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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Accident at nursery

74 replies

5SleepingLions · 04/05/2019 11:50

Not really an Aibu more wwyd
On Thursday I went to pick up my Dd from nursery and when I arrived I was rushed through the main entrance to find my 4 year old in and out of unconsciousness.
I was told that she had fallen whilst playing in the playground and was found on her hands and knees but was sobbing.

They took here into the class and sat her on a chair and left her they then told her to go and play with her friends but she continued to cry.
Another teacher came into the room and later said to me we told her to get her coat but when she stood up she was stumbling and she also saw her eyes rolling in her head.
They didn’t call me so I didn’t know and the accident happened at least 40 minutes before I arrived and an ambulance wasn’t called for another 10 minutes even though she was unresponsive.
Nobody can tell me what happened except that a 4 year old has said she tripped up.
My Dd doesn’t remember anything.
When she woke up she had stopped talking but thankfully she started again in the evening.
She was in intensive care over night but has been on a children’s ward ever since
we are still waiting for tests as she has only a small bruise on her leg and no bumps on her head.
It’s a small nursery in the morning no more than 18-20 children ages from 2-4.
To begin with I was grateful to the teachers for helping they came to the hospital with us.
But now I’m just angry that no one saw anything except a 4year old and the way they had just left her.

OP posts:

quizqueen · 04/05/2019 12:39

Yes, an ambulance ( and yourself) should have been called immediately when you child was so unresponsive so that you could both arrive at the same time.

Puffkin · 04/05/2019 12:44

Accidents happen, bumps and bruises are a part of childhood they help a child build resilience and confidence. It’s what happened after that’s a cause for concern, medical attention should have been sought as soon as your DD started displaying worrying symptoms like the eye rolling and losing consciousness that’s when an ambulance should have been called, the delays are what need to be focused on, why did it take them so long to realise that she was seriously unwell?

NeatFreakMama · 04/05/2019 12:45

This is shocking and I’d be raising all hell. As PP have said it’s worth trying to check the CCTV.

terriblyangryattimes · 04/05/2019 12:46

My daughter had a fall in a hotel room and lost consciousness, eyes rolled back, shaking etc. She was taken to hospital by a paramedic and checked over but just bruised. They said it was a febrile convulsion caused by the shock of the fall/trip and a slight head bang. Shes not had another since. Obviously your daughter is on the best place to be watched but I just wanted to share in the hopes that it might make you feel slightly less worried. How the nursery dealt with it however is worrying and I hope they take your complaint seriously!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 04/05/2019 12:54

As Puffin says. Its not so much the accident. Its the fact that no one knew how serious it was, and That not one staff member knew what had happened. I mean there might be a bit of leniency if it were a child minder on her own but not 4 staff members.

CallMeRachel · 04/05/2019 13:00

The circumstances in which she was found ie on the ground on hands on knees crying would give any care giver the impression she's just tripped and fallen so I can't blame the nursery for trying to sort her out and let her play again.

It sounds as if the symptoms of eye rolling and going in and out of conscious happened later, which didn't really match up to how she was found.

Could she have ingested something toxic or allergenic? Stung by a wasp or bee? Sun stroke?

It must have been an awful scared experience for you regardless but hopefully the hospital will do some tests to diagnose what caused her symptoms.

wonderingsoul · 04/05/2019 13:02

The not knowing is fine imo you cant watch every child every second.

How they felt with it is what's concerning the ambulance should of been called the second they realised she was acting off and called you.

I wouldn't be returning her to the nursery and would be putting in a complaint. You cant trust them to get her medical care when needed.

BogglesGoggles · 04/05/2019 13:03

That’s horrible. You are being really reasonable and undtersranding here. I hope your DD is ok

PurpleCrazyHorse · 04/05/2019 13:13

I would be very concerned they left a child on their own who, at the very least, was upset. They certainly should have been with a staff member so they could keep an eye on them for any changes.

I would be less upset at them not spotting the accident as it does happen, even with 4 staff members. DS had a bang on the head at his school nursery (approx 15 children and 3-4 adults), only kids saw it happen but they got a pretty clear picture of what happened from them, called me to collect DS as he needed close supervision due to his huge bump and presented me with an accident report in case I needed the info to take to the doctor. DS was sat with an adult since it happened (possibly 15-20 mins until I arrived).

