Son injured at school

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Hi ladies
Earlier in the year my 4yr old was at school in the playground on a windy day. A large heavy item which shouldn't have been outside blew down on my child hitting them hard on the bottom of the back. My child collapsed, went into shock and fell unconscious. I was called by the school to come. They were taken by ambulance to hospital where they were treated and thankfully they are now fine with no lasting problems.
At first I was thankful the school took care of him. Now several months later I am angry. The school were not following health and safety regulations and this resulted in a accident. Am I in a position to take legal action against the school? What actions should I take? What might the outcome be?
Thank you for any help.

I would take legal advice. There is clearly a lack of awareness for health and safety there so they need to put training and measures in place to stop anything happening like this.

Really sorry this happened to you, I would be angry too. There will be insurance to cover any claim you make and the schools should work to improve.

What would be the end result you want from taking legal action?

Have the school learned form it and stopped leaving out things that could injure children in windy weather. Or are they still doing the same?

If they have learned from it, leave it be. If they haven't stopped then sue the crap out of them.

Cosmiccanary Id like this to not happen to anyone else's child and to the schools staff have the common sense to put things in safe places. No one else should get a phone call saying there's been an accident, come quick.

Is the large heavy item still outside?

Id like this to not happen to anyone else's child and to the schools staff have the common sense to put things in safe places

Have you met with the head already to talk about this?

Cosmiccanary Id like this to not happen to anyone else's child and to the schools staff have the common sense to put things in safe places. No one else should get a phone call saying there's been an accident, come quick.

And do you need to sue them to achieve that?
Have you met with the head to discuss the incident and what has since been put in place to ensure it does not happen again?

If you are solely looking to ensure the school has reviewed their h&s procedures surely you can do this without legal action and by simply taking to the school, maybe join the pta?

If you want to stop this happening again meet with the school. I’m sorry your child was hurt, it must have been very frightening, but you said there was no lasting damage. Thank goodness. What would you be suing for? Just to teach them a lesson?

Do you want financial compensation from the school?

It doesn’t sound like your child has been left with any long term injuries. My opinion is to be grateful for this and if it made you feel better contact the school to make sure they now take such possibilities into account when doing their health and safety assessment. I wouldn’t sue personally as I would see it as having a possible negative impact on the family’s relationship with the school.

Hi ladies
I did speak with the head at the time and the item has been removed from the school. It's recently hit me that my family had a distressing experience that could have had a different ending. Idk if there has been any staff health and safety training and that's something I will ask about.
Thanks ladies

OP have you asked whether the school submitted a RIDDOR report to the Health & Safety Executive?

The school should have a governor responsible for health and safety. How about trying to arrange a meeting with the HR and the H&S governor? It might be more productive in terms of getting training for staff or identifying how to raise awareness. I suspect that if you approach them via a solicitor seeking compensation, the school will be advised not to discuss the incident with you directly.

Not HR, HT (headteacher). Sorry

Hi riceandpeas123 no I haven't heard of that but I'll find out about it

Hi perspicicaTick no I have no idea about the governors involvement in health and safety but thank you. I'll ask next week.

Thank you everyone for your advice and information. I really appreciate your help. I can actively do so thing now rather that sitting home cross

I i know how you feel and its horrific im sorry your don was hurt and it must have been aeful for you. im going to be vauge but my son was injured at school resulting in surgery to reattach his fingers. I didn't send him back as was extremely unhappy with what happened and believe it could of been avoided my son was on agony and had to have 2 and a half hour or surgery it was horrific I have briefly sort legal advise because i want them to accept responsibility and admit their mistske and to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else. Id speak with a solicitor and get advice about it all. I'm glad your son is ok but I know you are probably still suffering from the shock

That was a pretty serious accident. I think you’ve been pretty passive about it. Did you receive a full debrief about how it happened, what changes will be implemented and who was accountable and an apology ?