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Advice on thinking about suing my child’s school.

219 replies

questio · 09/01/2025 09:50

My primary aged child was in school, walked past an interactive white board which had extremely sharp edges and it sliced in between his fingers, resulting in him having to go to the ER and having it glued and steri stripped and now bandaged up. He’s an elite dancer with a huge show coming up in 10 days, he tried training the evening after the accident but his wound split back open and he had to have it redone. He has been told no dancing for at least two weeks while it heals, this has really upset him, the thought of not being able to participate in a dance show he’s been training 12 hours a week + for the last 4 months has really put a dampener on his spirit. I emailed and asked the school to see the risk assessment on this whiteboard as why is it in a kids classroom if it’s that sharp. I didn’t get a reply email but the head rang me instead, saying they have removed it from the class room and contacted the company it’s from to return it as they were not aware it had sharp edges underneath. She was very apologetic and said they now have put the old one from the library in its place which has been checked and no sharp edges or any way to be a risk to injury and hopes this has reassured me.
Im not one to think about suing, I’ve never claimed against anything before but I’m considering speaking to some one, as this should have never happened in the first place. I’ve worked in schools and we risk assessed every item in that classroom before hand.
Yes I’m aware making a claim will not make my child’s hand heal any quicker and able him to get on that stage to complete his dance routine, but I feel more should of been done to prevent this from occurring and now because of their negligence I’m out of pocket due to dance subs and any dance moms will understand how expensive dance costumes, theatre tickets and all else that comes with it will understand.

any thoughts

Advice on thinking about suing my child’s school.
OP posts:
BrokenHipster · 09/01/2025 14:40

Don't young school kids have a schools insurance in the UK? Ours do, it's part of the yearly contribution. Covers accidents like this in school.

Holdonforsummer · 09/01/2025 14:42

Sorry for your son but please don’t sue the school, they just need to fix the problem. These things happen. And how ‘elite’ can a primary school aged child be?

LizzieBananas · 09/01/2025 14:44

I’m a former teacher.

One of biggest rules in my classroom was that you did NOT touch the interactive whiteboard. This was mainly a fear of children swinging on it and it falling on them or, less dangerously and more likely, catching the wires/cables and it not working properly.

If he had broken it, you would have been looking at a bill of at least £1000 and our school did charge children for damage (notably windows)

Before you sue, have a look at the concept of “Contributory Negligence”. That is how much your son’s own behaviour affected this. You could go all the way to trial and still only get 50% of damages and have to pay your own costs.

nightmarepickle2025 · 09/01/2025 14:44

Don't be silly.

BotterMon · 09/01/2025 14:50

Don't be ridiculous. The whiteboard didn't jump out and damage your child's hand so what negligence occurred?

Disappointing but it's 10 days away so I'm sure your child will be fine to pick up training in a week.

LifeExperience · 09/01/2025 14:56

American here. Not a lawyer, but both of my sisters and their husbands are, so much legal discussion over the years. I don't see a cause of action. You would have to prove negligence, and if the white board was installed and used as the manufacturer intended the school is in the clear.

Your son has learned a valuable lesson to be careful where he puts his hands.

mamalovebird · 09/01/2025 14:59

My DD was a competition dancer in primary school (think ballet/tap/modern/character). Her teacher broke her toe in Y5 by accident which meant she missed a whole terms worth of competition dances (that I'd already paid for her to learn) as she wasn't allowed to dance for 6-8 weeks.

Not once did I even consider suing anyone. Her teacher was mortified, the school was mortified. But it was just an accident.

He's in primary school. Missing one performance won't hinder his progression in way. It's annoying perhaps, but not sue-worthy.

Gettingbysomehow · 09/01/2025 15:01

I wouldn't sue. If you have lost money as a result of this incident you can claim this back in the small claims court. I think suing for this incident is a bit much. They should have launched an investigation however and completed an incident form.

