to want the school to admit some responsibility

[Justforlaughs]

Phonecall from school last night. 14yo DD "stormed" away from PE lesson after minor altercation with teacher, didn't return to lesson, an hour later a pupil asks DD something and DD hits her. School want to put DD in isolation for a day. All sounds reasonable, penalty for bad behaviour - and I am not condoning it at all. HOWEVER, DD is by nature the kindest, gentlest, quietest 14 yr old you could ever imagine (won't even put up her hand to answer a question in class because she is too shy) and the ONLY time I can remember her lashing out in the last 4 years or so is when her blood sugars have dropped suddenly - you see she is a Diabetic. To me, the whole incident is typically symptomatic of a moderate/ severe hypo, and I feel strongly that the teacher should have flagged that her "storming" away from the lesson was not "normal" behaviour for DD, she should have followed her/ got first aider to find her and check that she was ok. She sat alone for an hour in corridor, where no-one knew she was before the incident with the other pupil. Not being dramatic, she could have fallen into a coma. The school now want a meeting to discuss her behaviour, so AIBU to raise my concerns. I am honestly, not trying to belittle the fact that she hit another girl, but I don't want either my DD or anyone else getting hurt because of another incident like this. I am worried that it sounds like I am excusing her behaviour, and I suppose I am in a way. WWYD?

Ooooh...enjoy!!!

Most definitely let them have it

Justforlaughs - it is refreshing to hear that the school have admitted they need to take responsibility - after all, it's the law! Have a look at Medicines in Schools UK and there is a Duty of Care for staff -" Anyone caring for children including teachers, other school staff and day care staff in charge of children have a common law duty of care to
act like any reasonably prudent parent. Staff need to make sure that children are healthy and safe. " Your daughter was neither healthy or safe the moment she walked off, uncharacteristically.
Also under the Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Equality Duty the school have a duty to make reasonable adjustments."Unlike other areas of discrimination law, this duty can involve an employer treating a disabled person more favourably that he would treat others." Schools are not allowed to discipline children regarding anything to do with their disability and as it seems apparent that this was, then 5 days of isolation is completely inappropriate.
Why not ask your daughter to write an apology to the girl, explaining whyit happened? As a mum of a newly diagnosed diabetic, I am discovering that children are far more naturally understanding, sympathetic and forgiving of disabilities than adults!
The school are being very remiss - they could fail an Ofsted inspection on something like this.

I haven't read all the posts so don't know if someone has already said anything to point out to posters who blame JFL's daughter about not being in control enough when she is having a hypo. Dh is diabetic and a number of times he has had a hypo and not realised it. He gets very angry and irrational over stupid little things and it is his blood sugars and I have to be on hand to tell him to test and eat something.

just someone upthread mentioned tge government changing guidlines heres the article I read on diabetes.co.uk www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2013/Oct/schools-to-improve-support-for-type-1-diabetics-and-other-long-term-conditions-98079718.html

I would definitely lay it all out for OFSTED, in polite, neutral and clinical terminology. They will be very interested.

Just another thought - what did the other child say to provoke it? Was it a jibe at her diabetes/behaviour etc as that could also have some bearing on the punishment?

I've been wondering how you're getting on with this.

Would you be happy to share?

You are not being unreasonable in the slightest and I'm amazed when people think at 14 she should be managing her own condition- she's also hormonal, pubescent, diabetes is a horrible disease and BIL still struggles sometimes, we have to remind him if he's being particularly off. It can be really hard to recognise it yourself.

I'd be annoyed with the school for letting a child with a known medical condition be alone for that length of time.

Yanbu

Definitely raise this at the meeting.
I'm sure that is why they are having the meeting as the behaviour was extreme and uncharacteristic. They want to hear your views about it so they can prevent it from happening again.