Thread For Boarders

[morethanpotatoprints]

Just thought I'd start a support thread for those either starting this september or established boarders happy to help those with many queries.

There are quite often individual threads for particular schools but it doesn't necessarily say whether boarding, day, private or state in the title. So I thought this would be a good way of getting us all together and also for those people from overseas looking for particular types of schools.

My dd is starting in sept and will weekly board, atm I am gathering uniform and other essential items and will begin the labelling process soon.
I do quite like this as sad as it seems, I find hand sewing very therapeutic and relaxing for some reason.

I spoke to our gp receptionist about having to register with the school. She said that if dd needed the doctor at weekends or holidays she would be treated as a visitor/ temporary and seen just the same as anybody else.

Certainly 10 years ago all new Etonians were given a fairly comprehensive health check at the school (including the dreaded "cough and drop"). I remember getting the report.

I don't think "cough and drop" exist any more but legal entitlement to confidentiality/Gillick competency for any child of about 13 and above does, school health centres can only share info with others including parents/house staff if pupils agree. I've never received a written health screen report from any school health centre nor would I expect one.

HG I've never had to speak to a GP at Winchester and my DS hardly visits the health centre so my comments are n't directed at Winchester. However through friends' DCs' reports (and other information), GPs who do a session at boarding schools are not invariably helpful and children avoid contact unless they absolutely have to or are pushed into it by staff or parents.
As a parent I would rather have my DCs registered at home to deal with non-urgent problems during the holidays, especially as the DCs spend so much more time at home than at school.
The problem obviously does n't arise for overseas boarders or pupils who see a private GP.
Morethan although GP practices may be flexible, a temporary resident can receive care for up to 14 days (usually perceived as urgent conditions) and then has to be registered as temporary visitor. However that registration will only last for three months.
I just don't think it is a good system for shared care although it works better for young adults at university . The boarding school health centres do have an incentive to have registration from the funding per patient and it certainly is important for them to have children with chronic conditions registered so that they can have full access to their medical records.

I should have said 'nearly as much time at home as at school' [embarassed].

summer it's a shame you know parents who've not found boarding school GPs helpful. Over the years I've worked with/talked to about eight or nine at three of four schools I'm always impressed with their commitment to the job. Most attend weekly meeting with other medical staff and academic staff to discuss pupils they're worried about, and all have gone out of their way to make time to speak to anxious parents.
My impression is that the GP's enjoy working with boarding pupils, especially as they escape for a couple of hours a day from their often very busy surgeries. Pupils spend 32 weeks of the year at school so not really "nearly" as much time at school I think university student are there less.
Temporary registration isn't really proper "shared" as whichever GP you're temporarily registered with won't have any access to previous notes.
Boarding health centres themselves don't receive funding for GP registration, the GP surgeries they're registered with do in fact the schools pay substantial amount to the GP's to come to the school to hold surgeries, attend meetings etc, they also pay a considerable amount to be able to access the NHS computing system that GP's use on a regular basis.

HG Temporary registration isn't really proper "shared" as whichever GP you're temporarily registered with won't have any access to previous notes.
That's my gripe about the system. It is n't a proper system of shared care without shared notes which means that it can be an obstruction (not always of course) to seeking attention and hospital referrals for what the DC or parent view as not urgent medical problems when they are at home. Despite the longer time at school DCs (and parents) find it easier to fit in medical appointments during the holidays similarly to dental visits. Also should a DC really become unwell at school they then come home anyway. University students are young adults and as such expected to be that bit better about being proactive about their health during term time. They may also stay a bit longer there during the holidays.
I take your point about the health centres, it is the GP practice who get the money but the health centres would be paying that little bit more for the GP visits without it. I can quite see that GPs like the outing - from my experience of one prep school health centre it had a cheerful helpful atmosphere from the staff.

The problem of temporary registration during the school holidays and access to notes is not the fault of either the school the GP practice the school uses or a child's local practice when at home. "Their is no "system" for shared care under the NHS as with so many things the NHS is slow to change with the times.
School GPs will happily make referrals both in term time and during holidays I have never known a school GP obstruct a child seeking medical attention.

The problem of temporary registration during the school holidays and access to notes is not the fault of either the school the GP practice the school uses or a child's local practice when at home. "Their is no "system" for shared care under the NHS Agree, as I said my gripe is about the system but to make that clearer I should have said 'the general system' in this instance of boarding pupils (and in fact university students). To repeat this is not a problem for overseas pupils or when private GP care is used in the holidays.

I have never known a school GP obstruct a child seeking medical attention.. I would hope not but as I said above the general system is obstructive as there are more hoops to go through for non-urgent care during the holidays if the DC is registered at school and the parent does n't use private or overseas healthcare. Travelling back to the boarding school GP practice for visits (and those would be needed before referrals as well) is n't convenient or even practical for most. As I said before despite the longer time at school DCs (and parents) find it easier to fit in medical appointments just like dental visits during the holidays and a parent will always be more proactive than the DC who will want to avoid GP visits and the time it takes during term time. Many parents would also want to provide the support of their presence during a visit, even if only in the waiting room for teenagers.
This personal preference for continuing registration with home GP does n't of course apply to DCs requiring routine frequent follow-up for chronic conditions during term-time (although again the general system is not helpful) or overseas or those who use private GP healthcare (which in fact may be quite a few).