Oneanonymouspost · 09/01/2025 15:06

You can’t be serious? Your considering legal action against your child’s school because he scratched himself on a board that he obviously walked to close to? Because he will miss a dance show? I’ve heard it all now!

caramac04 · 09/01/2025 15:21

My DD aged 5 had something similar which required sutures. It was from the school gate. She did nothing wrong but the school were not at fault. It never entered my head to sue the school and take away money from all the pupils. As a school fundraiser I was only too aware of their tricky financial situation and that was well over 20 years ago. That situation has not improved.

MrsMariaReynolds · 09/01/2025 15:34

I really don't believe we'll see Op return to this one...

Disappointed--as I am genuinely curious if she's an American posting from America, or an American living in the UK who is woefully out of touch with life abroad. Either way, she's giving us Yanks a bad name.

LIZS · 09/01/2025 15:35

MyDeftDuck · 09/01/2025 14:03

I am puzzled as to how dancing has opened up a wound between his fingers to be honest.

Also, what do you want to achieve by suing the school? They have told you that they have removed the sharp edged equipment and investigated as to why it was manufactured so. What more do you want?

Modern, freestyle, hiphop, contemporary et al might involve gymnastic type moves or partner work, so that pressure could reopen wounds on hands. However as I mentioned previously there is time to re choreograph to avoid the risk. If part of a group he might need to take a different role.

tailinthejam · 09/01/2025 15:40

SiobhanSharpe · 09/01/2025 11:34

Bit of a side issue but what exactly is an 'elite dancer' please? Is it ballet, tap, ballroom, street or hip-hop kind of thing?
And what's the definition of elite? DC are grown but while at school one used to play rugby for his county. Would that make him an elite player? Or would it be more like for an England junior squad eg under 16s. Just after a bit more info for context.

I would say that the description 'elite' could be used to describe someone who has an outstanding talent and the aptitude to become a full-time professional competitor or performer in sport, gymanstics, swimming, dance, music, whatever. Or someone truly exceptional at maths etc.

If you are in the top handful in the country/region for your age cohort, then you could be described as 'elite'.

The term does tend to be unnecessarily bandied about in certain dance competition circuits though.

misssunshine4040 · 09/01/2025 19:03

TeenToTwenties · 09/01/2025 09:54

What would suing them achieve?

Why was your son touching the board?

What kind of dancing that his hands matter?

Private or state?

Suing or claiming damages exists to ensure that greater care js taken to ensure the same incident doesn't happen again.

What if he lost his fingers ? Would that be different? The cuts look nasty and painful.

The OP is absolutely correct that the equipment should have been checked to make sure it was safe to be around children- it wasn't and that was on them.
Litigation makes companies/ individuals/ businesses/ councils more cautious

Bettyspants · 09/01/2025 20:53

Given the lack of response from OP I’m sure this is another troll /goady post….

itsgettingweird · 09/01/2025 20:58

What confuses me is how you can walk past a whiteboard yet simultaneously manage to cut between your fingers in a sharp edge underneath?

I walk past whiteboards all day - I've never managed to spring a cut on my hands!

I reckon if I ran my fingers alongside the edge across the thin bit of skin there I'd also cut it and need it gluing!

In which case I'd learn my lesson Wink

Moonlightstars · 09/01/2025 22:23

HotCrossBunplease · 09/01/2025 14:19

OK, sure, you know best 🤷‍♀️. We are talking about procurement of insurance by public bodies, it’s a very complex area with specialist providers and brokers.

Also, there are extremely strict professional duties which would prevent a solicitor encouraging people to sue their clients, just to earn more fees. I resent what you are suggesting.

No need for attitude. It's a genuine question. So does it really have no impact if say there are hundred people suing schools in an authority? Surely it must push-up premiums?

CrowleyKitten · 10/01/2025 01:27

how did it cut him if he was just walking past?

Len0343 · 19/06/2025 12:02

I would like information from people who have experience of suing schools for discrimination about SEND pupils.

Thanks😀

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