If a reception child deliberately kicked another child in class and broke that child’s leg, and that child needed surgery what would you expect to happen at school ?

[Lardlizard]

For the child that got injured and the child that did it

And the incident was witnessed by the teacher

If it was accidental, then I would expect very little to happen to be honest. A discussion abut being careful, and any changes made to the environment to reduce the risk of it happening again.

If it was an attack, I would expect steps to be taken with immediate effect to have the child on 1:1 with a TA in the short term, or else temporarily excluded where long term measures be put in place. That's purely from a H&S perspective though, not as a sanction.

In terms of 'punishment', as PP have said, either usual behaviour policy for the school, or following any specific measures/plans in place for that child if there are specific issues such as anger management, SED, PTSD etc.

*SEND sorry.

a kick from a child that age can most definitely be forceful enough to break a bone on an adult.

Maybe a finger or perhaps toes from stomping a foot down, but not a leg - even a kid's leg, surely?

I think the issue is likely to be that all focus will be on the child who did it rather than the child who was the victim of it.

If the child is kept in school, with possibly a 1:1 or other supportive measures in place I think scant regard will be given to the impact on a child who has had their leg broken still having to share a classroom with the child who did it.

Children of that age can be violent. Children of that age can break bones. The thinly veiled victim blaming on this thread is eye opening, or are we so taken up with "awww diddums is only 4" that we refuse to believe what someone is telling us?

When dd was 3 a child in her nursery class broke the arm of another (in 2 places) and he needed 3 operations.

The other child was not punished in any way.

Even if intentional I doubt the child would have intended to cause serious damage like that, just lashing out in anger.

It really depends on behaviour of child overall as to whether punishment is required - if they continually act out like this, then of course it's time to take more serious action. If it's a one off and just a kick that went too far, then probably not.

More importantly, I would be talking to the child about managing anger and distress within themselves, and how to deal with friendships or upsets amongst classmates in a healthy way.

It depends on circumstances . DS broke a classmates arm whilst playing football when he was 7 or 8. It was an accident. It could just as easily have been a leg.

Any chance of the Op coming back and giving some details?

I would expect school's behaviour policy to be followed. I would not expect the dramatic and unusual nature of the outcome to influence school's response to the incident itself.

This. I've watched a YR break their arm going down a slide in a perfectly normal way. There were 3 broken limbs in my DD's YR class and at least 2 of them were unfortunate consequences of very minor, everyday events. It depends very much on the details of the incident.

I agree with PeapodBurgundy. It’s pretty unlikely that a reception aged child would have intended to actually break a leg. I seem to remember instances of biting happened in my dc reception class. These are still very young children.

I'd need much more background to formulate an opinion. I wouldn't automatically assume suspension or expulsion. Kids bones are quite elastic and don't break as easy as an adults as they bow. What were they doing when it happened, does the child have SEN (not an excuse though) are they known to be aggressive, etc. it's not a simple question with a simple yes no answer

Someone get that kid a dexa scan.

I would not expect the outcome to change the normal behaviour sanctions for kicking / attacking another child.

I would not expect a permanent exclusion for one incident of a Reception aged child.

multivac Tue 14-May-19 09:16:46

I would expect school's behaviour policy to be followed. I would not expect the dramatic and unusual nature of the outcome to influence school's response to the incident itself.

This^

Wow that must have been one vicious and forceful kick for it to break a child's leg! So with that in mind I would expect a suspension at the very least. And for my child to not have to be in the same class as this kid if he did return to the school.

I would expect school's behaviour policy to be followed. I would not expect the dramatic and unusual nature of the outcome to influence school's response to the incident itself.

This.

it would entirely depend on what led up to the kick....

The thinly veiled victim blaming on this thread is eye opening, or are we so taken up with "awww diddums is only 4" that we refuse to believe what someone is telling us?

I think it’s more that small children lashing out isn’t at all uncommon in reception. A kick that breaks the leg of another child is exceptionally rare. It does make a difference whether this was an attack with such force that it could break a bone or whether it was a kick which under most circumstances wouldn’t have done much damage but in this situation resulted in a broken leg.

The two things require very different levels of support in the long term.

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay - there is so little information that I think most people (including me) are currently neutral- not victim blaming. OP has given bare bones- maybe to not colour opinion, but also means no real opinion can be formed. Breaking another child's leg- bad. Situation though, and intent, still for me are required to actually say one way or another.

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay- sorry- realised you were quoting- sorry!!!!

Without more information I'd say follow policy and suspend the child. Possible expulsion depending on previous behaviour. I would expect the school to support the victim to continue their education and make reasonable adjustments whilst in plaster (our school as all single level accessible but I appreciate not all are)

It's hard to say from just that description. Circumstances make a huge difference.

Was the child who kicked teased, goaded, provoked and exasperated by the victim and then lashed out?

Or did the child who kicked just do it out of the blue for no reason?

I would expect the poster asking the question to give more information if she actually wants useful responses.

I expect the poster is the kickers mum.

Reporting...

It’s pretty unlikely that a reception aged child would have intended to actually break a leg. I seem to remember instances of biting happened in my dc reception class. These are still very young children.

@crumpet The majority of my child's reception class would be the same, lovely children who occasionally get frustrated and lash out. But there is one child who is very violent and very sly about it. I've had to pull him off another child at two different parties as he punched them in the torso (victim 1) and punched them in the head (victim 2). His parents are completely blinkered to it.
You have to watch him like a hawk. I've helped on school trips and as soon as he thinks an adult isn't watching, he is shoving and pushing other children, and not in a "we're rough playing" way.

Some children are just not nice to other children.