SENco???

[Mumofoneandanotherontheway]

My child had a little accident at home over the weekend for which I had to take him to a&e. He at the time said his little brother pushed him but next morning said he tripped over a toy & went face first in the end of the bed (wooden). He was bleeding quiet heavily from the face & nose. His nose swelled up right away & until now still has a lot of bruising & I didn’t feel comfortable sending him to school in case he has another bump (he’s very boystrious)...
I’ve kept up with calling the school daily & also spoke to the GP about it on Tuesday. I’ve received a called from the school today to say as no one has seen him from school for a week and he’s had a accident at home she will have to contact SENco. Abit upset the fact is it they don’t believe me? Is this routine?
A&E doctor clearly said his swelling could take 7-10 days to go down, I also asked the GP about sending him to school & he said depends how he feels & take it slowly.
I don’t know what to think about this chat about SENco this morning (all new to me, don’t even know who they are until I asked)

Can anyone advise?
Many thanks x

The school sendco is the special educational needs and disabilities coordinator. Doesn’t really make sense why they’d refer your child to the sendco when they’ve had an accident.

That’s what the receptionist said... I asked her what’s senco & she said assistant head who deals with the well-being of the children, because we haven’t seen your child in a week it’s a bit concerning... I felt abit upset with the comment like they don’t trust me.

It's fairly Standard. They have a duty of care and want to make sure child is ok.

Are you sure they didn't say DSL? Which is someone who is in charge of safeguarding?

@Mumofoneandanotherontheway

That’s what the receptionist said... I asked her what’s senco & she said assistant head who deals with the well-being of the children, because we haven’t seen your child in a week it’s a bit concerning... I felt abit upset with the comment like they don’t trust me.

Don't take it personally, it's really not about you or a judgement on your honesty. They're following processes which safeguard the children in their care, regardless of family circumstance, that's all.

mrsblobby she definitely said Senco, because I asked her what that is & she then went on to say about 3 times explaining what it is.

maud thank you for your reply. Is it a meeting or something we have to have? I’m so confused

Their various safeguarding and absence policies will be on their website which should give you more info about what to expect.

I would think that whoever is responsible for safeguarding will just ring you in the first instance. Don't worry

Thank you for shedding some light on this x

The sendco can also be a safeguarding officer. This is pretty normal

It's a fairly standard check whenever there is a red flag over welfare - and is a much a box ticking thing as anyone looking at you in a particular way.

Your child has had a genuine accident and you've taken them to A&E etc, but there may well be children where the circumstances are rather less benign. Quite often social services will follow up if you take a young child to A&E with an injury that could be other than accidental (even if the doctors totally accept your version of events).

I got a call from school when my DD was in Reception as she'd told them she had a brother, but he didn't go to school as mummy kept him locked in a cupboard!

DD is an only child - but had an imaginary brother for many years (who was the one responsible for all misdeeds). School didn't actually think I kept some secret sibling locked in a cupboard, but did want to check whether there had been a sibling who had died or been stillborn or something so that they could respond appropriately to DD. Was still a very strange conversation!

As everyone else said, there are procedures a school has to follow to keep track of the welfare of all children in their care. This is a good thing. You are aware that parents who are either neglectful or abusive don't go around with big flags sticking out of their heads to notify people? In the same way that burglars don't wear an eye mask and carry a bag marked 'swag' ? The school is 100% right to do whatever it can to monitor the welfare of all of it's children. A bruised face wouldn't generally be a good reason to keep a child off school.

The fact that she is the SENDCo is a bit of a red herring here. It isn't uncommon for the SENDCO to also wear other hats - often including B.Co, (Behaviour) DSL (Safeguarding) , and Pastoral care. Her 'main role' is probably the SeNCDCO, which is what everyone knows her as, but most teachers in Primary have to wear several hats, which parents generally wouldn't necessarily be aware of.

Thank you for all the advice, it’s put my mind as ease and I was just thinking she didn’t believe me. If that’s normal procedure of course that needs to be followed through. He had swelling & bruising until Thursday, Friday it was just mainly bruising and swelling had gone down by quiet abit. I felt we’re starting half term from Friday so I kept him off that day too in case he goes & knocks it or when they play fight something happens. He’s very boystrious & it does help at the best of times. I’m glad he’s got better and he will be returning after the half term...

ohcrumbs oh wow your daughter, I can imagine what you must have been feeling like at the time. However they have there own imagination at that age and think/say all sorts. My little one tells everyone I’m not his brothers mum and he actually is because he was in his tummy. Xx

Sounds like the same person is senco and safeguarding and the receptionist has just used the wrong “hat” for her in this case. I wouldn’t worry, schools have a duty of care to check all is ok.

Op don't take it personally, it's just safe guarding, imagine if this was a child who was being hurt.

Oh crumbs!

Mine said mummy lost a baby!!