Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Bitten In School

9 replies

PhilGT · 15/12/2025 13:57

Hi there guys.

Need some advice on what will / could / be possible to be done regarding my son.

My son is in a special school due to autism communication issues and development delay.

All was going well until a couple of weeks ago.

He came home with a bite mark on the outer side of his upper arm.

School wasn't aware of it happening, so rightly i messaged on their parent platform and they advise they would look into it.

This was done, we found out who had bitten him (not given names obviously) and that he would be monitored to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Spring forward to today, my son was washing his hands ready for dinner and the other child (same as previously) has come up to him and bit him, completely unprovoked / expected, breaking his skin.

School rang as they were aware of it this time very apologetic.

I asked what is going to happen and was advised they would seek advice from their management.

I asked if the other child could be moved classes etc. so they're apart and was told that isn't really an option.

They advised they will have to have a teacher permanently assigned to this child to ensure this doesn't happen again.

Now what is likely to happen, as I appreciate SEN kids have issues and various needs.

Do they do the usual like mainstream, would they be suspended, or would they just be kept separate?

Again I get they have issues, my child does, but I want to ensure I'm doing what i can to get the school to keep him safe and would expect the same in return if the shoe was on the other foot.

Any advise appreciated.

Thanks.

One annoyed Dad.

OP posts:
Scanme · 15/12/2025 14:00

It is Irrelevant what a mainstream school would do.

I would ask for a meeting with the school to discuss what they are planning to do to ensure this doesn’t happen again

muminherts · 15/12/2025 14:04

I would suggest asking for a meeting to discuss the safeguarding plan to protect your child.

I would ask lots of questions eg check if the child will have 1:1 throughout the day or if there are times when adults won’t be there eg in toilets to wash hands etc, can your child be sent in only when the child in question isn’t present, can they be seated far enough apart that an adult can get to the other child before they reach your child, when groups are put together for activities can your child always be grouped away from this child, how will he be supervised at break times etc etc.

Sonolanona · 15/12/2025 14:24

I work in a special school so can only answer from my 20 years there.
The biter will not be suspended. He's in special school because he has disabilities, and school caters in a way mainstream doesn't.
Having said that, there needs to be a discussion on how to prevent this happening. It may be a new behaviour that hasn't previously been an issue, in which case his behaviour support plan will need to be adjusted to ascertain what steps need to be put in place... most likely a one to one TA for the meantime to ensure he isn't close enough to get his teeth in again and kept seperate at trigger times.

Sometimes, with the best will in the world, the children are faster than the adults, and we HATE it if a child gets hurt in our care... no one is complacent about it.

Talk to the class teacher and ask how they are going to prevent it happening.

PhilGT · 15/12/2025 14:42

It happens to be that i'm meeting them tomorrow for a EHCP Review, which is probably going to be more interesting now.

They did say they will assign him a 1:1 to ensure or try to, so it doesn't happen again (however they did say that last time)

They did say they spotted it, but couldn't get there quick enough and i do appreciate how quick they can be at times.

Let's hope they come back to me with something useable and it doesn't continue to be an issue.

School teacher was very apologetic over this though, so I do believe something will be done about it.

Will keep you all updated

OP posts:
PoppySaidYesIKnow · 15/12/2025 14:50

It happens, it’s not pleasant, at all, but the school know and will try to put strategies in place to prevent future incidents. In the meantime, treat any bite, especially one that has broken the skin, seriously. School should wash thoroughly with soap and water and you should apply germolene at home. If the skin around it starts to go red, or it looks infected at all, you should seek medical attention at A&E.

DaisyChain505 · 15/12/2025 15:14

It’s irrelevant what would happen in a mainstream school because this isn’t a mainstream school.

I’m sorry this happened to your son but it does happen. This important thing is that the school is aware and they’re acting on it.

If the child is now getting one on one support hopefully it’s not a reoccurring issue from now on.

BadgernTheGarden · 15/12/2025 15:22

Does this child bite other children or just your child? If they are a known biter other children need protecting as well. I would want to know if there have been other events around this child.

PhilGT · 15/12/2025 16:05

Hi there
School said they cleaned him up and put antiseptic etc on him.
I will check him over when he's home from school when i get back
Any signs of infection and he will be straight to doctor / A&E
Unsure if he bites others, but this is the second time in as many weeks.

His teacher mentioned that they normally play together quite well and that it could be a sensory thing for the other kid.......... (still not good)

OP posts:
PhilGT · 15/12/2025 19:02

well got him home and applied germelene
let's hope for the best
I've sent his teacher a substantial email, let's see what response is given

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread