What do you do when you're unable to get your child to school?

[LadySybildeChocolate]

I had a massive hemorrhage on Thursday and ended up in A&E. I couldn't get ds to school so I had to take him with me (GP called an ambulance). They did try to admit me, but I managed to talk them out of it so was sent home. He's 13, but dyspraxic and needs escorting to school as he falls, quite often into the road. I couldn't get him there yesterday as I was still unwell.

I feel very guilty that he's missed a couple of days of school due to this, and I did contact them (and they were lovely) but is there anything else that I could have done? School is 6 miles away and he'd have been worried if I had managed to get him there somehow.

EEk! Hope you're ok!

Re. school, I don't think there's much else you could have done, unless you had the phone number of another child from the school who is very local to you, and who would have been prepared to travel with him. But obviously if you had that option, you would have used it.

I know someone who has a taxi come and get her child each morning to take him to school. She doesn't pay for it, it's something that she has because he's Autistic.

Could the school not arrange something like this for your son?

You poor thing!

TBH I've not been in that situation yet, I only have my mum to help me but if she was away / sick I'd get into a flap .

I don't think he would have left me though, he worries a lot. He said he wouldn't leave me if I was kept in, 'they might give you the wrong medication and I won't be there to say goodbye if you die!'

A taxi is a good idea, it'll cost a fortune from here though.

Is he statemented?

Social services may be able to help as it sounds like a short-term crisis.

No, no statement. I should be on my feet again on Monday (fingers crossed). I'm just worried in case it happens again.

I think be prepared is the answer - you could make a contingency plan in case you have another illness. For instance, a couple of other parent's phone numbers or ask the school/social services if there is any occasional taxi/escort service? Then you would feel more in control.

Also prepare your DS a bit by talking him through what happened and if it happened again, you would be safely looked after/get a message to him at school when you were OK etc.

Some kids at our school get brought in by taxi, it is a regular driver so they are not exactly a stranger after a few trips. You can do a lot just by introducing him to the driver "This is Joe, he's going to take you to school, you can take your special book with you to read/whatever". Or try and find a reason to take him in a minicab some time soon so it's not a first for him?

Huge sympathy and hope you make a full recovery. Don't feel guilty, really it can't be helped.xx

I too am wondering if council, ss could help you out by laying on a taxi?

BTW I am not a single parent but when DH was working away last year, I became very ill, I have 3 DC and my fantastic neighbour helped me out/ I managed to do school run, just, but it was less than a mile away not 6 miles, that would have been impossible.

I would give social services a quick call to ask for temporary assistance if you feel he could cope with that. Hope you are soon better. Do not worry about school though. I cannot think of many better reasons for a child to miss school.

Thank you, you've all been lovely. It's not a tricky journey to school to be honest, he is 13 and should be able to do it himself now. He managed to find his way around a huge hospital, find a cash point, get himself some lunch and find me again so I'm sure he can manage this now. He just worries. He was really upset on Thursday and he keeps asking me if I'm OK.

Hope you ok now

Next time ask the hospital social worker to arrange something. There should be an on call children's social worker they can talk to . WHo can liaise with education and school as was said maybe there is already a bus or taxi taking SEN children to the school ?

Also set up contingency with another parent locally or maybe an older student. Who could accompany him ?

Thank you. I'm hoping it gets sorted quickly so won't happen again.