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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Child injured at school

193 replies

lollipop69 · 12/01/2011 21:32

AIBU....my DS aged 12 returned home from school yesterday with one side of the hair on his head, both eyebrows and one set of eyelashes totally singed! This had happened because another student had sprayed a can of deodorant and lit it with a lighter. She did this over her shoulder and unfortunately did not see him behind her. The large flame hit his head and caused the injuries listed above. I was livid. The school phoned me and explained the same story and said the girl had been suspended for four days. AIMBU in my actions which are that I have called the police and reported this as an assault (all be it accidental). This incident has left DS quite traumatised in that last night he woke twice having nightmares surrounding the incident.

OP posts:
Original poster
lollipop69 · 12/01/2011 23:18

kungfu...that wasnt my letter on here. I have not mentioned any damages to the school. All i have done is informed them that the police are involved

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 12/01/2011 23:18

I agree that the criminal injuries compensation is not a foregone conclusion. £1000 is the minimum award and you have to show a physical injury or permanent scarring. I had a criminal injuries claim rejected after being bitten by someone -the scar was on my thigh and did not impact on my everyday life, as it was not visible.

Original poster
lollipop69 · 12/01/2011 23:19

kungfu...that wasnt my letter on here. I have not mentioned any damages to the school. All i have done is informed them that the police are involved

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 12/01/2011 23:19

There will also be a schools/police policy where, if possible the school will deal with incidents primarily. Parents can reject a school disposal option but the school and police will argue that the school sanctions have more impact.

Original poster
lollipop69 · 12/01/2011 23:21

kungfu...that wasnt my letter on here. I have not mentioned any damages to the school. All i have done is informed them that the police are involved

OP posts:
TandB · 12/01/2011 23:21

Oops. I misread the post as "I have written" rather than "I would have written."

Glad you didn't write that. Not a good approach at all.

Original poster
lollipop69 · 12/01/2011 23:21

kungfu...that wasnt my letter on here. I have not mentioned any damages to the school. All i have done is informed them that the police are involved

OP posts:
Thingumy · 12/01/2011 23:23

I thought you could only claim from CCB if the perpetrator went through the criminal system?

OP never mentioned damages anyway.

Original poster
lollipop69 · 12/01/2011 23:23

kungfu...that wasnt my letter on here. I have not mentioned any damages to the school. All i have done is informed them that the police are involved

OP posts:
ILovedYou · 12/01/2011 23:24

Do NOT believe she did not know your son was behind her. YANBU for calling the police. GOOD.

Original poster
lollipop69 · 12/01/2011 23:25

i have been advised to pursue for damages but will obviously wait and see how ds is emotionally. He has already woken again tonight from nightmare. Need some sleep!

OP posts:
Original poster
lollipop69 · 12/01/2011 23:26

i have been advised to pursue for damages but will obviously wait and see how ds is emotionally. He has already woken again tonight from nightmare. Need some sleep!

OP posts:
Original poster
lollipop69 · 12/01/2011 23:27

i have been advised to pursue for damages but will obviously wait and see how ds is emotionally. He has already woken again tonight from nightmare. Need some sleep!

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 12/01/2011 23:27

He will only get criminal injuries if he is willing to give evidence, i.e he agrees to giving a police statement.

ohnoshedittant · 12/01/2011 23:28

ILovedYou why do you not believe that she didn't know he was behind her?

Thingumy · 12/01/2011 23:28

If he doesn't feel like school tomorrow,don't push him Lollipop.Call school and explain.My daughter had a few days off after her assault,it helped.

And if his nightmares continue (hopefully they won't!) take him to the GP.

Poor chap.

bedlambeast · 12/01/2011 23:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

FabbyChic · 12/01/2011 23:32

I truly hope your son is okay and will sleep tonight.

I'd have gone absolutely ballistic if it had been my child.

I hope you get some resolution with the police.

Thingumy · 12/01/2011 23:36

I simply cannot see the similarity with a science lab (ours was manned by a teacher and an assistant so no,there was no burns or loss of hair) and a child bringing in a can of hairspray and a lighter and using it as a flame thrower

Maybe it's me.

ILovedYou · 12/01/2011 23:37

Gut instinct and classic line.

tyler80 · 12/01/2011 23:40

I think one of the most productive things you could do would be to ask the school to arrange some lessons about the dangers of aerosols and lighters.

Do the fire brigade do that sort of thing? I'm sure we had those sorts of talks at school, normally accompanied by horrific pictures of what can go wrong.

ohnoshedittant · 12/01/2011 23:41

So you think she intentionally burnt the OP's son?

ILovedYou · 12/01/2011 23:47

Over her shoulder? Why?

ohnoshedittant · 12/01/2011 23:49

I'd guess becuase she's an idiot and probably had an audience in front...

ILovedYou · 12/01/2011 23:52

Didn't think to look behind her? Unless her mates egged her on and they all (inc the idiot) knew he was there behind, so she did it anyway.

On purpose and i would have paid her Mothwer a visit. Mother probably believes her story too.

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