Could this be what I think is or am I being paranoid?

[Mumstheword93]

Hello, my DS aged 4 has started school, it's a special needs school and he gets the taxi to and from school daily.

When he went to pre school he has bumps and bruises typical for his age and environment, they where always reported to us.

However since starting this school he obviously has brusing in typical places like the shins, but theirs small brusing on his upper thigh and forearm that doesn't strike me as typical accidental brusing.

Could you give your opinions on weather you would be concerned as a parent, I took these pictures whilst he was sleeping so their not clear but you can identify where they are on the body.

When you say could it be what you think it is- what do you mean by that?
And as for does it look normal? Absolutely- brushing on the legs for young active children is very normal

Is the second picture a forearm? That looks like fingertip bruising to me. I am a foundation stage teacher and if I saw that on a child's arm I would report it.

Yes outer thigh and forearm below the elbow.

What I think it is, possibly Rough handling dare I say abuse I know it's an extreme terminology. But it's definitely keeping me awake tonight.

Are you worried it is finger tip bruising? I would not send him to school in the morning. I would call school first thing and explain your concerns.

Thank-you for your validation, I've been sitting here googling body maps on whats typical and what's not, and getting anxious in not wanting to falsely accuse etc... he went to pre school previously and we didn't experience anything like this.

This is our first encounter with anything like this.

For reference of normal brusing.
These are his shins, typical placement of bruses I'm not to concerned about these, I'm more concerned about the placement of the thigh and forearm.

You sound very balanced and I think it’s the right thing to do to report this first thing in the morning while keeping him safe until you get more details about what’s happened. You’ve been a brilliant mum for noticing this.

This is what I'd do. So sorry you're dealing with this, OP. Hope you're able to get to the bottom of it soon, and that your boy's okay

Thank-you so much, my son is semi verbal so getting clear information from him isn't going to happen, this is also my worry that he cannot tell me when things have happened or at times gets confused about answering simple questions and gets confused, making him vulnerable. I've messaged the taxi driver informing him my son isn't going to school tomorrow and I'll call the school first thing. Thank-you all for your support xx

Thankyou I'll post an update once I've spoken to the school xx

Are you thinking staff or other children? Either way I agree keep him home and speak to school about your concerns. You need to know he's safe there.

Fwiw though I have a similar bruise on my thigh which was caused by walking into the corner of a table!

My 5 year old gets bruises like that all the time! He can bruise his bum from going down the slide or jumping about. They look like perfectly normal bruises to me. They are so active at that age and he seems to bash into every corner going!

It could be finger tip bruising. I would have a conversation with head. Does he have personal care? Do they have a positive handling policy?

The outer thigh I think could be easily explained by bumping into the corner of a table or something similar.

The inner arm ones could be a concern though.

The arm bruises look the same age so occurred at the same time which is worrying along with the pattern. I hope you get some answers although I'd be concerned the teachers would close ranks.

Are you worried about him being inappropriately restrained in the taxi? Does he have an escort or is it just driver and the children? I have heard quite a few cases of taxi driver or passenger assistant restraining or even smacking disabled children who find travelling stressful, my friends son they were almost tying him up and we only found out when another child who was more verbal casually mentioned it. I would definitely report it. It could also be an issue of lack of supervision of other children.

Update**

Spoke to the school whilst keeping my son home, teacher confirmed with a class of 11 boys they are all playing quite roughly with each other, I assured her that I don't expect to have him come home covered in bruises, they are all boisterous and I did mention they look like fingertip bruising.

She has reported it on a child safety plan their end so it's on record. Will keep and eye on it and if it continues I guess I will have to have a meeting with the school.

Taxi driver is the nicest man, his really been patient with my son, my son gives him a hug and a kiss on the cheek (typical for people he likes). His really sweet and even let's my son watch his programs on my sons phone, I strap my son into his carseat, taxi man has said my son is always good in the car, they seem genuinely pleased to see each other in morning with hi fives and small talk.

I have to say that I often have bruising on my legs that looks very similar. Just from knocking into small furniture at school.
In a class with 11 boys, all with Sen, I can’t say that rough handling from the adults would age been my first thought. Is your son boisterous at home? Does he do a lots of physical play? My 11 year old DD’s legs look like that also and that’s from all the sport she plays?

I had two with asd. My eldest often had bruises. I worried about them too. However they were the result of being an active and autistic sensory seeking child. He bashed into things and he was in a class with others like him. In the end I reported any that I saw and tried to relax. It is not always possible to stop the bruises.