Bambamber · 04/05/2019 13:13

I agree with the others that not knowing exactly how it happened wouldn't anger me. You only have to turn away for a split second for an accident to happen without seeing what happened

The lack of care afterwards would absolutely anger me. As soon as they realised the seriousness they should have called an ambulance first, and then you immediately after

PurpleCrazyHorse · 04/05/2019 13:19

I would expect a child who continues to cry after an accident to be probed more deeply rather than left to get on and play. There is clearly something the matter, even if not an injury. And at age 3 or 4, they can't often express things clearly, so it's even more important to try to get to the bottom of it.

Original poster

5SleepingLions · 04/05/2019 13:20

I think it’s just not knowing really what happened the little boy who saw her fall told his mum what happened as he was playing with her and he just said she tripped up and was laying out flat on her stomach with her arms outstretched in front of her head and her legs straight he even showed his mum what she looked like.
It was the teacher who said they found her on her knees.
The worrying thing is there is no bumps or lumps or bruises to her head the hospital checked her whole body for any marks yesterday even noting her birthmark.

OP posts:

Original poster

5SleepingLions · 04/05/2019 13:21

So they can’t find a reason for her being unconscious or not being able to speak when she woke up

OP posts:

IrishGal21 · 04/05/2019 13:35

Sorry this happened. you need to find otu exactly what happened and ALSo report the nursery to OFSTED asap as it could happen to another child very easily if they are not check correctly by OFTSED

IrishGal21 · 04/05/2019 13:36

^^ INspected

Noobcrumble · 04/05/2019 13:40

This is serious - there is no grey area regarding what they should have done, no subjective “well I would’ve done this”, “maybe they should’ve done that”. They did not follow standard procedure AT ALL! Please tell them you want a copy of their Policies and Procedures for Accident and Emergency and you need to inform Ofsted - they should definitely be contacting Ofsted themselves about this. Also they need to give you a full report of what happened and what their protocol was - they seriously asked her to go and play in her state? Just shocked beyond belief.

AbbyHammond · 04/05/2019 13:41

I would be wondering if she fell because something happened (seizure?) rather than injuring herself in a fall.

Unfortunately the staff can't watch 10+ children at all times, but I would focus on whether they did all they could after the incident.

Toddlerteaplease · 04/05/2019 13:43

The hospital will not refer to SS. Unless there are safeguarding concerns.

LIZS · 04/05/2019 13:46

There are two issues :
That noone was supervising the play and therefore there is only a young child's account of what may have happened. Was it an accident or was she suddenly taken unwell and fell? This may or may not be typical but is probably ok if there was the correct ratio in the area of the nursery and they were not actually alone.
That the accident protocols and policies were not followed including leaving her on a chair unsupervised and not ringing for help immediately or to notify you. This is much more serious and a safeguarding issue which Ofsted and LA safeguarding team should be aware of.

Hope she is making a good recovery now and suffers no ill effects.

cakeandchampagne · 04/05/2019 13:47

Even if no adult saw it happen and it seemed minor to them, I’m shocked she wasn’t comforted & watched very carefully for a while. I’m shocked they didn’t call for an ambulance when it was obviously needed.
Like purple said, young children can’t always provide details.

TFBundy · 04/05/2019 13:55

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

CandyflossKid · 04/05/2019 14:02

Hope your little girl is ok.
The nursery should report this to Ofsted themselves as a child has been in hospital after an accident in their care. They will also have to inform their insurance company too.
Ask to see any reports they have made of the accident.

Rinoachicken · 04/05/2019 14:17

I’d also be wondering if she had a seizure.

Original poster

5SleepingLions · 04/05/2019 14:57

The way the boy said she was laying doesn’t seem right to me
So I don’t know the first aider said she was going to look at the cctv but she said she thinks it just covers the entrances.
Her eeg is booked for Tuesday but they haven’t made a descion as whether to keep her in or not.
I’ve just been on the schools last ofstead report and it was a good school to now a school that requires improvement.
Doesn’t sound to good to me.

OP posts:

Puffkin · 04/05/2019 15:24

Adults are there to facilitate learning and development not to stand around trying to have eyes everywhere in order to manage every risk and prevent every accident from happening. Children need to learn to manage risks and build confidence and minor accidents are a part of that.
The issue here is the aftercare it was seriously lacking and put OPs child in danger.

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