Many schools will insist you register with their GP some won't let children take medication unless their GP prescribes/approves it. Sadly there are parents out there with tame often private GP's who will prescribe anything when pressurised by parents. This might come as shock to normal parents but some parents for reasons I'm sure most can't comprehend like their children taking a variety of unnecessary medications be they inhalers, carrying epipens, unnecessary vitamins or medication to control ADHD etc. Obviously most school GP's are happy to prescribe all of these if they can genuinely see the need.
Twice in the past my DS's have required referring both times occurred during holiday time on one occasion the GP was a four hour drove away on both times the consultation took place over the phone and the referal made with minimal effort on my part.
The NHS with it's ever increasingly elderly or mobile population often working increasingly odd hours is being forced to accept that face to face consultations are not the only way to see patients.

Good grief, we have just received an email with suggested items including the obvious such as coat hangers but guess what else.....?
TUCKBOX
I think I'll just send a large bag or a normal pretty cardboard box type of affair.
Apparently they have a single wardrobe, bedside table, drawers, and a box for under their bed.
I'm getting excited now.

Morethan ,

This will be the sort of thing they mean - the main thing is it is lockable for things they might want locked away (not necessarily cake/ chocolate !)

morethan Surely we can have "Tuckbox" as the title of your follow up thread?

Remember your cardboard box might not be securely lockable - which is the point of a tuckbox.

www.tuckonline.com/products/tuck-boxes/?page=all

Yes, well a link would have helped

DarklingJane

I was thinking of spending a tenner at most. Oh, I'm so cheap, I know
They have been asked to take 2 padlocks as well for their instrument lockers and general lockers. Perhaps I'll get 3 and a cheaper box.
Gosh it all adds up doesn't it.
We also had a gentle reminder that yes, they do need the gum shield, gloves and shin pads for hockey as they will be playing straight away.
Maybe parents in the past had thought these not necessary.
They could be trying to improve their result for PE in the latest inspection as it was only satisfactory iirc. I guess they are more artistic than sporty

morethan: either go for a cheap box which obviously can't be sat on, or a fortified one. I have to warn you that tuck boxes often get a bit of a battering, being used as steps or seats.

Don't waste your money on an individually fitted opro gum shield I used too until a dentist friend told me he didn't for his county rugby playing DS buy a quality boil and bite and then you won't begrudge replacing them every few months as their teeth come through.

thanks howto

The plot thickens, dd said there are safes in the wardrobes and that the kids just had carrier bags full of goodies in their bedside cupboard and they made them look inconspicuous when they had room inspections.

HG The gum shield has to be one of the boil and fit ones apparently approved by Denplan for the insurance. Some things like this they are strict with, maybe because they can't afford woodwind and brass players to be out of action.
The same with gloves I suppose, to protect those amazing little fingers
We have gone for all the insurances, is this what most people do?

I do think the follow up thread will be TUCKBOX but it may be starting as I'm blubbing so maybe the title will be revised.

She has been playing hanging out with a friend and just come in, had tea and started studying German

I used to purchase <a class="break-all" href="//uwww.amazon.co.uk/OPRO-Mouthguards-Gum-Shield-Silver/dp/B00L8WSPZQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1437413605&sr=8-6&keywords=opro+boil+and+bite" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these boil and bite ones. Much cheaper than the ones opro come out and individually fit.
We have the BUPA school insurance and I think the denplan one. The former is good if your child needs a routine procedure like a minor operation and you want it done in the holidays otherwise I personally always stick with the NHS.

The cheaper gum shields can be found on websites like sportsdirect.com. Shin pads sticks pads etc too. Saved me a packet earlier this year

Sorry, Back to GP registration: DS see's a paediatrician and other specialists at time to time within the local trust we live. This is an ongoing thing. If we register at the school GP I'm thinking this might cause issues if we move GP's to different county but other care stays in our home county? Do you girls think?

Lovelypompoms officially for funding it will matter (although the specialists won't really care which GP they write the letters to). The by the rules thing to do if the school insists on registration at their selected GP practice is to email them for clarification (as they will have to fund a non-locally commissioned NHS service for your DS). That might be quite a good tactic if you would like an excuse to stay with your local GP.
Or you could just register him at the school and wait until the hospital or school GPs work it out for themselves that the funding route is awry (which might not happen before your DS leaves his school)

Oooo....just a note on padlocks if your child is prone to losing things like keys. Then its best to give a spare to the house mistress or use a combination lock.

Also if the locker can not be locked advise your child to move everything back to boarding. My DD lost her Tennis racquet that way. Then write an email to get them fixed. I have been told this is the correct procedure.

Airline tickets book in advance and hope you get cheap tickets. The cheapest we ever got on BA is 16,000 HKD. Others are cheaper but don't give 40kg. Which she needs to store her grub for the term. The suitcase can also be used as an extra safe locker.

Thanks for the advice on combination locks, I'm sure this is a better idea than all those keys.

I have a funny today.
First of all a disclaimer, I'm not used to all this managing school dates, am dyslexic so struggle anyway and have never experienced anything like this before.

I printed off the Term Dates doc we were sent and wish I hadn't
Free weekends starting on a friday. Long free weekends starting on a Thursday. Half term unless involved with a course, compulsory half term.
If involved with something you can go home when finished, if not you help with open day.
All with different pick up and drop off times.
At least 2 parents evening on sunday when they return.
I am used to 5 mins if lucky with only one or a couple of teachers once a year.
My brand new diary in which I hoped to become organised is covered in liquid paper already

My moan and frustration with myself for the day.