlorifiedChair · 22/10/2022 21:11

YANBU.

The advice is to get a suspected broken finger assessed asap.

Did the school do any kind of first aid, such as on www.nhs.uk/conditions/broken-finger/?

landyland · 22/10/2022 21:11

How old is he? Is he your first?

I only asks because I have 4 sons all of whom play a lot of sport and they have ALL broken a finger in rugby or football and I have to say I get progressively less concerned 😂. My youngest in year 7 did it a few weeks ago playing football at school. They did phone and tell us but he was away at a match with another school in the evening.

If it's any consolation theres no treatment (after an x-ray to make sure it's not really severe I guess) they just strap it to the other finger for a few days. I just do it myself with a plaster now ..

Changingplace · 22/10/2022 21:11

Hmm yeah I think it’s weird to think he’s broken it but do nothing, did they fill out an accident form?

I’d understand if they didn’t realise or seriously think it was broken.

7Worfs · 22/10/2022 21:10

YANBU ofc. If not treated in a timely manner it can ‘heal’ all crooked.

ThisIsNotThePostYourLookingFor · 22/10/2022 21:10

For a possible broken bone yes and the office lady had no right in telling him off. I’d be complaining about her attitude more than anything.

AllBlocChain · 22/10/2022 21:08

A broken arm/leg yes, a broken finger? I’m sure he survived.