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Original poster

How much help would you expect teachers to give with brace?

40 replies

BereftOfInk · 21/07/2020 20:17

DS has just got a removable brace. He's getting used to it, and I hope will be slightly more confident when they go back in 3 weeks.
How much help or guidance would you think is reasonable to ask the teacher for? Thinking hygiene e.g. washing hands before removing/replacing in PE or break tunes. Especially with the current situation. Making sure he's wearing it. At the moment his speech is very unclear (and it is anyway, under SLT) and he's quite self conscious about it. We're having trouble understanding him, will this get better? I'm a bit worried how this will affect him at school. But not sure what to expect from staff, if I should warn them or not mention it before he goes back.

OP posts:

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 21/07/2020 20:49

As a teacher to 9-10 year olds, I would not be helping them take out or put in a brace. Even when not in a pandemic, that would be highly unhygienic. I would offer reminders where necessary but that would be all I could do. Many schools won’t even administer medication and a parent has to come in to do it.

CoffeeRunner · 21/07/2020 20:50

None normally. But reminders from his TA on hygiene etc. would be appropriate.

Teachers I doubt would have time for this.

Fredfrench62 · 21/07/2020 20:53

I'm a primary school teacher and would be more than happy to offer reminders about hygiene and washing it. The same as I would do for a child new to wearing glasses or with an injury, whatever really. I'm surprised at the replies saying absolutely not.

MadeFrom100percentPears · 21/07/2020 20:58

I don't think it's the least bit unreasonable to ask their teacher to remind them to put it in after lunch for a week to help them get used to it. I'm a teacher btw.

TimeWastingButFun · 21/07/2020 21:05

Teachers will be making them wash their hands loads at the moment, especially before eating, so it's a good time to have had it fitted!

Cattiwampus · 21/07/2020 21:06

I’m a primary teacher, I’d have no problem with verbal reminders for any child, why would I? It makes him less stressed and ensures that he benefits fully from something that is uncomfortable and he’s having to tolerate.
Fredfrench62, you’re not alone, and the schools I’ve taught in over the last 3 decades would see it as a reasonable request.

Original poster

BereftOfInk · 21/07/2020 21:25

The orthodontist said to take it out for sports and eating.

As I said, it's the hygiene I'm concerned about. He's not very reliable at hand washing and I don't want him sticking his hands in his mouth after a morning at school.

I wouldn't expect them to help him put it in or take it out. He can almost do that himself and as he has a couple of weeks to practice, that should be ok.

And making sure he's wearing it as he's not liking it very much right now.

OP posts:

CoffeeRunner · 22/07/2020 05:10

@Abitupthehill OP said DS goes back to school in 3 weeks. I’m assuming they may be in Scotland as Scottish schools always go back mid August.

DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 22/07/2020 06:31

I dont think theres any harm in the teacher/TA reminding about hygeine, especially if he has sn. But i wouldnt expect any practical help

FlamingoAndJohn · 22/07/2020 06:39

Verbal reminders to hand wash and a quick check that he has taken it out for PE is fine.
They will be hand washing loads right now anyway.

claireyjs · 22/07/2020 07:01

None I'm afraid...

cliffdiver · 22/07/2020 07:18

I'm a primary teacher and would remind him to wash his hands before/after putting it in.

All children should be washing their hands before coming into the classroom and when going out to lunch and break anyway.

If your DS was in my class, I would make sure he was the last to wash his hands (for privacy in the bathroom), and a make him a laminated card with written / pictorial reminders - something along the lines of 'wash hands, put in brace, wash hands', which could be stuck to his box as a reminder.

It's in the best interests of the teacher to remind him, otherwise his germy mouth hands will be all over the classroom

okiedokieme · 22/07/2020 07:35

None really unless specified on his education plan. They should be being reminded to wash hands anyway

IamHyouweegobshite · 22/07/2020 07:43

I'm a Ta in primary. Hand washing and sanitising is continually happening throughout the day. Coming in the morning a squirt of sanitiser, go to the toilet sanitiser before going in, child washes hands, sanitiser when going back in classroom. Toilets cleaned once the whole class have been. The ta that he has may need ppe, we have one who has to wear gloves, apron, mask and face shield to work with their 1:1.

dottycat123 · 22/07/2020 07:49

I think you should have some sort of discussion about this with the school because with current covid guidelines the taking out of a brace will be a droplet generating process and as such is a greater potential risk. I am a nurse so might be over thinking this but there is a risk of saliva droplet spread.

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