School didn’t call me about a broken bone

[Tigerbreadbum]

DS (8) fell at school this morning around 10am, witnessed by a teacher and TA. Was in a lot of pain, couldn’t wiggle fingers let alone write. They don’t contact me at all. We are in an and e and it’s broken and he may need surgery. I’m fuming he’s been in agony all day with no pain relief, and potentially made it worse.

what on earth do I say to school? I’m absolutely livid. He only started there in January due to physical violence from classmates at his old school. We were both so happy with the new school and now I’m fucking furious! Is there someone I should be informing, council maybe?

What did the accident form say? Did he tell them he was in a lot of pain?

Did he tell anyone how much pain he was in?

I think you contact the school and ask them to find out what happened, as a first step.

They only do accident forms for head injuries.

apparently he cried a few times and his teacher was aware he could t write for the rest of the day

what did the staff say at pick up?

did he actually tell them it was sore? Did they notice he wasn’t using it? What did he do at play times?

don’t go in fuming, go in and explain the situation and calmly ask questions.

It can be tricky with broken bones in young children. When my ds was 6 he broke both bones in his lower leg jumping off a small mound at a park. I didn't take him straight to a&e because there were no visible signs of a break and he didn't seem to be in too much pain. I felt awful when they told me he had a broken leg.
Speak to the school first to hear their side of the story. I work in a school and we really do try to the best for the children our care but things do sometimes get missed. My DH worked in a school and a child broke his leg in pe and carried on walking around!
The doctor at the hospital told me that they always x-ray children as fractures are easy to miss in children.

They didn’t mention it, dispute his friend carrying his bag for him and him supporting it with his other hand. His friend came and told me “DS arm is really really hurting, he wanted you all day. I’ve tried to help him”

Was he seen by a first aider?

If not, why not?
if yes, where is the record?

He may not have been clear how bad it was- I once missed a broken ankle- it hadn’t swollen and the child was being very stoical and only complained it was sore after she finished football practice!

Don't do anything until you have calmed down.

Then find out whether an incident form was completed, when and by whom, and what was recorded. Then find out what the school's accident and injury policy is, and whether it was followed.

Friend said he sat with him on the bench at lunch as he couldn’t play. From both of their stories it sounds like he couldn’t have been more clear he was in a lot of pain

What do you hope to achieve by raving at the council/school. You can’t turn back time and undo what’s happened. What do you expect to get out of it? Focus on your child and don’t become that parent and mess up his chances in what you call a good school. Politely enquire about what’s happened but fgs don’t make a fool of yourself.

Sue the bastards to oblivion.

Your poor DS, but what a lovely friend.

It sounds as if they didn't know it was broken. Is it a broken finger? I think it is actually quite easy to miss breaks in smaller bones unfortunately. I know someone who broke their elbow and carried on for days without realising.

It happens. It doesn't mean it's a bad school

With my mum hat on, totally understand why you Re so upset. With my teacher hat on - I once missed a broken collarbone in a child. She had fallen outside, banged her shoulder, but said it didn't hurt. Had been given ice, 2 first aiders had checked for mobility. It happened to be the Christmas show that afternoon. She got herself dressed. Did the show. Got herself re dressed. Didn't tell anyone it hurt. We felt awful when mum called us the following day to say they had been in a and e. The school must have recorded the accident somewhere, even if they only give out slips for bumped heads. So ask to see a copy - will detail what happened and checks and treatememt given. If they don't have this, that is very problematic. But I can't believe they wouldn't. I share my story to say that it is possible for things to get missed despite following procedure, especially if a child has a high pain threshold. Ask to find out what happened, and save being furious for after that if needed.

This is a Safeguarding issue, what ridiculous 'advice'.

(Teacher, teacher trainer, level 4 Safeguarding trained).

I would try to put your anger aside, although I totally get why you feel as you do. If you and he both love the school and you want him to stay there, in my personal opinion there is no point alienating them to make a point, however valid it might be. If you want to calmly let them know what has happened so they can review the way they evaluate future situations, fair enough. But if you don’t trust them as a result of this, nothing you or they say will make any difference - you’ll have to move him again, and that would seem really disruptive. People do
make mistakes, and while most teachers are really caring, some are not, and honestly shouldn’t be working with kids. I’d be looking at what’s best for your son and letting that drive how you approach this.

I would send a factual email to them stating his arm is broken, and ask for a copy of their policies on injuries in school.

Once they send you the policies they have, you can go and point out where they have failed your son.

I wouldn't let this lie, they have failed your son.

Hope his arm heals quickly.

Depends on the break really.

I've broken my wrist twice, once it was completely smashed and I needed 5 pins putting in.

It never hurt, sprains are more painful. The surgery was painful but the break wasn't. It just felt weak, like I had no grip.

The break (not the smash) wasn't identified as a break until 3 days after the fall.

They are legally required to record it, even if they only do slips for head injuries.

I'd ask what happened first, then advise what the injury actually is and if you aren't happy with their response ask to speak to the Safeguarding lead, and the head (usually one and the same) and if still not satisfied write to the chair of governors and/or LEA and OFSTED.

I'd have been furious too. You need to send a strongly worded email to head teacher.

The school are going to feel pretty bad once they realise it’s broken. I would just write a factual email explaining it’s broken and asking them to explain what happened.

I agree it doesn't sound like they acted effectively in this case.

I'm a first aider in school. If I'm presented with a child who cannot use a limb I'll treat and monitor for 30 minutes.

If they want to go back to class I'd still ring the parent and let them know what's happened, give my judgement and advise they can collect and take to minor injuries if they want.

Sometimes I've rung parents and said I suggest getting it checked out. Most of the time they will come and get them straightaway.

I always complete a first aid slip. I've also written my observations down at time of injury for parents to tell drs at a and e if it helps.

I'd be ringing school tomorrow to say he won't be in and email office and ask for an investigation into how and why he was left like that all day and state his peers noted how much pain he was in so it was obvious.

I work in a school and sometimes injuries that seem very minor have turned out to be fractures so I wouldn't criticise the teachers. However I do find it odd that you say they only do 'accident forms' for head injuries. We only do wristbands head injuries but record all injuries we have been told about. This is precisely so we can answer parent's questions if something gets worse when a child goes home. If your dc's school isn't doing this, this a massive issue.

We’ve just seen the consultant, he needs surgery. They will do it tomorrow morning

I think I’m just upset how much pain he’s been in and I was completely unaware. The old school would always call and let us know if there was an accident they weren’t sure about so we could collect or speak to child. But it wasn’t even mentioned it when I collected him