School for children with medical needs

[used2bthin]

I've posted in special needs but thought I may try here too for those who don't use the special needs board. My dd is only 20m but we went to look around a nursery today for when she is three. I was really interested in how they would deal with her medical needs because she needs an injection if she is very ill or badly injured and would also need medication during the school day which would need adjusting according to how she is. Anyway I mentioned this to the lady who showed us around the school and she said to put her needs in writing on the application form and they would look into whether they could cope with her. I think that legally they don't have to give medical treatment is this right? DD really can't go to a school if they are not prepared to deal with her condition so does anyone know how I would go about finding out which schools would take her or is it just a case of asking the individual schools? Would she have a specific person for her needs or would all the staff train?(the hospital would send someone out to show them what to do I think).

Maybe this isn't quite the same but there is a child at DS's nursery who is severely allergic to various foods (ie life threatening)

there are signs in the nursery with his picture on, a desc of his allergies and instructions on where his epipen is

DS goes to a private nursery, so not sure if rules differ elsewhere?

Thanks rubyslippers, that sounds like the sort of thing needed the staff would probably have needed training for that too. It seems so hard that they can decide whether or not they want her there but I suppose I'd rather she went somewhere they ae confident about what they are doing anyway.

Hello, i think it is good that they want you to put something in writing as it implies they will give it some careful consideration.

I suspect that a nursery would be on shaky ground to turn someone away 'purely' on the ground of medical need but on the other hand they are bound by rules and regs which dictate what the staff are able to do.

My ds had a period of about six months where he requires special 'attention' (not something which could be life threatening but the staff needed to be aware and confident in what they were doing. I did the 'training' for them and supplied them with literature to refer to as well.

I know the nursery also have a few children with severe nut allergy and the staff seem comfortable with that.

If the nursery you approach has reservations then ret to work with them to find a workable solution, that said I would expect them to be 'keen' and interested even if it was all new to them. Depending on what the problem is, perhaps you could enlist the support of your HV?

Good luck

Thanks FFU I think it was the fact that the lady I spoke to sounded a bit hesitant that worried me. But she wasn't the head so maybe she just was unsure on policy for that situation. I think they can't turn her away exactly but can say that they can't do her medicines or injection which would effectively exclude her because unless I am actually on site or nearby waiting in case of a problem then she wouldn't be safe to be there.

used2bthin

just had another thought, it sound like quite a serious problem at least potentially, I wonder if there is any way of actually getting a designated carer for yoyr DD, or some funding or something which the school should use. Its just if yur DD is entitled to the early years education which of course she is, then the onus should be on the LA or SS to ensure she is able to receive it, surely?

Maybe give the Local childrens services dept a quick ring to see if they have any ideas.

Thank you that is a good idea. I'm nort sure what ohters in my situation do but at least while she is small that may be one option that would enable me to get a job at least! I wonder who I'd speak to about that, my childrens information service.

Used2bthin - To get a designated carer for dd funded by the LA you may be best trying to get a Statement of Educational Need for her. Some LAs will tell you that you can't get this for medical needs only but that's not right. Your LA should also be able to give you an indication of the local policy on medication at school. Make them aware that it's lifesaving medication that you are talking about, not just calpol or whatever. The dfes do a publication about education and children with medical needs here It's more about children who are unable to attend school but you may find some useful information in it. School can't just exclude because of medical needs but they don't have to provide until the child is compulsory school age I think (the term after they are 5).

You could also try talking to your School Health Service, the number should be in the phone book or your Health Visitor should be able to give it to you. If staff need training (epipen training for example) it's usually delivered by school health so they would be able to give you a good idea about what could be provided. I think a problem might arise when you mention that the staff may have to 'assess' before deciding on a dosage of meds - is that what you mean? Schools are often happy to follow a set protocol eg for an allergic child, give piriton, give epipen dial 999 etc or asthmatic, give three puffs and call parent that type of thing but if they have to 'assess' in more detail you may have to get a specially trained member of staff which means getting a Statement.

It's really not too soon to get started on this as the agencies can take ages to get themselves into gear.

Thanks SMBK yes they sort of would need to assess but actually it would only be if she was unwell so as long as they were happy to judge that then they could call me for advice whenever they were worried and I could advise. Also the hospital would give them a protocol for what to do under various circumstances so they could just follow that. The injection may be more tricky as as yet they don't make an epipen type on so its an intra muscular and involves measuring it etc. The hospital would send one of the endocrine team out for training though. I didn't realise about the statement I'll have to look into that. So does this mean she wouldn't need a statement after the age of five though?