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Original poster

my 5 yr old son denigrated by teacher after receiving head injury

125 replies

givemepakora · 20/03/2012 10:29

my 5 year old son received a bad head injury in school. When I got a call to collect him, the teacher who claimed to be witness to me in the school reception area that my son is "...not exactly the sharpest tool in the box...". this was while I was cleaning the blood stains from my crying child and tending to the cold compress to allow the bleeding to stop. To this day, i have not received a written report of the accident from the school, nor have i resolved the pain and anger inside me regaerding the comment made in the presence of a member of the office staff. What, if anything, can be done?

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BeerTricksPott3r · 20/03/2012 10:39

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Original poster
givemepakora · 20/03/2012 11:00

At the time, the head teacher was ' unable to speak to me' for three days-every time i rang, the head was 'in a meeting'. Then i was told to contact the chair of govners, in writing. I contacted the LEA to notify them that i was not sending my son back to school until the issue was resolved-they, the LEA, told me that i should my son back to school, else the Head will perceive my son's absence as unauthorised.

OP posts:
Original poster
givemepakora · 20/03/2012 11:02

Does the teacher's unprofessionalism warrant a disciplinary sanction?

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 20/03/2012 11:09

I don't understand what the teacher said - were they saying your child was being bullied? or that he was playing/fighting in a daft way and his injury was his fault too Confused hence the 'not the sharpest tool in the box' comment

Sounds like a badly placed off the cuff comment if so? or am I musunderstanding?

BeerTricksPott3r · 20/03/2012 11:15

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Original poster
givemepakora · 20/03/2012 11:21

He was walking from his recption classroom with a partner along the corridor to main hall at break time. The Paediatric Triage nurse suspected that he had been punched or violently pushed against a waall/ floor by much larger child, possibly even an adult. The doctor only opined that the injury was marginally short of being fatal. The doctor contacted the school, with my permission but not in presence, and was not willing to discuss anything further. The Triage was not happy with the way doctor acted after the call.

The teacher in question claimed that they were witness to the incident (you must understand that the school have never told me what actually happened; my son's gross motor development is a little behind that of his peers)-the comment she made was directed at me, in a very aggressive, angry manner.

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BeerTricksPott3r · 20/03/2012 11:24

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Lovetats · 20/03/2012 11:27

So not only had your poor child had a nasty injury, which the doctor felt was serious, but the teacher implied it was his fault by saying he was below average intelligence???

I'd be foaming! I would contact the chair of governors immediately and ask them to investigate and that I'd be expecting an apology at the very least.

I'm an ex-teacher and am appalled at the way the school has handled this.

Original poster
givemepakora · 20/03/2012 11:32

May be your right-i should consider changing my son's school. i got a call from the school a 8:10 am this morning because the head would like to meet me tmmorow morning to discuss the "allegation" (re: the teacher's comment) AND the issue of my son's teacher having no idea about his reading ability (the SENCO told me with pleasure that my son's reading vocabulary was over 90 pc of words for his yr group and yr group above. he had seven teeth removed when he strted reception-dentists hey, but tht's another story). i requested copies of the last 2 ofsted rprts, and policies for assessment and differentiation. Oh, and the curriculum line manager of my son's teacher is guess who?...

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LaurieFairyCake · 20/03/2012 11:33

I think you need to complain about the doctor too - that is very odd.

Hebiegebies · 20/03/2012 11:35

Have you got a copy of the letter the hospital gave you to give to your GP?
if not you need to get a drs letter concerning the treatment he needed and the seriousness of his head injury

You have various levels of concern

He was hurt badly while in their care

You have not been told fully how this happened

A teacher was rude about your child I front of him (bullying, if it had been a racial comment it would not have been any worse)

The head has not made time to see you

Your child is not safe to return to the school until these issues have been resolved, therefore his absence will be documented, although at age 5 it's not so much of a problem.

I would contact your GP
The education at county level
Consider having your child assessed in case the is a need for him to have a statement and extra help in school
The school to ask for a meeting with the chair of governors and the head

Codandchops · 20/03/2012 11:36

You can see the OFSTED reports online so no need to wait for those.

Hebiegebies · 20/03/2012 11:37

Extra help for physical needs sorry

Original poster
givemepakora · 20/03/2012 11:37

I did get a call from the hospital's investigation team. but the best the came back to me was that our GP authorise for my son to be seen at a different hospital-the GP refused.

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Lovetats · 20/03/2012 11:37

I'm a bit confused about the doctor calling the school and the triage nurse not being happy afterwards.

Do you know why the doctor rang? Was s/he angry with the school? Do you know what was said?

StealthPolarBear · 20/03/2012 11:40

Your son was assaulted in school and nearly killed! Is he still in hospital? Call the police!

Original poster
givemepakora · 20/03/2012 11:41

the thing is the school AND the doctor AND the GP and the LEA adamently refuse to give anything they say in writing, even when i explicitly ask for it to be communicated to me in writing.

OP posts:
imogengladheart · 20/03/2012 11:44

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Original poster
givemepakora · 20/03/2012 11:45

my son is fine thank you. but i still don't know what the school are covering up. after my son's accident i couldn't help noticing the small paper head "Head Injury Procedure" stuck in top left corner of the reception window.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 20/03/2012 11:45

Look I dont know what's going on here, is there any chance you are being labelled a trouble maker and they think you're going to sue them??

It's shocking that they refuse to meet with you. I don't know what you want in writing but you need to meet with school, use their complaints procedure. You can also complain in writing to the PCT or the practises/hospital manager about the doctor

imogengladheart · 20/03/2012 11:46

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TheCatInTheHairnet · 20/03/2012 11:46

I'm a bit confused by this thread. Are you saying that someone, potentially your child's teacher, hit your child's head against the wall and nearly killed him?! Or am I reading it wrong?

StealthPolarBear · 20/03/2012 11:47

Your won was assaulted by a child or adult. It was "near fatal". Police NEED to be involved.

LaurieFairyCake · 20/03/2012 11:48

Also, what does your son say happened to him?

QuintessentialyHollow · 20/03/2012 11:49

This is horrible. I second that you should contact the police.

Is this something Ofsted should be made aware of?