to ask for your advice re. getting my son back to school

[brightbluecast]

So, Year 9 son broke his leg (tibia) in the holidays, nearly 5 weeks ago. Recovery has been set back (not sure how long) because Xray last week showed bone not mending straight and had to have it manipulated under anaesthetic. In a cast from toes to thigh. Strictly non weight-bearing. Crutches and a borrowed wheelchair.

School went back today. I didn't send him back in as I know staff already under immense pressure with new covid rules etc and I didn't want to add to the general stress - thought I would give a few days for
things to settle down. Have been in touch several times with head of year (good bloke) and have agreed to review situation next week. I suggested if perhaps he could go in from next week for part of every day, in the wheelchair, if there was someone available to wheel him from lesson to lesson. I accept this is difficult in terms of staff availability. I was just trying to come up with ideas.

HoY discussed with SEN and came back today to say that they could put him somewhere where he doesn't have to move and bring work to him. In my mind, this is no better than being at home, so there's no point in going back. He's already having work sent home and is getting on with that. He's desperate to go back, though, for proper interaction.

Am I unreasonable to ask/expect them to accommodate and integrate him a bit more? Even if just for 2 or 3 lessons a day. I don't want to be demanding, but are schools obliged to do this? Nobody has talked risk-assessment at all (which I thought would be a thing). Even if he goes on crutches, rather than wheelchair, he needs to be supervised by an adult really as kids in corridors can be really boisterous and I can't risk him falling. Bear in mind his leg is massive and heavy and hard to keep up out of the way of the floor and he can't put weight on it. Unfortunately it's not a disabled-friendly building - lots of stairs, doorways, very narrow corridors. HoY told me that usually, in these cases, they give the injured kid a buddy, but I don't think it's fair to expect another 13 year old to be partly responsible for the welfare of another child. Carrying his bag is one thing, but making sure he doesn't get trampled in the corridor is another.

Bottom line is that, with one setback already, I don't to risk him complicating his injury further and then taking even longer to heal.

Would really appreciate hearing from others. I re-iterate - this is in no way a school-bashing thread - I completely sympathise with the difficulties in schools right now and I'm trying to think of solutions that will work. Wasn't a great time to break a limb!

[quote brightbluecast]@FelicityPike - I'm not trying to be funny or arsey. I'm genuinely asking if I have to take responsibility for him falling over or getting pushed over in the corridor? If that's the bottom line, then I can make a reasoned decision. Out of interest, have you had experience of this (as a parent or teacher), or are you just being a teeny bit judgmental?

I've never been in this situation before. Friends of mine (a teacher and a school secretary) have said there'd have to be a school risk assessment but nobody at school has mentioned this.

Not sure if the library idea is because they genuinely think it's a great idea (which, from the learning point of view, it isn't) or because they feel they have to offer me something and that's all they can do. I'm not sure if it's just one suggestion, or their bottom line.

Of course I can contact them further and ask (they're approachable) but I thought it'd be useful to find out other people's experiences to see if any other solutions spring to mind. Currently the poor kid hates me for not letting him back today![/quote]
I’ve experienced it from the school side as well as being the pupil.
If you don’t think he’ll be safe, don’t send him back.
As others have said, being let out 5 minutes extra is perfectly normal in these circumstances.

You need to talk to the welfare officer at the local authority - have in mind the outcome you want e.g., do you want him to stay home till half term or assess it again in 3 weeks etc., work sent home - and then get his/her details and ring up or email, explaining the situation very clearly. There is something in most local authority areas called "Health Needs School" and they can provide education in a different setting or occasionally a tutor at home but in COVID times I bet they have reduced that support. Do some digging OP. The school will tell you that you have to do whatever is easiest for them, then dress it up as in your childs best interests!

We decided it wasn't practical for several reasons. The classrooms are small and DS had to have his leg raised which was a concern as it could have been knocked as others moved around the room, he would also have needed an extra chair and room to have his leg extended. Even in the library this would have been a real worry.
When he returned to school he had some room changes to make things easier but he's a teenage boy who missed his friends so he went to all his normal lessons. It was made clear that the school could put things in place but ultimately it was his and our responsibility.

My DS broke his leg on the first day in sixth form. After an operation and a week or so at home he went to school on crutches and became very skilled at getting around on them. He could do stairs at speed in the end. School made a few allowances initially re leaving class early to get to the next one before the rush, but in the end he just blended in with everyone.
I understand your concerns, but he will manage, I'm sure.

It sounds like they HAVE done a risk assessment and the result of that is that they feel the safest place for him to be is in the library.

He’s also at additional risk of the fire alarm goes off from an evacuation point of view. Depending where he is in the building it could be difficult for him to evacuate alone if he has stairs etc to negotiate and would need staff assistance.

Easier to assign someone to help him evacuate if he’s always in one place!

Years ago when I had a broken leg at school they just let me move between lessons either early / late so I didn’t have to be in the corridor at the same time. I also had a tow to thigh cast and managed on crutches and a school bag BUT I wasn’t in pain. They should be able to accommodate this.

It he can’t use crutches perhaps it’s best he stays home until he can?

The school should do an individual risk assessment. I'm reasonably sure disability law includes cases where the disability I temporary. A child in a separate room with work delivered would not be inclusive and shouldn't be anything other than a short term solution.

Having said all that, schools have just opened to all pupils. This first week is really hard as they are testing out their covid procedures. I'm not surprised that the school is being vague or not proactive about this as it is a difficult to solve issue about a single pupil. I would suggest waiting until next week and then contacting again to push the issue.

What did they say about insurance? Have they taken advice? Quite possibly may come back as no,

They should do a risk assessment. But that risk assessment may well be that at the moment him being in a safe space in school is the safest option.

I had a severe knee injury when I was at high school and when I wasn’t able to move around school (on crutches leaving lessons early) then I did all my work in the library, possibly moving to rooms on the same floor.

It isn’t ideal but often their isn’t an ideal solution even less so at the moment unfortunately

Makes you wonder how they would cope with a pupil permanently in a wheelchair? Surely they've had to review things as part of disability discrimination?

@londongirl12

Makes you wonder how they would cope with a pupil permanently in a wheelchair? Surely they've had to review things as part of disability discrimination?

Which would take time to get things into place and schools would be picked based upon factors including accessibility. They would also often have an EHC plan which would cover moving around school and support if needed to do so.

Sadly some buildings simply aren’t going to be 100% accessible, unless they are new builds.

I really wouldn't push for him to go back if he is getting work at home - he will be kept separate from other ids and also limited at break times as well. Then there is the loo issue - hows that gonna work?

I would wait till he is out of plaster and weight bearing if I am honest

@londongirl12

Makes you wonder how they would cope with a pupil permanently in a wheelchair? Surely they've had to review things as part of disability discrimination?

Hardly comparable The issue will be trying to get a whole school and staff back safely