To expect Head Teacher to follow up

[User50228]

My child in Year 3 had an accident at school 2 weeks ago. It resulted in a broken ankle and she hasn't been back to school yet and unlikely for another 3 weeks.

To date I have had a note from her teacher to see how she is but nothing from the Head Teacher at all except a request for hospital paperwork to allow them to inform OFSTED.

AIBU to expect a quick call or note to see how she is and say its being investigated?

The headteacher should have contacted you, not necessarily to offer sympathy etc (though that would be polite), but for your DD’s education to be taken up by the local authority/academy trust in the form of home tuition. This is a legal requirement for any child who has two consecutive weeks absence from school. I would contact the HT and ask for a meeting to discuss what plans are being put in place.

In response to wanting to see a copy of the investigation if the Head wants my daughters medical records from the accident for her report then I dont think its unreasonable to expect to see a copy of the report being submitted.

Interesting about local authority becoming involved if absence over 2 weeks. Not heard anything at all

I would expect it from the class teacher and maybe even a card with all kids names on in the class wishing to get well soon. My son broke his arm in yr5 not in school but he was expected back in school when potted. I didn't expect a call from the head teacher and would possibly seem a little insincere and put on as they don't know my child very well and more of don't sue me I'm nice sort of thing though I wouldn't dream of it but it would seem very put on. More of a how are they doing, fine thankyou for asking, ok thanks bye. Nah wouldn't expect nor want it from the head. Different story with class teacher who I would expect weekly at least contact for work and updates if out of school a while. Though my son did his ankle at football in high school and told them he wouldn't be in as he couldn't do stairs but they wanted him in school next day saying we have children on crutches etc going up the 4 flights of stairs he can do the same and if not he can work in the isolation room.

you say it was an accident but there is an issue of supervision ratio in the playground. There would have been a minute or so when she was climbing up when an intervention would have helped. if someone had such an accident I always got the class to make a card etc

Absolutely , if your school has a warm and caring atmosphere . I am a teacher and I would ring and check in regularly and my principal would definitely call.

It's not so much about whether they 'should' or not , it's about being a nice human being .

I think it's more normal at high school for the head teacher to contact the family, because generally that will be the most constant staff member in the pupils school journey. With different teachers in every subject and often different year leads every year. Whereas at primary school the kids have the same teacher all day every day, and have very little contact with the head teacher.

Why isn’t she back at school if she broke her ankle 2 weeks ago? She can go back with crutches and 8 years old is more than old enough. Maybe the school is waiting for her to come back before asking her directly.

Hospital guidance! Not my choice believe me!

I’m surprised! Loads of children break bones and still go to school.

She shouldn't be off school for 6 weeks! You need to follow up on that. The accident will have been reported to RIDDOR and if there is anything to investigate it will be up to them. But kids break bones all the time. I run a kids club with 150 members and at any given time there are 2 or 3 kids with a broken bone

Would you really consider it too dangerous for an 8 year old to be allowed to climb onto a bench? I would also imagine it didn't take a minute or so' to get up on to an 18" platform, more like less than a second

maybe not dangerous but prob against rules in that benches are for sitting on etc not standing on but no big deal i suppose

accidently duplicated post didnt work its now worse sorry

There may be reasons why the school isn't allowed to contact you. Have you been in touch with the school to let them know how she is?

Think it depends on the break etc. 2 years ago mine was off school for 6 weeks after an accident which required surgery then crutches after. Hospital advised and even wrote a letter stating no school for 6 weeks.

I'd ask for the accident report and the report to HSE (under RIDDOR).
I'd phone if I was Head.

They have to inform the local authority if it happened on school premises. I’ve injured myself twice. Once when a gate flew back in my face and cut my forehead. The other time when I slipped on the ice. Both times I filled in an online form with the school secretary.

Head teachers have barely the time to do their actual jobs. If they did every "nice person" thing going, they'd probably be letting something important slide elsewhere in the school. They have staff to delegate to, and they have done so.

I dont see why there has to be a call why would the call tell you anything you wouldn't already know and them aksing if she is ok doesn't make her better or nor

Yes nice but no I wouldn't expect it

You won't get it unless you fight for it. It's more commonly applied for children with emotional based school avoidance or long term health conditions.

It would be easier and probably more effective to ask the teacher to provide work.

So if you broke your wrist (and sorry to hear that happened to your daughter) and your manager called to see how you were, would you really expect the MD of your company to call?

YABU based on your expectations.

I'd find it overkill if the head called in this situation. In the same way I'd find it overkill if the MD called me after I'd already spoken to my line manager/HR.

Well in my school the head would definitely call ! We are primary and in Dublin .
I also know I would have received a call from my own kids' school if something like this happened . A break is quite serious .

Schools do have to notify Ofsted of serious injuries. This includes broken bones/fractures, unconsciousness, hypothermia/over heating, resuscitation, breathing difficulties, major joint dislocations, etc.
Riddor also has to be notified about serious injuries.
You had contact from the teacher and for me that would be enough. The head is most likely drowning in the sixty million pieces of paperwork they now have to complete because of the accident.